How to Identify and Treat Dog Skin Problems

Overview of Diagnosing Dog Skin Problems

A veterinarian has three basic clues regarding any dog skin condition. These include the age, breed and sex of the dog, the dog's medical history and skin appearance. To confirm the diagnosis, a series of laboratory tests (fungal scraping, skin biopsy or sample) can help to identify the exact cause.

Veterinarians will ask the following types of questions to help determine the cause of dog skin problems:

• Do symptoms change by season or are they present year round?
  -- Indicates  a seasonal allergy
• Are there other pets in the home and do they have any have skin conditions?
  -- Indicates fleas, parasites, mites
• Does bathing your dog cause the problem to get worse?
• Frequency of bathing?
  -- Could lead to dry skin, parasites
• Does the dog have relatives with canine skin conditions?
  -- Indicates genetic or inherited dog skin disorders
• Timing of last flea treatment
• Use of medications
  -- Some medications can trigger dog skin problems
• Typical way you feed your dog
  -- Can indicate a nutritional issue or dog food allergy
• Dog skin symptoms.  These include:
  -- Dog skin hives
  -- Dog skin sores
  -- Dandruff
  -- Hair loss
  -- Bad Skin odor
  -- Sweating
  -- Ear issues
  -- Rubbing, scratching, licking, chewing and location of body

General Guidelines for Dog Skin Problems

Diagnosing a canine skin condition can be challenging if you fail to record when and where a rash begins. The reason is that once a dog starts licking or scratching a problem area, it changes in appearance. For example chronic allergic dermatitis and sarcoptic mange are often easily differentiated in their early stages, but once they develop, they can look identical. 

Other clues include behaviors, with inhalant allergies causing a dog to scratch the face, while flea bite hypersensitivity causes a dog to scratch, bite and lick their back, groin, tail and thigh. Sometimes, if the condition spreads to humans, such as canine ringworm, a diagnosis can be made for the dog.

A veterinarian will begin to evaluate dog skin problems by using the information outlined in the following tables:

Dog Skin Conditions based on One or More Areas of the Body

Where a lesion develops on the body is an important clue as to possible cause. Primary lesions develop spontaneously and as a direct result of the disease. A secondary lesion results after the dog has licked or scratched an area, changing the original appearance, making diagnosis more difficult.

Diseases and Conditions By Area of Dog's Body
Location of Dog Skin Condition	Possible Cause of Dog Skin Problems
Localized (in one or few areas of the body)	Infectious organism such as a mite Dog Bacterial Skin Infection Dog Fungal Skin Infection Dog skin tumor or cancer (called a neoplasm)
Generalized (affects the entire dog)	Hypersensitivity to an allergen (dog allergies) Endocrine Disorders (diabetes) Immune mediated disorders (allergy) Metabolic Skin diseases (for example diabetes mellitus)

Dog Skin Problems based on Shape or Symmetry

The appearance of a skin condition can also provide important clues as to cause. For example, a bacterial skin infection (2nd most common type of skin problem in dogs), can appear as red bumps or pimples, bull's eye target lesions, scabs, flakiness and redness. Pyoderma (pus filled skin) often results in patchy dog hair loss or thinning hair.

Canine Skin Conditions Based on Shape or Symmetry
Shape or Symmetry of Dog Skin Condition	Possible Cause of Dog Skin Problems
Appears on two sides of the body in the same say (bi-lateral)	Canine hypothyroidism Canine hyperadrenocorticism Pemphigus
Dog Skin Allergy Lesions that are of unequal size or shape (asymmetric)	Dog Skin Parasites - Mange/Scabies - Demodicosis Dog Skin Fungal Infection (ringworm, dermatophytosis)

Dog Skin Problems based on Health of Dog Coat or Hair

Hair loss and thinning can indicate a range of dog skin problems. For example, symmetrical hair loss on the body, accompanied by bumps, blackheads, flaking or other mild skin irritation can indicate Cushing's Disease or hypothyroidism. Some dog hair loss is breed specific such as such as thinning hair on the ears or dog baldness associated with Dachshunds and some short haired breeds. Patchy hair loss is a sign of an immune-mediated canine skin disease. Alopecia areata refers to dogs that lose hair of only one color.

