Sebaceous Adenitis in Dogs: Vet’s 2025 Care Guide 🐕🧴

By Dr Duncan Houston, BVSc – Ask A Vet Blog

🔍 What is Sebaceous Adenitis?

Sebaceous adenitis is a rare, immune-mediated skin condition where the body attacks and destroys the sebaceous glands—tiny oil-producing structures within hair follicles. These glands normally produce sebum, which keeps the skin moisturized and forms a barrier against bacteria and irritants 🧪.

As sebaceous glands deteriorate, dogs develop dandruff, dull or brittle fur, scaling, and hair loss. The condition can vary widely in severity and may affect the entire body or remain localized to the head, ears, and trunk 🐶.

🧬 How Does It Happen?

No exact cause is known, but sebaceous adenitis is thought to be autoimmune in nature, and it shows strong breed predispositions. The inflammation begins by targeting sebaceous glands and eventually leads to their destruction. Once these glands are lost, skin becomes dry and flaky due to the absence of natural oils.

🐶 Breeds Most Affected

The following breeds are genetically predisposed to sebaceous adenitis:

• Standard Poodles ✨
• Akitas 🇯🇵
• Chow Chows 🧡
• Samoyeds ❄️
• Vizslas 🎯
• Havanese (especially on the ears) 🎀

Any breed can be affected, but these breeds are most commonly reported.

🧪 Symptoms & Appearance

Symptoms differ depending on coat type:

Short-haired Breeds

• Fine white dandruff starting on the head or ears
• Round or S-shaped scaly lesions
• Progressive body-wide scaling

Long-haired / Plush-coated Breeds

• Dull, brittle, clumpy coat
• Fur takes on a reddish tinge
• Sticky clumps of dandruff in the fur
• Bald spots or patchy alopecia

🧫 Diagnosis

A skin biopsy is required to confirm sebaceous adenitis. The sample is examined for signs of inflammation, loss, or absence of sebaceous glands. Determining whether glands are still present is crucial, as it affects prognosis and treatment response 📋.

💡 Treatment Overview

Managing sebaceous adenitis is long-term and often labor-intensive. Success depends on early intervention, consistency, and multimodal therapy. The goals of treatment are to:

• 🛑 Halt immune destruction of glands
• 🔄 Restore oil and moisture balance
• 🐕 Regrow healthy hair and reduce scaling

🧴 Topical Therapy

Since sebum production is reduced or absent, topical oil replacement is a key part of treatment. Regimens typically include:

Oil-Soak Protocol

1. Apply mineral oil, Alpha Keri® bath oil, or diluted propylene glycol to the coat
2. Massage in and allow to soak for 60 minutes
3. Shampoo with a degreasing shampoo (e.g., benzoyl peroxide)
4. Rinse and repeat weekly for 4–6 weeks, then reduce frequency

Barrier Repair Topicals

• Omega-6 fatty acid sprays or lotions
• Ceramide-based moisturizers

These are especially helpful for long-term maintenance 🧼.

💊 Oral Therapy

1. Omega-3 Fatty Acids

• Essential for skin repair and anti-inflammatory effects
• Typically given daily in oil or capsule form

2. Cyclosporine (Immunomodulator)

• Mainstay therapy for moderate-to-severe cases
• Suppresses the immune attack on sebaceous glands
• Can reverse gland loss (increase gland count from 2% to 40%)
• May be needed lifelong at low doses 💊

3. Investigational Medications

• Doxycycline: An antibiotic with immune-modulating potential
• Synthetic Retinoids: Show promise but are not widely available for pets due to regulation

📆 Treatment Timeline

Dogs typically improve within 4 months of initiating full treatment, though lifelong management is required for most 🗓️.

• 🧼 Initial oil soaks weekly for 1–2 months
• 💊 Daily oral supplements and cyclosporine as needed
• 🔁 Recheck skin biopsies or monitor regrowth periodically

📋 Managing at Home

Owner dedication is essential. Here are home-care tips:

• 📅 Stick to bathing schedules
• 🐾 Maintain consistent supplement dosing
• 🛁 Use gloves and protective clothing when applying oils
• 📷 Document hair regrowth with photos
• 🔁 Schedule quarterly vet visits for adjustments

📲 Ask A Vet Support

Need help managing your dog’s chronic skin condition? Download the Ask A Vet app to connect with licensed vets 24/7. We’ll help you create a skincare plan, recommend reliable products, and track progress with ease 🐶📱.

💬 “Consistency is the key to comfort and coat recovery. With care, dogs with sebaceous adenitis can thrive.” — Dr Duncan Houston, BVSc