My dog has a irritated black looking ring around her eye

[mraymond79]

My dog has a irritated black looking ring around her eye. She is scratching it more and more its getting imflamed . Wanted to know what it might be and is it treatable over the counter.

[Kimberly Coyner, D.V.M., DACVD]

I agree with Dr. Humphries, OTC treatment is not recommended without a diagnosis, and applying medications around the eye risks getting a potentially irritating medication into the eye itself. The most likely cause for dark irritated skin around the eye of a puppy would be a skin infection with bacteria, demodectic mange mites, or fungus (ringworm). Your veterinarian can perform skin scrapes to look for infection and mites, +/- ringworm culture if needed and prescribe the appropriate therapy based on test results.
Good luck,
Kimberly Coyner, DVM DACVD

[Jim Humphries, B.S., D.V.M.]

Without seeing this I can't say.  However scratching the eye, even the area around the eye, can cause a serious eye injury.  Guessing what this is would not be a good idea, hence I would not recommend any OTC meds.  

A veterinary exam and proper diagnosis and treatment is needed.