Health Topics  >  Skin and Coat  > Discharge from Skin

When should you see a vet about your dog’s skin discharge?

If you see blood on your dog, make an appointment with your vet right away. It’s possible that your dog is so itchy that he’s scratching his skin open, or that he has an abscess or cyst that has burst, which could lead to further infection and bigger problems. Blood is something that shouldn’t wait to be addressed!

Your veterinarian will likely want to take a swab or tape impression of their skin to look at under the microscope, where they’ll see what types of bacteria or fungus may be lurking around in there.

Pro Tip: Any type of skin issue should be addressed by a veterinarian to determine the underlying cause instead of just treating the (annoying) signs of itchiness and discomfort.

While some issues can wait, others should be seen as soon as possible to prevent a worsening situation.

If you notice signs of self-inflicted mutilation in your dog, such as the following, you’ll want to talk to your vet about it as soon as possible:

  • Hair loss
  • Scabs
  • Raw or bleeding skin
  • “Hot spots” (red, wet inflamed sores that’s caused by from persistent chewing, licking, scratching or rubbing)
Signs of self-mutilation mean there's something serious going on.