About 2 weeks ago i noticed a little lump (sort of looked like a hair that hadnt quite come through properly) on my 16 week old puppys chin. This got worse over a few days and turned into a cluster of little lumps/spots. They went a sort of yellow colour, so it was very noticable as my pups muzzle is black. I asked about it at the vets when he went for a weight check and the vet said that it was dog acne and it should clear up itself.  Over the next 4 days or so it didnt show any signs of clearing up, and when he was playing with his chew toys, it would scrape the heads off them and they would bleed a little. So i took him back to the vets because i didnt want his chin to get infected and sore. The vet gave me some "Fuciderm Gel" to rub on twice a day for a maximum of 7 days. She said it should start to clear up after 3 days. Well, i have been putting it on for 6 days now and it hasnt changed much. I was just wondering if anyone else has had this problem with their dogs?? Should i take him back to the vets again?? I would like it cleared up before we go on holiday in 2 weeks, unfortunately we have to put him into kennels, and i want him to be better by then (hopefully). Any advise or thoughts will be great. :-) Thanks in advance. :-)

I have had pups with acne before, in fact I think all of mine have had at some stage but it has tended to be on the belly.  The fuciderm will help prevent infection (but then none of mine got infected but that may be a difference in area affected) but it won't clear it up as it is a hormone thing only time does that :)
I would have thought any kennel willing to take such a young puppy should be willing to continue with the treatment as they must be aware that such a youngster is going to require a little more care in terms of feeding etc anyway, in fact a decent kennels should be willing to do anything like this at any age and will be used to giving regular medication to dogs that require it.  You could discuss it with them and I am sure they will reassure you.

My rose had acne on her belly and nether regions, I just left it alone ad it cleared up in a couple of weeks, try not to squeeze them as it may spread and make it worse.

I know alot of Flatcoats who have had teenage acne round their chin.  When I worked with them, we had one who had it for a long time and then it just suddenly cleared.

Thanks, it makes me feel better knowing that it will clear up. How long does it usually take to go away? I am not worried about him still needing medication while at the kennels because i know they will take good care of him for me. They are all excited to have a Mastiff puppy there for 2 weeks so i am sure he will get plenty of attention! :-)
I was just wondering how long i should use the cream for?? On the leaflet inside the box, it says not to use for longer than 7 days. Is this correct? Should i stop using it tomorrow then? Even though it is still there. Or should i keep using it? Any advise??

Yes I would stop then because it does not sound to me that there was an infection there.  I would ask the kennels to just keep an eye on it and if they think it has become infected to seek vets advise.  Perhaps you could ask them to wipe his face a couple of times a day with a clean damp cloth or a wet wipe, I'm sure the girls will enjoy doing that to a baby :), to remove any exudate that may have been released this should help to minimise the risk of an infection occuring.

Thanks! :-) I will do that. :-)

I have a pup with acne at the moment and whoever ive asked has given me different replies, but because i know of a dobe that ended up on a drip because the infection got into his bloodstream i now have him on a 3 week course of antibiotics as i dont want him to get to that state.

Use your sixth sense and do what ever you feel is the best, i wanted mine to be sorted so i asked the vet for the medication.

Ella.x. 

The trouble is this phase could go on for weeks if not months.  The cause is not infection but hormonal, antibiotics will clear up a secondary infection but not remove the cause so continuous antibiotics would be impractical and likely to cause gastric problems a growing pup can do without.   I think careful observation for the signs of infection and a course of antibiotics, if appropriate, would be better.

I've known some that had just a few spots and some that have gone on for months, with or without treatment.  Most dogs just outgrow it.