Key takeaways
Seborrhea in dogs describes a defect in the keratinization of the skin or claws, which results in flaking skin.
- Primary seborrhea is inherited
- Secondary seborrhea is caused by conditions including infection, allergies, or hormonal conditions
- Seborrhea occurs in a dry form (seborrhea sicca) and oily form (seborrhea oleosa)
- Dogs with seborrhea present with dry or oily, flaky skin, often along the back, neck, and around the claws
- Damage to the skin can lead to overgrowth of yeast/bacteria, resulting in red, itchy skin, particularly in areas of skin folds (armpits, groin, feet, lips)
- Diagnosis involves physical examination and blood work to exclude underlying causes, alongside skin scrapes, culture, and biopsy for definitive diagnosis
- Management involves improving skin health, alongside underlying disease treatment
- Prognosis varies depending on the underlying cause
- Most cases respond to treatment but flare ups are common
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A closer look: Seborrhea in Dogs
Keratinization is the process of skin cell shedding and renewal. This is a natural process of the life cycle of the skin and allows new cells to replace old, dead skin cells. Seborrhea describes a defect in the keratinization of the skin or claws, which results in flaking skin. It can result in excessive production of sebum from the sebaceous glands and excessive renewal of skin cells. Seborrhea is a common condition in dogs. While not a painful condition, seborrhea is a persistent, recurrent disease resulting in damage to the skin barrier and complications such as persistent itchiness and secondary infection. Primary (inherited) seborrhea is not curable and requires lifelong management. Some causes of secondary seborrhea, such as hypothyroidism, resolve with treatment of the primary disease process.
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Risk factors
Seborrhea has two forms; seborrhea sicca, or dry seborrhea, and seborrhea oleosa, or oily seborrhea. Most dogs have a combination of both forms. Itchiness is not a significant feature of uncomplicated, primary seborrhea damage to the skin barrier results in secondary bacterial and yeast infection resulting in moderate to severe itchiness, patches of red, inflamed skin, and recurrent ear infections in some dogs. Primary seborrhea is an inherited disease which usually presents before 18-24 months of age in predisposed breeds including:
- West Highland White Terrier
- American Cocker Spaniel
- Basset Hound
- Golden Retriever
Possible causes
Seborrhea is a primary or secondary disease.
Primary seborrhea is inherited and a number of breeds are predisposed to this (West Highland White Terrier, American Cocker Spaniel, Basset Hound, Golden Retriever).
Most dogs with seborrhea have secondary seborrhea.
Main symptoms
Dogs with seborrhea may also experience more frequent ear infections.
Testing and diagnosis
Investigation of seborrhea involves:
- Physical examination
- Skin scrapes/hair follicle examination
- Skin biopsy
- Culture of microbes triggering secondary infection
Investigation of underlying disease
- Blood work
- Urinalysis
- Allergy testing
Steps to Recovery
Treatment options include symptomatic management of seborrhea alongside treatment of underlying disease.
- Omega-3 supplementation
- Dietary changes
- Retinoid medication
- Anti-seborrheic topical medication
- Medicated shampoos
Treatment of underlying disease
- Antibiotic or antifungal medication
- Steroids
- Immunosuppressant medication
- Treatment of hormonal conditions
Primary seborrhea is not a curable condition and requires lifelong management. The severity varies but most cases respond well to treatment but have recurrent flare ups requiring ongoing treatment.
The prognosis relating to secondary seborrhea depends on the underlying disease process. Some dogs with hypothyroidism respond well to treatment which resolves the seborrhea. Other cases such as skin allergies are more persistent and require long-term treatment.
Prevention
Primary seborrhea is an inherited condition, normally first diagnosed in young dogs. Dogs with primary seborrhea should not be bred.
Prevention of secondary seborrhea depends on the underlying cause. Prevention of secondary seborrhea is not possible.
Is Seborrhea in Dogs common?
Primary seborrhea is common in predisposed breeds. Secondary seborrhea is a common complication of many other forms of skin disease such as endocrine disease or allergies.
Typical Treatment
Treatment options include symptomatic management of seborrhea alongside treatment of underlying disease.
- Omega-3 supplementation
- Dietary changes
- Retinoid medication
- Anti-seborrheic topical medication
- Medicated shampoos
Treatment of underlying disease
- Antibiotic or antifungal medication
- Steroids
- Immunosuppressant medication
- Treatment of hormonal conditions
