What are the black spots on my dog belly? Should you be worried? Black spots on a dog’s skin do not mean immediate danger to health. However, if your dog starts itching or licking the dark spots, it might mean constant irritation and even a medical condition that needs to be fixed.
What Do Black Spots in Dogs Mean?
In most cases, dark patches are caused by your dog licking or scratching its skin for long periods of time. In the list that we will be seeing just a moment from now, you will see several major causes that can lead to dark patches and black spots as in the pictures above.
Causes Behind Black Spots On Dog Belly
1. Allergies
Due to increased contact with humans, dogs can have allergic reactions to food, pollen (very common among humans), and insects. Even though the source of the allergy can vary from one case to another, dark spots and patches on the dog belly can be formed due to allergic reactions.
- Can Lead to Patches of Thick Skin
- Also, Lead to Itchy and Inflamed Skin
- Excessive Biting and Licking Its Skin
- Hair Loss / Watery Eyes / Vomiting / Diarrhea
The list above contains several symptoms of allergy that require the assistance of a vet. For allergy treatments, the vet might subscribe to treatments with steroids and antihistamines, which can cause drowsiness and hyperactivity. When giving your dog medication, be sure to keep a close eye on him at all times.
Allergy Remedies for Dogs
To combat allergies, your dog needs to have a diet that strengthens his immune system. With a soft-chewy texture, the Aller-Immune Bites are supplements containing vitamins, proteins, fiber, and antioxidants that play an important role in maintaining a strong, healthy body.
These grain-free soft chews have proven to work with dogs that are struggling with skin allergies, seasonal allergies, and even with issues related to environmental allergies. Formulated with fish oil and prebiotics, supplements by Zesty Paws are one of the best in the market.
2. Possibility of Scabies
Canine scabies is caused by mites that burrow into the skin of your canine pet, and infected dogs will have black dots on the ear flaps, elbows, abdomen, hocks, and chest. In addition, they are highly contagious, which means that other dogs can spread it to yours, and vice versa.
- Highly Contagious
- Sources of Contamination – Kennels, Grooming Stations, Parks
To treat scabies, you can either go to the vet for treatment or use medical products that are suited for this purpose. All dogs in the house should be treated, and beddings should be destroyed. Last but not least, you need to cleanse the environment thoroughly for any remaining mites.
Parasitical Remedies for Dogs
If you have a dog that seems to be struggling with an insect infection, you should consult your veterinarian first. The product listed down below should be used with caution, and it was made for dogs that are infected with mites, fleas, or ticks.
Made by K9 Advantix II, the product listed above has a variety of medications for fleas, ticks, and even mosquitoes. If your dog size is not large, don’t worry since they have a variety of packages ranging from small dogs to extra large dogs, so you are covered in this area!
If you think that your dog is infected with internal parasites, you can get the product listed above at a cheap price. The key symptoms for worms inside your dog’s body are increasing appetite but decreasing weight, and declining health conditions such as diarrhea, vomiting, and lethargy.
3. Insect Bites
Similar to the section above, the insect bites caused by fleas and ticks can cause black spots due to the constant itch. If your dog likes to spend its time outside, there is a high chance that he/she will get a parasite on their body due to direct contact with their surroundings.
- Fleas – Very Common (Causes Black Spots)
- Ticks – Common (Causes Black Spots)
Both fleas and ticks are parasites that feed on your dog’s blood, and after finishing their meal, red swellings can occur due to the insect bite. If you suspect that your dog is suffering from fleas or ticks, you should go to the vet for treatment and quarantine your dog to prevent outside contact.
4. Yeast Infection
Being one of the most common causes of a skin infection, this non-contagious infection is caused by a bacteria overgrowth in your dog’s skin. It usually starts with the inflammation of the skin (red rashes), which can eventually lead to one of the many symptoms listed down below.
- Hyperpigmentation (Formation of Black Spots)
- Excessively Oily and Greasy Skin / Scaly and Flaky Skin
- Constant Scratching or Rubbing Against Objects
- Hair Loss, Drooling, Problems Eating, Losing Weight
A common treatment for yeast dermatitis can be done through topical treatments with specialized shampoo or oral treatment if the infection is more severe. For the most accurate response, be sure to contact your vet for further diagnosis and inspection.
Fungal Remedies for Dogs
Yeast infections are a form of fungus overgrowth in your dog’s skin, which can be cured by an antifungal spray that has been thoroughly reviewed by many dog owners. Combining aloe with vitamin E, this spray listed down below can relieve excessive itching and also cure yeast infection.
