by Frank Will

Created on: December 17, 2010   Last Updated: December 21, 2010

Acne in dogs is considered to be a benign disease which is generally self-limiting and may go away on its own. However, in some dogs the swelling that it causes can be both very painful as well as quite severe. It almost always affects dog younger than one year of age, and as they pass this mark, it will typically go away. There is still no actual known cause that is fully accepted by the entire medical community, however, there are several very strong theories. It can affect any breed of dog, but there are breeds that are at a much higher degree of risk.

What exactly is it?

Acne in dogs is similar to acne in humans; however it is centered in their hair more so than in their skin. The disease itself is referred to as a localized folliculitis, which is an inflammation of hair follicles as well as ruptures that occur. These ruptures are generally located in your dog’s chin or their lips. As a result of this condition, comedones, also known as black head, are the first lesion that will appear on their chin. This is the result excessive keratin formations that in turn cause follicular dilation as well as plugging.

If the acne in your dog is severe enough, it can also cause two other conditions to develop; erythema as well as alopecia. Erythema is a redness of the skin that is caused by the dilatation as well as the congestion of your dog’s capillaries, and is usually the result of an infection.  Alopecia is the loss of hair in your dog. In moderate to severe cases of acne, papules, pustules, as well as firm nodules may also develop primarily from bacterial infections that occur as a result of the acne. If this does occur, it is now considered to a quite serious.

Acne in dogs will start as your pet reached puberty, which is generally between the ages of five months to nine months old, and is much more prevalent in certain breeds. The vast majority of acne cases are in short haired breeds that include Bulldogs, Great Danes, and Dobermans. It also affects German shorthaired pointers as well as Rottweiler’s.  

Causes:

The actual cause of acne in dogs is still not fully understood, but there are some very strong theories. The first is that it is an allergic reaction to any type of plastic, especially plastic eating or drinking devices, but this is just the beginning of the list. It is also held that the androgen hormones, which are male sex hormones, are the actual cause of the acne. However, this argument is challenged by several in

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>