Vet’s 2025 Guide to Canine Seborrhea Diagnosis, Treatment & Skin Care 🩺

By Dr. Duncan Houston BVSc

💡 What Is Seborrhea?

Seborrhea, also called seborrheic dermatitis, is a skin disorder marked by abnormal skin cell turnover and/or excessive sebum production. Dogs may show dry flakes (seborrhea sicca) or oily, greasy skin (seborrhea oleosa) — often mixed.

🔍 Types: Primary vs Secondary

• Primary seborrhea is genetic and becomes apparent by 2 years of age. Common breeds include Cocker Spaniels, Westies, Bassets, Dachshunds, Labs, Goldens, and GSDs.
• Secondary seborrhea is far more common, resulting from underlying conditions like allergies, endocrine disorders (like Cushing’s or hypothyroidism), parasites, mites, yeast/bacterial infections, poor diet, environmental factors, or obesity.

🚩 Clinical Signs

• Visible flakes or grease on coat, bedding, furniture.
• Greasy, shiny coat with unpleasant odor—especially with oleosa type.
• Dry, dandruff-like scaling and possible hyperpigmentation.
• Usually not itchy in primary form—but can become pruritic if secondary infections set in.
• May have hair loss, redness, pustules, or odor if infection is present.

🧪 Diagnosis Process

• History & physical: onset age, breed, itch level, coat changes.
• Skin scrapings/cytology: to rule out parasites (mites, fleas) or infections (bacterial, yeast).
• Bloodwork: CBC/chemistry to check hormones (thyroid, adrenal) or metabolic issues.
• Allergy testing or food trial if indicated by history.
• Skin biopsy if diagnosis unclear or primary form suspected.

🩺 Treatment & Management

1. Medicated Baths & Topical Care

• Shampoos with sulfur-salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, or antioxidants to manage scale, sebum, odor.
• Degreasing followed by moisturizing shampoos for oleosa type.
• Topical leave-on treatments (creams, mousses) to help normalize skin barrier.
• Bath frequency: weekly to twice weekly initially, taper to maintenance as signs resolve.

2. Treat Underlying Issues

• Parasites: flea, tick, or mite prevention/support if applicable.
• Infections: topical or oral antimicrobials for bacterial or yeast overgrowth.
• Hormonal/endocrine: treat hypothyroidism, Cushing’s disease per diagnosis.
• Allergies/immune: food trials, immunotherapy or corticosteroids if needed.

3. Nutritional & Supplement Support

• Omega-3 & 6 fatty acids: to enhance skin barrier and reduce inflammation.
• Vitamin A or retinoids: helpful in primary forms.
• Balanced, high-quality diet: ensures proper skin and coat health.

4. Monitoring & Follow-up

• Frequent rechecks early (every 4–6 weeks), then space out once stable.
• Adjust bath frequency and medications based on skin condition.
• Reassess if flares reoccur or new symptoms appear.

📈 Prognosis

• Primary form is lifelong but manageable. With maintenance care, most dogs remain comfortable and coat appears healthy.
• Secondary form resolves once underlying issues are treated; maintenance baths support long-term skin health.
• Excellent quality of life possible with consistent treatment and monitoring.

🚫 Prevention Strategies

• Maintain routine parasite prevention.
• Regular grooming and bathing with mild products.
• High-quality nutrition and appropriate supplements.
• Prompt vet evaluation for chronic skin issues or unexplained coat changes.

🏡 Ask A Vet App Integration

• 🗓️ Reminders: bath days, supplement dosing, recheck appointments.
• 📸 Photo tracking: coat shine, scaling levels, visible improvement.
• 📊 Logs: itchiness scores, odor notes, greasiness levels.
• 🔔 Alerts: flare-ups, secondary infection signs (redness, odor), hair loss.
• 📚 Tutorials: bathing techniques, supplement guidelines, when to test.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Seborrhea involves flaky or greasy skin due to keratin or sebum dysfunction.
• Differentiate primary (genetic) and secondary forms (due to disease).
• Diagnosis involves clinical exam, tests, and possibly biopsy.
• Management combines baths, treat underlying causes, nutrition, and supplements.
• Ask A Vet app empowers pet parents with structure, monitoring, and support.

🩺 Final Thoughts ❤️

In 2025, seborrhea—even lifelong primary forms—can be effectively controlled with targeted topical care, nutrition, and treatment of underlying conditions. When paired with the Ask A Vet app’s reminders, photo tracking, education, and remote veterinary support, pet owners can keep their dogs comfortable, fresh-smelling, and healthy—no matter the coat type. 🐾✨

Visit AskAVet.com and download the Ask A Vet app to set bath schedules, track skin progress, log supplements and meds, schedule vet check‑ins, and connect with expert care from anywhere. 📲