Why is my puppy sick with red bumps, panting, and dark skin?

Hello. This puppy needs medical attention. She appears to have a serious skin condition and should have a skin scrape to check for mange. If she is potbellied and has low energy, she may have other internal parasites. Some intestinal parasites can cause anemia as well as gastrointestinal problems. Anemia is a low red blood cell count which causes weakness and lack of energy. Please have her examined, tested for parasites-both internal and external- and given the appropriate treatments. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach

Roc needs to be examined by a vet. The spots you are seeing could be caused by a range of things, including fleas, mange, lice, infections (bacterial or yeast), ringworm, allergies, among others. She should have a skin scraping to check for mange mites, which are common in young puppies. If you are at all concerned that Roc is having trouble breathing, then this should be considered an emergency and she should be evaluated immediately. A change in breathing sounds or pattern could be caused by pain, anxiety, heart, or lung disease, etc.

I am so sorry Pretty Girl is going through this. On her belly it looks like a little skin infection but on her side it looks like hives. If this just started today I would take her to an emergency veterinarian for a possible allergic reaction. If this has been going on for a few days call your regular veterinarian tomorrow. If you wait then during the night if the bumps that look like hives get worse, her face swells or she has difficulty breathing then take her to an emergency veterinarian asap. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Marlo. His belly looks very inflamed and is likely itchy. It is always a good idea to take a new puppy to a veterinarian when you first obtain him. He will need to be examined, started on his vaccinations and deworming. The rash can be addressed as well. It could be a mild allergic reaction, impetigo or even an overgrowth of a mite known as Demodex. The veterinarian will guide you as far as any testing or treatment needed. In the meantime, I recommend bathing him with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner such as an oatmeal or fatty acid based formula for puppies to soothe the skin. I hope this information helps!

Poor Tank! That rash looks pretty severe. It could be something like an allergic reaction, scabies, flea allergy or a severe case of puppy pyoderma. Because there are several conditions that can look like this and they all require different treatment, I recommend to take Tank in to see his veterinarian. The doctor will examine him and try to determine the cause for all those lesions. It’s likely he will get an anti-inflammatory and antibiotics. If parasites are suspected, he will get a treatment for those as well. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Oh dear, poor Winter! The pimple-like bumps on her skin look most suspicious for a bacterial skin infection (pyoderma), which can develop as a result of excessive licking or scratching since this damages the skin. The licking and scratching can result from underlying allergies to fleas, food, or environmental factors, in addition to mange, ringworm, or even vaginitis or a urinary tract infection in this case since Winter has some yellow vulvar discharge. Discomfort from itchiness can lead to a decreased appetite, and underlying allergies can also cause bloodshot eyes. At this point, your best bet is to take Winter to her vet for evaluation since she may need to have a urinalysis to determine if a urinary tract infection is present, as well as antibiotics and anti-itch medications or medicated shampoos to help manage her skin issues. Also be sure that she is receiving a high quality flea and tick preventative, such as Nexgard or K9 Advantix II (she is both old enough and large enough for either of these medications) in case fleas are part of the problem. I hope this helps and that Winter feels better soon!

Chronic skin problems could be several things including allergies to fleas, allergies to something in the environment, food allergy or endocrine disease. Each one of these problems is detected and addressed differently and I recommend to discuss with your veterinarian which one to start hunting down first. Parasites are often ruled out with an oral medication like Simparica. Food allergy is best ruled out with a diet trial using a hydrolyzed protein. Endocrine diseases are detected with blood work. Environmental allergies are a little more difficult to detect but a response to therapy or a blood test can give an indication. Once you figure out and address the underlying cause, the lesions should not come back. There are a couple things you can do at home and they can help but they may not address the underlying cause. 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 his diet to something like Royal Canin or Nutro as they are aimed at skin health. Also protect the area from trauma by having Simba wear an elizabethan collar at all times to prevent licking if needed. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.