Pimples on a Young Labrador's Belly
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Our Labrador is 7 months old and for the last couple of weeks we have noticed that she has developed a kind of an infection on the belly portion. We noticed that its small pimples with white patches along with it.
It is not troubling her though as of now but we do have noticed she has a lot of itching and she keeps licking the areas for the itching.
Her diet is pretty normal. For breakfast she has milk and dog biscuits. For lunch and dinner she has pet food.
She is a very active and a friendly dog. As of now she has not shown any kind of aggression with respect to her skin problem.
I'm a little skeptic because my vet suggested that we need to get her some antibiotic shots.
Questions:
1.Is an antibiotic shot safe for the dog?
2.Will this have any adverse effect on the dog's behavior?
3.Is the diet correct as of now or do we have to make any changes with respect to her diet?
4.She drinks cold milk and water as of now. Can this be a reason for the infection?
5.She still has teething problem and has a habit of biting things at home. Is this normal or for how long will the teething issue continue?
I'm eagerly looking for the response before I take my doggy to the vet.
Thanks
Small pimples on the belly of a young dog are often puppy pyoderma (impetigo) or a staph infection of the hair follicles. Itching and licking suggest an allergy or flea bites may be involved.
Antibiotic injections are generally safe, and they don't change a dog's behavior. However, many mild belly infections can be treated with an antiseptic shampoo or wipes, such as chlorhexidine, without antibiotics. Ask your vet whether that's an option, and whether a quick skin test (cytology) can confirm the cause first.
Cold milk and water don't cause skin infections. Many dogs don't digest milk well, though, so it's better to stop the milk and feed a complete, balanced dog food. Chewing is normal at this age. Adult teeth are usually in by about 6 to 7 months, but many young dogs keep chewing for a while longer, so offer safe chew toys.
See pyoderma (staph infection) and pimples and bumps on dogs.
This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.
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