Like people, your dog's skin is the largest organ on their body. It serves multiple purposes, including temperature regulation, an environmental protective barrier, and gives your pup a sense of touch. Itchy skin and other dog skin problems are common reasons pet owners bring their pups for a veterinary examination. The constant scratching and itching can affect the quality of life for dogs and their owners. Additionally, problems with your dog's skin may be the first clue of a more serious underlying condition or disease. Understanding common dog skin problems, signs, and treatment options is paramount for pet owners to ensure their dog's well-being through all life stages.
The 6 Most Common Skin Issues Dogs Face
The most common skin problems dogs often suffer from are:
- Allergies (food or environmental)
- Skin Parasites (like fleas and ticks)
- Skin Infections (such as fungal infections)
- Hair loss (a.k.a. alopecia)
- Skin Masses (like skin tags)
- Dry Skin (such as dandruff)
#1: Allergies
Allergies are a common dog skin condition. Any age, breed, or sex can be affected. However, purebred dogs, including Cocker spaniels, French poodles, and retriever breeds, may have an increased risk for allergies. The first sign of allergies is generally itchiness, leading to self-trauma, injury, and secondary skin irritation or infection. Allergies can also affect your dog's mental health; researchers found that dogs with skin allergies have an increased risk for psychological stress and behavioral problems. Allergies can be challenging to diagnose because many dogs suffer from more than one allergy type.
Types of dog allergies include:
- Food allergies — Dog food containing chicken as the primary protein source is a common food allergy culprit.
- Environmental allergies (e.g., atopic dermatitis) — Contact with particles, including pollen dust, plants, molds, or soaps, can lead to an inflammatory reaction in the skin. Depending on the allergen, this can often occur seasonally, similar to hay fever in people.
- Parasitic allergy — Some dogs are more reactive to external parasites, including flea bites, which can lead to skin redness, inflammation, or secondary skin infections.
#2: Skin Parasites
Hitching pests, including fleas, ticks, and mites, can wreak havoc on your dog's skin barrier, leading to redness, swelling, and self-trauma. Fortunately, veterinary-prescribed parasite prevention medication is the safest, most cost-effective way to prevent parasite-related skin problems in your dog.
A single flea can lay more than 100 eggs in the environment, causing severe environmental infestations that are challenging to manage. Additionally, dogs who enjoy walks in the woods have an increased risk for tick infestations.
Ticks can attach to your dog for days and may carry life-threatening diseases, including Lyme and Ehrlichiosis. Always check your dog's skin after walks in wooded or grassy areas where ticks may be prevalent, and immediately remove the entire tick.
Mange mites, including demodectic and sarcoptic mites, can also lead to severe skin itching, hair loss, and redness on your dog's skin. Demodex mites are found naturally on your dog's skin. However, young dogs or those with a compromised immune system are most at risk for infection.
Sarcoptic mange mites (i.e., scabies) are contagious to other dogs and people. Scabies can cause severe illness in dogs, so prevention and an early diagnosis are paramount to prevent a life-threatening disease.
#3: Skin Infections
Skin infections can occur as primary infections or as a result of various secondary health problems, including allergies, self-trauma due to behavioral issues, injuries, insect bites, or other immune system disorders.
Common dog skin infections include:
- Bacterial infections — Overgrowth of your dog's natural bacteria can damage the skin barrier, leading to redness and itching.
- Yeast infections — Similar to bacterial infections, an overgrowth of naturally occurring yeast on the skin can lead to various skin problems. Yeast infections can cause itching, foul odor, skin discoloration, or hyperpigmentation, especially on the groin, abdomen, nail beds, and armpit areas.
- Fungal infections — Ringworm, also known as dermatophytosis, is caused by various fungal organisms that affect dogs' skin. It is highly contagious and causes hair loss. Unlike people, dogs will not always exhibit the classic red ring around the area of infection. Although it is generally not itchy, it can be passed to other pets and people.
#4: Hair Loss
Hair loss, or alopecia, can be a secondary or primary skin issue in dogs. Sometimes, hair loss or bald patches may be the first sign of a more serious underlying health issue affecting a dog's immune system. Dogs with severe itching or infections will likely experience hair loss.
Common causes of hair loss include parasite infestations, yeast infections, bacterial infections, or allergies. Dogs with joint problems or other painful conditions may also show hair due to excessive licking over an area of discomfort.
