Is My New Puppy’s Red Skin Caused by Mange or an Allergy?

It could be either, and a few other things too. Red skin in a new puppy is often caused by fleas, a skin infection, or a reaction to something new, such as a different food, shampoo or bedding. Mange is another possibility, so it's worth a vet visit.

A few clues help. Demodectic mange, common in puppies, usually causes patches of thinning hair with red, scaly skin around the eyes, mouth or front legs, and it's not usually very itchy. Sarcoptic mange (scabies) causes intense itching and redness, often starting on the ear edges, elbows and belly, and can spread to other dogs and cause itchy bumps on people. Allergies tend to cause itching and redness on the belly, armpits, paws and face.

Your vet can do a quick skin scraping to check for mites, look for fleas and infection, and recommend treatment. Until then, check her for fleas and avoid trying new products on her skin. Read more about the signs of mange and its look-alikes.

This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.