10 Common Skin Conditions That May Be Affecting Your Dog
Skin issues are the #1 reason dogs visit the vet! Skin and coat can be indicators of your dog's overall health. Keeping your dog clean can help minimize bacteria or fungus on their skin, reduce irritation and inflammation, and provide relief from itching.
Signs & Symptoms
Constant scratching is most likely your first indicator there's something going on. However, it can be difficult to determine what exactly the cause of irritation is. While it is normal for a dog to occasionally itch (just like a person may sometimes scratch their skin) frequent itching is indicative of something more serious going on.
Dogs relieve the itch by rubbing their head against an object or scratching the irritated area with their paws. You may also see your dog licking their paws or other areas of the body to soothe the irritated skin.
Other signs of a potential skin issue:
Skin Sores
Dry Skin
Rashes
Redness
Dandruff
Bumps
Hair Loss
Check your pup's skin regularly and observe when your dog presents a reaction. You may find your pup itches after mealtimes, during a particular season, or if you’ve recently done any cleaning — all of which can be signs of an underlying skin allergy or atopic dermatitis. The more information you can provide, the better!
Top 10 Canine Skin Conditions
1) ENVIRONMENTAL ALLERGIES
Sudden onset of itching — particularly on the face, feet, chest, and stomach — can indicate an environmental allergy, triggered by direct content with the irritant. Some of the most common allergens for dogs are grass, dust mites, and pollen. This type of allergy is called 'atopy' and is similar to people with hay fever — except that dogs show it by having irritated, itchy skin, rather than watery eyes and sneezing.
Scenthound's Problem Skin Treatment is a great way to get your pup some relief! A Zymox bath (shampoo + conditioning) supports skin and coat health, soothes skin, and diminishes itching and irritation.
2) FOOD ALLERGIES
Increased itching on the face, feet, ears, and bottom can be signs of a dog food allergy. Dogs can develop food allergies to the type of protein they consume — for example, beef, eggs, chicken, and dairy — although some dogs also suffer from allergies to wheat or even vegetables!
Like humans with food intolerances, dogs must go through an elimination diet to rule out potential allergens. Your vet can guide you through this process and how best to carry it out.
3) FOLLICULITIS
Folliculitis simply means inflamed hair follicles, which can appear on the body in sores, bumps, and scabs over the skin. This often occurs when your dog is experiencing another skin problem, like mange or an allergy, as the hair follicles become infected by the underlying skin condition. Shampoos and antibacterial ointments can help treat and soothe the infection.
4) IMPETIGO
Puppies are more prone to impetigo, which may also indicate an underlying skin condition. Impetigo lesions can appear on your pup's stomach as blisters, which can burst and scab over. As with all conditions in young animals, seeking expert treatment immediately is strongly recommended. Your vet may prescribe antibiotics or medicated washes to treat the issue.
5) RINGWORM
Despite its name, it's not actually a worm but a fungus that is highly contagious to other animals and humans! This fungal infection appears as circular, crusty bald patches and is often found on a dog’s head, paws, ears, and front legs. Your dog’s skin may also be inflamed and red from their scratching. It’s imperative that you contact your vet ASAP so they can prescribe a topical treatment to kill the fungus and prevent it from spreading.
6) YEAST INFECTIONS
Warm areas on a dog’s body attract yeast infections, which thrive in hard-to-reach areas like the ear canal, groin, and between your dog’s toes. The skin may thicken, causing your dog to itch and bite at the infected area. Yeast infections can also discolor the skin and have a distinct odor. A topical cream or medicated wash will help to relieve the symptoms and cure the infection.
7) FLEAS & TICKS
Fleas are tiny parasites that can survive in carpets and bedding, which is why it’s so important to vacuum regularly, wash your pup's bed and make sure they’re up-to-date with their preventative treatments.
Ticks and fleas affect your dog’s skin by biting and sucking their blood. When flea saliva enters your pup's body, it causes an allergic response which irritates their skin and causes them some serious itch. You may notice inflamed, red skin as a result of their scratching or chewing. In extreme conditions, their fur may even fall out!
If you suspect fleas or ticks have invaded your home, visit your local Scenthound for a Flea & Tick Treatment. We'll handle all of the dirty work, including a bath with flea/tick shampoo, blow-dry, and pest removal with a flea/tick comb. Click here to find a Scenter near you.
8) MANGE
Mange is a severe skin condition caused by mites that live on the dog’s hair and skin. There are two main types of mange — one is caused by the Demodex mite, known as demodectic mange, which tends to affect dogs under one year old, older dogs, or pups with another underlying condition. The other, caused by Sarcoptes mites, is sarcoptic mange, an intensely itchy condition and is often first noticed on the dog's ears. Symptoms of mange include hair loss on the face and legs, along with severe itching and redness around the affected areas.
As with fleas and ticks, if your dog has mange, wash their bedding and make sure any other pets avoid contact with this pup. Treatment may include medications and prescribed shampoo to kill the mites and ease the itching and inflammation. Some flea and tick preventatives may
9) DANDRUFF
Like humans, dogs can get dandruff and dry skin. Some dogs are prone to dry skin, particularly in winter. It can also be affected by their diet — high-quality sources of protein and omega 3 and 6 fatty acids can help keep the coat healthy. Simple cases of dandruff are easy to treat with shampoos, but you should check with your vet to be sure it's not the sign of an underlying problem.
10) LUPUS
Lupus is an autoimmune disease which means the body’s immune system attacks its own cells. Open, crusty skin sores which take too long to heal are often indicative of an immune disorder, especially around the nose, eyes, and paws. If left untreated, lupus can be very serious so make sure to get to the bottom of any skin condition that isn’t improving.
Dogs can suffer from mild to severe skin conditions, many of which require professional treatment to resolve. In fact, when a skin disease is left untreated, it can often become complicated and significantly more serious. For example, an allergic reaction may become secondarily infected with bacteria, or a bacterial infection may also become infected with yeast.
Skin issues can cause significant discomfort for your pup, from itching to soreness. Some of the most common skin disorders in dogs include bacterial skin infections, environmental allergies, and parasite allergies. It’s important to pay attention to any skin conditions your dog suffers from, as they can indicate an underlying health condition that hasn’t already been diagnosed.
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Dr. Jim MacLean
Chief Veterinarian, Scenthound
Dr. MacLean’s first job was working as a grooming assistant when he was 15 years old. Since then, he has worked in every aspect of small animal veterinary hospitals, has practiced in small animal medicine and surgery for 26 years, and has owned and started multi-doctor veterinary hospitals.
With a mind for both medicine and business, Jim received his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from VMRCVM at Virginia Tech in 1994 and his MBA from Georgetown University in 2011.
Coming full circle, he joined the Scenthound pack to bring his expertise and experience to the grooming world. As chief veterinarian, Dr. MacLean guides Scenthound from a health and medicine perspective and helps achieve our mission to improve overall pet health on a broader scale.