A skin rash in a dog can mean anything from flea bites to a bacterial infection, an allergic reaction or mites. Bacterial skin infection (pyoderma) is one of the most common causes, and it's usually triggered by an underlying problem such as allergies.1,2 Most rashes are easy to treat once the cause is known, but a few, such as sudden face swelling, are emergencies.3,4 This guide shows the common types of rashes, when to worry, how vets diagnose them, and current treatment advice.
Get emergency care if your dog has:
What the Research Shows
- Topical treatment comes first. 2025 international guidelines recommend medicated shampoos and sprays alone as the treatment of choice for surface and superficial skin infections.2
- Many staph resist common antibiotics. 80% to 94% of the staph bacteria that cause dog skin infections carry a gene that breaks down penicillin-type antibiotics.7
- Resistant infections can still respond to topicals. Topical therapy alone worked in 19 of 28 dogs with a methicillin-resistant staph skin infection.8
- Wrinkly breeds get fold rashes. Skin fold dermatitis affected 0.37% of UK dogs, but English Bulldogs had 49 times the odds of crossbreeds.9
- Contact rashes clear quickly. Once the trigger is removed, contact dermatitis improves in 1 to 3 days and resolves in 7 to 10 days.10
Common Types of Rashes in Dogs
- Bacterial skin infection (pyoderma): red bumps, pustules, ring-shaped crusts with peeling edges, and patchy hair loss, often on the belly and trunk. It's usually caused by staph bacteria taking advantage of allergies or other skin problems.1,11 See staph infections in dogs.
- Hot spots (acute moist dermatitis): red, raw, oozing patches that can grow from a small spot to a large wound within hours, triggered by licking and scratching.6,1
- Flea bites and flea allergy: small red bumps and scabs on the lower back and tail base.12
- Yeast (Malassezia): red, greasy or scaly, often itchy and smelly skin, which may affect the paws and nail folds.13,14 See yeast infections on dogs' skin.
- Mange: scabies causes an intensely itchy rash on ear edges, elbows and belly.10 Demodex mites cause patchy hair loss, especially in puppies. See mange in dogs.
- Puppy impetigo: small pustules on the sparsely haired belly of young puppies; it isn't contagious and usually clears with topical treatment.15,2,1
- Contact dermatitis: a red, itchy rash on thinly haired skin that touches the trigger, such as the belly, paws and groin.10
- Hives: raised welts that appear within minutes to hours after a sting, medicine or other trigger, and often fade within hours.3,4
- Skin fold dermatitis: red, smelly skin in the folds of wrinkly breeds.9,1
How Vets Diagnose a Rash
- Skin cytology: tape or swab samples examined under the microscope for bacteria and yeast. Current guidelines recommend it before starting antibiotics.2,11
- Skin scrapings for mites; scabies can still be missed, so vets sometimes treat for it anyway.10
- Bacterial culture, especially if a rash doesn't respond, new lesions appear during treatment, rod-shaped bacteria are seen, or the dog has had a resistant infection before.11
- Tests for underlying causes, such as allergies or hormone disease, for rashes that recur.1
Treatment
For most surface and superficial bacterial infections, medicated shampoos, sprays and wipes alone are now the first choice, even for resistant infections.2,1,8 Antibiotic tablets are kept for deep infections or ones that don't respond to topicals, starting with an initial course of about 2 weeks (superficial) or 3 weeks (deep) and a recheck before it ends to decide whether more is needed.2 Shampoos work best when left on the skin for at least 10 minutes.11,2 Hot spots are clipped, cleaned and protected with a cone, and the underlying cause is treated.6 Avoid human creams and ointments unless your vet recommends them, since dogs lick them off.
Preventing Rashes
- Treat the underlying cause, most often allergies or fleas.1,12 See dog allergies.
- Keep up year-round flea control.12
- Clean and dry skin folds in wrinkly breeds.
- Ask about regular medicated baths for dogs with recurring infections.2
See itchy skin in dogs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a bacterial skin infection look like on a dog?
Red bumps, pustules, ring-shaped crusts and patchy hair loss, often on the belly.
Why does my dog have a rash on its belly?
Common causes include bacterial infection, flea or environmental allergy, contact irritation and, in puppies, impetigo.
When is a dog rash an emergency?
When there's face or throat swelling, trouble breathing, collapse, or a rash with fever and lethargy.
Can I put human cream on my dog's rash?
Ask your vet first. Dogs lick creams off, and some ingredients are harmful.
Do dog skin infections always need antibiotics?
No. Medicated shampoos and sprays alone are now the first choice for most surface infections.
Are dog skin rashes contagious?
Most aren't. Scabies and ringworm can spread to other pets and people.
What is a hot spot on a dog?
A red, raw, oozing patch caused by licking and scratching. It can grow quickly and needs prompt care.
Why does my dog's rash keep coming back?
Usually because an underlying cause such as allergies or fleas hasn't been controlled.
