Seborrhea is a very common disease that affects the scalp of dogs, especially the areas of the torso, legs and face. With seborrhea, the sebaceous glands of the skin produce a large amount of sebum, causing scales, crusts and excess oil at the same time.
Despite being very common, if seborrhea is not treated in time, it can lead to secondary skin infections. Dogs often smell bad due to a buildup of grease and oil on their fur. Additionally, this condition can cause the animal to scratch too much in the affected areas, causing hemorrhages and other damage to the dermis.
Let's see next in this new article on our site how seborrhea in dogs is and how it reacts and we will explore its treatment and its causes.
What is seborrhea? Why does it occur?
Seborrhea is a disease that can often be considered secondary. That is to say, it is caused by another disease and it is one of the manifestations that indicates that the animal may be presenting a more serious problem. These primary diseases could be:
- Allergies
- Mushrooms
- Endocrine disorders
- Skin cancer
- Nutrient-poor diets
- Metabolic disorders
- Pancreatic diseases
- Parasites
- Autoimmune diseases
Other causes and predispositions
On the other hand, primary type seborrhea is considered a hereditary 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. This type of seborrhea is usually a condition that affects dogs before they reach 2 years of age.
The types of seborrhea that exist
There are two types of seborrhea that have to do with the evolution of the dog's skin condition:
- dry canine seborrhea is the scaly form, which develops during the initial stages, when excess keratin accumulates on the skin. This type of seborrhea is noticeable, but does not cause significant clinical symptoms.
- canine oily seborrhea is the greasy or oily type of disease, characterized by excess oil and dullness on the the fur. At this stage, the symptoms that appear are more obvious and uncomfortable: greasy hairs together with dry and scaly skin, irritation and the need to scratch. When the disease is very advanced, it can invite infections of the skin and inner ears, alopecia, fever, loss of physical condition and appetite, and depression due to the attack on the immune system. It is important to bear in mind that the majority of registered cases of seborrhea in dogs present a combined form of the two types of the disease.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of hereditary or primary seborrhea is made only when other causes have been ruled out. If it is secondary seborrhea, it is key to diagnose the root cause of the problem so that our pet recovers as soon as possible.
Now, so that seborrhea can be diagnosed accurately and correctly, knowing what the real causes of the disease are, it is necessary to go to the vetfor him to perform specific skin studies, a physical exam, skin scrapings to identify parasites, fungal cultures, blood tests, and stool tests. The specialist may require a skin biopsy if he deems it necessary.
Treatment
Before starting any treatment it is important to know what type of seborrhea we want to treat. When the disease is still in its initial stage and the animal's skin does not show wounds caused by the infection, treatment is usually painless and simple. The approximate duration is one month and is mostly based on washing the dog, once a week, with cold water and anti-seborrheic soap, emphasizing the most problematic areas. Baths could be accompanied by taking vitamin supplements If the seborrhea is oily, benzoyl peroxide or selenium sulfide should be applied.
If seborrhea is of the hereditary type, it is incurable but totally treatable. Under good treatment and constant veterinary supervision, seborrhea can be kept under control and the dog can continue to lead a normal life. For the hereditary form, it is good to give it weekly baths with salicylic acid and sulfur and administer oral medications, such as retinoids. When a dog suffers from seborrhea (of any type) it is very positive to add to its diet foods rich in omega 3 fatty acids such as salmon oil. It is also important to remove it as much as possible from the complicated areas where you have wounds caused by itching.
