Many problems can cause changes in skin color and the appearance of sores on the dog’s skin. Skin diseases in dogs are very common and precautions should be taken with such problems. While some brown spots on the dog’s skin are a characteristic and natural pigmentation of the skin and may appear due to aging, others may indicate a health problem.
If you notice a change in hair or skin color and suspect problems with your dog’s skin, it’s always safer to take it to the vet and prevent it. In this article by Animal Expert we will explain everything about the brown spots on the skin of the dog: what they can be and what treatments are for each cause.
- Darkening of the skin.
- Called skin hyperpigmentation or melanodermia.
- Is due to increased production of the skin’s natural pigment.
- Called melanin.
- In some cases.
- This affects not only the skin and hair.
- But also the animal’s nails.
Most spots are harmless and are due only to processes resulting from sun exposure, excessive skin friction and aging. However, we should be concerned when other symptoms associated with altered skin pigmentation appear:
Alopecia, itching and canine sores are one of the symptoms most associated with this skin problem in dogs.
Normally, skin spots are more visible in areas with little hair, but they can spread throughout the animal’s body and therefore you should carefully examine your pet’s entire body regularly.
Brown spots on the dog’s skin can have several causes, including
It may have a primary (genetic) origin that appears in the first year of life and Teckel’s puppies are highly predisposed to this problem. Secondary origin is not a specific disease, it is only a reaction (to allergies or infections) and can occur in any race, the most prone being those predisposed to obesity, allergies and contact dermatitis.
In both cases, it is characterized by dark spots of thick and rough texture, usually accompanied by hair loss in the area. The regions of the groin (axillary) and groin (inguinal) are the most affected.
If skin patches appear suddenly, it’s most likely an allergic reaction.
The issue of allergies is very complex, as an allergy that occurs on the skin can have a number of causes including food allergy, ingestion of plants or toxic substances, contact dermatitis or insect bites and where stains can have multiple sites. , sizes, colors and textures is therefore very important to know the whole history of the animal.
It mainly affects pomeranian dogs, Siberian Husky, Malamutes and Chows. Affected animals have a modified hair texture, alopecia in various areas of the body, itching throughout the body, especially in the trunk, tail and abdomen, and in addition, it is possible to see black spots on the dog’s skin.
Little is known about this disease, but it is believed to be hereditary.
Because of thyroid problems, the gonads (testes or ovaries) and adrenal glands cause spots and a change in hair color:
It mainly affects dogs with white fur and pale skin. Imperfections are harmless in most cases, but can develop into cancer if you’re not careful. Wearing a dog-friendly sunscreen may be the solution.
In fungal dermatitis, small black spots associated with itching appear, resembling a line of dots that can be mistaken for dirt stains.
The lesions are flat, at the skin level and appear in wetter areas that receive little sun, such as inlets, armpits, ear canal, sex organs and interdigital space (between the fingers). Skin is usually oily and flaky.
Fungi are opportunistic and usually occur when the immune system is weakened and another disease affects the animal. First, the underlying cause of animal immunosuppression needs to be treated and only then should a topical treatment involving bathing with the right shampoo and oral medications (in more severe cases) be applied to remove fungi.
Bleeding under the skin can also cause brown spots on the dog’s skin. After a hematoma or trauma, a bruise appears as a result of localized bleeding from the blood vessels in the area. This injury disappears after a while.
It involves the white blood cells of the immune system and is more common in sausage dogs, collies, German shepherds and rottweilers. Spots can range from violet red to black and involve itching, ulcers, swelling of the legs and lethargy.
Hereditary disease characterized by black spots on the dog’s skin (usually in the abdomen) as a result of increased melanin. They don’t cause itching, they have no texture and are just an aesthetic problem that rarely becomes something smart. The diffuse type appears in adulthood and is rare. In the simple type, the lesion is limited to the vulvar region and usually occurs during the first year of the animal’s life.
This type of scabies is not contagious to humans because it requires an inherited factor to manifest itself. When an animal is infested with a mite called Demodex canis, it develops this type of black crust if its parents have passed on the specific gene. External factors such as stress, sudden changes in the environment or food can also trigger the onset of this disease, that is, it is not only a skin problem in an inherited dog, but also something related to the immune system.
It is very common to appear in puppies, especially around the eyes and face with red spots and thick dark skin, which can evolve to the rest of the body.
They have a dark brown color in the form of nodules (more than 1 cm). Cancer symptoms can be very similar to those of a bacterial infection, as they begin with red skin marks, itching and sagging skin. The most common tumors are melanoma, basal cell carcinoma and mast cell tumor and it is very important to get an early diagnosis of this problem.
It is important to note that sometimes dark spots appear under the dog’s eyes that can be confused with spots on the skin. However, the dog only wept dark tears that stained the fur. This condition is due to excessive tear production or an impact of the tear duct that causes the release of a tear pigment, porphyrin, which accumulates under the eyes. It is necessary to consult a veterinarian as it may be a skin infection under the eyes or a number of ophthalmic problems, such as glaucoma, conjunctivitis, eye infections, abnormal eyelash position, eye injuries, stress or allergies.
As we have seen, there are many skin diseases in dogs that cause spots and it is necessary to identify the cause in order for the treatment to be as effective as possible.
When it comes to a skin problem, the diagnosis is almost never immediate and it takes a few days to decipher the problem.
Many skin diseases have similar signs and therefore it is essential to obtain a detailed history, perform a good physical examination and thorough diagnostic tests (microscopic analysis and shaving of hair and skin, microbial cultures, blood and urine tests and even biopsies) that allow to provide the definitive diagnosis.
It is very important that the guardian helps the veterinarian solve this problem by providing the following information:
For a successful treatment of brown spots on the dog’s skin, it is essential to correctly identify the underlying cause.
Depending on the situation and disease in question, treatment may be topical (applied directly to the animal’s fur and skin), such as shampoos, antimicrobial or antiparasitic ointments or ointments, oral for generalized infections or other diseases (antihistamines, antifungals, antibiotics, corticosteroids, hormones, antiparasitic), dietary restriction or chemotherapy and surgical removal in case of tumors or combination of different types of treatments to find the best therapy and ensure animal welfare.
This article is for informational purposes only, in Animal Expert.com.br we cannot prescribe veterinary treatments or make any kind of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case of any type of condition or discomfort.
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