Do dog rashes go away

Rashes on Dogs

A rash (pyoderma) is usually a temporary outbreak of scaly, patchy, and sometimes swollen or bumpy skin that is often red and may be itchy.

A rash can occur on any part of your dogs body, but it pops up most often on the belly. A rash by itself is usually minor and often goes away on its own, but it can be a sign of a more serious situation. The cause of rashes on a dog can range from parasites to diabetes.

Heres what you should know about rashes on dogs, from what to look for to possible causes and their treatments.

What to Check For if Your Dog Has a Rash

If your dogs rash gets worse or does not go away after a week, take your dog to the vet to be examined.

With rashes on dogs, you may see:

Causes of Rashes on Dogs

A rash can occur anywhere on a dogs body. The location of the rash can provide some clues as to what health issue may have caused it:

• Belly rash or underarm rash: A belly rash on a dog is one of the more common reasons pet parents take their dogs to the vet. Rashes also often appear in a dogs underarms, more accurately, the point where a dogs front and hind legs meet the chest or abdomen. These rashes have many causes:

• Groin-area rash: Like a belly rash, a rash in your dogs groin area is often due to:

• Paw rash: Known as pododermatitis, this is inflammation of the paws that can include a rash. Causes can include:

Diagnosing Rashes on Dogs

Your vet will give your dog a physical exam and ask questions about your dogs diet, current health issues, home environment, and other factors. To diagnose a rash, your veterinarian will perform a number of tests, depending on the suspected cause, including:

• Allergy tests if an allergen is suspected. This may include a food elimination diet or intradermal allergy testing.

• Skin scraping to look for mites, bacteria, fungus, or other potential causes.

• Skin biopsy, where a piece of skin is examined at a pathology laboratory (done in cases of recurring infection or rash).

• Blood profile to check for diseases such as thyroid issues (hypothyroidism) or Cushings disease

Treatment for Rashes on Dogs

To eliminate the rash and make sure it doesnt come back, your vet will need to find and treat any underlying medical condition thats causing it.

They may also recommend several treatments for the rash and related symptoms. These may include:

• Grooming (such as brushing or cutting away hair)

• Oatmeal baths

• Medicated dog shampoo (containing antifungal or antibacterial ingredients)

• Anti-itch and anti-inflammatory medications

• Elizabethan collar or e-collar to prevent a dog from irritating hot spots by licking or biting

Epsom salt foot soaks if your dogs paws are inflamed. Follow your veterinarians instructions, as these can dry out the skin if used inappropriately. Do not allow your dog to drink the solution, which has high sodium levels.

Featured image: iStock.com/SeventyFour

Rashes on Dogs FAQs

What can I put on my dogs skin rash?

Depending on the cause and location of the rash (and accompanying symptoms), a veterinarian may recommend oatmeal baths, medicated dog shampoos, or medication to reduce itching and inflammation. Do not give your dog any medications without a veterinarians recommendation and guidance.

What does a rash look like on a dog?

Rashes can appear red, bumpy, inflamed, or like welts. There might be hair loss or hot spots, areas of skin that are inflamed and oozing.

What can cause skin rashes on dogs?

Causes of rash in dogs are numerous and range from allergies and insect bites, which are most common, to thyroid conditions and cancer.

References

1. Smith, John. American Heartworm Society. Heartworm Basics. January 2020.
2. Veterinary Partner. Pruritus Diagnostics in Dogs and Cats. October 2003.
3. Brooks, Wendy. Veterinary Partner. Itch Relief for Dogs and Cats. January 2001.
4. White, S.D. Merck Veterinary Manual. Hives and Rashes (Urticaria) in Dogs. June 2018.

Dog Hives (Urticaria | welts): Causes, Diagnosis & Treatment

What Are Dog Hives (Urticaria)?

Hives, otherwise known as urticaria by medical professionals, are one abnormality you may see. They occur when your dog is allergic to something, such as an insect, medication, or food. Recognizing hives in dogs and understanding the cause is essential to relieving your dogs discomfort and preventing dog hives in the future.

