My 10-month-old puppy has chin patches. Is a vet visit needed?

Hello, and thank you for your question and photo! It looks like Trooper may have folliculitis (inflammation of the hair follicles), caused by bacterial infection, demodex mites, fungal infection, or allergy. He will require a vet visit, but in the meantime, I would suggest wiping the muzzle area with a mild soap or chlorhexidine solution which you may be able to find at the pharmacy. This will hopefully keep the muzzle area clean until definitive treatment can be started at the vet. If Trooper is scratching at his muzzle, you may need to put an e-collar (cone) on his head to prevent further trauma to the area. Once at the vet, they may recommend some tests such as a skin scraping, cytology, or fungal culture to rule out the above causes. From there, the appropriate medication can be prescribed. I hope this helps, and that Trooper gets better soon!

Hello. This is probably a case of chin furunculosis, a deep pyoderma or skin infection that can be from many causes, including food sensitivities. It often clears up with a round of antibiotics, & sometimes steroids, but may come back if the underlying allergen is not identified. I would start out by slowly switching her food to one indicated for skin issues. Both Purina Pro Plan & Hill's Science Diet have over the counter foods directed at dogs with sensitive skin & stomach issues. You can also clean the skin using a benzoyl peroxide based soap or one with chlorhexidine ( Hibiclens - available at all pharmacies ). If this does not work, or you want to see quicker results, talk to your vet about oral antibiotic therapy, topical therapy with Mupiricin & a prescription hypoallergenic diet. Also, make sure all food & water dishes are either ceramic or stainless steel, no plastics. Hope the skin looks better soon & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

This is commonly seen when they get a skin infection. The chin is a common place for this to happen, because there can be excessive moisture that gets trapped here. I recommend cleaning the chin with a medicated wipe or shampoo (can get this at the pet store) once a day until the bump(s) are gone. If it seems to get worse, then you'll want to take Oakley into the vet for an exam, because it may be another skin condition, or need stronger medication. Below is a link to an article with more information about pyoderma (skin infection). https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/pyoderma-in-dogs You should start seeing good results within a week after starting this. It may take a few weeks before it's completely cleared. If two weeks go by and it's not getting any better, then it's best to have a veterinarian exam it. I hope that helps and Oakley gets better soon.

This looks like a quite severe canine chin acne which is best classified as muzzle folliculitis and furunculosis. Usually antibiotics and long-term topical care (e.g. medicated wipes and ointments) will prevent this condition from progressing. In Asher's case oral antibiotics may be indicated. Failure to respond may be due to a resistant infection, so bacterial culture and antimicrobial sensitivity testing may be indicated. A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm this clinical suspicion and treat appropriately. 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. Please find the time to give us a feedback about the consultation as that will be used to improve our service.

Hi and thanks for your request. This is likely to be due to a superficial skin infection likely to be caused by bacterial infection. It is not urgent. A check up, appropriate disinfection and possibly antibiotics (oral, topical or in a shampoo formulation) are needed to solve the problem. Disinfection may be started at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths twice daily. Buster collar may be useful as well to avoid any scratching (if any).

Although a picture of it would help to determine the underlying cause more specifically, this presentation could be due to a trauma or localized spot of skin infection (likely to be caused by bacteria). A check up, appropriate disinfection and possibly antibiotics (oral, topical or in a shampoo formulation) are needed to solve the problem. 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 scratching. 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.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This looks like a focal infection. You can try to use chlorhexidine containing pads (such as the Douxo chlorhexidine 3% PS pads) to clean the are twice daily for 7 days. You may find these online or at your local pet store. If there is no improvement or in the meantime this appears to be getting worse, have her evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck and have a good night!