Missing fur around mouth

We have just gotten back from a week's vacation and Quinn stayed with my parents. We noticed when we picked her up that she is missing fur around her mouth, most noticeable on the bottom. My parents don't recall her getting into anything, she was not off leash with them and was crated only a couple times for short periods (and she is very used to being at their house so is not anxious being crated there, as the vet mentioned). I called the vet who told me to monitor her for a couple more days to see if there are any other symptoms and then bring her in. Could this be something minor - maybe from chasing the ball much more than when she is home and scraping her mouth to pick it up? After researching online, we're worried it might be something serious...

 

What does it look like? Does it look like the fur has fallen out, or does it look like there has been some kind of abrasion? Does the skin look normal, or red, flakey etc...? Pics would be great.

Getting the vet to look at it would be the best thing I think.

 

It looks like the fur has been rubbed away, but no abrasions or redness:

 

I'd be inclined to watch & wait. There doesn't look to be any inflammation. P.S. - she's so beautiful.

 

Thank you - we think so! The more I look at these pictures, the more worried I get.

 

I'm not sure, but from the photo the hairless area looks a little swollen?

 

I'd say a skin infection of some kind - bacterial or fungal. Sometimes a bit of stress (like from a big change in routine) can let little bugs that the immune system would normally deal with get an upper hand. If it's what I'm thinking it might be then some appropriate treatment/ointment from the vet would be the way to go. I wouldn't wait, I'd go to the vet and discuss the possibility of a skin infection. Don't stress, but do get onto it.

 

Yes, I would be getting the vet to look at it. If there is some kind of infection it's better to get on top of it sooner rather than later. And if it's nothing to worry about then no harm done.

 

I'd head to the vet soon too. When Ella had ringworm (it didn't look like Quinn's nose) the fungal culture they did took 10-14 days for a result so it's best to get onto it sooner rather than later just so you can have an answer as soon as possible. Good luck and let us know how you get on x

 

A trip to the vet to stop you worrying and start any treatment, should it be needed,

 

Thanks everyone - we are going to the vet this evening. Sent the pic to a family friend who is a vet and she says she thinks it could be an allergy to plastic (she was using travel bowls for 10 days) but we will get it checked out!