My 8-year-old Lab has white spots around his eye. What's causing them?

Hi there! There are many different skin related diseases that can cause the signs that you describe. The most common diseases include infectious skin diseases (i.e. bacterial pyoderma, dermatophytosis), or ectoparasites (i.e. Demodex, fleas, lice). From the picture you provided Ecru looks as though he may be suffering from Demodex, more commonly known as mange. To be certain of what exactly is going on with Ecru I recommend that he be seen by a veterinarian to evaluate samples of the affected areas of Ecru's skin under a microscope and get him on the appropriate medications and/or shampoos. It depends on what exactly is going on to know how long treatment will be, but I would estimate anywhere between 1 - 3 weeks of treatment. I hope this was helpful and Ecru gets better soon.

Although a picture would help greatly to give you more specific answers, this presentation could be due to a trauma, severe allergy or a skin infection. The eye underneath must be examined as soon as possible to make sure there are no corneal injuries. Antibiotic eye drops are probably required (they will be effective on the eyelid as well). 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.

That spot on Briggs could be several things including skin mites, ringworm (which humans can get), allergies to something in the environment, food allergy, Zinc responsive dermatosis or endocrine disease. Each one of these problems is detected and addressed differently and I recommend to discuss with your veterinarian which one to start hunting down first. Parasites are often ruled out with an oral medication like Simparica. Food allergy is best ruled out with a diet trial using a hydrolyzed protein. Endocrine diseases are detected with blood work. Environmental allergies are a little more difficult to detect but a response to therapy or a blood test can give an indication. Mites and ringworm are diagnosed by a few easy skin testes. Zinc issues may need a blood test. I recommend to have him examined to get the treatment process started. There are a couple things you can do at home and they can help but they are unlikely to 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. Also protect the area from trauma by having Briggs wear an elizabethan collar at all times. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

The majority of these small, smooth growths are benign but can cause significant irritation to the eye, often becoming damaged from repeated scratching also. I would recommend surgical removal in order to prevent irritation and discomfort to the eye and more importantly before it becomes any larger and then requiring reconstructive surgery due to the size of the wound

The most common tumors that we see along eyelid margins are tumors called Meibomian Gland tumors. I am attaching more information about them below. http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=2463 These tumors are generally benign, but as you have seen can bleed and can also irritate the eye. It is generally recommended to remove them when they are small since it can often be done without general anesthesia. If they continue to grow, the surgery will be more invasive. So, I would recommend having your vet examine Moxley and decide what treatment will be best for him. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Those spots on Oreo could be several things including allergies, skin mites, flea bites, ringworm (which humans can get) or a bacterial infection. 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 with soap once a day and rinse well (don't wash his whole body, just those spots). Protect the areas from licking or scratching. If they don't start looking better within about a week or if they get worse, have him examined by his veterinarian who may prescribe medications. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Blue and his brother are gorgeous dogs! It looks like Blue may have some acne on his chin. If they root around or dig in the yard it can cause inflammation there, it could also be secondary to allergies. Try to keep him from rooting if possible, and you can keep the area clean with a damp cloth. If it's not improving he may need to see your vet for treatment with antibiotics