Skin Rash on Female Dog

by Christine
(Dedham, Maine)

I have a 5 month old St. Bernard pup. I just recently noticed she had brown scaly flakes on the insides of her hind legs. I washed it off and realized it had a fowl odor and under the scabs was a red rash with raised bumps.

I'm just wondering how to go about treating this. Do you think this could be caused from her urine getting on her skin down there?


Suggestion From Our Vet


Hello Christine,

While it is impossible for me to determine exactly what might be going on with your dog’s skin without examining her, a skin infection caused by bacteria and/or yeast) certainly sounds like a possibility. Urine scald could be playing a role, but other underlying factors could also be involved.

Your best course of action is to make an appointment with your veterinarian. He or she can take a cell sample from the affected skin, figure out if yeast or bacteria are to blame, and plan treatment based on the results. For severe skin infections, a combination of topical and systemic (oral or injectable) therapy often works best. Which medication to use is completely dependent on which microbes are involved and other aspects of your dog’s case.

Most uncomplicated skin infections resolve quickly with appropriate treatment. If, however, an underlying factor like urinary incontinence is involved, it will also need to be addressed to avoid relapses.

Regards,
Jennifer Coates, DVM