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Veterinary Manual

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Dermatitis and Dermatologic Problems in Dogs

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Dermatitis and Dermatologic Problems in Dogs

By Karen A. Moriello, DVM, DACVD, Professor of Dermatology, Department of Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Michael W. Dryden, DVM, PhD, DACVM, University Distinguished Professor of Veterinary Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University
Carol S. Foil, DVM, MS, DACVD, Professor, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine
William W. Hawkins, BS, DVM,
Thomas R. Klei, PhD, Boyd Professor and Associate Dean for Research and Advanced Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine and Louisiana Agriculture Experiment Station, Louisiana State University
John E. Lloyd, BS, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Entomology, University of Wyoming
Bernard Mignon, DVM, PhD, DEVPC, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Liège
Wayne Rosenkrantz, DVM, DACVD,
David Stiller, MS, PhD, Research Entomologist, Animal Disease Research Unit, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, University of Idaho
Patricia A. Talcott, MS, DVM, PhD, DABVT, Associate Professor, Department of Food Science and Toxicology, Holm Research Center, University of Idaho
Alice E. Villalobos, DVM, DPNAP, Director; Director, Animal Oncology Consultation Service; Pawspice
Stephen D. White, DVM, DACVD, Professor and Chief of Service, Dermatology, Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital; Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis
Patricia D. White, DVM, MS, DACVD,

Also see professional content regarding skin and skin problems.

Dermatitis is a general word for any type of inflammation of the skin. It is the word usually used to describe a skin condition until a specific diagnosis is reached. There are many causes of skin inflammation, including external irritants, burns, allergens, trauma, and infection (bacterial, viral, parasitic, or fungal).

The skin’s response to insult is generically called dermatitis and manifests as any combination of itching, scaling, abnormal redness, thickening of the skin, and hair loss. The usual progression of a skin disease involves an underlying trigger that causes boils, scabs, scales, or blisters.

Abnormal itching, called pruritus, occurs in many skin diseases and is often present because of secondary infections. As the inflammation progresses, crusting and scaling develop. If the problem reaches from the upper layer of skin (the epidermis) to the deeper layer (the dermis), fluid discharge, pain, and sloughing or shedding of the skin may occur. Secondary bacterial and yeast infections commonly develop as a result of skin inflammation. As dermatitis persists, short-term signs of inflammation (such as redness) become obscured by signs of longterm inflammation (thickening of the skin, color changes, scaling, fluid discharge). Often the skin becomes drier and, if itching is not already a sign, it frequently develops at this stage.

Resolving dermatitis requires that your veterinarian identify the underlying cause and treat secondary infections or other complications. A review of your pet’s history and a physical examination can more precisely define the problem.

Skin Disease History Checklist

When you take your dog to the veterinarian for a skin problem, you can help your veterinarian diagnose the problem by having information about the following:

  • The primary complaint—what is bothering your dog?

  • The length of time the problem has been present.

  • The age at which the skin disease started. Some diseases are more common to particular ages of dogs.

  • The breed. Some breeds are prone to specific diseases. (Also note whether related animals such as littermates have had a similar problem.)

  • Behavior of the dog such as licking, rubbing, scratching, or chewing of the skin.

  • How the problem started and how it has progressed. For example, problems that began with itching may lead to self-trauma that develops secondary skin wounds or infections.

  • The type of skin problems you saw develop and when.

  • The season when the problem first started. Some skin diseases are related to the season of the year.

  • The area on the body where the problem was first noticed.

  • Any previous treatments and how your dog responded to treatment. For example, if your dog did not improve when given antibiotics, this helps your veterinarian exclude certain diseases.

  • How often you bathe the animal and when you last bathed it. Recent bathing may obscure or change skin problems. Excessive bathing and wetting of the skin can worsen some skin diseases.

  • The presence of fleas, ticks, or mites and what you use for routine control of these problems.

  • The health of other animals with which your dog has been in contact.

  • The environment of your dog. Changes in your dog’s environment can influence the development of certain skin diseases.

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Also see professional content regarding skin and skin problems.

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