Dogs can easily develop acne. In fact, many dogs have been known to suffer from this condition. In most cases, your dog will only develop a mild case of acne, but it is possible for a severe infection to occur. This condition usually affects younger pups more often, but they usually get over it by the time their first birthday rolls around.

Acne affects dogs whenever they start producing too much sebum. The skin is usually kept hydrated thanks to sebum. Acne is a condition that develops whenever too much sebum is produced though. Hormone imbalances or poor grooming are also responsible for causing acne. Some of the other possible reasons include stress, skin infections, and allergies.

The main sign of acne is the development of blackheads which can appear on virtually any part of your dog's body. Most dogs develop blackheads on their lips or chin. If parts of your dog's skin start to swell because of the condition, then scabs may also develop. Your dog won't be affected much by the scabs unless they lead to a bacterial infection. The area will be itchy enough to prompt your dog to scratch it as much as possible.

Acne is a condition that's pretty easy for vets to diagnose. It's very easy to notice the appearance of the blackheads over various spots of your dog's body. A skin biopsy may be conducted to ensure that there's not another underlying condition that is causing the problem. Dogs need to be sedated in order to submit to a skin biopsy though.

If your dog has acne, it won't be able to be cured, but it can successfully be managed. In order to start managing the condition though, the vet will need to find out what's causing the problem with acne. The vet may elect to conduct a food trial to ensure that your dog's diet isn't to blame.

An anti-seborrheic shampoo or soap will come in very handy if your dog is suffering from acne. These shampoos or soaps help limit the amount of sebum on the skin. Owners that want to manage acne successfully will also need to pay attention to their grooming habits.

If your dog is unfortunate enough to have a more severe case of acne, then medication may be needed to deal with it. Some dogs will also need to take antibiotics to ensure that they don't go on to develop a bacterial infection. Dogs that are suffering due to itching can get relief thanks to anti-inflammatory medications. Dogs that have a more severe case may require topical steroids.