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Written by: Sarah Seward-Langdon
Published on: 10/08/2024
Folliculitis might sound like a scary and complex medical term, but as a dog owner, it's something you should familiarize yourself with. Despite it’s complicated sounding name, it’s a common skin condition in dogs that can turn your canine companion’s life upside down. All they’ll want to do is itch, feeling continuous irritation and discomfort. And what starts as a simple skin issue can quickly escalate if left untreated.
Fortunately, if you gain a better understanding of what folliculitis is, how to recognize its symptoms, and what you can do to treat and prevent it, you’ll be able to keep your dog’s quality of life high. Making sure your pup’s skin is healthy and irritation-free is essential.
In our in-depth blog post, we'll walk you through everything you need to know to spot folliculitis early and keep your dog feeling their best.
We introduced folliculitis as a common skin issue. Dog’s who have folliculitis suffer from inflammed hair follicles, often caused by bacterial infection. While some bacteria on a dog’s skin is normal, an increased amount can lead to infection, resulting in inflamed follicles.
Other contributing factors in folliculitis may include yeast, parasites, or underlying health conditions, such as immune or hormonal imbalances. Like many skin conditions, folliculitis can cause discomfort or pain for your dog and typically manifests as skin redness, irritation, and hair loss.
While folliculitis is quite typical, detecting folliculitis in its early stages is essential for quick, effective treatment. The condition manifests in several ways, but the symptoms will vary depending on the cause and severity of the infection.
Some of the most common signs of folliculitis in dogs that you should watch for include:
Red bumps or pustules on the skin
Itchiness and discomfort
Hair loss in patches
Crusting or scaling around affected areas
Discolored spots
A foul odour (in cases caused by yeast or bacterial infections)
If your dog has any of these symptoms, it’s important that you consult a trusted vet as soon as possible so you can get a proper diagnosis for your pup.
As we mentioned, there are many different factors that can cause folliculitis in dogs. Generally, these various elements compromise your dog’s skin’s protective barrier, which allows bacteria and other pathogens to infect their hair follicles.
Because there are so many possible causes, it’s important that you try to uncover the root cause of your dog’s folliculitis since that will be the essential part in effective treatment and prevention.
Let’s take a closer look at the potential causes behind your dog’s folliculitis…
The most common cause of folliculitis in dogs is bacterial overgrowth, particularly from Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, a type of bacteria naturally present on the skin. While this type of bacteria is usually harmless for your dog, it can overgrow and infect the hair follicles when the skin is damaged or weakened. This causes your dog’s skin to suffer from inflammation and infection.
Another underlying cause of folliculities can be yeast infections or fungal conditions like ringworm. If you live in a damp, humid environment, your dog could be particularly prone to these infections. This is because moisture encourages the growth of yeast and fungi on the skin.
If your dog suffers from these types of infections, they’ll likely experience flaky, irritated skin. It’s essential to properly treat fungal infections timely since it can spread quickly if not addressed.
Fleas, ticks, and mites, including Demodex mites, can cause significant irritation to a dog’s skin. In some cases, a dog may develop an allergic reaction to the parasites, aggravating the inflammation further and increasing the likelihood of folliculitis. If you leave these infestations untreated, they can lead to severe skin infections.
Like humans, our dogs can develop allergies to various substances, including food ingredients, environmental factors (such as pollen or dust mites), and flea bites.
If your dog has an allergic reaction, it will likely scratch or lick the affected areas excessively. When they do this, they’re breaking down their skin’s natural defences and could make infections like folliculitis more possible.
Conditions like hypothyroidism and Cushing’s disease can impact a dog’s skin health since they alter their immune systems or hormone levels. Hypothyroidism, for example, slows down metabolism and reduces the skin’s ability to regenerate, making it more susceptible to infections. Cushing’s disease, which causes an overproduction of cortisol, can also weaken the skin and immune system, increasing the risk of folliculitis.
Folliculitis can develop when a dog’s skin is irritated by trauma—think excessive scratching, licking, or rubbing against rough surfaces. Skin injuries mean that the skin’s protective barrier is weaker, allowing bacteria or fungi to enter and infect the hair follicles.
✅ Single ingredient, 100% pure Camelina Oil.
✅ Non-GMO
✅ Ideal balance of Omega-3 compared to other products, like soybean oil.
✅ Canadian produced and operated.
✅ Single ingredient, 100% pure Camelina Oil.
✅ Non-GMO
✅ Ideal balance of Omega-3 compared to other products, like soybean oil.
✅ Canadian produced and operated.
If you dog is diagnosed with folliculitis by a vet, you need to make sure treatment begins promptly so that you prevent the infection from spreading or worsening. Your vet will decide on a treatment plan based on the cause of the infection.
