dark spots on pug's skin

[bobblehead_mama]

Hello. I have a 7 month old fawn colored pug puppy named Tobias. About a month ago I noticed one dark purplish black colored quarter sized spot on his back. I was giving him a bath when I noticed it and the patch almost looked like he had laid in oil or grease, but it didn't come off when I bathed him. Then I was alarmed because I thought it was a bruise, but it never faded or healed. In fact, he now has three of these purple patches on his skin and the hair has came out in these patches. He itches a lot, but I'm not sure he itches in these specific areas. I check him for fleas frequently and keep him groomed. I'm baffled. Is this simply a skin mutation common to the breed or is it a skin disease? He smells too. If I don't bathe him weekly he really gets a foul odor. I tried to look online to see if I could google these dark spots, but every site I visited mentioned scabs or oozing skin. Toby doesn't have these symptoms. He's just discolored in these three areas on his back. Any insight on this? I'd appreciate some input. Thanks.

[Camberaoh]

I dont know much about pugs but if yoru worried i would get him to the vet. I have never heard of that before other than it happening in a spot where frontline was applied to a dog that was allergic to it. I hope you find the answers yoru looking for!! sorry i couldnt help

[aly336]

my friend brandy's dog had the same thing at 7 mo's. her mom said it was mange. if tobias has any other symptoms please im me with info.
katy rose is my messenger name.

[micki]

You should get him to the vet obviously he has something. Pugs and other dogs can have many skin problems there are skin things like food allergies, flea dermititis, viral infections ringworm, mange mites.

[Moo]

My dog developed pigment on his skin as a growing puppy. He used to have pink skin, with small brown dots on his belly, but the colour is prone to change. The skin on his scalp is now black. Depending on the season or temperature, his skin may be darker, lighter, more or less spotted, dominantly pink, or dominantly brown. It is just his skin pigment.

Do the spots seem to bother him? Do they have any effect on his fur?

[bobblehead_mama]

Oh geez...I was really, really hoping Tobias doesn't have mange. I googled it and couldn't find any pics on the web of dog's with mange. He only has these three small spots I mentioned in the first post. The fur is gone in these spots. He's a very scratchy dog in general so I can't tell if the spots are bothering him. They're not gross or oozey...just discolored patches on his skin. I guess I do need to get him to the vet, but it's not in my budget in the next week or so. Great, I'm semi-******** out about this now. I called a vet and they said just to get him in to look at the spots would be $30. That much I can afford, but I'm sure they'll do some sort of swabs or cultures or something and who knows how much that'll run. I suppose I'll just have to call and make an appointment to take him in two weeks. Thanks everyone for the input.

[bobblehead_mama]

Wow I posted my reply and it edited out part of the phrase "******** out". I didn't cuss, I promise. Oh my, it edited it out again. I'll just say I'm spazzing out. Surely they won't edit that too. LOL Sorry.