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DANDRUFF, DANDER, SCALE OR SCURF

First broadcast on www.provet.co.uk  


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.

The official name for dandruff, dander or scurf is "scale".

Scale is an accumulation of cellular debris  from the outermost layer of the skin. Very small quantities of cells are shed every day and this is normal, however when larger clumps of cells are shed they become visible to the eye, and this is not normal.

Scale can take on different appearances depending upon the size of the flakes, and the colour. Excess shedding of cells is typically seen as a primary sign in some diseases, including :

  • Alopecia (colour dilution) - hair loss leading to thin coat colour - seen in certain breeds of dog
  • Follicular dysplasia - abnormal hair follicle formation
  • Ichthyosis - a rare congenital disease causing thickening of the skin and scaling
  • Seborrhoea (idiopathic) - a common,  inherited disease leading to a greasy, scaly skin.

In addition, increased scale formation  is seen as a secondary effect in many diseases that cause inflammation.

"Walking dandruff" isn't really scale at all, but it is due to a large number of cheyletiella mites (which are small and grey-white parasites) in the coat. This parasitic infection is seen most often affecting cats, but also rabbits and sometimes dogs.

 

Updated October 2013