My dog's skin is infected and painful. Should I take him to the vet?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It does look like Max has a skin infection. Washing him was a good idea but he likely needs oral antibiotics to cure it. Puppies commonly get skin infections on their belly because they have a weak immune system. I would take him to the vet to get medications started. Good luck and kisses to Max!

From the pictures, the skin appears red and inflamed. It does look like it is infected. While this may not be a true emergency, I would recommend getting in to see your veterinarian very soon. Pookie will need the area shaved and cleaned up. Your vet may prescribe an antibiotic for this as well depending. Until you can get to your vet, you can keep the area clean and dry and use a mild soap and water to clean the wound. If Pookie is licking it, you can put on ECollar on her to prevent licking.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Ideally yes. This may be due to a skin infection which is usually treated by a veterinarian. I highly recommend that you have Ferdie evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. If an infection is noted, treatment can be pursued. Good luck and have a great day!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Buddy. He needs to see a veterinarian. It is possible that he has a bacterial skin infection, but there are other possibilities as well. He will likely need skin tests to look for ringworm and mites. Based on these results, medications can be prescribed to help him feel better. I hope this information helps!

I would recommend taking Sandy to a vet. He most likely will need antibiotics to help with the skin infection. They can also evaluate him to see if they are able to find the cause. It can be allergies, mites, fleas, etc. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

There's no way to know for sure from a photograph, but it does look like a bacterial infection. It is important to have this seen by your vet to determine what it is so the correct treatment can be started as soon as possible before it gets worse or is a sign of an underlying problem. Your vet will do an exam, possibly labwork, and based on these results will be better able to tell you what is causing this and how best to treat it.

Hello. The area is definitely irritated & probably infected. Clean the area with a skin antiseptic, one with either chlorhexidine or benzoyl peroxide as the main ingredient. If Wangu is licking the area, pick up an Elizabethan cone or collar to wear so he cannot reach the spot. Do not administer any medications until your vet has had a chance to examine the area. To help with pain & discomfort, take a bag of frozen vegetables like peas, wrap in a tea towel & hold against the area for 10 minutes several times during the day. The cold will numb the area giving him some relief. Once your vet sees this, I am sure he will start antibiotics & possibly advise other treatments. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.