Why is my dog's fur oily on her neck, back, and ears? Is it normal?

Oily hair often indicates that there is an underlying problem that is not allowing the skin to maintain a healthy environment. This could be caused by a metabolic condition like hypothyroidism, or a nutritional deficiency. In order to narrow-down the cause of this, you will need to take her to a vet. A vet can help narrow-down the underlying problem with a standard examination and advise you on the necessary diagnostics and/or treatment. For now, you can help to keep the coat free from oil and infection (they often have secondary infections with this disorder) by giving a bath once every three days with a medicated shampoo (can get this at the pet store). It's best to ensure the shampoo is worked well into her coat and is allowed to have at-least 15 minutes of contact time on the skin. Make sure to rinse and dry her well. I hope that helps and your dog gets better soon.

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 her allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. 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 don't see much here, and the little black/brown specs I do see just appear to be normal sebaceous material from the oil glands in the hair follicles. You could certainly monitor for more generalized changes, as this may be a sign of a skin condition called sebaceous adenitis. However, at this moment it doesn't look too concerning.

Missy should be examined by her veterinarian. Persistent oily patches that do not respond to over the counter treatments could indicate a hormonal imbalance, an endocrine disease, an allergy or a disease of the oil glands themselves. The doctor will need to run some blood work and may recommend a food trial to rule out food allergies. She may also need oral medications and likely a prescription strength shampoo to help her skin condition. Please feel free to post any additional questions and best of luck.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Judging by your description, it sounds as though Shiloh may have a skin infection or seborrheic dermatitis possibly. Without pictures and not being able to examine the area myself, it is difficult to say for sure. I would recommend having a veterinarian examine Shiloh so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. Shiloh may need an oral antibiotic and topical therapy for treatment. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Hello. Well, it looks like your pup is having a good back rub? Is any of this behavior concerning you? Are you seeing any lesions, or is the puppy acting out in any distress? If you could supply additional information, perhaps we can be a little more specific. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! In theory this could be a growth but in reality that is unlikely just based on the size and general appearance. I would encourage you to check in with your veterinarian to check for this possibility so that therapy can be used accordingly. If it is just an infection, your veterinarian may put her on an anti-microbial shampoo. Best of luck!