Seborrhea (Dry Skin or Dandruff) in Cats and Dogs : Symptoms, Causes, & Treatments
COMPILED & EDITED BY-DR. CHANDRAKALA ,PATNA
Seborrhea, or seborrheic dermatitis, is a skin disorder. More precisely, it is a disorder where sebaceous glands produce too much sebum. This disorder mainly affects the back, flanks, and face. It is most severe in the skin folds of the dog. Seborrhea is a general term used to describe skin and hair that is excessively flaky or greasy. While primary seborrhea is a rare inherited disease, most cases of seborrhea occur secondary to other conditions, such as allergies, parasites, infections, and glandular or immune system diseases.Seborrhea, or seborrheic dermatitis, is a term that most often refers to a skin disorder in which the sebaceous glands of the skin produce an excessive amount of sebum. It’s characterized by a malfunction in the process of keratinization. Keratinization is when your dog’s outer layer of skin replaces its current cells with new ones. Sebum is a complex mixture of fatty acids, sugars, waxes, and other natural chemicals that otherwise keep your skin healthy. Unfortunately, this overabundance of sebum causes scaly, flaky, itchy, and red skin in your dog. Seborrhea is usually found on the back, face, and flanks and is worse when it occurs in the folds of your dog’s skin. Seborrhea or scaly skin is common in dogs and and is more a symptom than a disease. Some refer to seborrhea as dry skin or doggy dandruff. Seborrhea can be dry (seborrhea secca) or oily (seborrhea oleosa). Different dog shampoos are used according to the type of seborrhea present.In most cases, the scales are secondary to another skin disease. In these cases, the scaling was not usually evident at a young age and occurred as a consequence of itching or other skin problems. Identification of the underlying cause is important to control the excessive scaling.
In some cases as in cocker spaniels, the scaling is primary and animals are born with a defect of keratinization. In these cases, the problem is evident at a young age, usually less than one year of age, and the ears are frequently affected as much as the rest of the body. Topical and systemic therapy (retinoids) may be used to normalize the turnover of the epithelial cells.However, not all dogs who develop this disorder will present the same symptoms, since there is not just one type of seborrhea.
WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF CANINE SEBORRHEA?
There are two forms seborrhea can take.
The first is referred to as seborrhea sicca (otherwise known as dry seborrhea). Dry seborrhea causes dry, flaky skin in your dog and may also cause skin itchiness, inflammation, or infection.
The second and more common type is called– seborrhea oleosa (or, more simply, oily seborrhea). Oily seborrhea causes the skin to produce sticky oil patches and smelly, greasy scales. However, it’s important to note that most dogs who have seborrhea will be afflicted by symptoms from a combination of the two types.
Dogs with seborrhea are further categorized between having what are known as primary seborrhea and secondary seborrhea.Seborrhea or seborrheic dermatitis is a skin disorder.
What is Primary Seborrhea?
Primary seborrhea is a genetic skin disorder so the prognosis is poor. Fortunately, most dogs do not inherit this painful disorder. Unfortunately, some breeds are more prone than others to develop primary seborrhea.
Primary seborrhea occurs in breeds including Cocker Spaniels, West Highland White Terriers, English Springer Spaniels, Dachshunds, German Shepherds, and Basset Hounds. Dogs with primary seborrhea will often begin showing signs of the disease before they’re two years old.
What is Secondary Seborrhea?
Secondary seborrhea is a skin disorder that is caused by a primary, underlying disease that results in excessive scaling and/or skin oiliness. Dogs with secondary seborrhea may also develop bacterial infections of the skin, yeast infections of the skin, and alopecia. Secondary seborrhea is often related to, or, one could say, is a side effect of an underlying medical problem, such as:
- hormonal imbalances (e.g., thyroid disease, Cushing’s disease)
- allergies
- parasites (internal and external) – fleas, ticks, mange mites
- fungal infections – especially yeast skin infections (Malassezia)
- dietary abnormalities – poor diets containing low levels of omega-3 fatty acids
- environmental factors (temperature, humidity changes)
- obesity
- musculoskeletal disease or pain – the dog is unable to groom itself properly
Affected Breeds
Primary seborrhea can affect Cocker Spaniels and Persian and Himalayan cats, among others.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF SEBORRHEA IN DOGS?
Seborrhea often affects spots on your dog’s skin that are rich in sebaceous glands including their back, thighs, feet, underside, armpits and neck. Affected skin will usually flake off in little white scales. These white scales are commonly referred to as dandruff.
Some affected areas of your dog’s skin may also appear very red or inflamed or may even possess lesions which are slick to the touch. This sort of inflammation and irritation can be especially severe in the folds of your dog’s skin. Tragically, this disease does also cause an odor that we can only describe as pungent. Seborrhea that occurs simultaneously with bacterial or yeast infections often produces an even more aromatic/stinky odor.
