My dog has a skin condition — what should I do? 14 common dog skin diseases and how to prevent them (part 1)

When the weather turns hot and humid, dogs are prone to skin flare-ups — scratching all over their bodies, and when that’s not enough, rolling around on the floor to get some relief. So what can you do to help your dog find relief from all that itching?

Today, let’s take a look at which skin conditions cause dogs to scratch like crazy — and what you can do day-to-day to help prevent them.

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【Allergic dermatitis】

Allergic dermatitis is an immune-mediated condition that typically develops in dogs between 6 months and 3 years of age. Affected dogs scratch constantly, and any time the humidity or temperature rises to levels that support allergen growth, symptoms flare up. It’s a skin condition that cannot be fully cured.

1. Symptoms

In addition to itching, redness and swelling can appear on the face, paws, armpits, ears, and belly. In severe cases, the skin may harden or develop a lichenified, thickened texture due to Malassezia yeast, which can also cause an unpleasant odor.

2. Common allergens

1. Food
Food allergens account for about 10% of cases — a relatively small share. Common culprits include beef and wheat gluten. If your dog seems especially itchy 15–30 minutes after eating, and is scratching particularly around the head, face, eye area, and corners of the mouth, food may be to blame.

2. Season
Seasonal humidity is linked to dust mites, bacteria, and other triggers, so allergic flare-ups often follow seasonal patterns. There are three key periods to watch:
(1) Rainy season: The warm, wet conditions make this a peak allergy period.
(2) Northeast monsoon season: After rain clears, the warm, muggy weather that follows creates ideal conditions for allergens.
(3) After typhoons: The cycle of rain, warming, more rain, and more warming creates an environment that’s very prone to triggering allergies.

3. Bacteria and fungi
Hot, humid summer conditions encourage the growth of bacteria and fungi. If these take hold on your dog’s skin, they can compromise the skin’s protective barrier.

4. Fleas and ticks
Both of these parasites feed on your dog’s blood. Part the fur carefully and look closely — if you spot small black specks in the coat, your dog may have fleas. Fleas can also cause excessive licking. Ticks tend to hide in thin-skinned, hard-to-reach spots like behind the ears and in the armpits. If left untreated, a heavy infestation can cause anemia.

5. Pollen
In spring when flowers bloom, pollen fills the air and can trigger allergic reactions in dogs — including a runny nose, conjunctivitis, and redness around the eyes and mouth.

3. Treatment options

The biggest driver of allergic dermatitis is your dog’s own immune system. The fastest way to reduce allergic flare-ups is to remove the allergen.

When environmental factors like pollen, bacteria, or fleas are the cause, environmental control is key — for example, keeping your dog away from flower-heavy areas, or keeping them in a space with 24-hour dehumidification and dust mite filtration. Removing these triggers significantly lowers the chance of a reaction.

For flea infestations, apply preventative treatment on a regular schedule to reduce the likelihood of fleas taking hold. If you find a tick on your dog, it’s best to take them to a vet to have it properly removed — attempting to remove it yourself risks leaving parts of the tick behind.

If food is the trigger, try eliminating potential culprits one at a time to identify which foods cause a reaction, then avoid feeding those foods going forward.

Other treatment options include immunotherapy (desensitization) and immunosuppressants. Immunotherapy is an expensive treatment involving daily injections that start at a low concentration and gradually increase — the goal is to build tolerance so that the IGG immune response kicks in and allergic reactions become less frequent. Immunosuppressants use medications like corticosteroids or cyclosporine to manage the condition. If you’d rather avoid medication altogether, your best bet is to focus on keeping your dog’s environment well-controlled.

【Atopic dermatitis】

Atopic dermatitis is a hereditary skin condition triggered by allergies that causes dogs to be born with an incomplete skin barrier and a dysregulated immune system, making them hypersensitive to certain environmental antigens. Like allergic dermatitis, it typically appears between 6 months and 3 years of age. Without treatment — or if scratching, licking, and biting are left unchecked — wounds can become infected with bacteria, leading to acute eczema, hair loss, and other complications. It’s a difficult condition to treat.

1. Symptoms

Similar to allergic dermatitis, symptoms include itching and redness and swelling on the face, paws, armpits, ears, and belly. However, because the skin barrier is compromised due to genetic factors, atopic dermatitis is harder to treat than standard allergic dermatitis.

