Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Become a member today!
Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
Already a member? Sign in
Become a credit card member today!
Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!
APPLY NOW
Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

Why does my puppy have pink spots with dark centers and a scab on her belly?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Large (61lb +) | Female | spayed | 11 months old | 66 lbs

My puppy has pink circle spots on her belly that are dark in the centre. Today, I also saw she has now a possible scab, I’m not sure what it is. She hasn’t bled, it’s not crusty or oozing any pus. She’s also not itchy or excessively licking. What could it be?

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Ana M, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on May 19th, 2018

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Sasha. I suspect she has a mild superficial skin infection starting on her belly. I would start by bathing her twice per week with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner such as an oatmeal or fatty acid based formula. This may take care of it as it appears mild. If the lesions spread or do not resolve, she will need to see her veterinarian. Skin infections can be due to an allergy, irritation or parasites. I hope this information helps!

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Ricardo Fernandez, DVM
Veterinarian, Veterinary Oncology Resident
Published on December 16th, 2018
Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This looks like a skin infection possibly. I recommend that you have her evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check for the type of infection so that it can be treated appropriately. Best of luck!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Laura Johnson VMD
Veterinarian
Published on May 17th, 2018
Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! Poor Sasha!

It's hard to tell in the picture. The 2 pink areas look like scars. But describing them with a scaly crust around them sounds like a skin infection. I think it is fine to watch for worsening before taking her to the Vet. If you notice small white heads or red bumps then that likely confirms a skin infection and she should be seen. You can try the below shampoo and bathe her twice weekly leaving the lather on for 10 mins before rinsing.

I wish Sasha the best!

https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=27306
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

Puppy licking, scratching, red spots on tummy. What's wrong?

Those spots on Tashimi could be several things including allergies, skin mites, flea bites, ringworm (which humans can get) or a bacterial infection. You can try adding in an omega 3 fatty acid supplement for dogs, this can help improve the skin health. You may also try changing her diet to something like Royal Canin or Nutro as they are aimed at skin health. Check/treat for fleas. You can wash the lesions with soap once a day and rinse well (don't wash her whole body, just those spots). Protect the areas from licking or scratching with an elizabethan collar. If they don't start looking better within about a week or if they get worse, have her examined by the veterinarian who may prescribe medications. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

Why does my dog have scabs and red spots on her belly and back?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Coco. I recommend that she sees a veterinarian. Scabs can indicate a bacterial skin infection. If this is the case, she will likely need an oral antibiotic or a medicated shampoo. In the meantime, you can bathe her with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner such as an oatmeal or fatty acid based formula to soothe the skin. I hope this information helps!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My dog has black spots on her belly. Are they allergies or infection?

This looks like a mild bacterial skin infection. Dogs can get this from laying on damp ground. Often it will go away on its own. You can bathe the area with antibacterial shampoo once or twice weekly to help it heal more quickly. Since she’s not bothered by it I’m not overly concerned. Should it worsen please take her in for an exam. She may need oral antibiotics if is gets bad. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Marley.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog has black spots, scabs, peeling skin on belly, no itch?

This looks like it is most likely an infection in the skin. It is very common to start out red and crusty like this. The black spots are usually a reaction to irritation and the skin gets more pigment. Most of the time, infections in the skin are secondary to allergies or anything else that causes inflammation in the skin. I would recommend an evaluation by a veterinarian and a skin scraping. The skin scraping will look for mites, yeast and bacteria. This way, the veterinarian can choose the right type of treatment. Often, these infections need to be treated with oral medication. I hope this helps and that Chappie gets better soon!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My puppy has a belly rash and brown spots. Are they normal? Advice?

I’m not sure if the lighting makes the skin look normal in your picture, or if the rash you are describing is faint enough to not show up on the picture, but her skin appears fairly normal to me. The brown spots I see are normal pigmentation variants. Often times mild skin problems in young dogs are bacterial and bathing in a shampoo that has chlorhexidine or salicylic acid can be helpful. These can be found in the human shampoo aisle in the dandruff area. If it does not seem to help then I would encourage you to have her evaluated by your veterinarian soon. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My puppy has brown spots on her belly and licks it. Is it normal?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Based on your picture, the brown spots are normal freckling. I can't tell if there are 2 red bumps with yellow discharge. If there are that could be a skin infection. Skin infections can cause her to lick the area or scratch. We treat with oral antibiotics. If there aren't any red bumps there then I think her belly is normal. Have a great day!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog has red, crusty blisters on her belly. What should I use?

I'm sorry to hear that Sasha has been licking and developing these skin lesions. Her lesions look most suspicious for a bacterial skin infection, but could also be a result of ringworm or mange. Personally, I never find Neosporin to be overly effective in managing skin infections. Instead, I prefer using medicated antimicrobial shampoos, particularly those that are chlorhexidine-based (here is one example: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=27982). Since Sasha is licking herself, consider also keeping an e-collar (cone) on her when she is not supervised (i.e. overnight or when you are out of the house) to prevent further irritation/damage to the skin. Be sure to take Sasha to her vet when they are back from vacation for further evaluation because many skin infections require oral antibiotics for resolution. I hope this helps and that all goes well!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Share