Ask Our Team a Question
Have A Question About a Dog Skin Rash For Our Team or a Helpful Story to Share?
Do you have a question for our team or a helpful story about this? Share it!
Please include the age of your dog, breed, the area of the body, your dog's general health and any changes in diet, appetite, behavior, skin and coat. Let us know about any treatment that is currently under way including the names of medications or any other information that could help our editors provide an answer.
If possible, please submit a picture of the canine skin condition below.
We will do our best to get back to you quickly (it depends on how many questions we receive each day). If you do require an immediate response we suggest using this online dog veterinary service that is available now.
Review These Helpful Reader Dog Skin Questions and Answers from Our Team
Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...
Dog Skin Itching 
Reader Question: Dog Skin Itching
My Neo is a 7 year old Jack Russell that is constantly itchy. We recently visited the vet and allergy tests and …
Symmetrical Skin Rash on Inner Hind Dog Legs
My dog has developed a skin rash on his inner hind legs that is spreading to belly button area and to inner fore legs. It is not responsive to Benedryl. …
Raised Scabby Bumps on a Golden Retriever Not rated yet
Reader Question bumps are raised and have scabs on them he has about 6 on his lower back and some small ones on his cheast. hes 4 years old weighs about …
Raised Bumps on a Puppy's Back Not rated yet
Reader Question This is the back of our adolescent dopiest puppy with a bunch of bumps. We've been seeing the vet for this over the past 2 months. …
Non-Itchy Spreading Rash That Didn't Respond to Antibiotics Not rated yet
Reader Question Hello! I am concerned about a non-itchy red rash that is spreading along my dog's back. His hair fell out and the rash is spreading. …
Belly Rash That Returns Every Time Treatment Stops Not rated yet
Reader Question My 7 year old spayed female pitbull has recently developed a red rash on her belly and thighs. The rash doesn't seem to bother her; …
Bumps Suddenly Appeared All Over a Young Vizsla Not rated yet
Reader Question I am unsure why my 9 month old Viszla all of a sudden started getting bumps all over her face, upper legs and front part of her rib …
Young Husky With Round Hairless Spots Not rated yet
Reader Question Our dog is 17 month old husky. He has three almost hairless spots on his side, they are from a half inch to an inch & half in diameter. …
Dark Lump on a Leg and Red Paws in an Older Dog Not rated yet
Reader Question i have a 13yr old pit bull and she has a big ball on her hind leg the color is dark brown almost black she keeps chewing on it finally …
Dog Skin Rash Treatment Not rated yet
Reader Question:
The skin rash problem started on small area on the leg and then appeared on the top left part of the chest. Now it is a half dollar …
Seeping Bumps on a Lab's Face Not rated yet
Reader Question Male Lab, 5 yrs old. No history of rash. Two areas on side of face at least a quater in size with raise bumps, seeps (from itching and …
Belly and Groin Rash That Isn't Improving Not rated yet
Reader Question This rash appears on Dakota's belly/groin area under both hind legs. I am using a topical cream at this time from Pet Meds and Hot …
Swollen Cheek, Puffy Eyes and Red Marks on a Shih Tzu Not rated yet
Reader Question I have a male shih tzu whose right cheek started to swell and his eyes seem puffy. He still plays like normal and hardly shows any sign …
Sticky Rash on a Young Lab's Belly Not rated yet
Reader Question My 8 month old lab has had this rash on her belly for a week. She licks it only occassionally, and it seems sticky to touch. It doesn't …
Sticky Rash on a Young Lab's Belly Not rated yet
Reader Question My 8 month old lab has had this rash on her belly for a week. She licks it only occassionally, and it seems sticky to touch. It doesn't …
Rash Near the Groin Plus a Bloated Belly and Weakness Not rated yet
Reader Question I noticed my dog licking at the inner side of his right leg. I took a look and discovered a small like blackish color bump? It had some …
Rash From Head to Toe That Started Like Hives Not rated yet
Reader Question My dog has a rash from head to toe. Even in her ears. Not sure what is causing it. At first it looked like hives now it almost looks …
Licked Area in a Spayed Dog: Could It Be Hormones? Not rated yet
Reader Question This started to happen last year. She has been spaded and I was wondering if it might be a hormone problem. It doesn't bother her walking, …
Red Belly Rash That Comes and Goes Not rated yet
Reader Question This is my friends dog whom I am babysitting for a week. The last time he went out of town she stayed with a sitter and had a rash …
Dry Scabby Spots and Hair Loss on a Young Morkie's Tail Not rated yet
Reader Question 7 month old morkie with a couple of areas of dry scabby areas on back and tip of tail. End of tail also missing hair. Answer from …
Rash, Lumps, Facial Swelling and Anemia in an Older Terrier Not rated yet
