What are these tiny black dots on my dog's neck? Should I go to vet?

I'm sorry to hear that Maya is having skin problems. There are a number of reasons for skin problems in dogs. This article does an excellent job of describing them. You could be dealing with allergies (of various types), external parasites (such as fleas or mites), or secondary infections (bacterial or yeast). https://www.petcoach.co/article/why-is-my-dog-so-itchy/ This is also an excellent article on itching in dogs and the possible causes and treatments. https://www.vin.com/veterinarypartner/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952662 Often the first step is making sure there isn’t any evidence of external parasites that need to be treated. You may still be dealing with a flea allergy even if you have treated the fleas. Once a flea bites a flea allergy dog, that dog can stay itchy for a week. Using a good quality flea preventative product will help treat and prevent fleas. Here is additional information on fleas causing itching in dogs. https://www.vin.com/veterinarypartner/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952572 I would recommend having your veterinarian evaluate Maya to discuss your treatment options. Your veterinarian can run a few simple skin tests to rule out fungus, mites, or a bacteria as the cause of the crusting. You will need to discuss resolving any of these secondary infections which will create crusting and make her more itchy. This can involve topical treatments (like shampoos, wipes or sprays) or may involve oral medications. Then you can discuss ways to prevent problems in the future. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

This presentation could be due to a trauma or localized spot of skin infection (likely to be caused by bacteria). Underlying allergy can predispose to skin infection. A check up, appropriate disinfection and possibly antibiotics (oral, topical or in a shampoo formulation) are needed to solve the problem. Disinfection can eventually be started at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths. Buster collar may be useful as well to avoid any licking/scratching. 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.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Athena. I do recommend that she sees her veterinarian. The skin may be infected. In the meantime, you can try bathing her with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner such as an oatmeal or fatty acid based formula to soothe the skin. Puppies are susceptible to ringworm, mites and bacterial skin infections. I hope this information helps!

Hello, those are not fleas. They appear to be crusts formed from the oily secretions of the skin. This can occur in dogs with a very oily skin coat, due to allergies, or even due to diet deficiencies. Other causes could include a skin infection or dry skin. This can typically be managed with the right medication, diet, or shampoo alone or in combination. However, your veterinarian may need to look a sample of this area under the microscope to rule out any bacteria, yeast, or parasites. Schedule and appointment with your veterinarian and have Stella evaluated soon. Hope this helps and best of luck.

It looks he has a dermatitis which could be secondary to a bacterial or fungal infection. You could clean the area with a wound wash and see if it resolves. If not and/or he has multiple lesions, he should be examined by a vet for treatment.

Poor Dahlia! That area definitely looks quite raw and sore. There are a few different things that can cause skin rashes and crusty areas like this. The most common possibilities would include allergies (food allergies, or an allergy to something in the environment), a bacterial or fungal skin infection, or skin mites (mange). Treatment will depend on what the underlying problem is, so I would recommend taking her to the vet for an exam as soon as you are able to. He/she can do some simple skin tests to help determine what's wrong and get her started on appropriate treatment. In the meantime, you can try bathing the affected area with an aloe and oatmeal dog shampoo - this will probably not do much to treat the underlying problem, but may help to remove some of the crusty discharge and soothe her skin until you are able to see the vet.

That looks like it could be some sort of parasite larva or a tick. Certain types of flies will lay the eggs on the skin and the larva can migrate into the skin. Ticks are usually dark colored but variations can occur. Regardless, I recommend to have Luna visit her veterinarian today. Larva tends to be fragile and you don’t want it to tear and leave a pice if it’s body in the skin. Ticks are easier to remove but sometimes the heads will tear off and remain embedded in the skin. The veterinarian will palpate the area and should be able to get a good idea of what exactly is going on. I hope this is helpful and best of luck! Please feel free to post any additional questions.