My 6-day-old puppy has a sore on its back. What's the cause?

Puppies!!! This sore could be several things - urine scald and another puppy suckling this spot are likely. Watch the puppies closely to see if another pup is suckling or if mom is excessively licking this spot. Right now, you can use some topical triple antibiotic ointment (a small amount) a couple times a day. If it gets any bigger or deeper, seek veterinary care. Thank you for using pet coach.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Was he recently under anesthesia for surgery? It looks like it could be a burn. Unfortunately as much as we try the warning devices can cause a burn that doesn’t show up for several days. Or could he burned himself on something? Another possibility is a hot spot. I’d take him in to you vet to have it checked. I wish you the best!

Thank you for showing concern and compassion for this little guy. The wound appears to be most likely caused by chronic fleas, bacterial infection (hot spot), or mite infestation. It could have also been caused by an injury or burn - a little difficult to tell with just a photo. Your vet should be able to help you figure it out. In the meantime, try to keep him from scratching the area and keep it as clean as possible.

It could be caused by an infection, ringworm, flea allergy, or mites. She really should be examined by a vet to determine the cause and best way to treat. Your vet can do a skin scrape or culture to help diagnose and then prescribe medications to clear it up. She may need an antibiotic, anti-histamine, or corticosteroid to help treat.

This could be an area of infection or a sign of fleas. For tonight, make sure Love is well dried by using a hair drying on warm or cool (not hot), and is up to date on flea preventative. If she starts itching or the area gets larger, she'll need to go to her regular veterinarian. I would not consider this an emergency unless she stops eating, becomes lethargic, or starts having vomiting and diarrhea. Congratulations on your new pup!

Hello. It is very difficult to see, but it LOOKS like the mother dog may have gotten a little rough with this puppy & caused a skin injury. I would pick up some antibacterial wash like Hibiclens ( available at all pharmacies ) & gently clean the area twice daily. Rinse & dry the area thoroughly. I would not put anything else on the puppy as Mom will just lick it off. As long as the pup seems to be eating well, then I would see how this goes for a few days. If the area continues to worsen, please have the puppy seen by your veterinarian. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It's impossible to say for sure, but the most common reason that I will see large areas of hair loss like that on the back are due to some type of burn to the skin due to hot liquid or chemicals. I have seen it most commonly due to hot liquids accidentally being spilled on the animal, but it takes days to start showing hair loss. The area closer to the tail looks like it is oozing, so I would be worried that the skin there is infected. I would recommend having your veterinarian examine Boss to see if they can find a reason for the hair loss and determine if he needs an antibiotic. If everything is treated, usually the hair will regrow in the area, but it can take some time depending on how damaged the skin was. I had a cat that had coffee spilled on him that took almost 6 months to fully regrow his hair. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.