Why is my dog’s belly turning black?

Original Question: How do I get rid of a yeast infection on Henry's tummy? He has allergies, and I now have him on raw dog food, which has helped his allergies immensely, but he still has black skin on his stomach. - Darlene

Jul 9, 2018

Hi Darlene,

Thanks for your question.

First off, I want to make you aware that just because there is a black area on the belly, it doesn’t mean there is yeast. The black discoloration is often present because of hyperpigmentation. If an area of skin remains irritated long enough by chronic trauma, inflammation or infection of any kind, it becomes more pigment.

I recommend that you have a ‘skin scraping’ performed. This is a quick, inexpensive test that will confirm the presence of yeast. If you suspect a bacterial infection, either independently or concurrently, I recommend that you have your veterinarian perform a skin culture and sensitivity.

If yeast is confirmed, you can treat the area with daily anti-fungal shampoos. Be sure to leave the shampoo on for 10-15 minutes before rinsing and then dry the area thoroughly. You can buy anti-fungal cream from your veterinarian or even a drug store and use that on it twice a day. If the infected area is spread over a large area, speak to your veterinarian about anti-fungal medication. Whichever treatment modality you use, make sure you don’t stop until you have 2 skin scrapings that have come back negative for yeast.