My 7-week-old puppy has oozing, smelly skin patches. Is it mange?

Hello. I cannot say for sure what this is without a hands on exam and some simple tests, but your veterinarian would be able to solve this for you pretty easily. Mange in a puppy this young is not common, but a simple and quick skin scrape would determine if it is mange. More likely, it is a skin infection- this may be bacterial or fungal. Your veterinarian can also check this. Fungal infections can be very contagious (Ringworm), so it is important that you have this puppy looked at as soon as possible. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach

Hello. In a 7 month old pup, my first guess is Demodex mange. But, this could also be a simple bacterial infection. Let your veterinarian do a simple skin test to see if the mites are present. There is a very specific treatment for this & usually results in a cure within a few months. I do hope you can have her seen soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Poor King! His itching and scabs could be a result of mange, ringworm, or allergies (although he is quite young to develop allergies). When dogs become excessively itchy, they sometimes scratch themselves enough that they can develop skin infections. King should see his vet for an exam and skin scraping to rule out mites/mange and have a Wood's lamp evaluation or ringworm culture. Ringworm and some types of mange can be transmitted to humans and other pets. King may need antibiotics, antifungal medications and steroids to control his itching and any underlying issues. There is a chance that the leaf he ate may have caused some mild gastroenteritis that led to a bit of soft stool or could be coincidental if he has any intestinal parasites. A vet should check his stool sample for parasites. If his stool is slightly soft but he is otherwise acting normally, you can also try a bland diet of boiled white meat chicken and white rice for a few days before transitioning back to his normal puppy food.

I recommend to have a skin scrape to check for mange. This is an easy test which will generally yield results. Some vets will also use an oral flea prevention product off label once the pet is old enough. Puppies will commonly get eye infections as well although a scratch on the cornea or other eye condition could also be the cause of the infection. I recommend to have Jimmy examined by the veterinarian. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! Thanks for the pictures. It appears as though Sparky may have a bacterial skin infection, or puppy pyoderma. A lot of times puppy pyoderma resolves on it's own. If it gets worse than this I would recommend taking Sparky to the Vet to be evaluated and prescribed oral antibiotics. You can try a medicated shampoo: bath every 2-3 days and allow the lather to sit on the affected skin for 10 mins before rinsing. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=27306 I hope this helps and I wish Sparky the best!

Hello. It is very difficult to see, but it LOOKS like the mother dog may have gotten a little rough with this puppy & caused a skin injury. I would pick up some antibacterial wash like Hibiclens ( available at all pharmacies ) & gently clean the area twice daily. Rinse & dry the area thoroughly. I would not put anything else on the puppy as Mom will just lick it off. As long as the pup seems to be eating well, then I would see how this goes for a few days. If the area continues to worsen, please have the puppy seen by your veterinarian. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello. Cocoa may have sarcoptic or demodectic mange, both common in puppies & very itchy. Your veterinarian can diagnose this very quickly with a simple skin scrape & once a diagnosis is made, appropriate treatment started. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.