Folliculitis

Condition Overview

Folliculitis is an infection that begins in the hair follicles.

Symptoms

In mild folliculitis, you will typically find many small pastules (puss filled pimples) with a hair shaft protruding through the center of each. Dogs with mild cases may have rings of scales around the follicles.

Once the follicles become infected, the infection can bore deeply into the dermis, forming large pustules and furuncles (boil) that rupture, discharge pus, and crust over. Draining sinus tracts develop in cases of deep folliculitis.

Folliculitis usually involves the under-surface of the body, especially the armpits, abdomen, and groin. A condition called Schnauzer comedo syndrome is common in Miniature Schnauzers. Dogs suffering from this disease have many large blackheads running down the middle of their back.

All symptoms +

Causes

Folliculitis often occurs as a secondary complication to scabies, demodectic mange, seborrhea, hormonal skin disease, and other problems. Some cases are caused by vigorous grooming, which traumatizes the hair follicles.

Diagnosis

It is important to identify and treat the underlying cause as well as the folliculitis.

Treatment

Mild cases should be treated by bathing the dog with a benzoyl peroxide shampoo (OxyDex or Pyoben) twice a week for 2 - 3 weeks. Correct any predisposing causes such as unsanitary quarters.

Deep folliculitis requires vigorous topical and systemic therapy. Clip away the hair from infected skin on long haired dogs (do not clip short hair dogs), and bathe the dog twice a day for 10 days with a povidone-iodine shampoo (such as Betadine) or one with chlorhexidine (such as Nolvasan). As the skin infection improves, switch to a benzoyl peroxide shampoo such as Stiff OxyDex, OxyDex, or Pyoben, to be used once or twice per week. Continue this until all healing is complete.

The dog should be placed on an oral antibiotic selected on the basis od culture and sensitivity tests. Continue oral antibiotics for 6 - 8 weeks, including at least 2 weeks beyond apparent cure. Treatment failures occur when antibiotics are stopped too soon or used at too low a dosage.

NOTE: The prolonged use of corticosteroids should be avoided in dogs with folliculitis

Prevention

Information needed

Support

Please contact your veterinarian if you suspect your pet have this condition.