Canine Skin Diseases

Skin conditions in dogs--from a flea bit to skin cancer--are not uncommon. More often than not, however, a skin condition is a symptom of another illness rather than a disease in itself. While some skin diseases--such as ringworm and sarcoptic mange-- are related directly to the skin, conditions that reflect symptoms in the skin and coat are more common. These include allergies, infections, Cushing's disease, thyroid illnesses and infections.

Lesions

Several conditions can cause dogs to develop lesions, pus-filled bumps, on their skin. Diagnosing what is causing the lesions is often difficult because so many diseases can cause them. Diagnosis is necessary, however, because treatment depends upon the condition causing the problem. Among conditions and diseases that can cause lesions are abscesses, allergies, sweat gland cysts, bacterial infections, distemper, demodectic mange and impetigo.

Color Changes

Various diseases can cause the skin and coat of a dog to change color. Among conditions that can cause pigment changes are Acanthosis nigricans, which is an inherited disease in dachshunds. A secondary form can occur in other breeds. Other conditions include various forms of dermatitis, sweat gland cysts, basal cell tumors, black hair folliculars, Bowen's disease, bruising, irritation, inflammation, Cushing's Disease and demodectic mange.

Alopecia

Alopecia refers to hair loss, which might be a few thin spots or might leave the dog nearly bald. Several conditions can also cause this symptom, including Acanthosis nigricans, various forms of dermatitis, allergies, an autoimmune disorder, bacterial infection, calluses, sarcoptic mange, congenital hypotrichosis, Cushing's Disease, folliculitis, granulomas, hypothyroidism, interstitial cell tumor, lice, leishmaniasis and Diabetes mellitus.

Scratching

Perhaps the most obvious symptom of a skin ailment in dogs is scratching and licking. With other symptoms, this can be caused by a variety of diseases, some of which are not serious at all and some of which can be detrimental to your pet's health. Among diseases that may cause scratching, licking or hair pulling are various forms of dermatitis, allergies, Acanthosis nigricans, bacterial infections, insect stings, sarcoptic mange, chiggers, demodectic mange, ear mites, hookworms, hot spots, lice and lymphoma.

Scaly

When a dog's coat looks as if it has dandruff, this is usually caused by scaly skin and may be nothing more serious than dry skin. However, there are some more serious conditions that can cause this symptom. Among diseases that can cause a dog's skin to become scaly are bacterial infection, impetigo, black hair follicular, distemper, sarcoptic mange, Cushing's disease, demodectic mange, certain types of lymphoma, hypothyroidism, leishmaniasis, different types of dermatitis and ring worm.

References

• Dog skin problems
• Skin disorders and problems of dogs
• Dog skin diseases