2. Prevention tips

1. Avoid over-shaving the coat
Fur helps protect your dog’s skin and acts as a barrier against allergens. Without that protection, your dog is more likely to break the skin when scratching.

2. Supplement with Omega-3
Adding Omega-3-rich foods to your dog’s diet — such as fish oil, salmon, mackerel, or Pacific saury — can help reduce skin inflammation and ease the symptoms of dermatitis. Just make sure to remove all bones thoroughly to avoid digestive discomfort.

3. Bathe more frequently and keep the environment clean
While healthy dogs are generally bathed once a week, dogs with atopic dermatitis may benefit from 2–4 baths per week to wash away allergens. If you’re unsure about the right frequency, check with your vet first.

Also increase cleaning frequency at home — regularly wash your dog’s bedding, toys, and blankets, and use an air purifier and dehumidifier to reduce dust mites, bacteria, and other allergens in the environment.

【Interdigital cysts (pododermatitis)】

Interdigital cysts, also known as interdigital pyoderma or paw dermatitis, are one of the more common skin conditions in dogs in Taiwan. They develop in the skin between the toes or in the webbed area between the toes and paw pads, causing swelling and pain that can make dogs reluctant to walk.

1. Causes

1. Moisture
Wet paws are a common cause. After bathing or swimming, if the paws aren’t dried thoroughly, bacteria can multiply and cause infection.

2. Psychological factors
When dogs are left alone for long periods or placed in an unfamiliar environment, they can become depressed, bored, or anxious. To get their owner’s attention, they may compulsively lick their paws, leading to interdigital cysts.

3. Other causes
Overgrown nails, bacterial infection, fungal infection, trauma, allergies, chemical irritants, Demodex mites, and atopic dermatitis can all trigger interdigital cysts.

2. Symptoms

1. Redness and pustules on the paws
Swelling appears between the paw pads, along with pimple-like pustules. As the condition worsens, the pustules grow larger, and in severe cases can lead to sepsis.

2. Limping
When pustules become severe enough to bleed, the pain can prevent dogs from putting weight on the affected paw, causing them to limp.

3. Constant paw licking
The discharge from the pustules is painful, and dogs will continuously lick the affected area in an attempt to relieve the discomfort.

4. Smelly paws
Dogs normally secrete a mild-smelling sweat to regulate their body temperature, but dogs with interdigital cysts produce more sweat than usual. This excess moisture encourages bacterial and fungal growth, resulting in a strong, unusual odor from the paws.

3. Which dogs are more prone to interdigital cysts?

1. Dogs with long, dense fur between the toes

2. Short-coated dogs

3. Dogs that love splashing in water or jumping into puddles

4. Dogs whose paws aren’t dried properly after coming home from a walk

5. Dogs with paw wounds that have been exposed to bacteria or fungi

4. Treatment

If your dog develops interdigital cysts, stop them from continuing to lick their toes. You can shave the fur around the affected area, then seek veterinary treatment.

5. Prevention tips

1. Keep paws dry
After bathing, swimming, or stepping in puddles on a walk, always dry your dog’s paws thoroughly. Also discourage habitual paw licking.

2. Trim nails and paw fur regularly
Long fur between the toes can trap dirt and harbor fungi and bacteria. Regular nail trimming also reduces strain on the joints.

3. Avoid damp environments
Excessive moisture can compromise the skin’s immune defenses, encouraging bacterial and fungal growth that leads to inflammation.

4. Don’t leave your dog confined to a crate for long periods
Toes can easily get caught in wire crate flooring, which is a common cause of interdigital problems.

5. Check your dog’s paws regularly
Look for redness or cuts that your dog may be licking, which can cause the area to swell further. If you notice anything unusual, take your dog to the vet promptly to check for interdigital cysts.

6. Supplement with nutrients and skin health products
These can help support immune function and maintain healthy skin.

【Eczema】

Eczema is a common skin condition in dogs — a reaction of the skin’s epidermal cells triggered by allergens. It causes intense itching, and if your dog keeps scratching, wounds can become repeatedly infected. It’s a condition that’s difficult to fully resolve.

