My puppy has red bumps and zits on his skin. What should I do?

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. Based on your description and pictures Rasta could be dealing with a skin allergy. I would recommend starting a shampoo such as Douxo PS chlorhexidine combination shampoo and bathe twice weekly until resolved. I would also recommend using malacetic conditioning spray and apply to the area two to three times per day until resolved. Benadryl can also be used safely and the most common recommended dose that is recommended by most veterinarians is 1 mg per 1 pound of body weight every 12 hours. I hope this helps! If the skin does not improve or it worsens, then I would recommend having Rasta examined by a veterinarian for further treatment options. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns. I am also available via consultation if needed

Poor puppy. Kai has what appears to be a contact dermatitis or puppy pyoderma. This is usually caused by something coming in contact with the skin, such as urine, or is simply due to your pet still developing its immune system and being vulnerable to infections. This is usually easily treated with a short course of antibiotics prescribed by your vet. I would recommend scheduling an appt with your vet for Kai to get this resolved. Until you can get Kai seen, you can gently cleanse the skin with Betadine diluted 50:50 with warm water. I hope that Kai's skin infection clears up well soon! Best wishes and take care. : )

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! From what I can tell via your photo, this looks a lot like puppy pyoderma-a very common condition among young dogs. Essentially, these are "pimples" for puppies and usually caused by staph bacteria. I will usually try to rule out any underlying flea problem resulting in pustules, etc when I see these patients. If I see nothing else of concern I will usually prescribe antibiotics for 10-14 days at which point the breakout has usually cleared up. I would recommend seeing your vet to do these things as well-Lala will be much more comfortable without pustules. I hope this helps!

Hi and thanks for visiting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Pimples on the body of a young puppy are likely caused by an acute allergic reaction to something he came into contact with. There is also the possibility of him having a condition called puppy strangles, which will cause spread of rather large pimples to his face, ears and neck area, and these pimples can then rupture causing discomfort for your pet. It is hard to say for sure which is likely here without a good visual of the area. I recommend considering reposting your question with a photo for a more tailored answer. If the pimples are small however, they are likely just an allergic reaction and may go away on their own, especially if there are just a few. I would recommend monitoring these to see if they get worse. I hope this helps and best of luck with your puppy Logan. Take care.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Bella. This looks like puppy pyoderma, which is a skin infection that can be common in puppies. This is because their skin is extra sensitive. I would take her the vet. The vet can confirm she does have puppy pyoderma, and can prescribe medication to treat it. I hope this helps!

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.



Monte's red bumpy shin could be due to a bacterial infection similar to acne, parasites in the pores of the chin or an allergic reaction. Treatment is dependent on the cause and your veterinarian will likely get an idea of the exact cause after a physical exam. 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. This will helps with allergies and acne. Pets with acne also do best if the food/water dishes and toys are washed on a weekly basis. Also change the dishes to ceramic or stainless steel. Allergic reactions may require additional systemic medications or a diet change where as acne often responds to a medicated wipe. Parasites respond to an antiparasitic medication. Also protect the area from trauma by having Monte wear an elizabethan collar at all times. I hope this helps and best of luck.