Dog hair loss requires a trip to the veterinarian when a dog is suffering from itch, smells bed, or if there are signs of irritated skin or infected skin. Also if your dog appears ill along with hair loss, this could indicate a condition such as a bacterial skin infection, mange or other parasitic dog skin disease.

Dog Skin Conditions Based on Hair and Coat Condition
Dog Hair or Coat Condition	Possible Cause of Dog Skin Problems
Dull coat hair	Metabolic disease (diabetes) Hormonal disease (cushings) Nutrition problem Dog Skin Disease
Dog Coat color change	Hormonal disease Canine follicular dysplasia (misfunctioning hair follicles due to structural abnormality, also associated with hair loss - another name for hair loss is alopecia).
Poor dog hair quality	Hormonal disease Canine follicular dysplasia

Location on Dog Body and Possible Dog Skin Problems

Certain types of canine skin conditions tend to affect a particular area of the body. Here are some common dog skin problems based on the commonly affected area:

Canine Skin Problems and Body Location
Dog Skin Disease	Location on Body Affected	Tests Required	Treatment	Prognosis
Dog Flea Allergy (flea bite hypersensitivity)	Lower Back Middle rear Groin Abdomen	Skin Testing Blood Test	Flea Control (see below for dog flea allergy treatment)	Excellent
Dog Skin Infection	Generalized or any location showing red skin areas, scaling, hair loss (alopecia), skin papules, pustules, crusts	Skin testing, biopsy	Dog shampoo therapy (see below for dog skin infection treatment)	Good
Dog Demodicosis (caused by mites, also called demodex)	Localized on the face in the form of hair loss and/or skin scaling Generalized in more than 5 areas of the body  in the form of hair loss, papules, pustules and crusts.  Paws can be affected.	Skin scrapings, biopsy	Prescription medications (amitraz) or dip (see below for dog demodicosis or demodex treatment)	Fair
Dog Scabies	Ears, elbows, belly, leg joint	Skin scrapings, trial treatment (called sarcoptes treatment)	Dips (see below for dog scabies treatment)	Excellent
Dog Ringworm (dermatophytosis)	Face, Ears, Paws	Wood's lamp test, fungal culture	Antifungal shampoos Prescription medications for more advanced cases (griseofulvin, keotconazole) See below for dog ringworm treatment.	Excellent
Dog allergy (contact hypersensitivity to environmental allergens, also called contact irritant dermatitis)	Generalized (all over body) Areas of body with little hair (scrotum, chin, between the thighs, paws, front abdomen	Skin cultures (fungal culture) Skin Biopsy	Avoidance of allergen Steroids See below for detailed dog skin allergy treatment	Excellent if cause is identified
Dog Mast Cell Tumor	Back half of the body	Biopsy	Surgical removal Steroids (glucocorticoids) Chemotherapy Radiation	Guarded

Skin Appearance Related to Primary Dog Skin Problems

Skin symptoms can indicate certain dog skin problems. Use the following table to identify possible underlying causes that are primary in nature, meaning that they are the direct result of whatever dog skin problem is affecting your dog.

Canine Skin Appearance and Related Dog Skin Conditions
Type of Dog Skin Lesion	Definition	Possible Canine Skin Conditions
Macule	Flat isolated spot that is a different color than surrounding areas	Acanthosis Nigricans Allergic Dermatitis Bleeding Disorder
Papule	Small elevated and firm area (2), pink or red in color, cause by some type of inflammation Dog Skin Papule Source: Dermatology for Small Animal Practitioner	Dog Skin Allergy
Nodule	An isolated firm elevated skin area larger than 1cm that extends deeper into the skin Dog Skin Nodule Source: Dermatology for Small Animal Practitioner	Tumors Skin Inflammation
Tumor	Swollen skin area. It can extend deep into the skin tissue. Dog Skin Tumor Source: Dermatology for Small Animal Practitioner	Benign (not cancerous) neoplasms Malignant  neoplasm (cancerous, fast growing/spreading) Dog Skin Cysts
Pustule	Elevated skin area filled with puss.  Large pustules are called plaques. Dog Skin Pustule Source: Dermatology for Small Animal Practitioner	Dog acne Canine Folliculitis
Wheal	A raised dog skin lesion that appears soon after exposure to the cause, usually appears and disappears Dog Skin Wheal Source: Dermatology for Small Animal Practitioner	Dog Hives Insect Bites Allergy skin test reactions
Vesicle	Raised skin area filled with clear fluid. Large vesicles are called bullae.  Dog Skin Vesicle Source: Dermatology for Small Animal Practitioner	Canine autoimmune disease Virus

