Comment

Comment by Sam Tsang on September 12, 2011 at 6:20pm

Hi Derrik, it's a hot spot, get a pair of scissors, trim the hair on top and surrounding area, let it air / dry out. If you notice scratching / biting, put a soft cone / air cone on him. Get well soon!

Comment by Christine and Meeko on September 12, 2011 at 4:45pm

My pup has the same thing!

Comment by Nicola Porter on September 12, 2011 at 11:09am

I occasionally find these on my corgs. I always assumed they were possibly bug bites, or some irritant like stickleberries or rolled on a stick that gave them a boo boo and then irritated it a bit more by scratching. Although I do wonder WTH happened I usually gently clean the area and don't have any further problem. I also assume that they appear black because we all know corgs like to roll around so it is just dirt on a boo boo.

Comment by Mary Anne Elliott on September 12, 2011 at 9:03am

My first reaction was the food you started to change to. Not all dogs can tolerate it. Try switching over ever so gradually but try a different food. I use Sojo's mixed with raw chicken but they only get very small amounts at first. I also have some Honest Kitchen that I use sometimes. Keep us posted on what's going on. You might need to add a supplement to compensate for something that's not in the food.

Comment by Natalie & Stanley on September 12, 2011 at 12:31am

My bet is dermatitis/hot spots.  Is your pup scratching or biting at these areas?  There are some medicated ointments you can buy at pet stores or a vet can get you a Rx for a good one as well.  I would suggest dropping by the vet to get them checked out just to be sure.

 

I noticed you said something about being in the Seattle/Tacoma area.  If you're looking for a good vet in the Seattle area, I would suggest the Aurora Vet Hospital (up around the Greenlake neighborhood in Seattle, right on Aurora Ave around 88th).  All of the docs there are really great, they're pretty inexpensive and they're very practical.  They always take time to love on Stanley whenever I bring him in and answer my laundry list of questions.

Comment by Rachel on September 12, 2011 at 12:16am

Lily used to get something like these all the time, the vet would call them "hot spots" and happened mostly in the summer. She'd get them pretty often and once the vet even shaved her butt so that they could heal properly. Clumps of fur would just come out in a scabby mess and there would be pus underneath it and would need some good cleaning out and care. I'm not sure if your pup has this (because Lily's would look a lot worse) or is something else but probably take to vet just to be sure.

Comment by Melissa and Franklin! on September 11, 2011 at 11:05pm

If you noticed them right around when you added the dehydrated food, I'd quit adding that food and see if they go away in a few weeks.

Comment by Jane Christensen on September 11, 2011 at 8:26pm

Does he run into any stickers on the path that could cause this or does he ever roll that he could get a sore from something?? If it's fleas you would see some little black specks and normally it will be in the tummy area. What about any other bug that could bite him but not live on him like a flea would? Sorry I know this isn't much help.

Comment by Ellen Andersen on September 11, 2011 at 8:12pm

I'm thinking a flea allergy dermatitis.  One of mine gets it every season.  Even though she doesn't have fleas and I do use a monthly preventive, the fleas can still jump on and bite.  They don't stay on, but just the bite makes Teri get really itchy sores like the ones you have in the pictures.  A course of Clavamox (antibiotic) or something similar clears Teri right up.  Perhaps that what it is?