Why is my dog's chin and chest skin raw, irritated, and matted?

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!

His chest seems worse than his feet in those photos! an allergy is vet likely but for joe t seems it may be infected also. If you can't get in before next week you can try a medicated shampoo twice a week to help clean and rinse the skin and wipe the feet down after coming in from outside. You can apply a medicated powder between the Toes to help and give an antihistamine such as Benadryl.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your dog. I recommend starting by bathing him with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner such as an oatmeal or fatty acid based formula to soothe the skin. This can help with a minor rash or irritation. You can also leave the harness off for the next few days to see if that has been contributing. If the rash spreads, is very itchy or develops pimples, then he should see his veterinarian. In this case, he could require treatment. Unfortunately, there are numerous causes of red skin. For example, allergies to something in the environment, his diet or something in the house can cause it. Infectious organisms like fleas are common in certain parts of the country. If necessary, the veterinarian will examine him, ask detailed questions about his lifestyle and history and prescribe medication as needed. I hope this information helps!

I see what you mean about that area under Pete's neck. I also do not recommend using any more water or soaps to clean it. The skin itself looks a bit irritated, and I wonder if he needs something like an antibiotic or steroid cream to treat it. The best thing to do for him is to take him into a vet to get this looked at and treated. Give his vet a call now to get him an appointment. I hope this helps!

I am sorry to hear about poor Dixie. Her skin looks quite irritated and itchy from the photo. Mange would definitely be a top suspect on my list of possible causes for her condition. We would also worry about severe allergies with secondary bacterial infection or yeast infection of the skin, allergic reaction to a drug or chemical, immune mediated disease, or in older dogs we may worry about types of cancer affecting the skin. I would recommend a visit to the vet as soon as possible. The vet will likely want to do a skin scrape to check for mites. They may recommend a cytology to look for bacteria and yeast. Treatment will depend on the underlying cause of the condition and may include oral antibiotic or antifungals, antihistamines or steroids, or medications to treat mites (these may include injectable or oral ivermectin or some newer prescription flea preventative products that are being used to treat mange).

It looks like he has a bacterial skin infection which could be associated with allergies. Have your vet take a look at him as he will need an oral antibiotic, anti-histamine, and/or a corticosteroid to help treat. You can also bathe him with a medicated dog shampoo.

Hello, this looks like a case of moist dermatitis, or a hot spot, sometimes caused by an allergy. You can gently clean this with an antibacterial solution like Hibiclens available at all pharmacies. Then apply a light coating of 1% hydrocortisone twice a day. It should look better in a day or so, but if not, please see your veterinarian for further treatment. Thank you.