What do dog hives look like?

• Dog hives look like raised bumps on the skin, usually about the size of a nickel.
• Hives are usually red in color; however, you may not notice redness if they are on a very furry part of your dog. In this case, your pets hives may only look like fur-covered bumps. Sometimes, its difficult to see the raised bumps, and you may only feel them when petting your dog.
• Dog hives can appear anywhere on the body, including the face, tongue, neck, legs, chest, abdomen, or back. They can affect just one area of the body or the entire body.
• Dog hives are very itchy. This may be the first thing you notice before seeing or feeling hives on your dogs skin. Your dog will likely be trying to scratch, lick, or bite the areas affected as it will be itchy.
• Hives usually happen very fast within minutes after exposure to whatever caused them.
• You may notice excessive drooling and a swollen/puffy face if the hives affect your dogs throat or mouth.

What causes hives on a dog?

Dog hives are almost always related to exposure to an allergen. Once exposed to an allergen, mast cells in your dogs body release a substance called histamine. Histamine causes blood vessels to dilate, which leads to raised welts on your dogs skin.

The most common allergens causing dog hives include:

• Insect bite or sting, or ingesting an insect (photo recommendation: dog playing with bee)
• Vaccinations
• Acute allergic reactions to medications (chemotherapy, vitamin K, antibiotics)
• Food allergies
• Environmental allergies (grasses, trees, mold, dust mites, etc.)
• Contact allergens such as shampoos, insecticides, cleaning products
• Ingesting or skin exposure to toxic plants

Much less common causes of hives in dogs include prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures (hot or cold), strenuous exercise, parasites, or significant psychological stress.

Insect bites/stings, food, and medications are the most common causes of hives in dogs.

How are dog hives diagnosed?

As a pet parent, it can be worrisome to see these skin rashes, but luckily, for your vet to diagnose your dogs hives. Your vet will use a combination of your history and their physical examination findings.

Its essential to think about anything new your dog may have been exposed to. Did you see them playing with a bee? Were they recently vaccinated? Did they start a new medication or a new food? During the physical exam, your veterinarian will look at your dogs skin to evaluate hives and where the hives are located.

If your veterinarian is having trouble diagnosing your dogs hives or the reason for their hives, they may perform additional diagnostics, such as blood work, skin cytology, skin scrapings, or fecal analysis.

How to treat & get rid of dog hives?

Treatment for hives in dogs can be simple or more extensive, depending on the cause, severity, and duration of the allergic reaction.

To get your dog quick relief from the swelling and itchiness related to hives, your veterinarian will usually administer an injection of diphenhydramine (an antihistamine) and a corticosteroid. Once your dog is feeling better and discharged from the hospital, your veterinarian may also recommend that you continue giving your dog Benadryl two to three times a day at home for a couple of days.

To prevent hives from reoccurring, you need to understand what caused them in the first place so that you can avoid the allergen in the future. If there is no apparent cause for your dogs hives (such as insect bite, medication, or vaccinations), it may be more challenging to understand how to prevent hives in the future. Environmental and dietary allergies are two possible causes of hives that may require further diagnostics and treatment.

Environmental allergies

If your dog has recurrent hives or has other signs of allergies, your veterinarian may recommend testing for environmental allergies with serum allergy testing or intradermal allergy testing. With these results, your veterinarian can create a plan to desensitize your dog to these allergies with allergen-specific immunotherapy.

If you determine that you cannot eliminate the allergens in your dogs environment or pursue allergen-specific immunotherapy treatment, your veterinarian may recommend:

• Giving your dog daily antihistamines (such as Benadryl, zyrtec, or hydroxyzine)
• Giving your dog other prescription-strength allergy medications such as apoquel or cytopoint
• Starting daily skin health supplements, such as omega-three fatty acids.
• Frequently bathing your dog with medicated high-quality shampoo

Food allergies

Allergies that stem from food can also cause recurrent episodes of hives in dogs. The most common cause of allergies in dogs include chicken, beef, dairy, and egg 2. Recurrent episodes of hives can also be related to dietary allergies. To diagnose a food allergy, your veterinarian may recommend a diet trial for 6-8 weeks with a prescription food or an over-the-counter diet with a different protein source, like fish or venison. If your dog responds positively to a food trial, you can continue the special diet long term.

