Skin Diseases, An Overview
Information for this article is a summary of material from Dog
Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook, Delbert G. Carlson DVM and James M.
Giffin MD, Chapter 4
Anne Jones RN, BSNE
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To start with, we should clarify that there are at least 35 or more
skin diseases that can be quickly named as possible irritants to
canine skin! Some days we think our dogs must have them all, when
they scratch, lick, moan and groan! There are numerous pests that
cause skin reactions. There are the inhalants that may cause
allergic response. There are the growths, the sores and the problems
of hair loss. What’s a Bichon owner to do?
It has often been said that the best specialty to have for a human
doctor is dermatology because the patient never gets well and does
not need to be seen at night. Maybe veterinarians feel the same way
but there do not seem to be many dermatologists in veterinary
medicine. However they can be found. Yet the first place to seek
help is with your primary vet who should know your dog’s history and
will be able to make an initial decision as to whether the “new”
problem is the “old” allergy or if there is another cause for this
itch.
These are some of the types of skin issues you may deal with. Some
are rare in Bichons and others do occur with frequency. The list of
possibilities is long and the final determination or diagnosis may
also be long in coming. There are the pests that we know to look for
(fleas and ticks) and there are other unexpected pests. Immune
mediated problems (allergies) are hugely complex to diagnose and to
treat. Lick sores, friction loss of hair (elbows are common in some
breeds), and hormonal disorders all leave bald spots. Bacterial
infection, contagious disease and other issues may be either the
sole cause of skin problems or they may be a secondary complication.
There are the various lumps, bumps and growths that seem to
particularly plague the Bichon Frise.
Diseases affecting skin, causing itch, licking and hair loss, making
the poor dog miserable and leaving the owner wishing to hide this
moth eaten pet of hers – these are major frustrations for both owner
and veterinarian. They may also be the most frequent reason for
seeing a vet, in any breed, but particularly in a breed where the
major health issue is allergy.
There is no reason to discuss allergy in this article. It is covered
elsewhere. Some of the inherited problems are rare in Bichons
whereas they are major in other breeds. Cheylitiella Mange, known as
walking dandruff, seems to have missed the Bichon up to now and may
it ever be so! Sarcoptic mange is a common skin disease in packs and
strays and is caused by a mite, as is Red Mange (demodicosis). Lick
sores (acral pruritic dermatitis) is more often seen in short-coated
breeds. Note that Bichons are NOT a “home alone” breed and may lick
from boredom!
We know that some Bichons are highly allergic to fleas and this is a
disease in and of itself. Fleas will drive the allergic Bichon nuts
and one that is not allergic may offer fleas free room and board and
never mind them. Only when tapeworm appears in the stool later will
the owner know there were fleas on board! Lice and ticks are
individual dog issues and may never bother some Bichons if they are
indoor dogs.
Hormonal disorders can be frustrating to treat and may well be a
cause of hair loss in Bichons. Hypothyroidism would be the most
suspect condition when hair coat is thin, brittle and slow to grow.
Excess cortisone (both from medication and from adrenal
hyperfunction) and excess estrogen can cause hair loss in some
breeds. In the Bichon this may happen from protracted treatment with
predisone. Mange (caused by a mite) and ringworm (fungus) can cause
patterned hair loss.
Infection may be a complication from several skin problems, with hot
spots (acute moist dermatitis) being common in Bichons. Hot spots
can result in pyoderma (skin infection) if the hot spot is not dried
up promptly. A juvenile pyoderma, called puppy strangles, is found
in very young pups and can become quite serious if not properly
treated. It was once a common cause of death in young pups. Any skin
problem that causes scratching and biting of the skin can ultimately
cause infection from trauma.
Warts are actually rare in dogs but papillomas are growths that are
somewhat similar and may or may not have a stem. Lipomas are fatty
tumors that are usually benign but can become infected if the skin
is broken. They typically are round and soft, filled with fluid and
grow slowly.
It is very important that any growth be examined by a veterinarian
because only he or she will be able to identify those that are or
may become cancerous! The most common skin cancers are mast cell
tumors, melanomas and adenomas. It would be remiss not to add that
any “lump” or raised area around the mammary glands of a female have
to be seen promptly because mammary cancer is the most common cancer
in bitches of all breeds. Remember that any lump or tumor that grows
rapidly may be cancerous, as may any open sore that does not heal.
Common skin growths seen in some Bichons are called sebaceous cysts.
These can occur on any part of the body from top of the head to
hocks and any place in between! These are small capsules surrounding
a lump of cheesy material called keratin. If chewed, they can become
infected. It has been this author’s experience that they will start
early in some Bichons and keep appearing in new places throughout
their lives. They may be excised but if they are that numerous, your
dog may be seeing the vet every few months for removal. It is
harmless to leave alone those that are not easily scratched or
chewed. It may be advisable to remove any that are receiving
constant attention from teeth or paw. Most do not have this many and
the occasional little cyst may dry up on its own.
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