subject: The Truth Regarding Dog Acne [print this page] It is not at all uncommon for dogs to develop acne. In fact, many dogs have been known to suffer from this condition. Most dogs that develop acne only develop a minor case of it, but some dogs are unfortunate enough to go on to develop more severe infections. This condition usually affects younger pups more often, but they usually get over it by the time their first birthday rolls around.
Acne affects dogs whenever they start producing too much sebum. The skin is usually kept hydrated thanks to sebum. If your dog's body starts producing too much sebum, then acne will occur. Some of the other reasons why dogs develop acne is due to a hormone imbalance or poor grooming by the owner. Skin infections, stress, and allergies are a few other reasons why dogs end up battling this condition.
Acne causes the formation of blackheads, and any part of your dog's body can be affected by them. The lips and chin are two common areas that are most often affected. If parts of your dog's skin start to swell because of the condition, then scabs may also develop. Your dog won't be affected much by the scabs unless they lead to a bacterial infection. Dogs with this condition will scratch constantly in order to relieve the itching.
Your vet should have little trouble diagnosing your dog with acne. He only has to look at the blackheads spread throughout the body to see what the condition is. A skin biopsy may be conducted to ensure that there's not another underlying condition that is causing the problem. Dogs need to be sedated in order to submit to a skin biopsy though.
If your dog has acne, it won't be able to be cured, but it can successfully be managed. Various things can lead to acne, so the vet will first need to determine which particular one is responsible. Certain foods can be the cause of the problem, so a food trial may be in order.
Anti-seborrheic shampoos and soaps can be used to treat acne in dogs. The purpose of using this soap or shampoo is that it helps decrease the amount of sebum on the skin. In order to manage acne, owners will also need to ensure that their pets are properly groomed.
Dogs that have a more severe case of acne will benefit from medication. Some dogs will also need to take antibiotics to ensure that they don't go on to develop a bacterial infection. Medications that relieve inflammation and itching will offer your dog relief. Really severe cases of the condition will need to be treated using topical steroids.
