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Veterinary dermatologists
Skin problems are really common in dogs. Fortunately, skin is also the most visible organ of the body, so it is easy to see when something is not right.
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Key Points
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Main signs of skin issues
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Signs vary depending on the underlying cause and the individual dog, but can includ...
Signs vary depending on the underlying cause and the individual dog, but can include excessive itchiness, hair loss, redness, wounds caused by scratching or biting or a pungent smell
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Parasites & infections
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Even if you don't see them, flea bites and flea bite allergies commonly make other ...
Even if you don't see them, flea bites and flea bite allergies commonly make other skin conditions a lot worse. Infected skin caused by biting and scratching is also itchy and can contribute to the situaiton.
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Allergies
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Dogs with allergies, whether food or environmental, often display intense itching, ...
Dogs with allergies, whether food or environmental, often display intense itching, leading to red and irritated skin. Allergies can also contribute to ear problems like red, inflamed or infected ears.
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Other problems
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Canine seborrhoea, whether oily or dry can manifest as a greasy or scaly coat with ...
Canine seborrhoea, whether oily or dry can manifest as a greasy or scaly coat with potential odor. Skin problems may indicate systemic diseases, including hormonal disorders and autoimmune conditions.
Skin problems are common in dogs and can range from itchiness due to fleas to recurrent infections caused by underlying skin or health conditions.
The look of your dog’s skin and coat can offer a lot of valuable information, not only about the health of the skin itself but also acts as an indicator of your pet’s overall health.
How can you tell if your dog has a skin problem?
Itching (pruritus) and scratching
Hair loss (alopecia)
Irritation and redness (inflammation)
Sores, wounds, and ulcers
Scabs and crusts
Tiny blisters (papules and pustules)
Dry, flaky skin with dandruff or oily, malodorous skin
Lumps and bumps (nodules)
Dogs with skin problems often show a number of these symptoms.
As the skin is the dog’s largest organ and is readily visible (unlike internal organs such as the liver and kidneys), these lesions are usually easy to notice. However, they can be hidden in dogs who have long coats and itchiness can come and go, so you may not always be able to notice the signs.
I’s important to keep in mind that the ears are also a part of your dog’s skin and many problems that affect the skin will also affect the ears.
Can parasites cause skin problems?
Dr Amaury Briand, Hair loss, redness, and dandruff linked to scabies in a dog
Dr Amaury Briand, Hair loss, skin dryness and mild hyperpigmentation localised to the head linked to demodicosis in a puppy
Hair loss, skin redness, dry skin with flakes and hyperpigmentation linked to ringworm in a dog
External parasites are not only extremely bothersome, but they can also bring a host of other health problems to your dog, including internal parasites, complicated infectious diseases, home infestations, and, you guessed it, skin problems. Common parasites include:
Fleas
Fleas are by far the most common external parasite affecting dogs. Even though parasite activity is more pronounced during spring and summer, fleas can be a problem all year round. It is common for dogs to be affected by flea bites but not notice any fleas on the dog as they may be good at grooming them out the fur.
If your dog has fleas, the first thing you’re likely to notice is that they are very itchy. If you run your fingers through their fur, you may sometimes be able to find fleas moving around or see flea faeces, which look like black specks of dust.
Skin lesions are usually the result of scratching and include scabs, redness, open sores and hair loss. Dogs who are allergic to flea bites are more severely affected and often develop secondary infections.
Mites
There are several species of mites that can affect dogs, the most common being Sarcoptes scabiei, responsible for canine scabies, and Demodex canis, responsible for demodicosis. Mite infections are usually more common in younger dogs but can affect older dogs that have an underlying health condition.
Sarcoptic Mange (Scabies)
Scabies is a highly contagious skin disease that can be transmitted to humans and other pets, and dogs usually catch it by contact with other infected dogs.
As the mites burrow under the skin, this disease causes a lot of intense scratching. Dogs often show redness and hairloss on the belly, elbows, feet, face, and ears, and may have red, thick, hairless, scabby, crusty and even broken skin.
The severity of the itchiness and the disease gets worse with time if not treated. Secondary bacterial and yeast infections can also develop.
Demodectic Mange (Demodicosis)
Demodex mites are naturally present in low numbers in healthy dogs’ hair follicles. In some dogs there’s an overgrowth of these parasites that leads to skin disease.
We don't understand why this happens in some dogs and not others. However, there seems to be an inherited predisposition, with Shar Pei's, West Highland White Terriers, and English Bulldogs developing this more commonly. Conditions that cause lowered immunity also seem to be involved.
Demodicosis is sometimes contained to a small area of the body causing red, scaly areas of hairless skin, most commonly on the face and legs. But it can be generalised (see picture). Generalised disease is usually severe and can be complicated with secondary bacterial and yeast infections. There is often some degree of itching with demodicosis but often not as much as with sarcoptic mange.
Skin infections, common secondary problems
Healthy skin hosts healthy bacteria and yeasts that normally act as a part of the skin’s protective barrier against the external environment. When the skin is harmed, this delicate balance is altered, which can lead to overgrowth or imbalance of the normal microbial populations or allow bad bacteria to gain a foothold and cause disease.
