What can this be in my dog's skin?

Question

My dog's had these spots in her skin for some time. I'm including photos of the lesions. They're very itchy; she's always scratching herself. They also smell.

What can it be and what medication can I buy? I prefer medication that can be taken orally because it's very hard for my parents to put ointments, creams, etc. on her.

I bathe her biweekly with an oatmeal shampoo for dogs.

We live in a very hot environment where the temp's been over 90 °F (32 °C) the last few weeks. She sleeps most of the day.

I don't believe she's in pain; she wags her tail, eats well, runs and walks normally, etc.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

You need to bring your dog to the vet.

Stop reading this, call your vet, get your dog there now - it looks like a skin infection*.

These can happen for a variety of reasons, but the only course of treatment is antibiotics (you may also need a medicated shampoo, and possibly steroids depending on the severity). You need a prescription from a vet for antibiotics, there is nothing you can buy over the counter.

*I'm not a vet, but I have long haired dogs who are prone to skin issues. Every time I've seen lesions like this it has been a skin infection.

Answer 2

It could also be a fungus. You stated that you live in a hot environment, but is it humid as well? If it is, those spots could be a fungus. To be sure and to get the proper medication, you would need a vet to diagnose them.