Seborrhea is a very common disease that affects the scalps of dogs, especially the torso, legs and face. With seborrhea, the sebaceous glands of the skin produce a lot of sebum, causing dandruff, back and excess fat at the same time.
Although very common, if seborrhea is not treated early, it can lead to secondary skin infections. Dogs often stink due to the accumulation of fat and oil in their fur. In addition, this condition can cause excessive itching in the affected areas, causing bleeding and other skin lesions.
We will see in this article of Animal Expert the symptoms and treatment of seborrhea in dogs.
Seborrhea is a disease that can often be considered secondary. In other words, it is caused by another disease and is one of the manifestations that the animal may have a more serious problem. These primary diseases could include:
On the contrary, primary seborrhea is considered an inherited disease, in which there are certain breeds predisposed to its presence such as: Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, Cocker Spaniel, Basset Hound, German Shepherd, West Highland White Terrier, Shar Pei, among others. In general, this type of seborrhea is a condition that affects puppies before they reach 2 years.
There are two types of seborrhea related to the evolution of the state of the dog’s skin:
Diagnosis of hereditary or primary seborrhea is only made when the other causes have been ruled out. If it is a secondary seborrhea, it is essential to diagnose the underlying cause of the problem, so that our animal recovers as quickly as possible.
However, in order for seborrhea to be diagnosed accurately and correctly, knowing what the real causes of the disease are, it is necessary to consult the veterinarian to carry out specific skin studies, a physical examination, a skin scratch to identify parasites, fungal cultures. , blood tests and stool tests. The specialist may order a skin biopsy if he or she deems it necessary.
Before starting any treatment, it is important to know what type of seborrhea we want to treat. When the disease is still in its early stages and the animal’s skin has no sores caused by itching, treatment is usually simple and painless. The approximate duration is one month and is mainly based on the washing of the dog, once a week, with cold water and non-seborreic soap, with emphasis on the most problematic areas. Baths can be supplemented with vitamin supplements. If seborrhea is oily, benzoyl peroxide or selenium sulfide may be applied.
If seborrhea is hereditary, it is incurable but totally treatable. With proper treatment and constant veterinary supervision, seborrhea can be controlled and the animal can continue to live a normal life. For the hereditary form, it is good to give weekly baths with salicylic acid and sulfur and give you oral medications, such as retinoids. When a dog suffers from seborrhea (of any kind), it is very positive to add to its diet foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon oil. In addition, it is important to remove as much as possible from complicated areas where you have sores that sting.
If you would like to read articles similar to, we recommend that you visit our Skin Care section.