If you prefer other methods than sprays, you can get an antifungal shampoo that can do the exact same task but at a lower cost. Formed by Veterinary Formula Clinical Care, this shampoo does two roles at the same time by providing protection against potential parasites and skin diseases.
5. Hemorrhage
The blood vessels in your dog’s belly could be ruptured or bruised due to hard contact with rough surfaces. If internal bleeding took place, the blood can be trapped under your dog’s skin that looks similar to dark spots. For cases like this, the dark spots will actually cause severe pain to your dog.
- Black Spots – Trapped Blood (Cause Excruciating Pain)
If those black spots on your dog’s belly are causing pain, you need to take your pet immediately to the vet for further inspection and treatment. Internal bleeding is a serious condition that should be treated immediately to avoid losing your canine pet.
6. Hypothyroidism
Thyroid in dogs have the important task of producing hormones that manage their metabolism, and if that thyroid refuses to do its job, your dog will slowly start to shut down. In the list down below, you’ll see several common symptoms of hypothyroidism in dogs.
- Hair Loss Especially From the Mid-Body to Rear Section
- Dull Hair, Flaky Skin, and Black Spots on Dog’s Skin
- Weight Gain, Toenail Infection, and Ear Inflammation
- Can Lead to Seizures, Cardiovascular Problems, Infertility
Fortunately, treatment for hypothyroidism in dogs is pretty simple. You just have to give oral treatments of artificial hormones that can control your dog’s metabolism for the rest of its life. Make sure to visit your vet for the prescribed medication and the appropriate doses.
Treatments for Hypothyroidism
For treatments related to hypothyroidism, you can either consult your vet for a medication prescription or buy it online as a supplement. If you do want to buy it online, you can get a thyroid supplement for dogs that is 100% satisfaction guaranteed for up to 1 year!
If you are not satisfied with the product after making a purchase, you can ask for a full refund, and they will do that for you as long as you don’t wait for 1 year after making that purchase. Make sure to take advantage of this deal if you think your dog is suffering from hypothyroidism.
7. Natural Causes
Black spots on a dog’s belly can be caused by natural means, which means that you have nothing to worry about. If you have a senior dog, black spots can form due to old age, and those patches are often called age spots by veterinarians.
- Naturally Formed Black Spots – Normal Pigmentation
Not only can it form through aging, but black spots on your dog’s skin can also form through friction. Natural rubbing of skin (legs and armpits) can also cause black patches to occur. In cases like this, you can rest assured since those dark spots won’t do any harm to your furry friend.
8. Prolonged Sun Exposure
Beneath all that fur, your dog has a layer of skin that is quite similar to that of humans. If exposed to the sun for a long time, there is a high chance that your dog will develop a condition called solar dermatitis, which can cause black spots to form on your dog’s skin.
- Hair Loss, Skin Thickening, and Skin Swelling
- Formation of Dark Patches and Black Spots
Short-coated dogs need to stay indoors during the summers when the sun is especially hot. For dogs, the damage from the sun is mostly found in the abdomen, inner thighs, and nose, so don’t forget to appoint regular check-ups with your vet to prevent such long-term effects.
Sunscreen for Dogs
If your dog has thick hair, you probably shouldn’t have to worry about prolonged sun exposure. This condition only applies to dogs with a short coat, and if you expect your dog to be out in the sun for a long time, applying sunscreen might not be a bad idea.
As always, make sure to apply it in small amounts when trying out a product for the first time. Make sure to read the review comments before buying any of our recommended products, and I hope that you have enjoyed reading this post and come back for more!
Conclusion: Need Pet Protection?
Before we officially end, you might be looking for more safety measures to place around your pet. I don’t mean social isolation so that you reduce the risk of outside contact, but a real solid plan that you can apply for so that you are investing in your pet’s future health care.
If you are looking for additional pet protection, applying for a Petplan might be a good idea since this pet protection plan plays a very similar role to your life insurance. If your pet ever needs medical assistance or backup, Petplan will be your financial support during your difficult times.
You might be having a hard time believing this, or you have heard of this type of pet insurance policy before, but you are thinking that this policy might be a scam. Before you dismiss this idea completely, give them a chance to prove you wrong since it entails great health benefits and medical insurance plan for any dog!
Thank you so much for visiting this post, and if you have any questions, be sure to comment down below which we will do our best to answer. Have a great rest of your day, and if you have found this information helpful, make sure to share this post with others since sharing helps us a lot!