Secondary Dog Skin Problems and Symptoms

Secondary dog skin problems occur as the result of another problem such as dog skin scratching or itching.

Secondary Canine Skin Problems and Related Symptoms
Type of Dog Skin Lesion	Definition	Possible Canine Skin Conditions
Scaling	Loose skin particles or flakes	Canine Seborrhea Allergic Dermatitis Democosis
Epidermal Collarette	Round scaling areas	Folliculitis
Dog Skin Crusts	Dry blood or puss on the skin or coat	Pyoderma Multiple Dog Skin Conditions
Dog Scars	Damaged skin covered by fibrous tissue	Burns Pyoderma
Dog Skin Ulcer	Break in the skin where you can see lower skin layers Dog Skin Ulcer Source: Dermatology for Small Animal Practitioner	Pyoderma
Excoriation	Skin injury from scratching	Dog Hot Spots (also called acute moist dermatitis) Dog Scabies Dog flea allergy
Lichenification	Thickened skin after healing form scratching or other dog skin injury Dog Skin Lichenification Source: Dermatology for Small Animal Practitioner	Acanthosis nigricans Allergic Dermatitis
Hyperpigmentation	Dark spots on dog skin Dog Skin Hyperpigmentation Source: Dermatology for Small Animal Practitioner	Hormonal imbalance Dermatatitis with injury due to dog skin scratching, rubbing Chronic Inflammation
Hyperkeratosis	Skin Thickening on areas of the body such as the dog footpads	Autoimmune Disease Dog Calluses Dog hard pads (nasodigital hyperkeratosis)

Dog Skin Problems by Breed

A good starting point for diagnosing many dog skin problems is to see if your breed is prone to a specific dog skin disorder. Many breeds have a higher incidence of canine skin diseases as indicated below.

Canine Skin Conditions by Breed
Dog Breed	Diseases that can cause Dog Skin Problems
Beagle	Demodicosis: mange Sebaceous Gland Tumors
Boston Terrier	Atopy (inhalant allergies) Demodicosis
Boxer	Dog Acne Dog Atopy Demodicosis Hyperadrenocorticism Neoplasms, Tumors
Cocker and Springer Spaniels	Canine Hypothyroidism Lichenoid Psoriasis form dermatosis Lip-fold dermatitis Dog Swimmers Ear (otitis externa) Papiloma Canine Seborrhea
Collie	Dermatomyostis Discoid Lupus Erythematosus Nasal Pyoderma
Dachshund	Acanthosis nigricans Demodicosis Folliculitis Hyperadrenocorticism Hypothyroidism Dog Ear Alopecia (dog hair loss)
Doberman Pinscher	Canine Acne Acral lick dermatitis Color mutant alopecia (dog hair loss) Demodicosis Flank sucking
German Shepherd	Calcinosis Circuscripta Folliculitis Discoid Lupus Erythematosus Dog ear tip fly dermatitis Hemangioma Canine Seborrhea
Golden Retriever	Dog Hot Spots (acute moist dermatitis) Canine Atopy Canine Folliculitis Hypothyroidism Lymphosarcoma Dog swimmer ear (otitis externa)
Labrador Retriever	Acral lick dermatitis Dog Hot Spots Canine Atopy Canine Folliculitis Canine Lipoma Canine Seborrhea Dog Otitis externa Dog Swimmers Ear
Lhasa apso	Dog Atopy Hair Matting
Poodles	Tearing (epiphora) Granulomatous sebaceous adenitis Dog Cushings Disease (Hyperadrenocorticism) Dog Swimmers Ear (otitis externa) Canine sebaceous gland tumor<
Shar Pei (breed known for the most skin problems)	Canine Atopy Dog Hypothyroidism Dog Food Allergy Contact Allergies Demodicosis Canine Folliculitis Canine Seborrhea Immunogoblulin A deficiency
Cairn Terriers	Dog Atopy
Scottish Terrier	Dog Atopy Canine Folliculitis
West Highland White Terrier	Dog Atopy Canine Seborrhea Epidermal Dysplasia Dog Food Allergy Dog Swimmers Ear Cutaneous Yeast