Whichever treatment, the primary goal should be to address both the infection and the underlying issue that triggered the condition.
Some treatment options that are commonly used by vets include:
Antibiotics: For bacterial infections, your vet could prescribe topical or oral antibiotics to reduce infection.
Antifungal Medications: Yeast or fungal infections require topical or oral antifungal treatments.
Antiparasitics: If parasites are the cause of the folliculitis, your vet will probably recommend treatments like medicated shampoos or oral medications that’ll help eliminate fleas, mites, or ticks.
Allergy Management: Addressing allergies is more complex. They might start by managing food or environmental allergies with antihistamines or immunotherapy. However, identifying the root cause of allergies takes much more time. You’ll need to undergo thorough dietary testing and make necessary adjustments to your dog's food to help prevent recurring folliculitis.
Hormonal Treatments: If the condition is linked to hypothyroidism or Cushing's disease, you’ll need to work with your vet to manage the hormonal disorder and resolve your dog’s folliculitis.
While it’s not always possible for you to prevent your dog from getting folliculitis, especially if he or she has underlying health conditions, there are several steps you can take to reduce the risk and keep your dog healthy.
Just like us humans, dogs benefit from good hygiene.
Bath your dog with a gentle, hypoallergenic shampoo to help remove dirt, bacteria, and allergens from their skin. Be sure to use products that are formulated specifically for dogs since human shampoos can be too harsh and strip away their natural oils.
After outdoor activities, especially if you spend time in grassy or wooded areas, inspect your dog for ticks, fleas, and other parasites. You need to make sure you remove them quickly to prevent irritation and infection.
Make sure to schedule regular vet visits. By consulting professionals you can catch potential skin problems before they develop into infections. Your vet can also recommend preventive treatments, such as flea and tick medications, to keep your dog healthy.
Did you know stress can weaken your dog’s immune system? If their immune system is weak, then your dog is more susceptible to infections like folliculitis. Try to provide a calm and comfortable environment and that will reduce the likelihood of stress-related skin issues.
Keeping your dog updated on vaccinations and preventive medications helps protect them from diseases and parasites that can lead to skin infections. For instance, talk to your vet about flea and tick medication.
Omega-3 fatty acids, commonly found in fish or other plant-based oils like camelina oil, promote healthy skin and coat. This supplement does so by reducing inflammation and supporting the immune system. Consult your vet about incorporating specific fatty acid supplements into your dog’s diet.
Certain breeds are more susceptible to skin conditions due to genetic factors or environmental allergies. Breeds with skin folds, such as Shar Peis, or those prone to allergies like Golden Retrievers, may develop folliculitis more frequently.
Typically, folliculitis in dogs isn’t contagious to humans. However, if a dog’s folliculitis is caused by ringworm or scabies, you need to be careful since these infections can be passed to humans.
In mild cases, such as canine acne, folliculitis may resolve independently. That being said, it’s always best to seek veterinary advice to ensure the condition doesn’t worsen.
While you can maintain your dog’s hygiene at home and add specific supplements to their diet, most cases of folliculitis require a vet’s diagnosis and prescribed treatment for full recovery.
Learn more about camelina oil to improve your dog’s skin and coat health.
Dealing with folliculitis might seem like a daunting feat, but with the proper care and attention, it’s a condition that you can manage effectively. In some cases, you can even prevent it.
By practicing responsible dog ownership—things like upkeeping their hygiene and going to regular vet visits—you can keep your dog's skin healthy and help them avoid the discomfort of folliculitis. Remember, your vet is your best partner in diagnosing and treating this condition, so don’t hesitate to reach out if you notice any signs of infection.
A happy dog is a healthy dog. And with a bit of extra care, you can ensure that your furry friend’s skin stays itch-free and beautiful for years to come.
✅ Single ingredient, 100% pure Camelina Oil.
✅ Non-GMO
✅ Ideal balance of Omega-3 compared to other products, like soybean oil.
✅ Canadian produced and operated.
✅ Single ingredient, 100% pure Camelina Oil.
✅ Non-GMO
✅ Ideal balance of Omega-3 compared to other products, like soybean oil.
✅ Canadian produced and operated.
"Sarah is a marketing specialist with a passion for anything creative! Her openness to working across industries and job opportunities has allowed her to gain enormous amounts of experience in graphic design, video production, and written content creation. Animals have a special place in her heart as she grew up with cats and now owns her own Alaskan Malamute. She has spent the last couple of years in Vancouver working with different companies within the pet industry and gained valuable knowledge about the ins and outs of the (alternative) pet food industry, supplementation, and various training methods. When she’s not digitally creating content for pet lovers to consume, she’s out eating great food, dancing at drop-in classes, or exploring the beautiful Canadian scenery with her fur-child Miso."
