My dog has a skin condition — what should I do? 14 common dog skin diseases and how to prevent them (part 2)

When the weather turns hot and humid, dogs are prone to skin flare-ups — scratching constantly, rolling on the floor to relieve the itch. So what can you do to help your dog find relief?

Today we’ll look at which skin diseases cause dogs to scratch like crazy, and what you can do to prevent them.

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【Fungal skin disease】

This is a general term for skin diseases caused by fungi that parasitize a dog’s fur, skin, and claws. It typically starts on the face, ears, limbs, and claws before spreading to other parts of the body. Puppies, senior dogs, dogs with weakened immune systems, and malnourished dogs are at higher risk.

The main fungi involved include Microsporum canis, Microsporum gypseum, and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Transmission is primarily through direct contact, and puppies are more susceptible than adult dogs.

1. Symptoms

Round bald patches, red papules, macules, and grey flaking may appear on the skin of the head, neck, and limbs. As the condition worsens, the lesions may ooze fluid, causing intense itching. The skin may develop scales or crusts, and in severe cases, infected crusts can develop into pustules.

2. Treatment

1. Mild cases: Shave the fur around the affected area and apply dog-specific antifungal medication or spray to the lesion and surrounding skin.
2. Severe cases: A full-body shave may be necessary, along with topical medication, oral medication, and medicated baths.
3. An e-collar can be used to prevent the dog from licking the affected area.

3. Prevention

1. Maintain a clean environment — regularly clean your dog’s belongings and leave them out in the sun.
2. Don’t bathe your dog too frequently. Aim for once every one to two weeks in summer and once every two to four weeks in winter. Use a dog-specific shampoo, and always blow-dry the coat thoroughly afterwards to prevent moisture from triggering a fungal infection.
3. Feed your dog a balanced diet — don’t let them eat only meat. Foods like spinach, carrots, and apples are great additions.
4. Take your dog outside for regular sun exposure.
5. Keep your dog away from dogs with skin conditions and avoid letting them come into contact with those dogs’ belongings, to prevent cross-infection.

【Ringworm】

A fungal skin infection that commonly affects the face, ears, area around the eyes, limbs, and claws. Puppies under one year old are particularly susceptible, and the condition is contagious.

1. Symptoms

Affected dogs may develop inflamed skin, flaking, red spots, crusting, and round or oval ringworm patches, which can lead to hair loss in severe cases.

When the centre of a patch begins to heal and regrow fur, the surrounding area may still show hair loss. The condition is classified as either “acute” or “chronic.” The acute form typically resolves within 2–4 weeks, but without timely treatment it can progress to the chronic form, which is much harder to treat and may persist for months or even years.

2. Treatment

1. Shave the fur from the affected area, clean away any flaking skin, and apply medication to an area larger than the visible lesion.
2. Griseofulvin should be used with caution, especially in puppies, as it can affect liver function — the same applies to dogs with severe infections.
3. Encourage regular sun exposure, as the UV rays in sunlight have antibacterial properties.
4. Regularly disinfect your dog’s living environment and belongings.

3. Prevention

As with fungal skin disease, environmental hygiene is key. Your dog’s living space should be disinfected regularly, and toys and bedding should be left out in the sun often. Whenever your dog gets wet, dry them off promptly and thoroughly.

Further reading: [Pet care] My dog has a skin condition — what should I do? 14 common dog skin diseases and how to prevent them (part 1)

【Folliculitis】

A superficial skin condition that tends to affect short-haired dogs, while long-haired dogs may develop loose, redundant skin folds. Dogs with folliculitis often have concurrent conditions such as allergies or mange. If not properly treated, it can progress to a deeper infection or cellulitis. A parasitic form also exists, caused by Demodex mites burrowing into hair follicles and damaging the skin. Demodex mites have a cigar-shaped body and the condition has a hereditary component.

1. Symptoms

The primary site of infection is the hair follicle, but surrounding skin can also be affected. It resembles acne — small pustules, crusting, hair loss, and hyperpigmentation may be visible at the base of the hairs.

Demodex mite infections are categorised into three types: localised, generalised, and pododemodecosis. The localised form often resolves on its own, while the other two may not. Affected areas include the head, muzzle, around the eyes, ears, and limbs, with symptoms such as redness and swelling, peeling, and crusting. If secondary infections develop, the presentation can become more varied and complex.