1. Causes

Eczema can have many causes. Common ones include:

1. The dog’s own health: Nutritional deficiencies, reduced immunity

2. Environment: Frequent insect bites, flea or parasite infestations

3. Diet: Poor feeding habits, such as giving dogs foods high in carbohydrates

4. Season: Hot, humid weather

5. Irritants: Skin-irritating dirt or debris

Some topical medications can also trigger skin allergies. Dogs with long, dense coats — such as Golden Retrievers and Schnauzers — are also more prone to eczema.

2. Symptoms

Eczema can be either acute or chronic, with different symptoms for each.

1. Acute eczema
(1) Early stage: The affected area develops spotty or irregularly shaped red, inflamed patches accompanied by intense itching.

(2) Blister stage: The affected area gradually spreads to the face and back — typically starting around the bridge of the nose and eyes — and small blisters form. Itching, pain, and heat intensify.

(3) Pustule stage: Usually caused by microbial infection, the skin develops an abnormal odor and the blisters turn into white pustules.

(4) Ulceration stage: The affected areas become ulcerated, the dog emits an abnormal odor, and they appear lethargic.

2. Chronic eczema
Usually develops from acute eczema. The skin thickens and flakes, the coat becomes coarse and rough, lupus-like lesions appear on the nose, ears, and back, and the affected areas form crusts.

3. Prevention tips

Keep up with your dog’s skin care routine — use gentle, non-irritating bathing products and always blow-dry the coat thoroughly after a bath to reduce the risk of skin inflammation. On the environmental side, regularly disinfect your dog’s kennel or crate, and frequently air out toys, bedding, and other items in direct sunlight. Protect against insect bites when outdoors, and keep up with regular parasite and flea prevention. For nutrition, consider supplementing with fish oil — the Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids in fish oil support skin repair and help reduce allergic reactions.

【Seborrhea】

Seborrhea, also called seborrheic dermatitis, is a skin condition caused by abnormal keratinization resulting from a shortened skin cell turnover cycle. In a healthy dog, the process of new skin cells fully replacing old ones takes about three weeks. In dogs with seborrhea, that cycle is cut short. It’s one of the more common skin conditions seen in dogs.

1. Causes

Seborrhea is classified as either primary or secondary. Most cases in dogs are secondary; primary seborrhea is generally linked to genetics and breed predisposition.

1. Primary seborrhea
Has no underlying cause. Breeds such as Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, and German Shepherds are more susceptible. It is hereditary and a lifelong condition.

2. Secondary seborrhea
Has an underlying cause, such as hormonal imbalance or allergies.

(1) Hormonal imbalance: Hypothyroidism, Cushing’s syndrome
(2) Allergies: Food allergies, atopic dermatitis
(3) Digestive dysfunction: Inability to absorb nutrients normally
(4) Fungal or parasitic infection: Malassezia yeast, scabies mites, Demodex mites
(5) Obesity or excessive weight gain

2. Symptoms

Seborrhea presents in two forms: oily and dry. Both types produce an unpleasant odor, excessive dandruff, and thinning coat. In severe cases, secondary bacterial infection can develop, causing skin inflammation and itching.

1. Dry seborrhea:
The coat appears dry and dull. Secretions are waxy and accumulate on the skin surface as crusts or scales.

2. Oily seborrhea:
Secretions are oily or greasy and accumulate around the eyes, on the back, belly, and ears in a crust- or scale-like buildup. It is commonly accompanied by outer ear inflammation and other ear issues.

3. Treatment

When a dog develops seborrhea, you can help by trimming the coat appropriately to allow better air circulation to the skin — but never cut it too short, as a very short coat loses its protective function and can worsen the condition. You should also prevent your dog from scratching or biting the skin, as this risks secondary bacterial infection and can make things worse.

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To help ease your dog’s discomfort and reduce the risk of skin disease, keep their living environment clean, avoid damp and stuffy conditions, and regularly check for unusual odors or redness and swelling on their skin. If you notice anything, take your dog to the vet right away — the longer you wait, the worse it can get. Also make sure to keep up with regular nutritional supplements and parasite/flea prevention treatments.

Most importantly, never abandon your dog just because they’re sick. Face it together — that’s how skin conditions get better.

The above covers 5 of the 14 most common dog skin conditions. Want to know about the rest?
Stay tuned so you don’t miss the next installment!

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