Symptom Guide
Identify and understand what your dog is experiencing. Learn about common skin symptoms, their potential causes, and when to seek veterinary care.
Symptoms Require Professional Evaluation
This symptom guide helps you understand what you're observing, but cannot replace veterinary examination. Similar symptoms can have very different causes. Always consult a veterinarian for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
Common Skin Symptoms in Dogs
Itching and Scratching
Persistent scratching, rubbing, or biting at skin. May range from mild discomfort to intense, sleep-disrupting behavior.
Common Causes:
Red or Inflamed Skin
Pink to deep red discoloration of skin, often warm to touch. May indicate inflammation, irritation, or infection.
Common Causes:
Hair Loss
Patchy or diffuse loss of fur. May occur from scratching, underlying disease, or as a primary symptom.
Common Causes:
Excessive Paw Licking
Constant licking or chewing at paws, often causing reddish-brown staining and further irritation.
Common Causes:
Oozing Sores or Lesions
Moist, weeping areas that may crust over. Often painful and can spread rapidly without treatment.
Common Causes:
Recurrent Ear Infections
Repeated episodes of ear redness, odor, discharge, or head shaking. Often linked to underlying allergies.
Common Causes:
Emergency Warning Signs
Seek immediate veterinary care if you observe:
- •Facial swelling, especially around eyes, lips, or muzzle
- •Difficulty breathing or noisy breathing
- •Rapidly spreading lesions or sudden severe symptoms
- •Signs of systemic illness (lethargy, fever, loss of appetite)
Using This Symptom Guide
Identify Symptoms
Click on symptoms that match what you're observing in your dog to learn more about possible causes.
Assess Urgency
Use urgency indicators to understand timeframes, but always err on the side of seeing your vet sooner.
Seek Care
Document symptoms (photos help!) and schedule a veterinary appointment for proper diagnosis.