How to Treat the Most Common Dog Skin Problems

To treat dog skin problems effectively, the cause of the problem such as allergy or infection needs to be identified. Reaching a quick diagnosis is sometimes difficult, since dog skin problems due to allergy and infection often result in similar symptoms. Because of this, a veterinarian will often prescribe antibiotics and a medicated shampoo since this will treat a potential dog skin infection. If the condition does not clear up, then additional steps can be taken to treat a dog skin allergy.

Veterinarians also make use of corticosteroids (steroids) to address dog skin itch and inflammation. These are not prescribed for periods longer than 2 weeks unless needed due to potential side effects such as increased drinking (called polydipsia), increased appetite (polyphagia) and increased urination (polyuria). You may also see your dog panting more than usual and tiredness. The medications should be given after a morning meal. If you see any side effects, or changes in your dogs behavior or mental condition, be sure to immediately alert your veterinarian.

Dog Skin Itch: To help avoid scratching, anti-itch medications are often prescribed. Itching in a dog in reaction to an allergy is the equivalent of a human sneeze. The allergen causes chemicals to be released in the dog's body which causes skin inflammation. The result is a dog skin itch.

Prescription medications such as cortisone can bring short term relief by blocking the release of the chemicals in the body that cause itchy dog skin, but are often avoided due to potential side effects.

Other medications that are used to achieve the same effect are antihistamines. Give these medications to your dog on an empty stomach. These products have few side effects (commonly sleepiness), but only help 1 in 5 dogs. Antihistamines are given to dogs throughout the allergy season affecting your dog.

Several anti-histamines are available over the counter including:

• Benadryl dog dosage: 1 mg per pound of dog's total weight, 3x per day
• Seldane dog dosage:  2.5-5mg per pound of body weight/2x per day
• Tavist dog dosage: 1.34 mg 2x per day for dogs under 30 pounds, 2.68 mg 2x per day for dogs over 40 pounds

Caution: Do not use if your dog is pregnant. Also, do not use an antihistamine if your dog is on other medications without consulting with a veterinarian, as it could result in an abnormal heart rate. If your dog is suffering from atopy (inhaled or seasonal allergy), then combine the use of an antihistamine with shampoo therapy.

Dog Shampoo Therapy for Typical Dog Skin Conditions

Often, an owner will notice one of the following dog skin problems or conditions:

• dog dry skin
• dog oily skin
• dog skin scaling
• dog skin infection

Each may be improved with the purchase of the right dog shampoo or skin care product.

Purchasing a Dog Shampoo to Clean and Moisturize the Skin:

Only use shampoos that are formulated for dogs. Look for products that have essential fatty acids, and preferably contain biotin, Vitamin E (anti-oxidant) and vitamin B-5/pantothenic acid (helps with hair). Look for products that are hypoallergenic and/or all natural.

A recommended dog shampoo that meets these criteria is DermaPet Conditioning Shampoo.

Dog Dry Skin Treatment

After using a product like the DermaPet mentioned above for bathing, if a dog has dry skin, there is some benefit to using a bath oil, conditioner, emollient (allow oils to enter the skin) or humectant (moisturize by trapping water in the skin).  Products that contain fatty acids can also be helpful.

These products can be applied daily to the skin, and can be particularly helpful for dogs that live in warmer or dry climates.

A recommend dog skin conditioner is DermAlly Oatmeal Skin Conditioner.

Dog Seborrhea Treatment  (flaking dog skin)

Canine seborrhea can result in dry dog skin or greasy dog skin.  These dog skin problems result from skin cells being produced faster than older dead cells can fall away from the dog.

