Why does my dog have darkend spots and patches on his coat?

Hi Anthony,
From the photo you sent, it is difficult to see if your dog has any hair loss along with the dark spots and patches. Also whether this problem is anywhere else on his body, such as on his head, front end, or in his armpits or abdomen.

Conditions that might cause this are numerous. Diseases such as Dog Mange (caused by a mite), ringworm (caused by a fungus), bacterial pyoderma, flea allergies, zinc deficiencies, or fatty acid deficieny, or other imbalances in diet, autoimmune diseases, or a reaction to a vaccine may be responsible.

Review this page about skin conditions: www.organic-pet-digest.com/dog-skin-conditions.html

As you scroll down the page there is more information on diet.

For more succinct advice, please provide us with more information (as mentioned above), and please keep us posted by coming back to this page and clicking the ‘click here to add your own comments’ link below.

Take care,
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

DISCLAIMER: This educational advice is based on the depth of your question and the picture you submitted. The above should never replace the advice of your local veterinarian, as they have the ability to evaluate your dog in person.

He does lose a lot of hair when I brush him. The spots and patches are on his back only, especially near his tail. There are no spots or patches on his legs or stomach.

Does that give you a better idea?

Hi Anthony,
Thank you for the additional information. It is still difficult to narrow down the diagnosis, without more diagnostics, and a more in-depth history. Is he neutered? Did the condition start after the neutering? Did it start after a vaccination? What do you feed him? Did he have fleas, so that is why you had to do a flea treatment?

Giving the oatmeal shampoos, and a topical spray is only ‘surface’ treatment. I am glad that it does provide some relief, but it will not solve the entire problem.

Starting a raw natural dog food diet, with the gradual addition of Omega 3 fish oil supplements, will also help prevent the shedding and improve his coat. But a skin scraping, fungus culture, and total blood panel including a thyroid level, will be necessary to find out what is wrong.

A holistic veterinarian will also be able to treat him by improving his health, not just by giving cortisone or antibiotics, which are only short term suppressive or palliative treatments. Once he is healthier, then he will not attract fleas, since fleas are parasites, and are only attracted to ‘weakened’ or sick animals.

I hope this is helpful.

Please keep us posted by coming back to this page and clicking the ‘click here to add your own comments’ link below.

Take care,
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

DISCLAIMER: The above should never replace the advice of your local veterinarian, as they have the ability to evaluate your dog in person.

Related Pages:
– Dog Skin Conditions,
– Dog Itchy Skin,
– Dog Skin Rash,
– Dog Skin Allergies,
– Ask a Vet Online Library – Dog Skin Rashes, Marks, Spots, Lesions & Patches (including itchy skin and mange) Section

He had fleas months ago but I’m treating him. Food shouldn’t be a problem because I’m feeding him INNOVA large breed puppy formula. I heard it what the best. No he is not neutered, and he has not had vaccinations in months. What are the possibilities?

Hi Anthony,
You wrote,
He had fleas months ago, but he is now being treated- with what method? If you stopped the treatment, would the fleas return? As a graduate of the U of Florida School of Veterinary Medicine, I am very familiar with the problems that fleas can cause in Florida. Dark patches with redness in the skin over the hind quarters in a dog may still be flea allergy related.

He is on Innova puppy food- dry?? Innova dog food is a good brand. But if your puppy has been on this food, and he must be treated for fleas on a regular basis, and he loses his hair when you brush him, and has darkened spots with red patches on his skin, then I do not think that it is the best food for him. The best food would be a food that provides the right nutrients for his skin and hair coat, supports a healthy immune system, enough moisture for a shiny coat, and enough energy for growth of muscles and bones. A DRY dog food is not what I would recommend for your dog to get better. Refer back to my previous posts, and read some of the information under Food and Treats/your dog’s diet.

He was vaccinated several months ago. Vaccinosis is a term that is used in Homeopathy to mean any ill effects that appear months to years after a vaccination has been given to a patient. A homeopathic remedy is necessary to treat vaccinosis.

At this point, I am unable to give you a diagnosis based on the photo that you submitted. Seeing a holistic veterinarian, for a physical exam would be your best option for a diagnosis, and planning the appropriate treatment.

Take care,
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

DISCLAIMER: This educational advice is based on the depth of your question and the picture you submitted. The above should never replace the advice of your local veterinarian, as they have the ability to evaluate your dog in person.

We are having the same problem with the added bonus of inside the arm pits with scabs.

I researched this for days and it is a yeast problem on the skin, and inside the ears and anal gland, plus a bacterial infection with scabs that when they fall off are brown underneath with red spots.

I started treating with peroxide on cotton balls, and it has worked wonders, NO MORE CORTISONE SHOTS. They treated her first for allergies (this is not the case). Over load of cortisone and antibiotics just like people (especially human females).

I hope this helps. There are also shampoos for yeast skin problems.

My family just adopted a two year old pit bull that’s the same color and he has these spots all over his torso and the top of his legs. He also has the red skin under where his white fur is. We don’t think it’s fleas because we do a flea treatment regularly. We have automatically assumed it’s just bites from various bugs since he spends a lot of time in our woods.
When we got him he didn’t have these spots or the red skin. He was neutered by his last owners.
We give him baths and take him for walks regularly.

