Folliculitis is inflammation, due to bacteria, that is found in the outermost layer of a dog’s skin which immediately surrounds the hair follicles.
Dr. P. Khuly stated that: “Folliculitis is a term that refers to the inflammation of one or more hair follicles. In veterinary medicine, it’s most commonly discussed as bacterial folliculitis, a condition which involves the infection of hair follicles with bacteria and is widely considered the most common kind of canine skin infection.”
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Content:
- What Is Folliculitis in Dogs
- Folliculitis in Dogs Symptoms and Causes
- Folliculitis Dog Treatment
- Conclusion
What Is Folliculitis in Dogs
Just as with people, dogs have bacteria that live on their skin and fur. This bacteria can infect the hair follicle of a dog that suffers from this condition. When a healthy hair follicle is compromised bacterial folliculitis can occur.
Dr J Bajwa’s research states: ‘Superficial bacterial folliculitis (SBF), or superficial pyoderma, is a bacterial infection confined to the superficial portion of the hair follicle. Bacteria may cause an infection secondary to local trauma, scratching, contamination due to poor grooming, seborrhea, parasitic infestation, hormonal factors, local irritants, or allergies. In dogs, SBF is the most common form of pyoderma, and is also the principal reason for antimicrobial use in small animal practice.’
Folliculitis in Dogs Symptoms and Causes
Causes of folliculitis in dogs can be from any of the following:
- Localised trauma
- Allergies
- Seborrhoea
- Scratching
- Hormonal factors
- Parasitic infestation (ticks, fleas, mites, etc)
- Local irritants
- Poor grooming habits
No matter what the cause may be, the presentation of folliculitis is the same.
Some things to look out for if you suspect folliculitis are:
- Darkening of the skin, known as hyperpigmentation
- Swelling
- Pustules
- Redness
- Hair loss
- Itching
- Pain or sensitivity around the affected area
If you spend hours away from home, then a Petcube Camera is a worthwhile investment to check in on your dog. This way you can see if they are scratching or irritated by a specific patch of skin.
Folliculitis Dog Treatment
Your dog will need to see the veterinarian to treat this condition effectively. Your vet may need to perform a skin scrape (to examine the hair follicles under the microscope), a wood lamp examination (to rule out ringworm), and on occasion a skin biopsy to be sent to a laboratory for histopathology and bacterial culture. Treatment may include a topical shampoo and/or salve, systemic antibiotics and treatment of an underlying disorder if that is the cause. All these tests and treatments add up as this condition can take many weeks, and in some cases months, to resolve. It is highly recommended to sign up with an Emergency Fund plan to ensure that your budget does not limit your treatment options.
Veterinary Dermatologist Dr. P. Bloom says: ‘Investigation of the underlying cause of the disease should be performed because primary canine bacterial pyoderma does not occur. When a dog is presented for the first time with SBF, only a limited number of diagnostic tests need to be undertaken. However, with recurrent or chronic cases of SBF, or with any dog with a deep bacterial pyoderma, there is a need for the underlying cause to be pursued aggressively.’
Conclusion
When it comes to folliculitis at home treatments are not as effective as what your veterinarian can provide. This condition can be painful and reduce the quality of life of your beloved pet.