Why are my dog's nipples red, rashy, and cut from scratching?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. There are medications that can be used for scratching to reduce the urge to do it such as Apoquel or prednisone. This is only to help temporarily but it is important to address the possible allergy as well. 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!

Poor pup! It's possible she has developed an allergy (it could be environmental or food related) or an endocrine disease (like hypothyroidism or cushings disease). It sounds like the lesions are all over and I don't like the fact that her nipples are becoming discolored. I think your best option is to have her examined by the veterinarian. At home you can try giving her an omega 3 fatty acid supplement for pets but it may not correct the underlying cause. This can however improve over all skin health. There are two brands of food, Royal Canin and Nutro, which are aimed at skin health and they may help as well but again, they may not affect the underlying problem. Lastly, bathing her in an oatmeal type pet shampoo can help to condition the skin. This should not be done more than once a week. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

If you are seeing wounds or there is a nipple that is scratched and bloody, it may indicate that your dog is having an issue such as an [allergy](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/canine-allergies/) that is causing [itching](https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-prevent-itching-in-pets). Bacterial infections can also cause your dog to itch more. Scratching to the point of bleeding is not normal and should be addressed by your vet. Discuss [allergy testing](https://www.petcoach.co/article/allergy-testing-immunotherapy-in-dogs), [food elimination trials](https://www.petcoach.co/article/food-trials-for-allergies-in-pets-what-to-expect), hydrolyzed diets and antihistamine use during the visit. He or she can provide allergy relief, recommend a diet change if [food related](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/food-allergies/), or provide medications to treat any infections. You may want to place an Elizabethan collar (cone) or T-shirt on your dog to prevent further scratching to help the wounds heal without introducing more bacteria, until your vet can take a look.

If this is an abnormal color change, I recommend to have her examined by the veterinarian. It could indicate an infection or developing mammary tissue. It could also be related to itchy skin. I hope this helps.

This does look like a skin rash. I would clean it with antibacterial soap and then apply a thin film of antibacterial ointment on it. It should heal in a few days to a week. Please keep her from rubbing or scratching the area. If you see more lesions then I recommend a veterinary exam and treatment. She may be developing a mild skin infection that would need oral antibiotics. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Grace.

Oh dear, poor Sadie! Her skin issues coupled with the redness and swelling of her anus and vulva could be due to underlying allergies to fleas, food or the environment. I see that she has not been spayed, so it is also possible that her vulva is red and swollen if she is going into heat. The anus can be red and irritated from parasites or anal gland issues, as well. At this point, I recommend assuring that Sadie is receiving a high quality flea preventative (such as Nexgard, Bravecto or K9 Advantix II). You can try bathing her in a gentle oatmeal shampoo or antimicrobial shampoo, but she will likely need to go to her vet for an exam. The vet will be able to assess her changes and determine if a skin infection is present as a result of her ongoing itching. She may need to have a course of antibiotics and anti-itch medications to help resolve this issue. I hope that all goes well!

That looks uncomfortable. It's impossible to know at this stage if the nipple is infected or if the skin on/around the nipple is inflamed and this is causing the enlarged size. The block dots could be flea dirt, blocked pores or debris Patrick has laid in. Your best option is to have Patrick examined by the veterinarian and to get medications to help the itchiness. These lesions could be several things including fleas, allergies, skin mites, bacterial infection, ringworm (which humans can get) or endocrine disease. If you can't get him in to the veterinarian, there are a couple things you can do at home and they can help but they may not address the underlying cause. 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. You can wash the lesions once a day (not his whole body, just the lesions). Also protect the area from trauma by having your pup wear an elizabethan collar at all times. If the lesions do not start improving within a week or if they are getting worse, have him examined by the veterinarian. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.