2. Treatment

Folliculitis can have many causes — hormonal imbalances, inappropriate shampoo ingredients, and more. The only reliable solution is to identify the root cause and treat accordingly, which is the key to preventing recurrence.

For Demodex mite infections, the focus is on eliminating the mites. With consistent veterinary treatment and topical antiparasitic medication, the mites are usually cleared fairly quickly — but skipping doses can lead to recurrence.

【Pyoderma】

A bacterial skin infection that can affect dogs of any age. Dogs with hormone-related conditions, as well as breeds such as Dachshunds, Golden Retrievers, and Miniature Pinschers, are particularly susceptible.

1. Causes

Pyoderma is classified as either “primary” or “secondary.” The primary form occurs when a dog’s immune system is weakened, allowing bacteria to invade the hair follicles and sebaceous glands. The secondary form develops after the skin is damaged, leaving it vulnerable to infection from pyogenic bacteria, mites, fleas, or insect bites.

Other contributing factors include food allergies, environmental allergies, prolonged exposure to a damp environment, improper skin hygiene, or dysfunction of the sebaceous glands.

2. Symptoms

Pyoderma is divided into three types: surface, superficial, and deep.

1. Surface pyoderma
Bacteria invade the surface of the skin, producing acne-like pustules. If the pustules are full of pus, they may appear pale yellow.

2. Superficial pyoderma
Bacteria penetrate the stratum corneum of the hair follicle and the epidermis between follicles. The pustules are more red and swollen and may rupture. If the hair follicles become inflamed, hair loss can occur.

3. Deep pyoderma
Bacteria have invaded the dermis. The dog experiences severe itching, and the skin becomes thick from bleeding and repeated crusting. In addition, the dog may develop a fever, become lethargic, or lose weight despite eating normally. This is the most difficult form of pyoderma to treat.

3. Treatment

Vets typically prescribe antibiotics and a prolonged course of treatment. Short-term medication alone carries a high risk of recurrence. If mites, fleas, or other parasites are also present, antiparasitic medication will be needed alongside the antibiotics.

4. Prevention

Keep your dog’s living environment clean and dry. Regularly disinfect the space and carry out routine parasite prevention. Avoid bathing your dog too often, as over-bathing strips away the skin’s protective barrier and reduces its ability to fight bacteria and viruses. Always blow-dry your dog’s coat thoroughly after a bath.

【Scabies (mange)】

Scabies, also known as sarcoptic mange, is a skin disease caused by mites that burrow into a dog’s skin. It spreads very easily through direct contact or indirect contact with contaminated items, and while humans can also catch it, the mites cannot survive long-term on human skin.

1. Symptoms

Because the mites burrow into the skin to lay eggs, the condition causes intense itching, redness, and hair loss. Mites prefer areas with less fur, such as around the eyes, the ears, the front legs, and the abdomen. In heavy infestations, the condition can spread across the entire body, producing small red papules or large amounts of yellow discharge that hardens into crusts. If scratching is not controlled, the wounds can ulcerate and become infected.

2. Treatment

Since most antiparasitic treatments are ineffective against mite eggs, at least two rounds of treatment are needed to prevent recurrence, administered roughly two weeks apart. Treatment must therefore span the mite’s life cycle, which is approximately 17–21 days. If secondary skin conditions are present, medicated baths and additional treatments may also be required.

3. Prevention

Mites can survive off a dog’s body for a period of time, though survival rates vary depending on environmental humidity and temperature — generally around 2–6 days. Transmission is still possible during this window, so environmental cleaning and disinfection are essential.

Bedding and clothing that the dog has used can be laundered in hot water or regularly washed with diluted bleach in hot water. For items that cannot be washed in hot water, leave them in direct sunlight for about two weeks to allow the mites to die off naturally.
During an active outbreak, keep your dog away from public spaces to prevent spreading the mites, and do not share any items with other pets to avoid infecting them.

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Preventing any skin disease comes down to maintaining a clean environment and keeping your dog’s coat dry. Make it a habit to keep your dog’s surroundings tidy, avoid damp and stuffy conditions, and check your dog regularly for any unusual signs. If something seems off, see a vet promptly — the longer you wait, the worse things can get. Don’t forget to keep up with regular nutrition supplements and parasite and flea prevention too.

Most importantly, please never abandon your dog just because they’re sick. Face it together — that’s the only way their skin will truly heal.

That’s 5 of the 14 common dog skin diseases. Want to know about the rest?
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