As dog owners, we spend a lot of time, effort and money ensuring that our pet dogs have the best life possible. However, many of us tend to neglect the biggest organ of our dogs.
No, it’s not your dog’s testicles but its skin.
Our skin is a living and breathing organ that helps to protect us and our dogs from infections, dangerous chemicals and temperature.
It is very important that you give your dog’s skin a good and thorough examination at least once a month for any abnormalities.
What if you happened to find green spots on your dog’s skin?
Finding green spots on your dog’s skin could be an indication that there’s an infection or wound. The green spots can be caused by allergies, bacterial infections, an insect bite and a few other conditions. A vet should be consulted if there’s a foul smell or pus from the green mark.
In the article, we will be taking a closer look at all the possible reasons that could be causing the green mark on your dog’s skin.
Allergies
Similar to humans, our dogs can develop an allergic reaction to many things around them. Your dog could have a food allergy, environmental or seasonal allergy.
The most common allergy triggers in dogs are:
- Dust mites
- Fleas (small black bugs on your dog)
- Pollen
- Cleaning products
- Soy and grain
- Grass
Some allergies are linked to your dog’s breed DNA while allergies can be developed over time due to constant exposure.
I myself developed a slight allergy to cats from the prolonged and constant exposure to their dander at home.
It is manageable but there are days when I just get into a sneezing fit.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction include:
- Itchy skin all over the body
- Constant scratching
- Inflamed and swollen skin
- Sneezing
- Lethargy
- Nasal and eye discharge
- Diarrhea
The green spots could be due to your dog’s constant scratching of the itchy areas until they become infected and filled with green pus.
How To Treat Allergies In Dogs?
Once your dog is allergic to something, there’s no way of curing it. The only thing that you can do is manage the symptoms and keep your dog away from the allergens.
If you know that your dog is allergic to chicken, then choose another type of meat like rabbit or beef.
If your dog is allergic to dust, you have to start keeping your home and its sleeping area as clean as possible.
There are some allergens that are just impossible to avoid like seasonal allergies. Your vet can help your dog by prescribing antihistamines when it is having an allergic reaction.
Pyoderma
Pyoderma is a skin condition that is usually caused by a bacterial infection. Cancer and inflammation are also secondary causes.
Pyoderma literally means ‘pus in the skin’ and the sign of pus is something you will definitely see if your dog has this skin problem.
This skin condition tends to develop in areas on your dog’s body that are warm and moist such as the armpit, facial folds, lip folds, neck skin folds and feet.
If you have to crate your dog for a period of time, make sure that the crate is clean and does not have any residual pee or poo inside which can cause a bacterial infection.
You will be able to see pustules or papules if your dog has pyoderma. There will also be flaky and crusty patches, hair loss and greenish or yellowish pus.
Another common place that has pyoderma is at your dog’s elbows. The elbows are constantly under pressure and subjected to wear and tear.
The skin around that area can get very dry and cause your dog’s elbow to bleed.
How To Treat Pyoderma In Dogs?
Pyoderma requires medical treatment to resolve. The vet will do a skin swab and a blood test to ascertain the underlying condition.
Your dog will most probably be put on antibiotics and given a medicated shampoo to shower with.
Make sure that your dog is well-groomed and clean to ensure a speedy recovery. Otherwise, the chances of this condition returning are very high.
Sterilization Tattoo
If you notice a faint green line or mark on your dog’s belly with any other signs of skin irritation, that is probably a sterilization indication tattoo.
That is to indicate that your dog has been spayed or neutered.
Here’s a video of how the tattoo is done.
Stray cats or cats living in shelters will have one of their ears clipped after they have been sterilized.
It is harder to do that for dogs given that their ears are larger and thicker.
Hence an indication is required so as not to carry out a sterilization procedure on the dog only to find out that it has already been sterilized.
Don’t worry, that tattoo isn’t a prison tattoo to show your dog’s affiliation to a gang. It is harmless and won’t bother your dog at all.
Grass Stain
Sometimes, the cause of something complicated could be due to the simplest of reasons…grass stains.
