Share
Disclaimer:just refer to the information in this article as a guide only.
If you are worried about your pets health or behavior, its best to contact your veterinarian.
You are cuddling your pup and giving him belly rubs when suddenly you notice red spots on his belly.
What are these red spots and are they cause for concern?
The information provided herein is for informational purposes only.
yo refer to ourdisclaimerfor more details..
What Are Symptoms of a Belly Rash in Dogs?
Image credits:Finy
Dermatitis, or inflammation of the skin, can present in a variety of ways.
Image credits:wsjwilsonsantos
The skin is the largest organ in the body.
It normally serves as a protective barrier and helps regulate your dogs temperature.
But sometimes yourdogs skincan become red and inflamed.
So what causes red spots on a dogs stomach?
Symptoms of pyoderma depend on how deep the infection goes.
Pyoderma confined to the surface of the skin is referred to as a hot spot.
Skin infections in dogs can also be triggered by fungus, such as yeast or ringworm.
Dogs with yeast dermatitis typically have severely itchy skin with an unpleasant odor.
Both bacterial and yeast skin infections are often secondary to other problems such as allergies or endocrine disorders.
Additionally, these dogs often have bacterial and yeast skin infections simultaneously.
Another punch in of fungal skin infection in dogs is ringworm.
Ringworm is characterized by circular bald and scaly lesions.
Dogs with ringworm must be handled with care since ringworm is transmissible to humans.
Allergies: Food and Environmental
Allergies in dogs can manifest as changes to their skin.
These allergies can be due to food or the environment.
Dogs can also be allergic to fleas which we will discuss later.
Dogs with food allergies are allergic to proteins such as chicken or beef.
In addition to itchy skin and ears, these dogs may experiencegastrointestinal upsetsuch as diarrhea and vomiting.
Unlike atopic dermatitis, dogs with food allergies experience symptoms year-round.
Dogs can also have canine atopic dermatitis, which is an allergy to environmental allergens.
The most common sign of atopic dermatitis is itchy skin.
If secondary infection is present, itching increases, and skin lesions can worsen rapidly without early treatment.
External Parasites
External parasites can bite dogs skin causing red spots or a rash on their belly.
Fleas can cause flea allergy dermatitis and severe itching.
Mites are another potential parasite and are associated with mange.
This results in painful blisters.
Dogs with bullous pemphigoid may also have hives.
The good news is that genetic skin disorders are fairly rare.
Some of these congenital and inherited skin abnormalities are more common in certain breeds.
Endocrine Disorders
Dogs with excess sex hormone levels can develop itchy skin rashes.
Such hormonal imbalances can occur in non-spayed females and intact males with testicular tumors.
Skin abnormalities can occur with other endocrine disorders, such as hypothyroidism and hyperadrenocorticism (aka Cushings).
Environmental Causes
Dogs can develop skin rashes due to contact dermatitis.
Contact dermatitis is essentially an allergic reaction that pops up if an allergen or irritant touches the skin.
Because dogs typically have less fur over their belly, this is a common region affected by contact dermatitis.
Common culprits include plants like poison ivy and topical products like certain shampoos.
Other potential environmental causes of hives include insect bites or stings.
Excessive heat and friction can also result in skin irritation and cause a rash on your dogs belly.
Skin Tumors
A red bump on a dogs belly could also be a skin tumor.
There are many different types of skin tumors and they can vary widely in appearance.
Your veterinarian will ask you several questions about the history of your dogs skin problems.
This pop in of information will help guide the diagnostic process.
Your dogs history in combination with his physical exam findings and signalment (e.g.
breed, age, sex) will help determine what diagnostic tests your vet may recommend.
Note that some of these laboratory tests take several days and that reaching a diagnosis may require several visits.
Treating Dogs with Skin Problems
Treatment options depend on the underlying cause of your dogs skin problems.
Examples of topical therapies include medicated shampoos and antibiotic ointment.
Some dogs also require oral medications in the form of antibiotics and antifungals.
In cases of severe itching and inflammation, dogs may also be prescribed corticosteroids.
Owners need to administer treatment exactly as directed by their veterinarian.
This includes completing full courses of prescribed antibiotics and following up appropriately with recheck appointments.
This is crucial to successfully clear secondary skin infections and prevent antibiotic-resistant infections from developing.
Early recognition and diagnosis of dog skin conditions are key to improving treatment success.
