My Shih Tzu's skin wounds got worse after grooming. What can I do?

I am so sorry to hear that Zumi is having trouble with her skin. It looks like from the pictures a case of moist dermatitis or "hot spot". Hot spots can be very difficult to heal, and take a long time. The keys to a successful healing process are; Treating underlying cause of itching- for example fleas A clipped area around the sore Cleaning the sore with a vet prescribed antiseptic Leaving the sore open to dry out (as the moisture promotes bacterial growth) Antibacterial/ hydrocortisone spray prescribed from the vet for healing An e-collar to prevent Zumi from scratching or biting at the hot spot and making it worse Measure the hot spot with a ruler, and compare in a few days time to make sure that it is reducing in size. If you feel like Zumi is not healing well, I would suggest a trip to the vet, or call and discuss the possibility for a prescription. Oral antibiotics and/ or a steroid injection may help to jumpstart the healing process. I know hot spots can be very frustrating for you as a pet parent and for Zumi. I sincerely hope it starts to heal soon. Warmest regards to you both.

I'm sorry to hear that Jordan has had so many skin issue since his grooming! It is possible that he had a reaction to the shampoo and conditioner that were used, or may have experienced some damage to the hair follicles that can result in skin irritation or infection. At this point, you can try using either an oatmeal-based dog shampoo or antiseptic medicated shampoo (here is one example: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=27982). However, if Jordan's skin issues persist or worsen, he will need to go to his vet for further evaluation. I hope that all goes well!

That area of Albie looks inflamed! If he did not have these lesions yesterday, it may be a reaction to the shampoo. Rewash him in a hypoallergenic shampoo and rinse him very well. Over the counter antihistamines may also help the itching. You may also consider taking him to the veterinarian's office as they will have stronger medications that will work faster to make the itching go away. I hope Albie gets comfortable fast!

The lesion in the second image appears to be infected. The area will need to be shaved of all surrounding hair, scrubbed with an antiseptic such as dilute betadine or chlorhexidine, and then an antibiotic will be required (most likely a systemic one). George will also have to wear a cone to prevent him from continuing to cause any self-inflicted trauma to the area. Your vet will be able to get a better look at the lesions to see if he can figure out what may have started everything to begin with. He may want to obtain some skin scrapings to take a look at under the microscope. Hope this makes sense.

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!

Yes, Milo could be having problems with mites or allergies. When pets don't respond to treatment as expected, it can mean that the real underlying cause of disease has not been found. I recommend to have Milo examined again by the veterinarian. Milo should also wear an elizabethan collar at all times if he is licking at the lesion. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

I'm sorry to hear that Mungia is dealing with skin problems. A lot of skin infections in dogs can be secondary to scratching themselves from allergies. The can react to something in their environment such as weeds, grasses, pollen, mold or even something in their diet. I'm glad that bathing her seems to help. It is a great maintenance option for her so she doesn't need to be on medications. If the problem is not resolving, you will need to discuss longterm management strategies with her veterinarian. You will also want to rule out other issues such as mites, fleas or ringworm. I hope this information helps!