Seborrhea

What is Seborrhea?

Seborrhea is a term frequently used to describe a number of skin conditions where the outer layer of skin, the sebaceous glands, and hair follicles all over produce. This leads to excessive production of scale (flakes of skin) and sebum (fatty substance secreted). Dry seborrhea features more scale while moist seborrhea is the more greasy type. Dogs with seborrhea have a variety of skin conditions associated with this over production and secondary infections of the skin and ears.

How does my dog get Seborrhea?

Seborrhea is frequently a primary inherited disorder but may also be secondary to other conditions. In the inherited disorder, the skin may show signs of being abnormal as young as 10 weeks of age. In secondary seborrhea, the skin response is the result of other problems that affect the skin including hypothyroidism.

How do I know if my dog has Seborrhea?

Affected dogs are scaly, waxy, and smelly. There are usually chronic waxy ear infections, also. As a puppy, you will notice subtle flaking and dullness to the coat. As your dog ages, the coat changes with excessive scaling, greasy feel, and smell to both the skin and ears becoming prominent. Take your dog to see your vet to confirm the diagnosis and develop a lifetime treatment plan. Blood tests, skin tests and biopsies, and other diagnostic procedures may be needed to identify primary from secondary seborrhea.

What can I do about Seborrhea?

Treatment is chronic and lifetime and will entail a combination of shampoos, antibiotics (for secondary infections), moisturizers, ear cleansers, essential fatty acid supplements, and anti-fungal medications are just a few of the treatment options.

Is there anything I can do to prevent my dog from getting Seborrhea?

Because of the likelihood of this being a genetic condition, prevention would be based upon breed selection first. Avoiding the conditions that cause secondary seborrhea is also not plausible. The focus thus should be on control.

Are there certain breeds that get Seborrhea more often?

West Highland White Terriers, Cocker Spaniels, Springer spaniels, Basset hounds, Irish setters, German shepherds, dachshund, Doberman pinschers, Shar Pei, Labrador retrievers, Rottweilers, Golden retrievers.