What does skin disease look like on a dog

Mange in Dogs: What You Need to Know

If you follow news about dogs, you know what an extreme case of mange looks like. Its a common skin disease in dogs and puppies that are strays, neglected, or abused. These dogs appear to be beyond hopehairless, with skin covered in sores or with thickened, hard, crusty patches. Such dogs are often described as having skin that appears to have turned to stone.

Its a horrible, painful condition, but as youve seen in the many miracle dog stories in the news, even serious cases can be treated effectively.

Take Scarlet, for example. One year ago, the then 4-month-old puppy was found at the side of the road in LaFollette, Tennessee, bald and covered with oozing sores and crusty skin, so frail that pieces of it would fall off when rescue workers from the Friends of Campbell County Animals touched her. Her eyelids had fused so she was blind, she could barely move, and many believed nothing could help her.

Yet one year later, after intensive treatment by veterinarians at the University of Tennessee, Scarlet is a happy, healthy pet. Her body is now covered with a coat of light caramel-colored hair, and the only reminders of her ordeal are scars on her face and back. Shes a therapy dog, and its now her job to cheer up hospital patients.

Scarlets case is an extreme one, but not all that unusual for mange patients. Mange is a terrible disease, and it can kill. But, as with Scarlet, there are treatments that can return even the most seriously infected animals to health.

What Is Mange?

Mange refers to skin diseases caused by mites. The term is derived from a French word mangeue, which translates into to eat or itch. Mange, caused by different kinds of mites, affects many kinds of animals, including humans.

In dogs, there are two major forms of mange, each caused by different mites:

• Sarcoptic Mange (also known as scabies)
• Demodectic Mange (also known as red mange or demodex)

Sarcoptic Mange

Also known as canine scabies, this disease is caused by a circular-shaped, eight-legged mite called the Sarcoptes scabiei. This form of mange is highly contagious. The parasite can be transmitted from dog to dog and can pass from dogs to humans, although it doesnt thrive on non-canine hosts. Female mites burrow into the skin to lay their eggs. The eggs hatch in about three weeks, and the young feed on the hosts skin.

Symptoms of Sarcoptic Mange

Symptoms will generally appear about 10-days-to-8-weeks after contact with a dog carrying scabies. Typically, the first signs of the infection will be on the margins of the ears, chest, elbows, hocks, and belly. Untreated, they can quickly spread. The most common symptoms of sarcoptic mange include:

• Extreme itchiness
• Redness and rash
• Thick yellow crusts
• Hair loss
• Bacteria and yeast infections
• Thickening of the skin (advanced cases)
• Lymph node inflammation (advanced cases)
• Emaciation (extreme cases)

How Is Sarcoptic Mange Diagnosed?

A veterinarian will take one or more skin scrapings and look under a microscope for the presence of eggs or mites. Sometimes, however, no mites appear in the skin samples although the symptoms strongly suggest an infestation.

Demodectic Mange

Demodectic mange, or demodex, is caused by a cigar-shaped mite, Demodex canis. The difference from sarcoptic mange is that these are a normal part of the skin flora, always present, and usually harmless. They are passed to pups from their mothers in the first few days after birth, but it is not contagious to humans. The mites take up residence deep in hair follicles and stay there, causing no trouble. A normal immune system keeps their numbers in check. But in a dog with a weakened immune system, they can grow out of control. Dogs at risk of demodectic mange include:

• Puppies who inherit a weakness in their immune systems will be prone to a particularly serious form of demodex, known as juvenile onset.
• Young healthy dogs may develop some patches of demodex, which sometimes go away on their own or with localized topical treatment.
• Elderly, sick, neglected, or stray dogs with weakened immune systems often develop demodex. For example, cancer or diabetes can impair immune function and lead to this form of mange.

Symptoms of Demodectic Mange

• In localized cases, it shows up as patches of hair loss and red, scaling skin.
• In generalized cases, the entire body may be covered with redness, infections, scaling, swelling, and crusts. Often the dog loses most, if not all, hair.

Diagnosis of Demodectic Mange

Your veterinarian will take a skin scraping and look for mites under a microscope.

Treatment of Mange In Dogs

Both scabies and demodex will require treatments to heal the skin and control the mites. Some people are tempted to treat the condition without expert guidance, but its prudent to see a veterinarian because even a mild case can grow quickly. Treatments for both forms of mange include several strategies:

• Hair clipping
• Dipping to cleanse and heal skin: Baths in medicated shampoos on a weekly basis will help heal and soften skin.
• Mite eradication and control: Topical applications of compounds to kill the mites, such as selamectin and imidacloprid-moxidectin formulations, over a period of several weeks have been shown to be effective. Oral treatments are also sometimes used.

