Fold Dermatitis in Dogs

There are several types of fold dermatitis that each have their own set of symptoms. Some of the most common complaints are:

General Skin Fold Dermatitis

• Moist red areas in folds of skin anywhere on your dog’s body
• Usually affects the face, lips, neck, vulva, and tail folds

Tail Fold Dermatitis

• Scratching, biting, or rubbing affected areas
• Rubbing behind on carpet or ground
• Excessive licking

Vulvar Fold Dermatitis

• Scooting
• Licking groin area
• Foul odor
• Red irritated skin
• Frequent urinary tract infections

Lip Fold Dermatitis

• Swollen, painful, and bad smelling lips
• Discolored and matted fur on the mouth with chronic lip fold dermatitis
• Scratching and rubbing face

Face Fold Dermatitis

• Painful weeping sores in skin folds
• Damp red areas of irritation
• Blisters or lesions

Types

• Acute cases only last for a short time
• Chronic cases continue to need treatment your dog’s entire lifetime
• Tail fold dermatitis is most common in dogs with short and curly tails
• Vulvar fold dermatitis can happen to any female dog of all ages and breeds
• Lip fold dermatitis usually affects dogs with loose, hanging lips
• Face fold dermatitis is common in dogs with wrinkled, loose skin in the face

The cause of fold dermatitis varies depending on the type but it is usually a problem with heat and humidity. Obesity is also considered to be a factor in some cases. Certain breeds are more susceptible, which include:

• Basset Hounds
• Bloodhounds
• English Bulldogs
• Pekingese
• Pugs
• Saint Bernards
• Shar Peis
• Shih-Tzus
• Spaniels

With any visit to see your veterinary professional, you should be prepared to provide your dog’s complete medical history and immunization, if possible. The veterinarian will need to know if your pet has been on any medication or been ill recently as well. A physical assessment will be done first, to check your dog’s vital signs and overall body condition. In addition, a group of laboratory tests will need to be done which usually includes a complete blood count, blood and urine cultures, chemical analysis, and other blood work.

The veterinarian will examine all of your dog’s irritated areas and will get some tissue samples for microscopic evaluation. Other diseases and illnesses must be ruled out and your dog should be tested for infections such as pyoderma or impetigo. There is usually no need for x-rays or other imaging in this case unless the veterinarian suspects an internal problem.

The veterinarian will likely clean the area and apply a cream or ointment to ease the itch, pain, and inflammation. Clipping or shaving the area is also important in keeping the area clean and dry. In severe cases, especially with vulvar or tail fold dermatitis, surgery may be suggested.

Medication

Hydrocortisone cream, chlorhexidine gluconate, and ketoconazole shampoo may be used. Antibacterial ointment, wipes, and shampoos are sometimes prescribed. Antibiotics or antifungals are given by mouth or injection to prevent any kind of infections.

Surgery

In severe cases, the veterinarian may suggest surgery to remove the skin folds that are causing the problem. Vulvar fold dermatitis is sometimes treated with episioplasty, which is a reconstruction of the vulvar area to remove the excess skin. In severe cases of tail fold dermatitis, removal of the tail is suggested to prevent the dermatitis from recurring. In fact, many dogs with excess skin such as Sharpeis and Pugs have to get excess skin folds removed to prevent the recurrence of fold dermatitis. This treatment is usually 100% effective in preventing fold dermatitis.