Is your dog constantly scratching, biting, or licking its skin? While an occasional itch is normal, persistent irritation could be a sign of an underlying skin problem. From itchy allergies to stubborn infections.
Skin diseases can be a cause of great discomfort for your dog. Research shows almost 21 percent of dogs suffer from any type of skin condition during their lifespan. The dog will excessively lick and rub its body parts due to these diseases.
Therefore, as a pet owner, you should have a basic understanding and knowledge of common skin diseases in dogs so you can timely recognise them and start their treatment. Here in this guide, I will explain the most common skin diseases in dogs, so continue reading this till the end.
Causes of Skin Diseases in Dogs
1- Allergies
Allergies are one of the common causes of skin diseases in dogs. It happens when a dog’s immune system overreacts to certain allergens. Environmental allergies, or atopy, food allergies, flea allergy dermatitis (FAD), and contact allergies are commonly encountered in dogs. Moreover, Allergies can cause excessive licking or scratching, red skin, hair loss, and ear infections.
2-Parasites
Parasite-related canine skin conditions are caused by external parasites. These parasites include ticks, mites, mange, and fleas They cause itching, inflammation, redness, and secondary infections if left untreated.
3-Infections
Bacteria and fungi are commonly associated with skin infections in dogs. Pyoderma is a common bacterial infection in dogs. While fungi cause dermatophytosis or ringworm and yeast infections in dogs.
4- Hormonal Imbalances
Hormones play a key role in regulating metabolism, immune function, and skin health. When this balance is disturbed, dogs experience hair loss, skin infections, and other systemic symptoms. Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland) and Cushing’s Disease or Hyperadrenocorticism (overproduction of cortisol by adrenal glands) are common hormonal conditions associated with skin disorders in dogs.
5-Autoimmune Disorders
Autoimmune disorders occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks its own body cells and tissues. It affects skin, internal organs, and joints. Pemphigus and lupus are the most prevalent autoimmune disorders in dogs.
6-Poor nutrition and Hygiene
Poor nutrition and hygiene significantly impact the skin health of dogs. It causes dry, flaky skin, a dull and brittle coat, delayed wound healing, and infections.
Common Skin Diseases in dogs
Skin problems are one of the most commonly presented diseases in dogs. Following are common skin conditions in dogs.
1-Flea Allergy Dermititis (FAD)
FAD is caused by an allergy to flea saliva. It happens when a dog is allergic to certain proteins present in flea saliva. Even a single flea bite is enough for a dog to show severe allergic signs. Common symptoms include:
- Intense itching and scratching
- Alopecia ( Hair loss)
- Red, Inflamed Skin
- Scabs and Crusty Skin Lesions
- Darkened and Thickened Skin (Chronic Cases)
- Presence of Flea Dirt
Using vet-recommended flea preventive and providing clean bedding to your dogs are ideal measures to prevent FAD in your dog.
2-Atopic Dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic condition in dogs. It is caused by hypersensitivity to common environmental allergens like pollens, dust mites, mould, and other irritants. Atopic dermatitis usually causes ailments in young dogs aged between 6 months and 3 years old. Certain breeds are more prone to atopic dermatitis, which include
- Labrador Retrievers
- Golden Retrievers
- Bulldogs
- Poodles
- West Highland
- White Terriers
Erythema (red, inflamed skin), recurring ear infections, and secondary infections are most common signs of atopic dermatitis in dogs. Reduce your dog’s exposure to known allergens by using an air purifier, frequent house cleaning, and washing dog bedding regularly. Avoid walking dogs in high pollen areas.
3-Mange
Infestation of mites is called mange. It leads to intense itching and skin irritation in dogs. There are two types of mange in dogs.
- Sarcoptic Mange (Scabies)
- Demodectic Mange
Although they are caused by different types of mange, they cause similar symptoms. Sarcoptic mange is highly contagious, but this is not true for demodectic mange. In addition, control fleas and avoid contact with infected animals to control mange in dogs
4-Hot Spots
Hot spots or Acute moist dermatitis are localized areas of inflammamed and infected skin that become red, oozing and painful. It’s caused by bacteria when dog scratches an area excessively, breaking the skin and allowing bacterial entry. Hot spots progresses rapidly thus immediate treatment is critical.
Hot spots can be triggered by allergies, flea infestation, parasites, skin irritation and infections. Infected areas will be red, inflammamed and moist. Moreover, hair loss and foul odour are also observed at affected area.
Furthermore, Allergy management, regular grooming, and moisturising the skin can reduce your dog’s chances of carrying hot spots.
5-Ringworm
Ringworm also called Dermatophytosis is fungal infection caused by fungi named Dermatophytes. It’s zoonotic infection, this means that humans can carry this infection from animals.
Ringworm is caused by direct contact with infected animals, exposure to dermatophyte spores, weakened immune systems, and crowded conditions provided to dogs.
Symptoms of ringworm include:
- Circular Patches of Hair Loss
- Itching and Scratching
- Dry, Brittle Hair
- Dandruff
- Crusty, Raised Lesions
- Affected Claws
Regularly bathe your dog with antifungal shampoo and avoid contact with infected animals. If a dog is infected, quarantine it until complete recovery. In addition, clean and disinfect your house to prevent fungus buildup.
6-Yeast Infections
Yeast infections in dogs are caused by overgrowth of Malassezia pachydermatis. It is normally present in dogs skin. But when a dog’s immune system becomes compromised, it grows in an uncontrollable manner, leading to infection.
These infections commonly infect paws, ears, skin folds, and the groin region. Several factors can contribute to yeast overgrowth, including allergies, moisture and humidity, antibiotic or steroid use, and poor nutrition.
7-Canine Pyoderma
Canine pyoderma is a bacterial infection caused by overgrowth of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius. It caused when skin’s natural defences are weakened due to allergies and parasites.
Canine pyoderma can be divided into three types based on infection depth.
1-Surface Pyoderma
It affects outermost skin layer.
2.Superficial pyoderma
It affects hair follicles and the upper layers of the skin.
3-Deep pyoderma
It involves deeper layers of skin and hair follicles
Pyoderma is caused by hormonal imbalances, injury and skin trauma, and excessive moisture. At the end, regular vet checks and monitoring skin changes can prevent pyoderma in your dog.
Diagnosis of Skin Diseases
Diagnosis of skin diseases requires a thorough approach, as many diseases share similar signs and symptoms. It’s is based on a combination of history, clinical signs, and diagnostic tests.
Commonly used diagnostic tests include
- Skin scraping
- Skin cytology
- Fungal Culture
- Skin Biopsy
- Wood’s Lamp Test
Treatment of Dog Fungal Infections
Treatment of fungal infections can be topical and systemic.
Topical Treatment
- Bathing dog with medicated antifungal shampoos.
- Application of antifungal creams and ointments at inflamed and infected areas
- Ear drops can be used for ear infections in dogs.
Systemic Treatment
- Administration of oral antifungal infections like ketoconazole, fluconazole, itraconazole, etc.
- Treatment with oral antifungals requires weeks to months of treatment.
Prevention of Skin Diseases in Dogs
- Regular Grooming and Skin Care
- Parasite prevention
- Flea and tick prevention
- Proper Nutrition
- Allergen Management
- Avoiding Exposure to Irritants
- Hydration and Moisturization
- Avoiding Skin Trauma
Conclusion
So in this blog post we covered most common skin diseases in dogs, their causes, diagnosis, treatment options and prevention strategies. In the end, to protect your dog from skin diseases, it’s essential to implement preventive measures. Early diagnosis and treatment is also crucial, and seek professional vet guidance when needed.
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