12 Common Types of Dog Dermatitis & Rashes with Photos

Dermatitis refers to inflammation in the skin caused by the immune system's response to perceived foreign substances (e.g., allergens, bacteria, etc.) that have penetrated the skin barrier or entered the body via inhalation or ingestion.

The inflammation can cause localized (single area) or generalized (all over) itching varying from minor to extreme, depending on a dog's sensitivity to the invading substance. As itching continues, redness, rash, and infection can appear and exacerbate the problem.

In dogs with autoimmune disorders, the immune system attacks the body, viewing normal cells as harmful and triggering chronic inflammation. Lesions may manifest in certain areas, often referred to as psoriasis.

Yes, RadiQuell™ Canine (RQC) can be helpful against many, if not all, forms of canine dermatitis.

RQC's ingredients work quickly and naturally to calm irritation and heal skin by:

1. Quenching free radicals that exacerbate inflammation (the cause of discomfort)
2. Countering microbial activity, as bacteria and fungi create a greater problem for the immune system (and more inflammation)
3. Providing the necessary nutrients for skin repair.

Dermatitis is caused by the body's inflammatory response to a substance that the immune system determines to be harmful to the body. This inflammatory response triggers an itching sensation ranging from mild to overwhelming.

Some potential culprits for this reaction are:

• Seasonal or environmental allergens, such as pollen, mold, dust mites, dander
• Food allergies (less common than seasonal/environmental)
• Injury, friction, or repetitive scratching, licking, or rubbing
• Parasitic bites, such as fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, and mites
• Bacterial infection (pyoderma)
• Yeast infection (Malassezia)
• Ringworm (dermatophytosis)
• Insect bites
• Spider bites
• Bee or wasp stings
• Chemical substances (cleaning supplies, paint, cosmetics, etc.)
• Hormonal disorders
• Autoimmune disorders
• Certain cancers

Treatment for canine dermatitis will depend on the specific type of dermatitis and any underlying conditions.

There is no one-size-fits-all cure or medication, but there are several methods that are generally provided to do these things: reduce inflammation, prevent or stop infection, remove parasites (if applicable), and restore the skin.

Reducing inflammation

• Antihistamines
• Corticosteroids
• Injections (oclacitinib or lokivetmab)
• Topical products
• Omega-3 supplementation (longer-term management)

Preventing or stopping infection

• Antibacterial/anti-fungal shampoos
• Prescription creams and ointments (such as RadiQuell™ Canine)
• Systemic oral medications -- though these are not used often due to risk of developing antibiotic resistance

Removing parasites

• Medicated baths
• Topical creams
• Oral medications

Restoring damaged skin

• Moisturizing shampoos, creams (hint: RadiQuell™ Canine), and balms

In some cases, the dermatitis cannot be fully cured but must be managed for the life of the dog. Examples of this could be primary seborrhea, autoimmune-related psoriasis, or chronic skin allergies.

Acute moist dermatitis, or pyotraumatic dermatitis, is fancy term for "hot spot."

Hot spots are caused, and made worse, by scratching, licking, chewing, and rubbing at an area until it becomes red, raw, and often shiny.

The initial itching that brings about acute moist dermatitis can be brought about by a plethora of different causes.

See our Hot Spot Resource for more info than you may ever want on this topic.

Acral lick dermatitis is caused exclusively by licking and chewing, whereas acute moist dermatitis (hot spots) can be caused by licking, chewing, scratching, rubbing, or other forms of trauma. Many times they are used interchangeably.

Both result in fur loss and an ugly sore that gets invaded by Staphylococcus bacteria, forming a localized infection. Hot spots and lick granulomas are classified as superficial pyoderma (bacterial infection).

Both forms of dermatitis are largely self-inflicted. To get the sore (lick granuloma or hot spot) to go away, the area must be left alone and allowed to heal. RadiQuell™ Canine can be a big help for both forms.

See our Hot Spot Resource for more info  on this topic.

Atopic dermatitis, or atopy, refers to dermatitis (inflammation of the skin) brought about by the immune system's reaction to an allergen.

Also referred to as allergy dermatitis, atopy is the most common form of dermatitis in dogs, and the itching that it brings tends to lead to more severe forms of dermatitis.

Allergens can be quite general or specific to each breed -- or even to each dog!

See our Dog Skin Allergies Resource for a thorough examination of what can cause canine skin allergies, what they can look like, and how they are tested for and treated.

Contact dermatitis is inflammation in the skin (often seen as a rash) that is caused by the skin coming into contact with an irritant, such as chemicals or pollen, or by friction.

Folliculitis is simply an inflamed hair follicle(s), which is usually resembles zits, red bumps, or scabs with a hair in the middle.

Folliculitis is typically a form of superficial pyoderma -- or an infection caused by bacteria. Though less common, a fungal infection can result in folliculitis as well.

Intertrigo, also known as skin fold dermatitis, is created by friction between skin folds, and made worse by bacteria and/or fungi.

Brachycephalic breeds ("smoosh-faced," to be technical) such as bulldogs, breeds with numerous skin folds such as Basset hounds and Shar Peis, and obese dogs carry a higher risk of intertrigo.

See our Skin Fold Dermatitis Resource for more info, including photo examples and how to care for intertrigo.

Yeast dermatitis in dogs is inflammation of the skin caused by a sensitivity to, or an overabundance of, yeast in a dog's skin.

Nearly all canine yeast infections (skin and ears) are caused by a fungus called Malassezia pachydermatis. These fungal infections often occur in tandem with a bacterial infection and can be very difficult to get rid of.

See our Malassezia Dermatitis Resource for more information, including photo examples, and how yeast dermatitis is diagnosed and treated.

Mange is a skin condition caused by an infestation of parasitic mites. There are two types: demodectic mites and sarcoptic mites.

The infestation of these mites can open the door to infection and systemic complications.

We go into much more detail on this serious skin disease in our Canine Mange Resource.

Pyoderma is Latin for "pus in the skin," and it nearly always refers to a bacterial skin infection.

Pyoderma can be very itchy and get very ugly if not properly treated. It can even prove fatal if the infection progresses to a systemic level.

Check out our Canine Pyoderma Resource to learn about the different types, the bacteria behind ~99% of all cases, and how it can be treated.

Ringworm, also referred to as dermatophytosis, is a skin disease caused by three different species of fungi that feed on hair follicles.

Ringworm can take considerable time and effort to treat. The culprit fungi are zoonotic, highly contagious, and can live on abiotic surfaces for over a year, requiring a thorough cleaning of an infected animal's environment.

Check out our Canine Ringworm Resource for a deep dive into this stubborn skin condition.

Seborrhea, or seborrheic dermatitis, is a skin condition that occurs due to an abnormal level (typically an overabundance) of keratin production in the skin.

Symptoms can include a dry, lackluster coat, excessive dandruff, greasy skin with bad odor, scaly skin lesions, and large amounts of earwax and ear debris.

Seborrhea can be a primary (genetically inherited) or secondary disease, meaning it is brought about by another issue, such as allergies, parasites, infection, or others.

Check out our Seborrhea in Dogs Resource to learn more.