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IDIOPATHIC SEBORRHOEA Note for Pet Owners:
This information is provided by
Provet for educational purposes only.
You should seek the advice of
your veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly advise
on the diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for
your pet. Topics on this Page:
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Description
Idiopathic seborrhoea is a chronic skin disease characterised by excessive scale
production and greasiness. It particularly affects Cocker Spaniels , but also
other breeds of dog.
Cause
Th
Breed Occurrence
Idiopathic seborrhoea occurs in two types :
- Primary seborrhoea is an inherited disorder and is seen in several breeds of dog including : Bassett Hounds, Cocker Spaniels, Dachshunds, Doberman Pinschers, German Shepherd Dogs, Irish Setters, Labrador Retrievers, Poodles, Shar Peis, Springer Spaniels and West Highland White Terriers
- Secondary seborrhoea occurs secondary to almost any other skin disease, and can occur in any animal.
Signs
Th
e typical signs occur usually at 1-3 years of age and include :- Increased scale production
- Crusting
- Dryness
- Oiliness
- Alopecia
- Inflammation
- Keratinaceous plaque formation
- Comedones
- Smelly coat - especially associated with increased greasiness
- Pruritus - sometimes
Local dermatitis may occur particularly at the following sites as part of this disorder :
- Labial folds
- Nipples
- External ear canal - otitis externa is very common in affected dogs
- Skin folds of the neck
- Interdigital skin
- On the trunk
Complications
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is based upon the presenting history, clinical signs and ruling out
other possible causes.
Treatment
If the disease is secondary any primary skin problem should be treated eg
parasites, endocrine disorders, liver disease, gastrointestinal disease or
nutritional disorders..
There is no specific treatment for primary seborrrhoea, but the disease is controlled by topical therapy for the life of the animal, including the following :
- Moisturising hypoallergenic shampoos
Authors are split in their opinion about the use of some products , such as :
because these may dry the skin and coat too much, and so they should only be used in the most severe, greasy cases.
Initially, frequent bathing may be needed - as often as once every 48 hours in very greasy cases, but overbathing can make matters worse.
If secondary infection is present:
- Antibiotics
- Ketoconazole (an antifungal) has been used in some cases
Other treatments which may prove useful in some cases include :
- Retinoids - to slow down cell kinetics eg etretinate.
- Sunflower oil
- Corticosteroids - avoid if possible due to immune-suppression. prednisolone at 1-2mg/kg body weight/day has been used successfully
- Cytotoxic drugs (methotrexate and azothioprine) have been used successfully in a few cases , but it is too early to know if these will offer a satisfactory method of treatment
In chronic cases no significant improvement may be seen for several months after treatment is started.
Prognosis
Good , but a complete cure is rarely achieved
Updated October 2013