Crusty Skin on a Three-Week-Old Puppy
by A reader
It could be. Demodectic (puppy) mange is passed from the mother to the puppies in the first days of life and can show up in young puppies as crusty or scaly patches with thinning hair. Other causes in a puppy this young include a skin infection (puppy pyoderma), ringworm, or a buildup of skin oils, much like cradle cap.
A puppy this young needs a vet to diagnose and treat her, because many mange and skin medicines are not safe for very young puppies. A quick skin scraping can confirm mange.
Keep the area clean and dry, keep her warm, and make sure she's nursing well and gaining weight. If the crusts spread, ooze or she seems weak, see the vet sooner. Have the mother and littermates checked too. If cost is a worry, ask your vet about a payment plan, or look for a low-cost clinic, humane society clinic or veterinary school near you.
See puppy mange.
This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.
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