Introduction
Dermatitis in dogs is a condition which causes inflammation and irritation of the skin. The most common causes of dermatitis in dogs are due to flea bite allergies, food allergies, and reactions to allergens in the environment. Dermatitis may also be a symptom of an underlying health problem. Certain dog breeds can be more predisposed to developing dermatitis conditions than others.
Symptoms of Dermatitis in Dogs
Dermatitis symptoms in dogs include intense scratching, licking of the paws, base of the tail, and groin area, in addition to swollen and inflamed skin all over the body or in patches on the body. Hair loss may develop due to constant licking and scratching or injury to the hair follicles, and in some cases hot spot sores may develop on the dog’s body.
Diagnosing Dermatitis in Dogs
Dermatitis in dogs is diagnosed through a thorough physical examination which can include the following:
- Skin scrapping to examine the skin for any parasites
- Skin cytology or impression smear is to look for bacteria and/or yeast on the surface of the skin
- A review of the dog’s symptoms and history
- Complete blood tests
Treating Dermatitis in Dogs
Successful treatment of canine dermatitis involves tracking down the source of the condition through a physical examination, blood tests, history, and patch test, and then eliminating the source of the condition. To help reduce the severity of the symptoms, medicated shampoos can be used to soothe the skin, and anti-inflammatory medications in addition to antihistamines may be used to reduce itching and sore skin.
Outlook for Dogs with Dermatitis
The prognosis for dermatitis in dogs is good, as long as the cause of the dermatitis can be addressed. In some extreme cases, severe dermatitis can develop due to an underlying health problem and resolving the symptoms can be difficult.