Are dog hives dangerous?

Dog hives are rarely life-threatening. However, there are a few less common situations where hives can affect your dogs breathing and become dangerous.

• Hives in the face, neck, or throat can cause severe swelling that impacts breathing, which can become life-threatening.
• The presence of hives anywhere may indicate your dog is having or about to have an anaphylactic reaction, which causes constriction of airways and difficulty breathing. 3 Besides hives, other signs of anaphylaxis include vomiting, diarrhea, facial swelling, drooling, blue gum color, and collapse.

If you notice that your dog has hives, pay particular attention to how they are breathing and for any other concerning changes in their behavior. If you are concerned your dog may be having severe allergic reactions, take them to the emergency room immediately to rule out a medical emergency.

At-home remedies for dog hives

If possible, take your dog to the veterinarian if you notice they have hives, especially if this is a first-time problem. If your dog chronically or intermittently has hives and the issue has previously been discussed with a veterinarian, some at-home remedies may help relieve the allergic reaction.

• If the hives are not affecting your dogs face, neck, throat, or ability to swallow, you can administer Benadryl by mouth. Always discuss if this is appropriate for your dog with your veterinarian first and receive instructions about dosage and frequency.
• If the hives were caused by a contact allergen (such as grasses/trees or chemicals) or insect bites you can help relieve itchiness by bathing with a gentle oatmeal-based dog shampoo can help your dog feel more comfortable.
• Apply a cold compress to the hives or the most severely affected areas of your dogs skin. Be careful never to apply a cold compress for more than 10 minutes at one time, and always wrap the ice or cold object in a towel before applying it to your dogs skin.

12 Signs Its Time to Worry About a Rash in Adults

In most adults, a rash can be mild and resolve on its own. But if you have other symptoms, such as fever, pain, or a rash that spreads, you may need urgent medical care.

Rashes can cause irritation and discomfort. Rashes in very visible places such as your hands or face might even cause embarrassment. Fortunately, most rashes are mild and not a cause for concern. You can generally treat a rash with over-the-counter (OTC) remedies.

However, there are rashes that a medical professional should look at. These rashes might be a sign of an infection, allergic reaction, or disease. You can read 12 common signs a rash might be a sign of something more serious below.

An area on your skin that is itchy, irritated, and swollen is called a rash. A rash can be raised, bumpy, blistered, or patchy.

Rashes can present differently depending on your skin tone. People with lighter skin often see rashes that are pink, red, or purple. People with darker skin might develop rashes that are white, gray, or darker than the surrounding skin.

Rashes can be caused by many things including:

• underlying health conditions
• stress
• sun exposure
• allergic reactions
• weather

Rashes are very common. Many types of rash are mild and can be treated with OTC medications. For example, contact dermatitis is a rash you get when your skin touches something that causes it to become itchy and irritated.

If youve ever gotten a rash from a new laundry detergent, lotion, or soap, your rash was likely contact dermatitis. A contact dermatitis rash will be inflamed and itchy. It will generally be contained to the part of your skin that touched the irritant.

Avoiding the item in the future and using an OTC anti-itch cream is normally enough to treat contact dermatitis.

Other common rashes in adults include:

• Hives. Often caused by an allergic reaction to medications, foods, or beverages, hives appear as raised, itchy, splotches and often spread rapidly.
• Shingles. Caused by the same virus that is responsible for chicken pox, shingles is often painful forming patches of skin with bumps that blister and itch. Anyone who has ever had chicken pox is at risk of developing shingles.
• Chronic rashes. Conditions such as eczema or psoriasis can cause chronic rashes that can flare when triggered. A dermatologist can help you manage these conditions.

