What are whiteheads on my Shih Tzu's belly? Should I use DermaVet?

It sounds like this is likely to be a cyst of some kind, but could also be an abscess, localized skin infection or some other type of skin growth - pus from an abscess would usually have an odor to it, but not always. You can clean the area thoroughly with warm water and soap, and it's fine to use topical antibiotic ointment like Neosporin as well. But in order to find out for sure what it is and get it treated more effectively, you will need to take your dog to a vet for an exam. He/she can take a sample of the white substance for analysis to help determine what it is, and will advise you based on the results whether it needs to be treated with oral antibiotics or other medication, or if it needs to be surgically removed.

This appears to be a pustule (pus-filled bump), which indicates that Sebastian has a pyoderma (bacterial skin infection). You can help remove these and keep them from coming back by cleaning the area with a medicated shampoo (can find this at the pet store) daily. Clean the area for at-least ten minutes at a time using warm water and a cloth. Wipe the skin gently, but do not scrub. Don't be surprised if some of these lesions pop - this is perfectly fine. Continue the daily cleaning until you don't see these bumps anymore. If it's not getting better within two weeks, then it's best to take Sebastian to the vet. He may need stronger medication to clear this problem and they can also ensure that his overall health is OK. I hope that helps and Sebastian gets better soon.

It looks like there may be a small skin infection (called pyoderma). You can use a medicated shampoo like Dechra Malacetic Ultra Otic, but if it doesn't look better in 72 hours, your pup may need oral antibiotics to clear the infection.

Without a [physical exam](https://www.petcoach.co/article/what-does-your-veterinarian-look-for-during-a-physical-exam), I can't say for certain what they are, however, I can tell you that small bumps on the skin which are filled with pus are called pustules. These can be caused by a bacteria infection of the hair follicles (bacterial folliculitis), autoimmune diseases, a bacterial skin infection ([pyoderma](https://www.petcoach.co/article/staphylococcal-pyoderma-a-common-skin-infection-in-dogs-pup/)), a fungal skin infection among others. I would recommend taking Sadie to the vet to determine the cause of the pustules, and to prescribe the proper treatment. In the meantime, do not squeeze them or try to pop them, as you could potentially spread infection. An [e-collar](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/well-and-good-e-collar) (cone) can be used to prevent lickign or chewing until she sees the doctor.

It looks as if your dog has a skin infection, most commonly caused by an allergy, a skin mite (Demodex) or fleas. 

The allergy could be a due to a protein in your dog’s food or an environmental allergy like to dust, pollens, grasses, etc. 

The allergy causes your dog to itch and chew at the skin which breaks down the skin barrier. This then leads to infection. Skin infections are typically characterized by large areas of hair loss, redness, crusting, flaking, and pustules. A thorough skin examination by your veterinarian should be able to determine the cause of the infection and itch so it can be treated appropriately. Because your puppy is so young I would be very concerned about Demodex as the primary problem. Your dog will most likely need antibiotics to help clear up the infection and possibly an allergy/anti-itch medication like Apoquel, Atopica, or Cytopoint to give some relief while the infection clears up. A medicated shampoo may be beneficial as well (based on the type of infection your veterinarian can recommend the most appropriate one). I would also recommend that he be on a good flea control routinely too. The thyroid gland is located in the throat area but it is probably not what you were feeling. I suspect you may be feeling a large lymph node or just severely inflamed skin tissue judging by the severity of his infection. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.



Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This looks like a focal infection. You can try to use a medicated shampoo containing chlorhexidine twice weekly for 2 weeks. 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 day!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is likely a focal infection or superficial pyoderma. You can try to use a medicated shampoo containing chlorhexidine twice weekly for 2 weeks. If there is no improvement or in the meantime this appears to be getting worse, have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck and have a good day!