Canine Acne
When you think of acne, you probably think of those teenage years in that embarrassing age of young youth when the face is breaking out with those unsightly ugly lumps and bumps, but acne is not just for human adolescence teenagers. Your dog can get acne as well.
What is canine acne?
This condition usually begins at puberty when the dog is 5 – 8 months old. Canine acne are multiple blackheads, (or “comedones),” which appear on the dogs chin, lips and muzzle. Plugs of keratin and sebum block the hair follicles, which form these “blackheads.” Nearly all of the dogs will improve with age as this condition almost always resolves itself after the dog is a year old – although some dogs can develop chronic acne.
These bumps and blackheads on their lips, chin and muzzle, do not usually bother the dog unless a secondary bacterial skin infection develops. This secondary bacterial skin infection can cause pain and itching.
If you notice your dog pawing at his/her face or rubbing their face across the carpet, and see something you suspect might be canine acne, make an appointment with your Veterinarian so he can check it out.
Diagnosis
For a diagnosis, your Veterinarian will need to do an examination. You first want to rule out other conditions like demodecosis, (which is a mite infestation), ringworm or underlying allergies. Your veterinarian can make this diagnosis by taking a skin biopsy to confirm if your dog has canine acne. This procedure is done with a local anesthetic where a small sample of skin is removed and sent off to a veterinarian pathologist.
Treatment
There is no cure for canine acne, but it can be controlled. If your dog has a mild case of acne, it’s not usually treated at all. The dog’s general health is not affected by canine acne, so there is no cause for alarm, however, if secondary bacterial infection develops your dog will need to take antibiotics for 3 – 4 weeks.
In some cases there are repeated infections and you’ll need to do a regular cleansing of the area with an acne-cleaning product like benzoyl peroxide. You can also use a mild anti-seborrheic shampoo to cleanse the area. These products will decrease the bacteria on the dogs skin and will also remove the cellular debris that could contribute the blocking of the pores. Your Vet will discuss this with you, and will tell you what needs to be done to keep this under control.
Inherited?
This is still unknown. It is known however, that certain breed of dogs are more likely to get canine acne than others. This condition is significant in young adult Boxers, English Bulldogs, Doberman Pinchers, Great Danes and a few others.
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