Sometimes, a rash is a sign something serious is going on with your body. Its a good idea to keep an eye on any rash you develop and watch for these signs. Seek medical care if any of them develop.

1. You have a fever

A fever is a key sign that rash should be looked at by a doctor. It could be a sign of an allergic reaction. A fever along with your rash could also indicate an infection such as:

2. The rash is spreading

A rash that is spreading is another sign its time to seek medical care. A rash that is spreading quickly might be a medical emergency. Its best to go to an urgent care center or the emergency room if your rash is spreading rapidly.

If your rash is spreading slower but is spreading over your body, its still a good idea to get it looked at. It might be a warning that your rash is caused by an allergic reaction or an infection.

3. The rash area hurts

A painful rash should be looked at by a medical professional. It could be infected or a sign of conditions such as shingles.

Its best to also keep an eye on any rash that isnt painful but that is tender when you press on it. This could be a sign of infection, and youll want to have it checked out if it doesnt resolve after a day or so.

4. The rash came on suddenly

A rash that comes suddenly may be an allergic reaction to a medication. Sometimes, a rash can develop in the first few weeks after you start a new medication. Let a medical provider know about this side effect as soon as possible.

Its important to be careful when a rash is caused by an allergic reaction to mediation. This kind of reaction can lead to difficulty breathing and may become a medical emergency.

5. The rash is beginning to blister

Sometimes rashes caused by sun exposure or poison ivy can blister. These rashes generally heal on their own in most cases.

However, unless youre sure your rash was caused by the sun or poison ivy, any rash that blisters should be looked at by a doctor. It could be a sign that your rash is a severe allergic reaction to a medication or caused by an autoimmune condition called pemphigus vulgaris.

6. You see signs of infection in the rash

Rashes damage the surface of your skin. This can make it easy for infections to develop, especially if you scratch the rash area. An infected rash should be looked at by a medical professional. Signs a rash is infected:

• pain
• warmth
• swelling
• crusting over of rash bumps
• yellow discharge
• green discharge
• a bad smell

7. You have difficulty breathing

This is a medical emergency. Call 911 or seek care right away. A rash and difficulty breathing can be signs of a serious allergic reaction. This might happen when you eat or drink something youre allergic to.

8. The rash looks like large purple patches

A rash that looks like large purple patches or dark bruises can be a sign of a serious condition. It could be a warning sign of an infection spreading throughout your body or of a blood clotting problem. It could also indicate a condition called vasculitis that causes your blood vessels to become inflamed.

A medical professional can determine whats causing this rash and start treatment.

9. Bruises are forming in or around the rash

A rash with bruising or swelling around it might have been caused by an insect bite. Its a good idea to seek medical care if you notice this symptom. The bruises and swelling are a warning that that poison from the bite could be cutting off blood flow to the area.

10. The rash is in a circle shape

A circular-shaped rash could indicate Lyme disease. Caused by ticks, Lyme disease normally causes a rash that resembles a bulls-eye and symptoms similar to the flu. Antibiotics are the primary treatment for Lyme disease, so youll need to visit a medical provider for a diagnosis and prescription.

11. Youve had the rash for longer than a week

A rash that persists for more than a week is worth getting looked at by a medical professional. There might be a reason your body is having trouble healing the rash. Plus, even if your rash is mild, a medical professional can give you tips to treat it at home.

12. The rash is causing you discomfort or concern

Its a good idea to get any rash that is causing you to feel significant discomfort or concern checked out by a dermatologist or other healthcare professional. While it might be simple contact dermatitis, its still a good idea to consult a doctor.

Rashes are a common skin condition. Most rashes are temporary and clear up on their own. However, a rash can be a sign of something more serious.

Allergic reactions, infections, autoimmune conditions, and more can also cause rashes that need to be seen by a medical professional.

Rashes that occur along with trouble breathing, fever, lightheadedness, or nausea, are a medical emergency.