Skin issues are among some of the most common—and most frustrating—problems pets face. By understanding what triggers skin issues in pets, you can better care for your furry friend’s skin health needs, preventing irritation, inflammation, and infection. Read our Tender Touch Animal Hospital team’s guide to why your pet may be scratching, licking, and chewing their skin and how you can help your four-legged friend get itch relief.

Common skin conditions in pets

Myriad skin issues can affect pets. However, the most common problems in pets are caused by:

  • Flea bite dermatitis — When fleas bite a pet, they inject saliva containing proteins that can trigger an allergic response. Pets with flea bite dermatitis often exhibit intense itching, particularly around their tail base, groin area, and abdomen. Scratching and biting at the affected areas can lead to hair loss, redness, and skin irritation. In severe cases, secondary bacterial infections may develop, requiring antibiotic treatment.
  • Poor diet — A diet lacking essential nutrients, such as protein, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals, can result in poor skin quality. Pets’ common nutritional deficiency signs include dry, flaky skin, a dull or greasy coat, and skin infection susceptibility. Transitioning to a balanced diet formulated specifically for your pet’s age, breed, and health needs can significantly improve your four-legged friend’s skin health.
  • Environmental allergies — Pets can develop allergies to various environmental allergens, including pollen, mold, dust mites, and certain grasses or trees. When exposed to these allergens, a pet’s immune system may overreact, leading to allergic dermatitis. Pets’ environmental allergy signs often include itching, redness, inflamed skin, and recurrent ear infections. Identifying and minimizing exposure to allergens, along with symptomatic relief through medications, are essential for managing pets’ environmental allergies.
  • Endocrine disorders — Hormonal imbalances, such as hypothyroidism or Cushing’s disease, can significantly affect a pet’s skin health. Hypothyroidism can lead to dry, flaky skin, hair loss, and thickened skin. Conversely, Cushing’s disease can result in thinning skin, hair loss, and infection susceptibility. By managing your pet’s underlying endocrine disorder, you can help improve their skin issues.
  • Skin fold pyoderma — Breeds with skin folds, such as bulldogs, pugs, and Shar-peis, are prone to developing pyoderma, a bacterial infection that thrives in warm, moist environments. These pets’ deep skin folds create the perfect breeding ground for bacteria, leading to redness, swelling, and foul odor. Without proper skin fold cleaning and maintenance, pyoderma can become chronic and recurrent. Treatment typically involves topical or oral antibiotics, along with regular skin fold cleaning and drying to prevent pyoderma recurrence.

Treatments for skin conditions in pets

No one-size-fits-all protocol exists for pets’ skin issue treatments. Each treatment plan is carefully customized to your pet’s specific dermatological problems and will evolve as their skin health needs change over time. Treatments for your pet’s skin condition may include:

  • Food trial — Switching to a novel protein, hydrolyzed, or amino acid–based diet can help identify and eliminate potential food allergens triggering skin issues. Food trials require pet owners’ dedication and patience, as they typically require a lengthy period—up to eight weeks or more—in which your pet is fed nothing but the chosen diet. 
  • Immunotherapy — Immunotherapy is one of the oldest and most effective treatments used for environmental allergies in pets, as this treatment can decrease the immune system’s response to allergens through injections or sublingual drop administration.
  • Parasite treatment and prevention — Regular flea and tick preventive administration is essential for preventing flea infestations and subsequent flea bite dermatitis development.
  • Topical therapies — Shampoos, sprays, mousses, and ointments containing soothing ingredients, such as oatmeal, aloe vera, or hydrocortisone, can provide relief from itching and inflammation.
  • Immunosuppressive medications — Immunosuppressive medications prevent your pet from itching by suppressing their immune system. However, long-term use is not ideal as this treatment leaves your pet vulnerable to infection and illness, but corticosteroids and cyclosporine can squelch a severe inflammatory reaction and allow other therapies to be more effective.
  • Anti-itch medications — Medications, such as Apoquel and Cytopoint, work by inhibiting the itching sensation without suppressing the entire immune system. These medications affect chemicals responsible for causing pets’ itchiness.
  • Light therapy — Phototherapy uses specific light wavelengths to help reduce inflammation and promote healing. When laser therapy or fluorescent light therapy is administered, the body’s cells are stimulated to release chemicals involved in growth, repair, and proliferation, thereby healing pets’ damaged skin and tissues.

Skin health support for pets

Once the skin barrier has been breached, breaking the irritation, inflammation, and infection cycle can be challenging. Fortunately, myriad highly effective skin health products can be added to your pet’s regimen to support a strong and healthy skin barrier. By incorporating skin health support products into your pet’s routine, you can help ensure their skin remains resilient and free from discomfort. Our Tender Touch Animal Hospital team recommends the following pet skin health maintenance products:

  • Dermabliss — This topical product is formulated to soothe and moisturize irritated skin.
  • Dermaquin — Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, this supplement supports healthy skin and coat.
  • Redonyl — Containing phytosphingosine and omega-3 fatty acids, the supplement Redonyl supports skin barrier function and reduces inflammation.
  • Omega-3 essential fatty acids — Choose a high-quality supplement that has been third-party tested for purity and potency.

If your pet struggles with scratching—or licking, chewing, rubbing, or any number of other signs that indicate itchiness—schedule an appointment with our Tender Touch Animal Hospital team.