Do you have a lovable squish-face of a dog? Whether he’s a Pug, Bulldog, Shar Pei, St. Bernard, other breed or mix that is known for his adorable wrinkles, loose skin, or constant drooling, he’s likely had some issues as a result of these features once or twice. The most common culprit? Skin fold dermatitis. Keep reading our blog to learn all about it and how to help clear it up for your pooch.
What is skin fold dermatitis?
Dermatitis itself is an inflammation of the skin. People often experience it as eczema, dandruff, or rashes. It makes sense then that skin fold dermatitis is a skin condition where an overgrowth of normal skin inhabitants such as yeast or bacteria occur in your dog’s skin folds or deep wrinkles. Most commonly, skin fold dermatitis develops in folds in the face, lips, vulva, and tail folds.
Acute cases of skin fold dermatitis only last for a short time before clearing up. On the other hand, however, chronic cases continue throughout your dog’s lifetime and require consistent treatment.)
What causes skin fold dermatitis?
Folds in the skin that appear as dog wrinkles tend to trap in moisture and heat. As a result, they are the perfect breeding ground for bacteria, yeast, and fungi. Generally, skin fold dermatitis develops in the summer due to hot weather, but it can happen at any time. Lots of dogs also develop it in their lips because their mouth is constantly moist from saliva.
What are skin fold dermatitis symptoms?
Because there are several types of skin fold dermatitis, it’s important to recognize that different types have different symptoms. Find the most common symptoms listed below.
Tail fold dermatitis (most common among dogs with short, curly tails)
- Redness accompanied by moistness
- Scratching, biting, or rubbing the area
- Excessive licking of the area
- Scooting his rear end across the ground or carpet
Vulvar fold dermatitis (affects female dogs of all ages and breeds)
- Redness accompanied by moistness
- Scooting across the ground or carpet
- Licking the groin area
- Foul odor
- Frequent urinary tract infections
Lip fold dermatitis (affects dogs with loose, hanging lips)
- Redness accompanied by moistness
- Swollen, lips that appear painful to the touch
- Foul odor coming from the lips
- Discolored and matted fur around the mouth
- Scratching and rubbing at the face
Face fold dermatitis (common among dogs with wrinkles and loose skin on the face)
- Redness accompanied by moistness
- Sores that weep and appear painful to the touch
- Blisters or lesions
How do you treat skin fold dermatitis?
First and foremost, it’s important to thoroughly and gently clean areas on your dog that are affected by skin fold dermatitis. Topical or systemic antimicrobials can also help manage the condition. In moderate to severe cases, surgery might be recommended; in these cases, abnormal skin folds would be removed in an effort to achieve a complete cure. In other cases, treating underlying skin diseases and achieving weight loss can also help reduce the severity of skin fold dermatitis, if not eliminate it altogether.
Coconut oil for skin fold dermatitis
Because coconut oil is high in lauric acid, it’s been found to help fight bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses, all of which can boost the immune system. Additionally, studies have shown that coconut oil has anti-inflammatory properties which can help soothe inflamed skin while also moisturizing it. As a result, some people use coconut oil to help prevent or treat infection in skin folds and other areas of the body.
You can give your dog coconut oil topically by rubbing some onto your dog’s skin folds and other affected areas with a cotton swab. Alternately, you can also give your dog coconut oil orally, which may help fight other bacteria in your dog’s system.
Final thoughts
Always consult your veterinarian about health issues your dog is experiencing and to discuss possible treatments.
After that, if you’re wondering what coconut oil will most your dog recover from dermatitis, you have a couple options. First, you can clean the affected areas with Skinny Paw Pet Shampoo. After that, you can give your dog Skinny Coconut Oil as a snack for internal health benefits, or you can use Pure Beauty (which is microfiltered to make it ideal for use on skin) for internal and external health benefits.