Reader Question my dog is a 10 year old jack russell/ mini fox terrior cross. she has developed a rash under her front right leg, there are also two …
Circular Scabs That Are Spreading With a Raised Pus Area Not rated yet
Reader Question rash started out as small circular spots and scabbed. has spread some now has one area of raised skin like puss filled Answer from …
Puppy With Red Spots and Yellow-Topped Pustules Not rated yet
Reader Question What are these red spolts with yellow tops on them and how do i cure this issue Answer from Our Team Small pustules on a puppy's …
Red Sore Rash After a Dog Attacked a Fox Not rated yet
Reader Question My dog attacked a fox in our garden a couple of months ago and now his goy this horrible red sore rash could it be mange and how do …
Spreading Rash Under a Young Dog's Hind Leg Not rated yet
Reader Question My 8 month old Golden/Lab mix developed this rash under her hind leg. She does not seem to be licking or scratching it. We noticed …
Sudden Wound and Rash on an Elderly Dog's Belly Not rated yet
Reader Question I awoke yesterday to notice my 17yr old Aussie Shep/ Rott. mix with a small hole/ wound( about the size of a dime) on her lower belly …
Patches of Hair Loss That Turn Red, Then Scaly Not rated yet
Reader Question My dog is almost 7 and is a 85 lb lab/hound mix of some kind. Over the last couple weeks i've noticed some little patches of hair falling …
Breaking, Flaky Skin on a White Dog's Head Not rated yet
Reader Question My dog started with this broken skin rash that when touched had this black flakes falling from it. We took him to the vet, she assumed …
Skin-Colored Bumps Near a Puppy's Vulva Not rated yet
Reader Question my female puppy has 2 bumps outide her uvula (where she urinates from, dr said it is also inverted). is it warts? looks like it. …
Shih Tzu With Scabby Bumps That Keep Coming Back Not rated yet
Reader Question Hi we have a 6 year old female black and white pure breed Shih Tzu that has a rash that neither I nor the vet seems to be able to figure …
Bulldog With Hives Followed by Patchy Hair Loss Not rated yet
Reader Question My 7yr old Bulldog got small hives followed by hair loss. The hair that she's losing comes off with ease and looks to have infected …
Smelly Brown Patches on a Dog's Belly After Swimming Not rated yet
Reader Question my dog (shep/dobi cross?) has developed a stomach rash. Primarily on the underbelly where there is little hair but noticed it starting …
Scaly Skin and a Small Yellow Bump on a Young Lab Mix Not rated yet
Reader Question We adopted a female black lab/mix from the shelter when she was 3months old and she was spayed just before we took her home. She has …
Sources and further reading
This article was rewritten and fact-checked on October 15, 2026 against current veterinary references and specialist guidelines:
- Clark MD. Pyoderma in dogs and cats. Merck Veterinary Manual, October 2025.
- Loeffler A, Cain CL, Ferrer L, et al. Antimicrobial use guidelines for canine pyoderma by the International Society for Companion Animal Infectious Diseases (ISCAID). Veterinary Dermatology, 2025.
- White SD. Hives and rashes (urticaria) in dogs. Merck Veterinary Manual (pet owner version), 2024.
- Weir M, Hunter T, Ward E. Hives (urticaria) in dogs. VCA Animal Hospitals, 2022.
- Tizard IR. Disorders involving anaphylactic reactions in dogs. Merck Veterinary Manual (pet owner version), June 2026.
- Weir M, Williams K, Llera R, Ward E. Hot spots in dogs. VCA Animal Hospitals, July 2026.
- Pieper JB. Canine pyoderma: a tiered approach. Veterinary Focus, 2024. Hosted by IVIS (full text for veterinary professionals).
- Morris DO, Loeffler A, Davis MF, Guardabassi L, Weese JS. Recommendations for approaches to meticillin-resistant staphylococcal infections of small animals. Veterinary Dermatology, 2017.
- O'Neill DG, Rowe D, Brodbelt DC, et al. Ironing out the wrinkles and folds in the epidemiology of skin fold dermatitis in dog breeds in the UK. Scientific Reports, 2022.
- Torres SMF. Contact allergy and Canine sarcoptic mange. In: Small and Large Animal Dermatology Handbook. University of Minnesota open textbook, 2025.
- Hillier A, Lloyd DH, Weese JS, et al. Guidelines for the diagnosis and antimicrobial therapy of canine superficial bacterial folliculitis. Veterinary Dermatology, 2014.
- Gentry C. Flea allergy dermatitis in dogs and cats. Merck Veterinary Manual, April 2026.
- Souza C. Malassezia dermatitis in dogs and cats. University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, 2019.
- Moriello KA. Itching (pruritus) in dogs. Merck Veterinary Manual (pet owner version), May 2025.
- Grant D. Canine impetigo in puppies. Veterinary Practice.
About this article
Last updated : fully rewritten using the 2025 ISCAID pyoderma guidelines, World Association for Veterinary Dermatology guidelines, the Merck Veterinary Manual, VCA, VetCompass, a University of Minnesota dermatology text and IVIS-hosted material; added the research summary, emergency signs, common rash types, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, key takeaways and FAQ.
This page is for general information and is not a substitute for an exam by your veterinarian.
