Dog Skin Lesions on Upper Back

by Jennifer
(Oregon)

I have an 8 year old lab who recently developed several skin lesions on his upper back. No change in diet, shampoo or routine. Size of lesions range from pinhead to quarter size. No pus or fluid noted, if scab removed, bloody. No signs of fleas. Any suggestions? Otherwise healthy, no past medical history or allergies.

Suggestion from our Vet regarding Dog Skin Lesions on upper back

Hi Jennifer,

I’m afraid that your dog’s scabby lesions could be caused by any of a number of diseases, and I can’t give you an idea of which might be the most likely without examining him.

As long as your dog is not terribly itchy and is otherwise feeling fine, you could try treating the lesions as if they were caused by a minor injury. As long as you can do so safely, use electric clippers to remove the hair from around the scabs, gently clean the areas with an antiseptic containing either chlorhexidine or povidone iodine, and then apply a triple antibiotic ointment like Neosporin.

Repeat this treatment twice daily until the lesions are healed. An herbal remedy like Wound Dr. might also be worth a try.

If your dog’s condtion fails to improve after 5-7 days (or get worse at any point), make an appointment with your veterinarian.

Good luck,

Jennifer Coates, DVM