First you got to make sure that it is just the skin. No lumps, not bleeding, no open wounds.
Then yes, you must bring your dog to the vet. Just like in humans, anything on that area must be taken seriously. This usually happens to dogs 5years of age and above.
My vet gave me 10days antibiotic for my shiba inu dog, shogun. And an antibiotic topical cream bactroban, and an allergic shampoo.
In shogun's case, luckily it was just the skin that was dry and flaky, it also turned blackish and some areas are red.
After 10days of drinking antibiotic, i could see the redness are reduced but it was still blackish and dry. So i decided to give moisturizer on them. I tried 1 moisturizer that contains petroleum jelly, but it did not work as good as nivea for very dry skin with vitamin e and grapeseed oil.
This particular nivea product fits really well with my dog because it seeped into the skin and left no byproducts on his scrotum. Making them always dry. I found that giving him a moist leftover moisturizer only made it worse especially during rainy season in jakarta, a tropical country with high level of moist. It made some of his scotum's skin red with what i suspect to be fungus.
After i applied nivea, his scrotum's skin improved really well. The color has turned to normal skin color and the black skin peeled off.
Take note that when the skin heal, it will peel off damaged skin, leaving healthy ones underneath. If you see the skin is peeling off, check if the skin under it is healthy or not. If it is, then you know your dog's scrotum skin is healing.
Never peel it off for him. Let the skin peel off by itself! If you force-peel it, it will bleed and create an open wound that is prone to infection.
An infection on scrotum is very very bad!
Be wary of whatever lotions or creams your vet gave you! Scrotum skin is different with other body area's skin. It is very sensitive to chemicals. A cream that works wonder on his chest might not work on his scrotum!
Any cream with acid or sulfur used for allergic reaction, barber itch, fungus, and other skin problem should never be used on scrotum.
It will burn his scrotum red!
When u got a cream or a lotion, always try a tiny bit, making one tiny spot on the skin around the scrotum (not on the scrotum) first to see its reaction. Wait 24hours then apply tiny bit on scrotum and wait again 24hours before going on full medication mode. You wouldn't want your dog crying in pain and raising one hind leg when walking with two obviously red balls because of you. It is detrimental to your health since then you will not be able to sleep for days. It might take 3 to 4 days before the redness is gone.
Applying the nivea is the most important aftercare step after vet's antibiotic. Do not apply topical antibiotic cream too often/more than necessary. Remember, the skin on that area is very sensitive!
I only applied once a day before bed time on the area that is red for 5days, and shogun also take antibiotic pills from the vet twice a day for 10days. I applied nivea everyday for 10days then 3times a week afterwards for 2months. Now after 2months it has a lot of improvements. The redness are gone completely, 80percent of the blacked skin has peeled off, healthy scrotum skin has grow in place of the blacked ones.
I am really glad. I felt so bad when i first found out. Truth be told i have no idea that he got problem down there. Whenever i body checked him once a month, i always thought that that was normal color for a dog's balls. How am i supposed to know since i got no balls?
But still, i felt bad because i think he already got that problem for a long time going and i was not quick to realize it. I also thought he was just being a drama king when he screamed while grooming his balls. I thought he must have seen a pimple or something near his balls and panicked.
Oh no. I shouldn't have believed those people that said shibas/dogs can be a great actresses/actors.
They never joke about their health!
I am going to be more receptive in the future for both our sakes.