Red Itchy Dog Rash

by Courtney
(Lynn, MA)

My pit bull is about 8 months old, male. He has this horrible worsening rash on his underside- irritated, but not dry or greasy, with continuous licking & itching.

He has had it for at least a few weeks now but there has been no change in his food, I clean his cage(with baby wipes now, rather than disinfectant wipes), bathe him (with baby shampoo), no improvements.

It seems to be spreading - even slightly to his face were he is also starting to itch as well. He is not shedding but has chewed off some fur in certain areas from the itch.

He has got his 1st set of shots a few months back including: 6 in 1 (DH4LP + Parvo), Corona, Bordetella, hook & roundworm dewormer. He will be going back for his next set next week but I didn't want to wait till then to do something about this rash, if possible. Any ideas?

Thanks...

Courtney & Lucifer

Vet Comments regarding Puppy Skin Rash and Itch

Hi Courtney,

I can’t say with certainty what is going on with your dog, but based on your description, photo and on Lucifer’s age, my best guess is that he is suffering from puppy pyoderma (sometimes called impetigo).

This is a common type of superficial skin infection we see in young dogs. The good news is that it usually responds very well to a topical antiseptic like chlorhexidine.

In more severe cases, topical or oral antibiotics might be required, but most puppies outgrow the problem given enough time.

Good luck,

Jennifer Coates, DVM