Acne in Dogs

The disease itself is referred to as a localized folliculitis, which is an inflammation of hair follicles as well as ruptures that occur. These ruptures are generally located in your dog’s chin or their lips.

As a result of this condition, comedones, also known as black head, are the first lesion that will appear on their chin. This is the result excessive keratin formations that in turn cause follicular dilation as well as plugging.

If the acne in your dog is severe enough, it can also cause two other conditions to develop; erythema as well as alopecia. Erythema is a redness of the skin that is caused by the dilatation as well as the congestion of your dog’s capillaries, and is usually the result of an infection. Alopecia is the loss of hair in your dog.

In moderate to severe cases of acne in dogs, papules, pustules, as well as firm nodules may also develop primarily from bacterial infections that occur as a result of the acne. If this does occur, it is now considered to a quite serious.

Acne in dogs will start as your pet reached puberty, which is generally between the ages of five months to nine months old, and is much more prevalent in certain breeds. The vast majority of acne cases are in short haired breeds that include Bulldogs, Great Danes, and Dobermans. It also affects German shorthaired pointers as well as Rottweiler’s.

Causes:

The actual cause of acne in dogs is still not fully understood, but there are some very strong theories. The first is that it is an allergic reaction to any type of plastic, especially plastic eating or drinking devices, but this is just the beginning of the list.

It is also held that the androgen hormones, which are male sex hormones, are the actual cause of the acne.

However, this argument is challenged by several in the medical community for two reasons. The first is that that this condition is by no means sex specific, as it affects both sexes equally. The second is that this does not explain why it seems to affect primarily short haired breeds.

The next theory is that is genetically caused, which would explain why it affects just short haired breeds.

Some type of traumatic event is also one of the theories as this is believed to release large amounts of free keratin in your dog’s system, which results in an inflammatory response by their immune system. When this does occur, any bacterium that is in your dog’s hair follicles becomes infected. The final theory suggests that it is the result of a bacterial infected of some kind.

Symptoms:

Acne in dogs will generally first surface as red bumps or papules, as well as comedones or blackheads that will slowly begin to develop on the chin area or lips. In some cases, these bumps will become infected very quickly, which will produce pus.

If there is infection associated with the acne, the next symptom to occur will be itching. Your dogs will try to relieve this itching by rubbing against furniture or your carpet. Other symptoms may be red and crusted papules, as well as furuncles that also develop on their chin and lips.

If acne in dogs becomes chronic, you may also start to see signs of a slight depigmentation around the affected areas, which is referred to as secondary depigmentation.

Ruling out other like diseases:

Acne in dogs does have some very strong similarities with some other condition or diseases, and in order to properly treat the acne, these conditions will have to first be ruled out. The first of these is called Demodicosis, which is a non-contagious form of mange.

The next disease that will have to be ruled out is ringworm disease, as it will also start with lesions that are very similar to the acne lesions, and this test will take a few weeks.

Your veterinarian will have to test for fungus, and as such, they will have to pluck out some hair and then do a fungal culture test, which takes about two weeks. The final disease that will need to be ruled out is puppy strangles, as these also start with similar lesions. However, there will be a couple of major differences; depression and anorexia.

Puppy strangles causes a very sudden depression in a young dog as well as a complete loss of appetite. Acne has neither of these reactions.

Treatments:

Acne in dogs has several very effective treatments including medical as well as home remedies. The medical treatments generally start with topical treatments, and this will include topical washes as well as gels. Both will contain 2.5 percent benzoyl peroxide that needs to be used at least five to six times per week.

However, it is extremely important that you do not use any type of acne treatment for humans, as they could severely damage your dog’s skin. Human acne treatments contain 10 percent benzoyl peroxide which is four times the recommend dosage for your dog. Only use a treatment that is approved for dogs.

In moderate to severe cases, topical antibiotics may be given to help control any type of a secondary infection. They can be rubbed on your dogs affected areas twice a day which will control any secondary infections as well as bring a lot of relief to your dog.

If the acne is considered severe and chronic, your veterinarian will provide treatment in the form a pills that are generally given twice a day for several weeks.

