Why is my dog constantly licking scabs on his skin? What to do?

Hi there. That lesion could be a bacterial Staph infection but it could also be something like ringworm. These things often look similar and cannot be easily distinguished visually. Some testing may be needed to figure it out. Since you have been using an anti-fungal medication and it's not working then I suspect this may be more bacterially related. I would recommend you take Charlie to your vet for an exam. If you want to try something in the meantime you can try these medicated wipes and an E-collar to keep him from licking it. No matter what you put on it, it will not resolve if he continues to lick it. https://www.amazon.ca/Sogeval-Douxo-Count-Chlorhexidine-Pads/dp/B00G3D8JL0/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1514572929&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=duoxo+wipes https://www.amazon.ca/Total-Pet-Health-Elizabethan-Areas-Small/dp/B00FXKSV3K/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1514572948&sr=1-1&keywords=elizabethan+collar Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Unfortunately, without pictures, it is very hard to guess. Some possibilities include: urine scald (basically an extreme diaper rash), skin infection, allergies/hot spots, tick/flea bites, insect bite hypersensitivity, and more. If it looks serious (painful, infected, or very itchy), he should see a vet right away to get on medication to control itching or infection. If it looks only mildly uncomfortable, try an E-collar to prevent licking. Keep him from lying in his urine/feces and keep him clean and dry as much as possible. If it is a urine scald, it should improve dramatically in a few days with just this. Best wishes to you and your new buddy Jackson!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. What you can do in the meantime is use an e-collar to prevent further self-injury. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

I can certainly see that Moglee has some skin lesions and I'm sorry to hear that they're causing him so much discomfort! These lesions could be a result of a bacterial skin infection (often from underlying allergies to fleas, food or the environment), ringworm or mange. Make sure that he is receiving a high quality flea and tick preventative, such as Nexgard, Bravecto or K9 Advantix II regularly. You can also try bathing him with an antiseptic shampoo (here is one example: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=27982). However, if Moglee's skin lesions persist or worsen, I recommend taking him back to his vet for further evaluation. An e-collar (cone) may also be beneficial to preventing further skin irritation from his ongoing licking until this issue resolves. I hope this helps and that Moglee feels better soon!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Charlie. I recomend she sees her veterinarian. The lesion could be an infection or a a mass that has developed. Depending on her exam findings, the veterinarian may perform a procedure known as a fine needle aspirate. A small needle is used to collect a sample of cells and evaluate them under the microscope to diagnose the lesion. This will help to guide treatment. In the meantime, you can try bathing her with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner such as an oatmeal or fatty acid based formula. I hope this information helps!

Hello. Is it possible that Charlie was bitten by something like a tick? This just looks like an acute inflammatory reaction. If you have some hydrocortisone cream, I would just rub a bit into the skin several times a day. If you do not have any cream, then please visit your Petco who will have several brands, including Zymox which is a very good product. If the area worsens or just does not seem to be healing, please consult your veterinarian. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thank you for contacting Pet Coach with your question about Chief. I'd put an Ecollar on him to keep him from licking the scab, which will make it worse. You can make one at home, and I will put a link below on how to do that. Keep an eye on the scab, and if it doesn't heal over the next couple of days, gets bigger, and/or appears to bother him, then I would take him into the vet. Best of luck, I hope this helps! http://dogsaholic.com/care/homemade-dog-cone.html