Diagnosis of Skin Disease (Canine Seborrhea) in Dogs
The veterinarian will examine your dog’s symptoms and take skin scrapings and fluid cultures to analyze the cells at a microscopic level. Red pimples and pustules tend to suggest a concurrent bacterial infection, such as pyoderma. Hair loss, odor, and signs of itching are also relevant. Allergic reactions usually have a higher degree of pruritus than hormone imbalance from endocrine disease. Other symptoms, like excessive drinking and urination, can suggest an endocrine problem. The veterinarian will take bloodwork and complete urinalysis to check for systemic symptoms. Specific tests (such as an ACTH Stim test) may be necessary to definitively diagnose Cushing’s disease or thyroid imbalance.
Your dog’s age and breed can also be relevant. When seborrhea develops in young puppies, this is frequently a sign of inherited disease. Nevertheless, the veterinarian will still need to perform a number of other tests to eliminate treatable conditions that could be causing the problem. Older dogs will be more likely to develop secondary seborrheic dermatitis as the result of an endocrinopathy, or cancer, while younger dogs, under five years of age, are more likely to have an allergic source for the disease. Recent diet changes can be relevant, as well as any environmental changes like a recent move.
Causes of Skin Disease (Canine Seborrhea) in Dogs
Primary dermatitis is more common in some breeds. It is still rare however; most seborrheic dermatitis is due to a secondary condition.
Primary or congenital seborrhea
Secondary
How Do Dogs Get Seborrhea?
Seborrhea in dogs is either a primary problem or a secondary problem to another underlying condition. In dogs, seborrhea is usually secondary to other skin or medical conditions, such as skin infections, stress, hormonal conditions, or obesity. A primary diagnosis of seborrhea is only reached if all other conditions are ruled out.
Primary seborrhea in dogs is an inherited, genetic disease, and is most commonly seen in Cocker Spaniels, Basset Hounds, Westies (West Highland White Terriers), English Springer Spaniels, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, and Dachshunds. The parents are usually affected, and the disease is first noted when dogs less than 2 years of age.
In contrast, secondary seborrhea can be seen in any age of dog, and there are no breed predilections.
The most common causes of secondary seborrhea are allergies, external parasites, and hormonal conditions. Allergies and external parasites are more common in dogs less than five years of age, hormonal conditions are more likely if the dog is older than five. If a dog is very itchy, then external parasites such as fleas or mites or allergies are more likely, and if a dog isn’t itchy, then a hormonal condition is more likely.
Possible causes of secondary seborrhea in dogs include: