My dog has a chin bump, dandruff, itching, and shedding. What's wrong?

Although a picture of it would help to determine the underlying cause more specifically, this presentation could be due to a trauma or localized spot of skin infection (likely to be caused by bacteria). A check up, appropriate disinfection and possibly antibiotics (oral, topical or in a shampoo formulation) are needed to solve the problem. Disinfection may be started at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths. Buster collar may be useful as well to avoid any 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.

Monte's red bumpy shin could be due to a bacterial infection similar to acne, parasites in the pores of the chin or an allergic reaction. Treatment is dependent on the cause and your veterinarian will likely get an idea of the exact cause after a physical exam. You can try adding in an omega 3 fatty acid supplement for dogs, this can help improve the skin health. You may also try changing his diet to something like Royal Canin or Nutro as they are aimed at skin health. This will helps with allergies and acne. Pets with acne also do best if the food/water dishes and toys are washed on a weekly basis. Also change the dishes to ceramic or stainless steel. Allergic reactions may require additional systemic medications or a diet change where as acne often responds to a medicated wipe. Parasites respond to an antiparasitic medication. Also protect the area from trauma by having Monte wear an elizabethan collar at all times. I hope this helps and best of luck.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Charlie is adorable! I can see the bumps on his chin - these may be caused by a skin infection, which can be very uncomfortable and itchy. I recommend having Charlie seen by a vet as soon as possible as Charlie may need antibiotics. In the meantime, you should try to keep the area clean and consider getting Charlie an E-collar or "cone" to keep him from scratching the area.

Poor Buster! Yes, from the photos it certainly does look like he has a skin infection of some kind. This can occur on its own, or due to an underlying skin problem such as allergies or mange. I would recommend taking him to the vet to have this checked as soon as you are able to, since he will likely need prescription antibiotics to treat the infection. In the meantime, you can try bathing him thoroughly in a chlorhexidine-based dog shampoo if you like - this should help to remove the crusty discharge and make him a bit more comfortable until you are able to see the vet.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Chloe. Yes, she should see her veterinarian. She may have an infection within the hair follicles of her chin. Sometimes this is due to the area being moist such as with a dog that drools a lot. Other times it is related to an allergy or an overgrowth of mites. Sometimes I do not find a definitive cause. An allergy will be more likey if she is itchy and has other skin lesions as well. She may require skin testing and will likely be sent home with antibiotics. I will usually prescribe medicated wipes as well. In the meantime, keep the area clean and dry. Try to discourage her from pawing at her face or rubbing her chin along the carpet. This will irritate the area further. I hope this information helps!

This is probably due to a severe allergy, although it could also be fleas or mites. First of all, in order to rule out skin parasites, you will need to treat Bella with a high quality flea treatment (e.g. advocate or advantage), then get her to 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 discovering the cause of the allergy. Some medications can be given by the vet in order to repair the skin lesions (steroids and antibiotics). simultaneously you should start her on a prescription hypoallergenic diet for at least 2 months. Hopefully you will see some results after all this, if not you and your vet should consider putting her on a long term allergy treatment (Atopica or Apoquel).

Hello, thank you for your question about Max. Based on the photos that you've attached and Max's symptoms it is possible that he has an underlying skin problem such as allergies or infection. Dogs can have underlying allergies to many things both dietary and environmental. I would recommend having him evaluated by your veterinarian so that they can examine the areas and determine the need for additional testing such as a skin scrape or impression to look for bacteria and cells. Hope this helps, good luck!