To moisturize the skin of a dog with seborrhea, something as simple as bathing in plain water for 10 to 15 minutes can help.Medicated shampoos can also be of help such as those that contain sulfur and salicylic acid.

A recommended dog seborrhea shampoo is DermaPet DermaBenS Shampoo.

Dog Skin Infection Treatment

Medicated dog shampoos with selenium are often used to treat dog skin bacterial infections. These shampoos clean at the base of the hair follicles, helping to remove infection. Selsun Blue is commonly used for this purpose.

Shampoos that contain chlorhexidine such as Duoxo can help with dog skin infections caused by bacteria, ringworm or yeast. Iodine based shampoos also can be used for bacterial and fungal infection.

Treating Dog Hot Spots

Often a dog skin allergy or dog flea allergy specifically can cause skin scratching and licking which results in hair loss in specific areas of the coat. These are referred to as dog hot spots.

These types of dog skin problems are treated with shampoos that contain Benzoyl Peroxide. For example, DermaPet Benzoyl Peroxide Plus or Pyoben would be good choices.

In terms of dog hot spot treatment, we suggest the following:

1. Remove/cut dog hair around any infected lesions.
2. Give your dog a bath using a hypoallergenic shampoo such as DermaPet Conditioning Shampoo.
3. After rinsing shampoo, use a Benzoyl Peroxide based shampoo such as DermaPet Benzoyl Peroxide Plus.  Leave on the dog for about 10 minutes, making sure that you cover infected areas or hot spots with the suds.
4. If you believe the hot spot was caused by a flea, then follow the use a medicated flea shampoo.
5. If this therapy doesn't help over time, your dog might need a short course of steroids, followed by use of this hot spot approach. Infection may also require antibiotics.

Treating Dog Flea Skin Allergy

For dog skin flea allergy we suggest use of a dip such as the one offered by Adams Flea Dip and one bath per week with a hypoallergenic shampoo such as the DermaPet Conditioning shampoo mentioned above. Insecticide based shampoos are recommended by some veterinarians, although others consider them to be ineffective.

Dog Skin Infection (Pyoderma)

If you see puss filled bumps or pimples on your dog's skin, that isn't caused by allergy, it is probably caused by a bacterial dog skin infection. Other causes include skin injury, fleas, mange, hormonal issues, seborrhea, autoimmune disease (lupus), cancer, high temperatures, high humidity levels, use of medications such as steroids, and ringworm.

 Symptoms of dog skin infection include:

• Patches of hair loss
• Thinning hair
• Skin bumps or lesions
• Dog pimples (red in color)
• Dog skin blisters
• Scabs
• Skin Flakes

Skin infections usually occur in dogs with a compromised immune system, so it is important to visit the veterinarian for a diagnosis and to rule out hormone deficiency related diseases such as Cushings and hypothyroidism.

Treatment commonly starts with the use of antibiotics for about 2 weeks or longer depending on how fast your dog is healing. Antibiotic treatment usually lasts for 2 weeks. Commonly used antibiotics includes Erythromycin, Clindamycin, Amoxicillin, Cephalexin and Enrofloxacin.

An antibacterial shampoo such as the Duoxo can be of help as well. Frequency of use varies from 1x every 2 days to 1x every 2 weeks based on the severity of the condition and the preference of your veterinarian.

Dog Ringworm

Canine ringworm is a fungal infection that causes hair loss in localized areas on dogs, taking shape as the commonly known round skin areas.  If it in just a few areas, it is possible that the problem will go away on its own.

Dips such as Naturasil for Ringworm are effective if the ringworm has spread all over a dogs body. If this doesn't work, then oral prescription medications can be used (called Griseofulvin).

Dog Skin Yeast Infection (cutaneous malassezia)

Yeast on a dog's skin can result in a dog scratching or chewing the skin. This often happens in specific areas of the body such as scratching dog ears., face, toes or under the dog's tail.

If the condition is diagnosed as being mild, then a Benzoyl peroxide based shampoo such as the DermaPet Benzoyl Peroxide can be helpful. Cases that are not mild will require a prescription medication (Nizoral, Clavamox).

