My puppy has pimples on his head and eyes, scratching them open. What is it?

With his age I would be concerned about puppy pyoderma (bacterial skin infection common in young dogs) but a type of mange and secondary bacterial infection is also possible. If this is mange then his skin won't clear without treating both diseases. There is also a possibility of ringworm. Your veterinarian could do an exam and go over in detail the tests for those diseases and treatment options. Alternatively some try an OTC pet medicated shampoo but if the skin doesn't clear up then a visit to the veterinarian is needed.

I hate to hear that! You can try applying just a dab of coconut oil and rubbing it in very well. In general, keeping her muzzle very clean and dry may help. If the lesions don't clear up significantly within a week or so, I recommend to have her seen by the veterinarian. Sometimes antibiotics and anti-inflammatories are needed. You can also ask about pet safe medicated wipes that may be useful if routinely used. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Leo. Poor boy. It could be he has acne, but it could be as well he has a skin infection. Pugs are prone to skin infections due to the wrinkles on their face. Without seeing him in person, I can't say for certain. I would take him into a vet on Monday. The vet can diagnose what is causing his skin problems, and can treat him. Best of luck.

It looks as if your dog has a skin infection, most commonly caused by an allergy, a skin mite (Demodex) or fleas. 

The allergy could be a due to a protein in your dog’s food or an environmental allergy like to dust, pollens, grasses, etc. 

The allergy causes your dog to itch and chew at the skin which breaks down the skin barrier. This then leads to infection. Skin infections are typically characterized by large areas of hair loss, redness, crusting, flaking, and pustules. A thorough skin examination by your veterinarian should be able to determine the cause of the infection and itch so it can be treated appropriately. Because your puppy is so young I would be very concerned about Demodex as the primary problem. Your dog will most likely need antibiotics to help clear up the infection and possibly an allergy/anti-itch medication like Apoquel, Atopica, or Cytopoint to give some relief while the infection clears up. A medicated shampoo may be beneficial as well (based on the type of infection your veterinarian can recommend the most appropriate one). I would also recommend that he be on a good flea control routinely too. The thyroid gland is located in the throat area but it is probably not what you were feeling. I suspect you may be feeling a large lymph node or just severely inflamed skin tissue judging by the severity of his infection. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.



Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Carter! Possible causes are: skin infection, fungal infection, demodex or an immune condition call puppy strangles. His skin looks bad in the picture. I would recommend taking him to the Vet on Monday. Skin infections need antibiotics, demodex is treated with oral flea/tick medications like Nexgard, Simparica and Bravecto and puppy strangles is treated with steroids and antibiotics. I wish you the best!

Without a [physical exam](https://www.petcoach.co/article/what-does-your-veterinarian-look-for-during-a-physical-exam), I can't say for certain what they are, however, I can tell you that small bumps on the skin which are filled with pus are called pustules. These can be caused by a bacteria infection of the hair follicles (bacterial folliculitis), autoimmune diseases, a bacterial skin infection ([pyoderma](https://www.petcoach.co/article/staphylococcal-pyoderma-a-common-skin-infection-in-dogs-pup/)), a fungal skin infection among others. I would recommend taking Sadie to the vet to determine the cause of the pustules, and to prescribe the proper treatment. In the meantime, do not squeeze them or try to pop them, as you could potentially spread infection. An [e-collar](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/well-and-good-e-collar) (cone) can be used to prevent lickign or chewing until she sees the doctor.

Hi there! Puppies get "puppy pyoderma" often which often presents as you have shown in the pictures. This is very common, and easy to treat. Sometimes antibiotics are not required and they go away on their own. If the rash spreads, etc. you can always make an appointment to see your veterinarian to make sure fleas or allergies are not contributing factors! My best to you an Milli. Hope this helps!