Dear KK,
I am not sure if you had a question in your comment or not. If you do, and wish some advice, then I’m happy to help. But we only accept new questions from subscribers (the original question above was from a subscriber).
Please click here to sign up and submit your question and photos. I’ll then get back to you right away at the bottom of your newly created web page.
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

My dog has been experiencing a great deal of problems with itching, biting and scratching.
A visit to the vet ended up with antibiotics which the dog was allergic to and ended up with bad diarrhea.
Next, Epsom salt baths, Baking soda pastes, most recently benedril, childrens> The vet said it was ok for a 22 lb. dog to take full dosage however I am afraid of kidney damage.
He is still scratching, and now round circles of shiny black hairs are replacing his gray ones, the most predominant one being to the lower rear of one ear on right side of his face. He, and I, are going nuts attempting to figure this one out. I can’t afford to keep going to the vet for trial and error things. Iam attempting to find them out online. I hope you can help. Thank you!

My dog has been experiencing a great deal of problems with itching, biting and scratching.
A visit to the vet ended up with antibiotics which the dog was allergic to and ended up with bad diarrhea.
Next, Epsom salt baths, Baking soda pastes, most recently benedril, childrens> The vet said it was ok for a 22 lb. dog to take full dosage however I am afraid of kidney damage.
He is still scratching, and now round circles of shiny black hairs are replacing his gray ones, the most predominant one being to the lower rear of one ear on right side of his face. He, and I, are going nuts attempting to figure this one out. I can’t afford to keep going to the vet for trial and error things. Iam attempting to find them out online. I hope you can help. Thank you!

My dog has been experiencing a great deal of problems with itching, biting and scratching.
A visit to the vet ended up with antibiotics which the dog was allergic to and ended up with bad diarrhea.
Next, Epsom salt baths, Baking soda pastes, most recently benedril, childrens> The vet said it was ok for a 22 lb. dog to take full dosage however I am afraid of kidney damage.
He is still scratching, and now round circles of shiny black hairs are replacing his gray ones, the most predominant one being to the lower rear of one ear on right side of his face. He, and I, are going nuts attempting to figure this one out. I can’t afford to keep going to the vet for trial and error things. Iam attempting to find them out online. I hope you can help. Thank you!

March 6, 2014

Dear Chico’s Mom!

Thanks for your question. I’m happy to help, but we only accept new questions from subscribers (the original question above was from a subscriber).
Please sign up and submit your question and photos. I’ll then get back to you right away at the bottom of your newly created web page.
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

My pit rescue has the same problem, but it started shortly after his was vaccinated and neutered. Came home on doxycillin and large doses of Prednisone. Treated for round worm then started with hair loss at nape of neck and traveled down ward and now lost all his hair. Skin is so dry and he scratches until he bleeds. gums went pale needed a blood transfusion, thyroid was ok , other labs ok. Tick panel done ok . Been to five different vets. $$$$$$$$$$$$ . Now on a strick diet of sweet potato and fish along with fish oil capsules.$$$$$$$$$$$. he also has some whitish dry drainage around his nose and very waxy ears. Very happy/playful and eats daily. my newest vet suggest a derm specialist for a 300 dollor skin scraping $$$$$$. I really love the little guy so I will get it done but really now a Holistic doctor. $$$$$$. 3000 so far for a rescue dog and no resolution. Should I join for a answer ??????? How much to subscribe????

April 12, 2014

Dear Anonymous,
So sorry to hear about the pit bull rescue that you just adopted with so many health issues! That is really tough.

It is easy to sign up for questions on this site. Here is the link,

This page includes prices, and instructions on how to proceed. It is much less expensive than an office visit, but, please keep in mind, that I am limited in my answer, since I am not able to physically, examine him.

Another resource for vets knowledgeable in homeopathy is AVH.org.

Please keep us posted by coming back to this page and clicking the ‘click here to add your own comments’ link below.

Take care,
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

DISCLAIMER: The above should never replace the advice of your local veterinarian, as they have the ability to evaluate your dog in person.

I own a dachshund he is all brown and he recently stared getting these weird spots that are a dark colored brown, I got him when he was five months.. (Or that’s what I was told) and I’ve had him for five months so obviously he’s ten months, he has always been an inside dog and we stared letting him go out the back yard and we noticed he stared getting more and more spots on his back, so I be worried?

* Should I be worried? Sorry about that.

May 19, 2014

Dear Anonymous,

Thanks for your question. I’m happy to help, but we only accept new questions from subscribers (the original question above was from a subscriber).
Please sign up and submit your question and photos. I’ll then get back to you right away at the bottom of your newly created web page.
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

He is 13 and it doesnt get any easier. eating, meds all a challenge every day. Know thinking about going holistic and grain free but site require a case and the same flavor. Tried everything presently feeding him, sweet potatoes, rice and chicken, will eat when his starving! But I have noticed a change in this coat! On the dark spots under all his coat the hair is short and stubby and only in those area’s =! I have told his vet and they suggested a leave in conditioner. So I have that and no difference. He gets groomed when we have the extra money, its expensive and one let one person do it but have held out. only thing else is that i spray him with natural flea, tick and mesquito spray but stopped. Vet hasen’t been much help but they are busy and I think if I spent the money to take him in a maybe get more suggestions! Please help us!

July 4, 2015

Dear Sammy’s Mom,

At this time I am no longer acting as consultant for this site. Also, when Organic Pet Digest was accepting questions, there was a charge for subscribing.

From what you have described of Sammy, and no photo provided, I suspect he is hypothyroid. He might have other health issues, but you would need to take him in for a blood test, to diagnose the problem. Controlling fleas and ticks is important, but a flea allergy does not cause hair loss or darkened skin in the armpit area.

You need to take him in to either a conventional veterinarian, or a holistic veterinarian for a diagnosis, and then decide on what treatment would be needed. A holistic veterinarian would prescribe herbs, homeopathic remedies and/or nutritional supplements. A conventional vet would probably start with antibiotics or cortisone.

Another resource for vets knowledgeable in homeopathy is AVH.org.

Take care
Dr Carol Jean Tillman