Other underlying causes of alopecia in dogs may include:
- Genetic disorders — Alopecia X is a non-inflammatory genetic disorder that causes hair loss in dogs. It is considered a cosmetic condition that does not require treatment. Affected breeds include Pomeranians and Chow Chows.
- Hormonal disease — Hormone imbalances or dysfunctions, like hypothyroidism, can lead to dry, brittle hair follicles that break and a thinned hair coat. Adrenal diseases, like Cushing's (hyperadrenocorticism), can result in thinned skin, skin infections, and hair loss.
- Autoimmune disease — Immune system dysfunction can cause Pemphigus, which causes skin cell destruction. Signs include hair loss, redness, and skin blisters.
#5: Skin Masses
Lumps, bumps, or masses on your dog's skin may be a normal aging change. Benign warts, fatty tumors, or skin tags are not uncommon, especially in senior pups. However, skin masses can also be malignant or cancerous. Additionally, skin wounds that do not heal can indicate a malignant mass. With 1 in 4 dogs being diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, it's critical to promptly bring your dog for a veterinary exam when you notice any new lumps or bumps so that cancer can be ruled out. An early diagnosis will ensure a more favorable outcome in many cases.
#6: Dry Skin
Your dog's coat and skin should be clear, supple, and free of flakes, dandruff, scabs, or excess oil. Dry skin can result from various causes, including:
- Overgrooming or undergrooming
- Excess bathing
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Cold, dry environments
- Underlying diseases (i.e., hormonal or autoimmune disease)
- Skin infections
Signs of Skin Disease in Dogs
Depending on the underlying cause of a dog's skin issues, signs and symptoms can range from mild to severe. Bring your dog for a veterinarian examination if you notice any of the following skin issue signs:
- Red, inflamed, or cracked skin
- Hot spots
- Scabbing or scaling
- Hives
- Rashes
- Hair loss or broken hair follicles
- Excess itching, licking, scratching, biting
- Foul odor
- Greasy or oily skin and fur
- Oozing
- Masses
- Discoloration of skin or nail beds
- Behavioral changes
- Lethargy
- Slow or non-healing wounds or skin injuries
Diagnosing Skin Issues in Dogs
Issues with your dog's skin can be a window to their overall health and wellness. Some problems, like food or environmental allergies, can be challenging to diagnose because several tests and trials are required to determine the culprit. Your veterinarian will perform a nose-to-tail examination, paying close attention to your pup's lumps, bumps, and abnormal skin.
Your veterinarian may refer your pup to a board-certified veterinary dermatologist for more severe or complicated conditions and more in-depth testing. Common diagnostic tests to determine the underlying cause of a dog's skin issue include:
- Blood work to evaluate overall organ and immune system health
- Hormone testing
- Skin cultures to test for bacterial, fungal, or yeast infections
- Skin biopsy
- Examination of skin cells under a microscope (e.g., skin cytology)
- Blood allergy testing
- Skin allergy testing
- Dietary food trial testing
Treating Your Dog's Skin Issues
Depending on the underlying cause of your dog's skin problems, treatments may include:
- Antihistamines for allergies
- Immunotherapy injections
- Oral antibiotics or antifungal medications
- Topical creams or ointments
- Medicated shampoos
- Anti-inflammatory medications (i.e., steroids)
- Veterinary-prescribed medicated shampoos (antibacterial, antifungal, and hair follicle flushing)
- Veterinary-prescribed dog food
- Hormone medications
- Chemotherapy
How to Care for Your Dog's Skin
Caring for your dog's skin is a part of responsible pet ownership and essential to a good quality of life. Advances in veterinary medicine have resulted in dogs having healthier skin and longer lives.
Follow these tips for caring for your dog's skin:
- Bring your pup for annual or more frequent veterinary examinations or when you notice any new skin changes.
- Regularly give your dog veterinary-prescribed parasite prevention medication.
- Provide your dog with an AAFCO-approved complete and balanced diet to ensure they receive the nutrients required for proper organ health and function.
- Avoid giving table scraps, treats, or any human food to dogs who have been prescribed a veterinary diet for their skin allergies.
- Support your dog's skin barrier with veterinary-approved skin-supporting supplements like Native Pet Omega Oil and Native Pet Skin and Coat.
- Regularly brush your dog's fur and inspect their skin for any abnormalities.
Your dog's skin can be a window to their health and wellness. Always consult your veterinarian if you have concerns about your dog's skin health.
For more information and tips on your dog's health, check out the Native Pet blog.
