Why does my whippet have skin changes on ears, chest, and belly?

Hi, pigmentation of the skin can change as dogs get older and it is usually nothing to be concerned about. Unless it is something associated with itchiness or inflammation of the skin. In this case it could mean another underlying condition is present that would need to be diagnosed and treated accordingly. Hope this helps !

This looks like a localized area of infection. This could be caused by an allergy, by her rubbing her nose against something (like a fence or crate) or could be a sign of an underlying autoimmune disease like lupus or pemphigus. I would recommend taking Bambi in to the vet to be examined. Your vet may recommend antibiotics and a topical ointment to help the nose clear up. Your vet may also recommend doing a cytology or biopsy of the area which will help further determine what the cause of the lesions are. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck

Hello, and thank you for your question! Darkening of the skin should not be a problem, in the absence of any scratching or irritation. However, terriers such as westies can be prone to skin allergies, so I would keep a close eye on Britta for any licking, biting or scratching of her skin. If so, this irritation could cause darkening ("hyperpigmentation"), and if so, I would recommend taking her to the vet for an exam of her skin. On the topic of westies with sensitive skin, I would stick with bathing her no more than once a month, using a gentle aloe and oatmeal based shampoo. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water. This will help to prevent overdrying and itching of the skin. I hope this helps, and that Britta is doing well!

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). The following products can be found online and can be tried as a first line approach: Douxo PS Calm shampoo, Essential 6 spot on by dermoscent, Krillex Krill oil chews. 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!

The pictures look like it could just be normal pigment change. As puppies mature their pigmentation can as well. If the skin is raised, thicker, crusty, or itchy then I would be concerned. If you have any concerns then I would encourage you to have him evaluated by your veterinarian. If there is a concern then a biopsy could easily be done at the time of his neuter. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Based on what you are describing, and the pictures, I suspect that Willow may have an infection with ectoparasites, such as mites or fleas, that are causing her to be itchy. Your veterinarian can perform a skin scrape and evaluate the cells under a microscope to look for evidence of infectious agents. Please ensure that Willow is on a monthly topical flea and tick preventative that you purchase from your veterinarian; NOT one that can be purchased from a pet or grocery store, as these are not regulated and can be very toxic to pets. Willow could also have allergic skin disease, secondary to food or environmental agents. You can talk to your veterinarian about trying a diet trial to determine if Willow's itchy skin resolves on a particular novel protein diet. The thickened ears can be due to chronic ear infections, so your veterinarian will be able to examine the waxy debris under a microscope and prescribe the appropriate medication based on whether they see bacteria and/or yeast in Willow's ears. I hope this is helpful!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is hard to know for sure based on these pictures though this is likely a normal pigmentation change. If it is not associated with itchiness or discomfort, there is no need to be concerned about this. If you ever notice any discomfort or itchiness, have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck and have a great day!