A puppy belly rash is not a terribly uncommon problem. Lucky for you and your dog, rashes aren't always a sign of a serious problem. However, that doesn't mean that you shouldn't take them seriously. Sometimes rashes will disappear on their own, but sometimes they require care and medicine.
This article explains all you'll need to know about puppy belly rashes. By the end of the article you'll know what causes rashes in dogs and how to treat them effectively.
What Causes a Puppy Belly Rash?
There are, unfortunately, many different things that can cause puppy belly rashes. This can make it somewhat difficult to identify the actual cause of the problem. Different rashes may rquire various forms of treatment, so it's important to try to figure out what caused your dog's rash.
These are some of the most common causes of rashes in young puppies.
Skin Infection
Skin infections are a fairly common cause of rashes in young dogs. If your dog cuts or scratches itself and some sort of bacteria enters through the open wound, they may develop a rash.
The technical term for a skin infection caused by a bacteria is pyoderma. If you think your pup has pyoderma then don't hesitate to start an antibacterial treatment.
Allergies
Rashes are one of the most common symptoms of allergies in both humans and animals. If you're not sure whether or not your dog is allergic to anything then it can be difficult to assess whether or not their rash was caused by an allergy.
Parasites
Parasites, worms, and other unwanted pests can also cause rashes in puppies. Puppies may also develop rashes from over-scratching themselves when they're infested with fleas or mites.
Other Causes
There are a few other things that might cause rashes.
- Genes. Some dogs may just inherit a higher likelihood of getting rashes, allergies, or inflammation.
- Inflammation. Most rashes are a form of inflammation. Chronic inflammation can likewise cause rashes.
- Environment. Dogs may develop rashes when exposed to environmental hazards like pesticides or unhealthy/dirty food.
Treating a Puppy Belly Rash
Naturally, different types of rashes will require different treatment. The first thing you're going to need to do is to make sure that you can get your dog's rash properly diagnosed.Once your dog is diagnosed you can proceed with treatment.
- Rashes caused by skin infections are usually treated with a course of antibiotics as prescribed by your vet.
- If your dog gets a rash from some sort of fungus or yeast they will likely receive antifungal treatments.
- Rashes caused by allergies are managed by treating the underlying allergy. This often proves more challenging than simply treating a rash.