My puppy has a skin rash. Could it be an allergy or infection?

In his armpits and on his chest this is a skin infection. I would recommend taking Thor to the veterinarian to get a course of antibiotics to heal this. I would also recommend getting a skin scraping for the hairloss on his back. This may be a skin mite like demodex. I would make sure Thor is on either Simparica, Nexguard or Bravecto. These are oral flea and tick preventions and are used off label for demodex and skin mites. These are prescription so I would discuss them with your veterinarian. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Loki. I am glad that he is seeing his veterinarian. He may have a bacterial skin infection. This can happen for a variety of reasons, but allergies are a common cause. Has he been licking the area? This can make it worse. I recommend bathing him with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner such as an oatmeal or fatty acid based formula to help soothe his skin. Place an E-collar on him if he is licking. I hope this information helps!

Hi, and thanks for your question. This could be due to an allergy, although it could also be infection or mites. First of all, in order to rule out skin parasites, you will need to treat with a high quality flea treatment, then ask the vet to perform a skin scrape - this might reveal an infection or a mite infestation. If all of those came back negative, the next step is to treat the allergy symptomatically and try to discover the cause of the allergy. Three main type of allergies are usually affecting pets: food allergies, flea and parasite related ones and environmental type (allergens coming from trees, pollens, dust etc etc). Some medications can be given by the vet in order to repair any possible skin lesions (like steroids and antibiotics). Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

Depending on Thor's age it could be demodectic mange, which is caused by a mite in the skin. It may be itchy as well, and he would need to see a veterinarian for treatment. It typically affects young dogs, but isn't contagious. Other possibilities would be ringworm or an allergy. If it's not improving on its own or getting worse I would see a vet.

I'm sorry to hear that Thor is having some skin issues. A focalized skin lesion can be caused by a variety of reasons, such as trauma/irritation, allergies, or a skin infection (bacterial or fungal). If the area is warm to the touch, has a moist discharge, doesn't improve or Thor seems itchy/uncomfortable, I would recommend he be evaluated by his regular veterinarian to determine the underlying cause for the skin issue and start any treatment that may be needed.

It sounds 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 itch so it can be treated appropriately. 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. I would also recommend he be on a good flea control routinely too. Once the infection has resolved a long term allergy medication (like Apoquel or Cytopoint) can be given on a regular basis to prevent any future problems. I would avoid putting anything on the skin until the infection is under control. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

Hi, and thanks for your question. This could be due to an allergy, although it could also be infection or mites. First of all, in order to rule out skin parasites, you will need to treat with a high quality flea treatment, then ask the vet to perform a skin scrape - this might reveal an infection or a mite infestation. If all of those came back negative, the next step is to treat the allergy symptomatically and try to discover the cause of the allergy. Three main type of allergies are usually affecting pets: food allergies, flea and parasite related ones and environmental type (allergens coming from trees, pollens, dust etc etc). Some medications can be given by the vet in order to repair any possible skin lesions (like steroids and antibiotics). Oatmeal shampoo can provide some temporary relief so it can be used. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!