We might no longer be familiar with grass stains as adults but I’m sure it was very much part of our ensemble as kids.
Before maturing into adults, many of us spend many hours as kids playing and rolling about on the grass, causing our clothes to be stained with a tinge of green, much to our mothers’ frustration.
Grass stains are brought about by a mixture of chlorophyll and proteins in the grass. These stains can cause green spots or marks on your dog’s belly or fur.
How To Get Rid Of Grass Stains On Your Dog?
Trying to get rid of grass stains on your dog isn’t the same as washing them off your kid’s clothes. A dog’s skin is a lot more gentle and fragile.
Do not use any harsh cleaning agents as they can cause skin irritations and burns on your dog.
Grass stains can be hard to come off so try using some baking soda or vinegar mixed with warm water and rub them off.
Another simpler method is to get a bottle of grass stain remover from the pet store which is safe to be used on dogs.
Insect Bites And Toxic Plants
Your dog spends a lot of time outdoors when it goes for walks, hikes or playing in the park. This makes it more susceptible to getting insect bites or coming into contact with toxic plants.
Although most insect bites will just cause your dog some discomfort, there are some insects that are highly venomous and can put your dog in a lot of pain.
Some bites can even be life-threatening in severe cases.
Such insects can be:
- Spiders
- Centidepes
- Fire ants
- Wasps
- Hornets
It is good to check your dog for bites every time you are back from a woody or forested area. Look for swollen and raised spots that might be black or green in color.
You might even be able to see the puncture wound in some cases.
Trying to avoid toxic plants can be even more challenging unless you are a true blue botanist. Everything looks the same when I go for a hike with my dog.
There are some plants that can cause your dog’s skin to blister and become inflamed upon contact.
If your dog’s groin area is red and peeling, your dog might have sat on a plant that is causing irritation to its skin.
Some of these plants include:
- Giant hogweed
- Cow parsnip
- Poison hemlock
- Poison ivy
- Stinging nettle
How To Treat Bites and Stings?
If you suspect that your dog has been bitten by a poisonous insect or has come into contact with toxic plants, you need to get your dog to the vet immediately.
There’s no telling how your dog will react to the toxins on its skin or blood.
A physical examination will be required along with antibiotics and antivenom if necessary.
Mange
Mange is a skin disease in dogs that is caused by parasitic microscopic mites. There are two different types of mange that your dog can suffer from.
The first type is called sarcoptic mange which is caused by mites that live under your dog’s skin.
The second one is called demodectic mange which is caused by mites that live in your dog’s hair follicles.
Dogs can get sarcoptic mange when they come into contact with an infected animal or dog. These parasites will bury themselves in your dog’s skin and feed off it.
A poor immune system can cause your dog to get demodectic mange.
Your dog already has a couple of these mites living on its hair follicles.
These mites can start to reproduce in very large numbers when the immune system fails to contain them.
Demodectic mange is more commonly seen in younger dogs and puppies but not so in adult dogs with stronger immune systems.
Mange will cause a lot of itching for your dog and even hair loss. Sarcoptic mange can make your dog’s skin get dark and thick, which looks more like leather.
Some dog owners have also reported green markings and spots when their dogs are affected by mange.
How Do Treat Mange In Dogs?
The most common types of treatment for mange in dogs are medicated shampoos and topical creams.
The vet might also give your dog oral medications or an injection if required.
Don’t be alarmed to find your dog limping after getting an intramuscular injection as that area can be rather sore for a while.
Mange is a skin condition that takes a lot of time and effort to get rid of so you need to be consistent in medicating and keeping your dog clean.
Iggy Thorne, also known as ‘Iggy the Explorer,’ is a seasoned writer with a flair for adventure and a deep love for animals.
Not only does he craft captivating stories often set in the great outdoors, but he’s also a dedicated pet owner who has owned and fostered both dogs and cats.
His expertise in animal care extends to volunteering at local shelters, making him a credible voice in pet ownership.
With a unique blend of humor and adventure, Iggy’s writing is as engaging as it is informative.