HOW IS SEBORRHEA IN DOGS DIAGNOSED?
Dogs will only be diagnosed with having primary seborrhea if all other root cause explanations have been ruled out. That being said, most dogs who suffer from seborrhea will have developed it as a secondary symptom of an underlying condition.
To attain an accurate diagnosis of the underlying cause of secondary seborrhea, your vet will likely have to conduct a series of tests. The diagnostic process might begin with a thorough physical examination, with special attention paid to the skin. Your vet will most likely be looking for any signs of hair loss, scales, oiliness, boils, pimples, crusts, bumps, darkening, or skin thickening. Your vet will likely also want to take samples of some affected areas in order to determine the type and quantity of any bacteria or yeast that are present.Additional tests may be necessary to obtain a better idea of what’s causing your dog’s seborrhea. Your vet may call for a biopsy of your dog’s skin to look for signs of yeast, fungal, or bacterial infections. This will also help them determine whether or not your dog suffers from primary seborrhea.Additionally, your vet may want to scrape a bit of your dog’s skin or pluck a sample of their hair to check for irritating parasites like mites. They might also want to take cultures of your dog’s skin to rule out specific infections like ringworm that may cause inflamed or infected skin.
A complete blood count (CBC) can also be ordered to help your vet discover potential hidden causes of your dog’s seborrhea. Certain tests can also be used to determine if your dog’s hormones are imbalanced, as this may be evidence of an underlying thyroid issue or Cushing’s disease
HOW IS SEBORRHEA TREATED IN DOGS?
There is no direct cure for seborrhea. Dogs who have primary seborrhea can never be completely cured. For them, treatment will only be focused on managing their condition. For dogs with secondary seborrhea, treatment will be focused both on controlling the skin disorder as well as eliminating any underlying cause.
While not curable, seborrhea is luckily a highly treatable dermatological condition. The main method used to control symptoms from seborrhea is the use of prescribed, anti-seborrheic shampoos. These medicated shampoos work to decrease the levels of bacteria, yeast, scale, and sebum present on the skin.
The type of shampoo prescribed will be determined by the type of seborrhea your dog has and the root cause of irritation. It may take trying several different kinds of shampoos to find the best one for your bet. In some cases, multiple shampoos will need to be used in conjunction to treat your dog’s seborrhea. Dogs with particularly severe secondary skin infections caused by seborrhea may have to combine topical therapies with oral medication to achieve full relief. Antibiotics may be prescribed to treat bacterial skin infections while antifungal medication may be administered to rid your dog’s skin of yeast microbes.
Certain oral therapies may also be necessary in very severe cases of seborrhea. These might include omega-3 fatty acid or Vitamin A supplements. Two human acne medications, isotretinoin and acitretin, are also being investigated as potential new therapies for seborrhea in dogs.
Diagnosis of Seborrhea (Dry Skin or Dandruff) in Dogs
The identification of the underlying disease responsible for seborrhea is of crucial importance. In order to do this, it is important for your veterinarian to:
- Take a complete history that includes age of onset of the skin disease, the appearance of the first sign of skin disease. Were the scales the first thing that you noted or did your animal have bumps first and then start breaking with scales? Also, was itching the first thing you noted, or did the itching come after all the skin lesions.
- Perform a complete physical examination. If a primary disease is responsible for the seborrhea, ear disease is also present.
- Do skin cytology. Swab or tape impression of the skin may provide useful information regarding the type of skin infection present. Skin infections significantly contribute to the level of itching.
- Take skin biopsies. In order to identify the underlying cause of seborrhea or to confirm a primary disease, a biopsy may be necessary.
Treatment of Seborrhea (Dry Skin or Dandruff) in Dogs
An excessive amount of oil on the skin facilitates the growth of bacteria and yeast. Most animals with seborrhea have concurrent skin infections (bacteria and yeast) and will require treatment. Your dog may need to take antibiotics or antifungal medications for several weeks to eliminate the infection.
Topical therapy is also important to remove the excessive amount of scales. Various shampoos and conditioner may be necessary.
Home Care
Clipping is usually necessary in animals with long and thick hair coats. This facilitates bathing and decreases the amount of shampoo required.
Bathing is necessary at least once a week. Some dogs may need a bath with a medicated shampoo twice or three times a week. Different shampoos and conditioners are used according to the infection present and the type of seborrhea. A contact time of 10 to 15 minutes is crucial for the success of shampoo therapy. Leave-on conditioners may be used after the shampoo to have a prolonged effect.
REFERENCE-ON REQUEST.
https://www.pashudhanpraharee.com/skin-problems-in-dogs-symptomsdiagnosistreatment-preventive-care/
https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/skin/c_dg_canine_seborrhea