Dog Skin Problems Caused by Parasites

• Dog Fleas: If your dog has fleas you will need to remove the fleas from the home and your dog. Be sure to thoroughly vacuum any room, clean all linen in hot water and wash all of the dog's bedding. If you have carpets, use a product such as FleaBusters. This is important as a female flea can reproduce for a year.  To treat dog fleas, start with a high quality dip to kill the fleas such as Adams Flea Dip.  The dip is mixed with a shampoo to allow it to penetrate the coat and skin. In terms skin itch, this can be helped with a topical spray such as Dermal Soothe.


• Dog Demodex: This is also one of the dog skin problems caused by mites. Healthy dogs can fight off the mites, however they can grow in number if the dog's immune system is not functioning properly. In younger dogs, canine demodex causes localized hair loss in round patches, turning the skin a gray or red color.  If the condition is minor, no treatment may be needed. For demodex all over the body (generalized canine demodex), a prescription medication such as Mitaban is called for.
  
  
• Dog Walking Dandruff (cheyletiella): This dog skin problem is also caused by mites. Symptoms include itch and skin scaling. Cocker Spaniels in particular are prone to this condition.  These mites can move to humans, so treatment is important. Treatment involved clipping the coat to remove the mites and eggs. A dip such as Naturasil can be used to kill any mites and eggs.  Dogs are bathed in a conditioning shampoo to remove any skin scales such as Dermcare Hypoallergenic Shampoo.

Dog Skin Allergy

Dog skin problems that involve allergy fall into five broad categories as indicated below.  The goal of diagnosis is to identify the specific cause of the dog skin condition, and then to address how to avoid the cause, while at the same time treating any symptoms.

• Dog Atopy (inhaled allergens): If this is the suspected cause, then the veterinarian will conduct a series of blood and skin tests to determine the underlying cause.  Once identified, the vet will work with you to avoid the substance that triggers the problem.  Seasonal allergies such as pollen is a common cause, with symptoms found on the face, armpits, ears, feet and legs. See instructions above under dog hot spots.
  
  
• Dog food allergy: In food allergy, an elimination diet is used, where a dog is fed a simple protein and carbohydrate for a period of time. If the allergy subsides, then ingredients are added back into the diet until the ingredient that has caused the dog skin condition is identified.
  
  
• Dog flea allergy: this is obviously caused by a hypersensitivity to fleas.  Elimination of the fleas from the dog's environment is required as indicated above.  Dog flea allergy symptoms usually appear on the back of the legs, above the tail, and start moving up toward the head along the back.  It is common for dogs with an inhaled allergy (pollen/atopy) to also have a dog flea allergy.
  
  
• Dog contact allergy: This type of allergy usually occurs in skin areas not protected by the dog's coat such as the foot pads, or areas with little or no hair.
  
  
• Dog autoimmune disease; These types of canine skin conditions occur when the immune system attacks the skin. This is a difficult to diagnosis problem that can cause severe health problems for the dog. Canine pemphigus is a common auto immune allergy in dogs, causing the skin to fall apart, resulting in dog skin ulcers and blisters.

Homeopathics for Dog Skin Problems

Many owners and vets believe in the ability of homeopathic products to strengthen the dog's ability to protect the skin.  This includes products which address symptoms such as Allergy Itch Ease. Others are formulated to help dogs during and after conventional treatment restore skin and coat condition while speeding recovery.  Skin and Coat Tonic falls into the category of products that promote healthy skin and coats.

Both of the links above will take you to reputable manufacturers who provide the latest scientific research behind this approach. Note that they are not a specific cure, but meant for general support.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Dog Skin Conditions

As you can see from the discussion above, there many possible types of dog skin problems. If you decide to treat the condition yourself at first, consider the shampoo therapy recommendations listed above.  If you do not see improvement after several days, or not other changes in your dog's general condition, be sure to seek the advice of a veterinarian or veterinary dermatologist.

Ask Our Vet A Question or Share Your Story

References for Dog Skin Problems

Melman, Dr. Steven A.
Skin Diseases of Dogs and Cats

Hypothyroidism in Dogs, Washington State University

Mueller, R.S.
The Dog with Papules, Pustules and Crusts
Dermatology for the Small Animal Practitioner

Skin Problems in Dogs, WebMD