Elephant Skin in Dogs: Top Causes & What to Do

This article was updated on June 10th, 2023

In my veterinary hospital, I have many owners bring in their dogs because they have developed thick, abnormally appearing skin on their ears, belly, or legs (Elephant skin). These dogs are typically itchy and uncomfortable. This condition occurs when dogs have an overgrowth of yeast on their skin and the result can be what many owners refer to as elephant skin, medically known as pachydermatitis.

Whats elephant skin in dogs?

Also known as yeast dermatitis, the skin appears very thick, rough, dark, and irritated due to inflammation secondary to the yeast overgrowth. The most common yeast found on dogs with pachydermatitis is Malassezia pachydermatitis. This is an extremely common cause of skin inflammation in dogs and often occurs secondary to allergies.

Though this yeast is a normal inhabitant of skin, its abnormal overgrowth can be an itchy problem.

Pictures of elephant skin in dogs:

The condition can become chronic if left untreated

Dogs with elephant skin need to be seen by a veterinarian. Left untreated, the condition can become chronic, and the skin may be damaged.

Over-The-Counter antifungal shampoos can be effective but only with mild cases

Very mild cases may respond to over-the-counter antifungal shampoos, such as Head and Shoulders, or the Dechra Mal-A-Ket Antibacterial and Antifungal Pet Shampoos.

However, keep i mind that if the underlying cause is not found and addressed, the issue is likely to recur. You should also never give your dog any prescription or OTC medications without the express direction to do so by your vet.

Keep in mind that these skin conditions are miserable for your dog and veterinary treatment will be more effective if started early. Do not delay veterinary care.

Signs that you need to see your vet

If you notice that your dog has thick, red, irritated, or discolored skin, they are licking or scratching more than normal, or they have a musty odor, you should make them an appointment to see their doctor.

How will the vet diagnose?

Often, we may have a pretty good idea that a dog is suffering from yeast pachydermatitis, or elephant skin, just by the physical exam findings and history. The skin has a distinctive appearance (see pictures above) and also most often has a musty, foul odor. However, further diagnostics may be indicated to get to the root cause. Skin scrapings, tape preps, and biopsies may need to be performed to identify the organism causing the issue. If underlying allergies are suspected, they will need to be addressed as well, to prevent recurrence.

For initial diagnostics, owners can expect to pay between $100-$500, depending on what procedures are performed.

Veterinary treatments for elephant skin in dogs

Which treatment is right for your dog will depend on many factors, including severity, underlying cause, and response to therapy.

Topical treatment Yeast pachydermatitis, or elephant skin, tends to respond best when treated with both topical and systemic approaches. Medicated shampoos, sprays, and topical ointments may all be prescribed.Owners should follow the directions provided by their veterinarian for optimum results.

Oral treatment- In addition to topical treatment, many dogs will require oral treatments as well. This typically involves oral antifungal medications to address the yeast overgrowth, as well as oral antibiotics if there is a secondary bacterial infection present on the skin.

Pachydermatitis can be somewhat resistant to treatment and affected dogs may need to be treated for long periods of time to effectively clear the issue. This could mean weeks to months of therapy. Antifungal medications can have unwanted side effects involving the dogs liver, so your veterinarian will monitor with periodic blood work.

Underlying chronic conditions that are contributing to the overgrowth of yeast, such as food and environmental allergies, will need to be addressed as well. Allergies are not curable, but must be managed throughout a dogs life.

Treatment Costs

The cost to treat a case of yeast dermatitis, or elephant skin, varies greatly depending on the size of the dog, the severity of the condition, and the presence of any underlying issue. Oral antifungal medications can be fairly pricey, and the larger the dog, the more medication will be needed. For an initial course of therapy, for an average sized dog, an owner can anticipate spending $100-$300 on topical and oral medications. Allergy management medications and prescription foods will add to this total.

Recovery and timeline for recovery

As mentioned above, pachydermatitis often requires long-term therapy. It is common to treat with both topical and oral medications for 6-12 weeks initially. Luckily, with proper treatment and the control of any underlying conditions, such as allergies, the prognosis is excellent for most dogs.

• Dr. Jamie Whittenburg is a Veterinarian Director at 'Senior Tail Waggers' and Director and Owner of Kingsgate Animal Hospital, a full-service animal hospital in Lubbock, TX. She graduated from Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) and has over 17 years of experience working as a veterinarian & hospital director.

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Disclaimer: This website's content is not a substitute for veterinary care. Always consult with your veterinarian for healthcare decisions. Read More.

Skin Infections in Dogs

What Are Skin Infections in Dogs?