Secondary skin infections can therefore develop as a result of any other disease that compromises the skin or that leads to itchiness.
Infected skin usually looks inflamed, thick, moist and/or crusty, and it’s generally very itchy. It can also have an unpleasant smell. Dogs are likely to lick, rub or scratch affected areas, which only makes skin damage worse. Long-term and recurrent skin problems tend to cause changes in the colour and texture of the skin, with the skin becoming darker and thicker (lichenification ).
Skin infections can start as hotspots, which are localised areas of inflamed skin, sometimes becoming infected, and are very common in dogs, especially during spring and summer. Depending on the underlying problem and the dog’s level of itchiness and biting or rubbing of the area, the severity will vary.
Bacterial skin infections
Bacterial skin infections, also known as pyoderma, are usually caused by Staphylococcus bacteria. Initially you may see tiny pimples that can be filled with pus and then become crusty spots. While bacterial overgrowth or infection can commonly cause these signs, a lot of the time the problem can be managed without using antibiotics. And where possible, avoiding use of antibiotics for skin infections is highly recommended.
Yeast infections
Yeast infections are often caused by a yeast called Malassezia, and tend to develop in skin folds, between the toes and within the ear canal (otitis), although they can appear anywhere on the body. These also tend to have a very particular, yeasty smell and are often recurring.
Ringworm
A contagious infection, spreads through contact with infected animals or contaminated objects. It typically presents with distinctive circular bald spots, featuring inflamed (red) edges, resembling a ring. Despite its name, ringworm is caused by a fungus (dermatophyte) and not a parasite. It may induce itchiness, and pruritus can intensify if a secondary bacterial infection occurs.
Do allergies affect the skin?
Dogs suffer from allergies, just like we do! The most common signs of allergies in dogs are itchiness of the skin. You might see inflammation, wounds, crusts, hair loss and infection. Changes are common on the underside of the belly, the groin, the armpits, the face, the paws and in between the toes. Different dogs can be affected in different places. The ears are also commonly affected in allergic dogs, who are prone to recurrent ear infections. Allergies are caused by an over-reaction of the immune system to an allergen. As a result, a powerful inflammatory response is triggered, which is responsible for the signs that we see. Allergies are usually categorised into 3 major groups depending on the allergens involved:
Flea allergy dermatitis: proteins present in flea’s saliva act as allergens.
Food allergies: proteins within food can act as allergens. This is why a good hypoallergenic food might use a 'hydrolysed' protein.
Atopic dermatitis: the allergens involved are particles present in your dog’s environment, such as pollens and dust mites.
It is challenging to distinguish between the three as they all cause the same signs and symptoms. And allergic dogs are prone to having more than one type of allergy. It is important to be aware that many of the 'allergy testing kits' available online are not in fact accurate or diagnostic and you should speak to a veterinary dermatologist before purchasing any allergy tests off the internet.
Seborrhoea, easily distinguishable
Canine seborrhoea is a skin condition caused by an imbalance in new and dying skin cells during the skin’s normal three-week cycle. Oily seborrhoea is often characterized by a greasy coat and skin and often a bad smell due to an increase in sebum production. Dry seborrhoea often displays as scaling or ‘dandruff’ as the lack of sebum irritates the skin. It’s quite common for dogs to suffer a combination of both. Seborrhoea is in most cases a result of an underlying condition such as allergies or endocrine disease, but it can be primary, affecting younger dogs of certain breeds (such as Golden Retrievers with Ichtyosis for example).
Skin problems, beyond the skin
Skin problems can be so much more than what meets the eye. There are several systemic diseases that can cause skin symptoms, which is why dog owners should be careful when dealing with skin problems.
Hormonal diseases such as hypothyroidism, Cushing’s syndrome, or sex-hormone related disorders, often cause hair loss.
Auto-immune disease, although quite uncommon, can also cause skin symptoms, often affecting the nose, but also other parts of the body. Your veterinarian will be able to help create a plan to diagnose and treat your dog if they have one of these disorders.
Managing skin problems
Keeping regular parasite treatments up to date is very important to reduce irritation. Grooming and inspecting their coat and skin regularly will help identify any changes early. Keeping your dog’s skin clean by bathing when necessary can help to reduce build up of dirt and material that can irritate the skin. Using a dog-friendly skin care product can help to strengthen the skin barrier which also improves skin health. The DOUXO® S3 range offers several innovative products, using Ophytrium to support the 3 components of the skin barrier and improve overall skin health.
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Dog skin is sensitive, and certain breeds are especially prone to skin problems; they can develop serious conditions if not cared for with love! If you ever notice white spots, red spots, or black crusty spots on your dog's skin, or if it appears itchy, sore, or has lesions, it's crucial to have it examined by a veterinarian. They will help you understand your dog’s skin conditions and create a treatment plan to address the issues. Whether it's skin allergies, infections, or mild irritation, DOUXO® S3 is the perfect support to complement your vet's treatment plan. Crafted with high-quality ingredients for maximum efficiency and safety, the DOUXO® S3 lines CALM, PYO, and SEB are recommended by veterinary dermatologists.