Why is my dog’s skin scabby after contact with another animal?

Read time: 3 minutes

Overview

Scabby skin after contact with another animal can happen for several reasons, and ringworm is one possible cause. Other common causes include minor bites, rubbing, scratching, allergic irritation or a skin infection starting to develop.

You can't tell the exact cause from scabs alone, so the useful next step is to look at the pattern, how quickly it's changing and whether your dog seems itchy, sore or generally well.

Things To Check

1. Check where the scabs are. A few spots in one area can suggest local contact irritation, while patches appearing in more than one place may point to a wider skin issue.

2. Look for circular hair loss, flaky skin or broken hairs, which can sometimes be seen with ringworm.

3. Notice whether your dog is scratching, licking or rubbing the area more than usual.

4. Check for signs of a bite or scratch, such as a small puncture, swelling, soreness or a wet-looking spot.

5. See whether the skin feels warm, smells unusual or has any discharge, which can suggest infection or irritation.

6. Think about recent contact with other animals, shared bedding, grooming tools, kennels or outdoor areas.

7. Watch whether the scabs are spreading, multiplying or not improving over a few days.

Common Causes

Ringworm is one possible cause, especially if there are round patches of hair loss, broken hairs or flaky skin. It can spread by direct contact or through shared items and surfaces.

Minor bites or scratches from another animal can also scab over quite quickly, especially if the skin was nipped during play or close contact.

Contact irritation is another common reason, particularly if your dog brushed against something rough, damp or dirty while interacting with another animal.

Less commonly, the area may be reacting to an underlying skin infection or an allergy flare that just happened to appear after contact with another animal.

What To Do

Keep the area clean and dry, and avoid picking at the scabs. If your dog is rubbing or licking the spot, try to reduce that as much as possible.

Wash bedding, grooming tools and any items that may have been shared with other animals, and keep an eye on whether any other pets develop skin changes.

Take note of how the skin looks over the next few days, including whether the scabs are spreading, drying up or becoming more inflamed.

If you suspect contact with another animal may have caused the problem, avoid close skin-to-skin contact with other pets until you know more, especially if ringworm is a possibility.

When To Contact A Vet

Speak to your vet if the scabs are spreading, your dog seems uncomfortable, the skin is becoming redder or wetter, or there are signs of hair loss in a circular pattern. You should also contact your vet if other pets or people in the home develop similar skin changes.

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