Skin infections are conditions that are caused by infectious organisms such as bacteria, fungi, or parasites. All areas of skin can be affected, including inside the ears and nose, as well as the hair and nails.

The severity of the disease depends on the type of infection and can vary from very mild to painful and itchy. Some organisms that cause skin infections are transmissible (or contagious), which means the infection can be passed to another mammal through direct contact or the environment. There are also infections that are caused by organisms that normally live on the skin and are not considered contagious.

Types of Skin Infections in Dogs

• Bacterial

• Fungal

• Parasitic

• Viral

Symptoms of Skin Infections in Dogs

• Redness

• Bumps or raised areas of the skin

• Itchiness (you may see your dog scratching, licking, and/or chewing the skin)

• Scales or flakes

• Crusts or scabs

• Hair loss (alopecia)

• Oozing or discharge (blood, pus, clear)

• Skin color changes (darker or lighter)

Causes of Skin Infections in Dogs

There are many causes of skin infections in dogs. Some infections are primary infectionsan infection directly caused by an infectious organism. Other infections are secondary infections and occur because of an underlying disease process that triggers an infection.

Primary Infection

Scabies is an example of a primary parasitic skin infection. Dogs acquire scabies by direct contact with an infected animal. The scabies mite then causes the clinical signs associated with the disease. Ringworm is an example of a primary fungal infection and is acquired due to contact with infected individuals or an infected environment, including soil.

Secondary Infection

A common example of a secondary skin infection is one due to skin allergies. The allergies cause inflammation of the skin, which then provides an environment favorable to organism growth. Bacteria or fungi that normally live on the skin are then able to multiply, leading to a bacterial or fungal skin infection.

How Veterinarians Diagnose Skin Infections in Dogs

There are several basic skin tests that are useful in diagnosing a majority of skin infections. The most common ones are:

• Skin scrapes: A dull scalpel blade is used to scrape the top layer of the skin; effective for finding skin parasites like demodex.

• Skin cytology: A sample is collected by pressing a microscope slide directly to the skin lesion or via a needle and syringe and then looked at under the microscope for bacteria, fungi, or abnormal skin cells.

• Tape preps: Clear tape is used to collect a sample of hair or skin to find bacteria, fungi, or parasites when viewed under the microscope.

• Cotton swabs: A cotton swab is used to collect a sample, most often from inside the ear, to diagnose bacterial, fungal, or parasitic infections.

• Cultures: A sample of skin, hair, or discharge is collected onto a growth plate to look for bacterial or fungal growth over time. This test can also be used to learn which antimicrobial medication is best to treat the infection.

Treatment of Skin Infections in Dogs

The treatment of a skin infection depends on the type of infection, the location of the infection, and the condition of the dog. Bacterial skin infections are treated with oral (by mouth) antibiotics, and/or topical products such as medicated shampoos, conditioners, sprays, and ointments. Common products include:

Fungal infections are treated similarly, with antifungal medications, and parasites are treated with antiparasitic medications.

To help the skin heal and to prevent future infections, other treatments are used to support healthy skin. For example, when treating an ear infection, special ear cleaners are used in addition to the antimicrobial medication. Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation is another treatment used to help resolve and prevent infections. Prevention is often the best medicine and regular bathing and grooming can be helpful for not only treating skin infections but also preventing them from occurring in the first place.

For secondary skin infections, it is important to treat the primary cause of the secondary infection. Skin allergies, for example, frequently require medications to reduce inflammation and allergic reactions. Treating a skin infection without treating the allergy will likely lead to another infection. Food allergies require special diets to reduce skin inflammation. If a food allergy is suspected, your vet will work with you to determine an appropriate food trial,to slowly remove certain ingredients and introduce possible allergies to determine the culprit.

Recovery and Management of Skin Infections in Dogs

The time it takes to treat a skin infection depends on the type of infection, the ability to treat primary causes of the infection, and the severity of disease. Sometimes the most difficult part of the treatment is sticking with treatments for as long as needed.

Some skin infections can be difficult to treat because of antimicrobial resistance. Antimicrobial resistance occurs over time, when microbes develop defenses against our medications, making those medications ineffective. In those cases, treatment can take longer and may require further testing.

Infections can resurface, especially if the primary cause of the infection has not been treated or resolved. Dogs with chronic conditions such as allergies or other diseases are more likely to have repeat infections.

Managing skin infections successfully can be complicated, time consuming, and expensive. Following your veterinarians recommendations closely and being patient during the treatment period is important for resolving the infection and preventing recurrence in your pup.

Featured Image: iStock.com/Sergeeva

WRITTEN BY

Dr. Rania Gollakner

Veterinarian

Rania Gollakner received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 2010 and a Master of Public Health in 2017. She practiced companion...