Those funny little markings...

I thought this was a great article from the Happytails website & a good one for the summer months, as our dogs spend more time outside in the sun. I often wonder, as I notice little freckles or new markings appear on Roxy:



"What are those freckles/blotches/liver spots on my dog’s tummy?



It’s nice to sit with your dog, and give him a rub on the belly, but when you see blotches and spots on his tummy skin, it can give you a fright. You probably have no idea what they are, and you may not know how long they’ve been there. In many cases, these blotches are quite normal, and may be present from birth. Some dogs develop dark patches on their skin as they get older. They aren’t itchy or scaly, the skin isn’t thickened and they don’t cause the dog any harm at all. There’s no need to worry about these, unless your dog is losing hair in these patches. This usually indicates there’s a problem, such as an infection, that needs attention.

Join the dots! By far the most common cause of darkening of a dog’s skin is irritation and trauma from licking or scratching. If the blotches have appeared suddenly, it may be an allergic reaction. Dogs can react to plants or insect bites, which may cause multiple blotches and welts to develop on the tummy skin. They may then scratch at the welts, which can make their skin worse. You’ll find that Itchin’ For Relief will help stop the itch and soothe the inflammation, and help to return the skin to normal.

Dogs can also develop a bacterial infection on their tummy, either with or without an allergy. The blotches from a bacterial infection tend to be round, and they often have a crust around the edge. They’re very itchy, and again, the scratching may lead to dark patches on the tummy skin. These dogs usually need antibiotics from their vet to get the infection under control and stop the itching.

You do need to treat inflamed skin very gently. Comfy Dog shampoo contains colloidal oatmeal , and herbal extracts which will relieve the itch, and make your dog more comfortable. After the shampoo. slather Fur Butter on his skin and coat. Leave it on for five minutes, then rinse thoroughly. This too contains colloidal oatmeal and will help heal dry and itchy skin."


Happy Tails Spa is a WONDERFUL product that produces a fine array of shampoos, skin treatments and a wide variance of spa gifts for your furry friends.