Acne
Dogs can get acne, too. Typically it shows up as bumps on a dog's
chin that resemble those seen with acne in people. In some cases,
this can be the result of allergic reactions. Plastic food bowels
may be a source of these reactions in some dogs. Demodectic mange,
immunosuppressive disease, drug reactions and trauma are other
possible underlying causes.
Canine acne usually occurs on the chin of affected dogs. It
resembles acne in humans and it tends to occur in a similar pattern,
showing up in adolescence and continuing into adulthood in a small
percentage of dogs. Short coated dogs, such as boxers, bulldog and
Doberman pinschers are most commonly affected. Usually this is a
minor problem but some dogs can develop significant infections.
It is necessary to appropriately treat any underlying disease in
order to succeed in eliminating the acne long term. Most cases of
canine acne can be controlled. Mild forms of acne may just appear
as reddened bumps on the skin. More severe cases may have larger
hard lumps, sometimes associated with a draining tract.
It is not always necessary to treat acne. When it becomes a problem,
it will often respond to treatment with a shampoo containing benzoyl
peroxide. Dogs may be sensitive to gels or shampoos containing
greater than 2.5% benzoyl peroxide. In really severe cases,
antibiotic treatment lasting several weeks or even short term
treatment with corticosteroids may be necessary.