Home remedies can also be very effective if the acne is not severe. This will include cleaning the affected areas with warm water and soap applied by a clean washcloth. This will help to remove any bacteria as well as helping to unplug your dog’s oil glands.

WELLNESS KITS FOR DOGS

Echinacea, in tablet or liquid form, can also be used as this will act as a mild antibiotic for your dog. Tincture of calendula, which is from marigold plants, can also be dabbed onto the affected areas by a saturated cotton ball, which will help the lesions heal much quicker.

Aloe Vera gel is also very effective as a pain reliever, and will help soothe the itching sensation affecting your dog.

Summary:

Acne in dogs can last past this formative stage, but it generally resolves itself once your dog reaches their first year of age. If the acne is not severe and you do choose to use home remedies, you should always consult with your veterinarian on the proper amounts as it will depend on your dog’s size and weight.

Although this is not a serious condition, it can be quite painful in some cases, if it is not treated.

Natural Treatments for Acne in Dogs

More About Skin and Allergy Problems in Dogs:

Allergies Allergies in dogs may show symptoms such as your pet always scratching themselves, in which case they most likely are allergic to something.
Atopy in Dogs Atophy usually starts out as a seasonal disorder, but it will than flourish into a full fledge series of attacks against your pet.
Anaphylaxis in Dogs Without exception, if anaphylaxis in your dog is not treated as a life threatening emergency, it may be the last reaction to anything that your dog will ever have.
Bacterial Hypersensitivity Bacterial hypersensitivity in dogs is a very rare and uncommon skin condition, but when it does strike, it is vicious.
Balding in Dogs Allergic reactions to food or air bore irritants are a major cause of balding in dogs or hot spots.
Burns in Dogs There are several underlying factors that make burns in dogs a life threatening situation.
Color Changes in Dogs There are several diseases as well as conditions that can cause color changes in dogs and because of this, it should be taken very seriously.
Dog Food Allergies A dog food allergy, unlike other allergies and diseases, has no real common denominator among species or gender.
Dog Lick Granuloma Most all forms of dog lick granuloma occurs on or very near the front part of the lower leg.
Dogs Cracked Footpads We all know how miserable we can feel when our feet hurt and or get damaged; just imagine how your dog must feel with cracked foot pads.
Dogs Skin Odor The most commonly affected breeds with dogs skin odor are Cocker and Springer spaniels, and it is a condition that is referred to as Seborrhea.
Excessive Licking All dogs love to lick and it is a very common occurrence in any dog, however, what is not common is excessive licking which can be very damaging.
Flea & Tick Safety Before any owner uses any one brand or method of preventing flea or ticks from attacking your dog, it is extremely beneficial to understand the basic ingredients.
Hair Loss in Dogs What makes hair loss in your dog very troubling is that there are several potential underlying causes.
Hives in Dogs There are two different forms of hives that can attack your dog, Urticaria or Angioedema, and both can be very dangerous.
Itchy Skin Disease Itchy skin disease in dogs is most often associated with Atopy, and although this is one of the most common causes for this condition, it is just one of many.
Malassezia If malassezia in dogs becomes severe, it can grow to such abnormal numbers that it will become extremely foul in odor.
Mange in Dogs There is one thing that is very certain about mange in your dog; the mere mention of the term “mange” can scare the daylights out of most owners.
Pemphigus Pemphigus in dogs is a growing problem as this group of diseases can cause scaling skin, scabbiness, and lesions in your pet.
Pruritus There are several forms of pruritus in dogs that range from very mild where there is no problem, to the severe form that can lead to intense itching.
Puppy Strangles The first reaction to puppy strangles is that your dog has been stung by a bee or has some type of an allergic reaction as the face begins to swell very rapidly.
Scaling Skin Scaling dog skin should be treated very seriously as it could be caused by an underlying condition that could jeopardize their overall health, and in severe cases, cost them their lives.
Seborrhea Seborrhea in dogs usually starts to form when a puppy is between the ages of 12 to 18 months old.
Skin Allergies Finding the exact cause of skin allergies in dogs can be extremely difficult as there are several allergens that may be the culprit.
Treating Hair Loss The only successful way to treat hair loss in dogs is to first identify the actual underlying cause and then treat that cause.