My Chihuahua has red, crusty skin on her stomach and neck. What is it?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Phene appears to have either ringworm or bacterial folliculitis. To determine for sure, she will need to be examined by your veterinarian and have the appropriate therapy prescribed. This could be other things, but given what you are describing and the appearance from the picture, these two are most likely. As ringworm is a possibility, you should take caution as it is a zoonotic (transmissible to humans) disease, so wash after handling Phene, and please see your physician if you notice any skin lesions on yourself. Often, if it is one of these diseases, frequent bathing with medicated shampoo will be prescribed along with topical creams or ointments, and in some cases, oral medications are needed to clear the disease. These will be at the discretion of the veterinarian following assessment. Hope this helps!

This presentation is likely to be due to a mild superficial bacterial infection (bacterial folliculitis) on the ventral abdomen. Nothing to be extremely worried about as it could be self limiting/resolving. 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 licking/scratching (if any). If signs are not resolving, a check up, appropriate disinfection and possibly antibiotics (oral, topical or in a shampoo formulation) will be then needed to solve the problem. 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!

I can see how red Barbie's belly is, as well as some marks where she has been scratching herself. She also has some red bumps, which can be a sign of a bacterial or fungal infection, as well as certain types of skin mites. Certain hormonal imbalances such as Cushing's disease (an overproduction of steroids by the body), and food allergies can cause signs like this as well. I recommend having Barbie seen by a vet soon to determine the cause and any underlying conditions. A vet will be able to determine the appropriate treatment and prescribe any antibiotics or medicated shampoos that will treat this issue. I hope this helps and would be happy to answer any questions you may have!

Hi and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is hard to say exactly what the cause of Lulu's skin lesions may be without an exam, but some possibilities may include a fungal infection, mites (scabies or demodex) a food or environmental allergy, or evidence of an underlying endocrine disorder such as Cushing's disease or a thyroid problem. Your veterinarian can diagnose these potential conditions with a fungal culture, skin scraping, and some blood work. I would recommend Lulu visit her vet soon to have the possibilities above ruled out so she can get appropriately treated.

Hello, sorry to hear about Chico. It looks like he is having multiple areas of skin inflammation (dermatitis). This could be causes by a various things to include bacteria, yeast, or most commonly allergies. In that location, environmental allergies are the most common cause. These may include grasses, trees, pollen, carpet, dust mites, dander, etc. Signs associated with this could include licking, scratching, rubbing belly on the floor, and developing other areas of dermatitis. If he is otherwise comfortable with a good appetite and no itchiness, then you can bathe him with a skin sensitive shampoo to wash off any excessive allergens. You may wipe him with skin sensitive baby wipes as well to decrease any allergen exposure. If he does develop any itchiness, then he may need allergy medications which can be provided by your veterinarian. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Judging from the picture you provided, I suspect that Baby may be dealing with a bacterial skin infection. I would recommend having a veterinarian examine Baby so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. Baby will likely need to go on a course of an oral antibiotic and topical therapy such as a shampoo and spray. 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.

When I hear that a dog has red circles on their body, my first thought is ringworm. This is a highly contagious fungal infection that can spread to other animals and humans as well. It could also be that Sophia has a skin infection or may have injured herself leading to these red circles. The only way to know for sure is to have her seen by a vet, and I recommend taking her in today or tomorrow. The vet can diagnose what is causing them and how best to treat them. If she does have ringworm, you will need to disinfect the environment because the spores can live in it for up to 18 months. I can give you a link to a website on how to do this: http://www.livestrong.com/article/49666-rid-home-ringworm/