Do dogs get bumps from allergies
Shih Tzu Skin Problems, Issues, Allergies & Bumps + How to Treat
Like any short-nosed and brachycephalic breed of dog, Shih Tzus are very susceptible to skin problems. With their characteristic skin folds, its easy for skin allergies and infections to develop when moisture and gunk gets stuck trapped.
As a breed, Shih Tzus are prone to various health problems, with their skin being just one regular complaint. Its not unusual for Shih Tzu skin allergies, rashes, and bumps to develop over their lifetime.
But, its not all bad news. You can help your Shih Tzus skin problems with a range of preventative measures and also look out for some signs of an allergy, such as bumps. Of course, if the skin issue doesnt quickly clear, you should always consult with a vet.
They will typically prescribe an antibiotic and recommend special medicated dog shampoos to help remedy Shih Tzu skin bumps and rashes.
Shih Tzu skin problems & conditions
Below you can see a list of the most frequent Shih Tzu skin issues. Ive also added notes on how you might be able to help remedy them from home (based on my online research), or when its best to seek professional advice and treatment.
1. Dermatitis
Dermatitis is one of the more common Shih Tzu skin issues and can arise for various reasons including a food allergy or something in the home.
It can appear to look like a patch of red and irritable skin, eventually scabbing up, or even leading to pus. Vets prescribe antibiotics or antifungal medication for more serious cases, with some milder dermatitis being treated at home.
For example, Shih Tzu owners can clean the skin with antifungal cleansers or shampoos with cool water, or cleansing wipes.
There are different types of dermatitis that can affect Shih Tzus, all detailed below.
Nasal fold and tail fold dermatitis
Your Shih Tzus tail is often the place where dermatitis will occur most, as moisture and dirt can become trapped under the tail, leading to inflammation. Signs to look for include redness of the skin under the tail, and a nasty smelling discharge.
To help prevent this type of skin issue, keep the area under your Shih Tzus tail as clean as possible with wiping. Use a clean and damp cloth, or a dog friendly wipe to help prevent infection.
Handy Hint: Read my guide explaining what type of wet wipes you should use on your dog, and how to clean their face, eyes, and ears properly.
With skin infections like this, vets tend to prescribe medication and will show you how to use an antifungal wipe on your Shih Tzu. The two things combined will help you to get rid of any bacteria or a yeast infection in that area.
I have never heard from a Shih Tzu owner who hasnt had to go to the vets with this particular Shih Tzu skin rash. Its a very common canine skin complaint.
Acute moist dermatitis aka a hot spot
Also known as acute moist dermatitis or pyotraumatic dermatitis (see definition, hot spots are where your Shih Tzu has created a self-inflicted wound, through excessive itching or rubbing.
What might start off as a skin rash on your Shih Tzu, and possibly nothing that problematic, can soon become a hot spot if your Shih Tzu starts to give it attention. Hot spots will become angry, with thick scaly skin and occasional discharge on the fur.
Of all the possible Shih Tzu skin problems, its certainly one of the nastiest looking ones.
In terms of a home treatment, you can help this Shih Tzu skin issue by trimming back the hair around the wound. That will let more air get to the area, letting it dry out. You can also help speed things along by using an antibacterial solution, like chlorhexidine or betadine.
If the problem gets more serious and struggles to heal, vets tend to give the Shih Tzu an antibiotic. Some dogs will continue to chew at the wound, so might need to wear a cone (also known as an Elizabethan collar).
Handy Hint: If your dog does end up wearing a cone, please read these tips on how to make sure they heal quickly.
2. Shih Tzu dry skin due to a food allergy
Some Shih Tzus will develop skin irritations and dermatitis due to an allergic reaction to certain foods. Food allergies are a common cause of problematic Shih Tzu skin conditions.
Food allergies can manifest themselves anywhere on your Shih Tzus body, and you might not realize it until your Shih Tzu starts to paw at the affected area. For example, you might see your dog chewing a paw, or find some itchy bumps on their belly it could even become an inner ear infection.
Allergic reactions to food can show in a different number of skin conditions with your Shih Tzu, and treatment will mean figuring out what food is causing it. This isnt always that simple.
As part of the process, your vet might recommend that you switch your Shih Tzu to a hypoallergenic food, as well as the process of elimination in their diet.
3. Shih Tzu skin allergies from environmental conditions
Shih Tzus can also develop skin problems due to things in their environment. That could be their home, yard, garden, or anywhere they frequently visit.
Like many of the skin problems already referenced, you might see some red patches on your dogs stomach, or again, they could start chewing at their own paws and skin.
This is particularly true when its a contact allergy. In other words, something touches them which produces an allergic reaction in the form of a bump or rash.
It can be something as simple as a plastic bowl they drink from, to grass touching them, or to something in the air such as smoke.
Vets will often prescribe antihistamine for environmental Shih Tzu skin allergies. Its not unheard of for dogs to be given a human antihistamine such as Piriton, but there can be side effects as with any medicine.
Your vet will also explain how you can help to reduce the allergic skin reaction by cleaning your dogs belly and paw down when they come into contact with an allergen.
If this doesnt work, vets might then prescribe a stronger medication such as Apoquel and Cytopoint, which help to interrupt the allergen cycle in dogs.
Handy Hint: Read this guide to find out what dog food is best for a dog with an allergy.
4. Shih Tzu skin bumps due to fleas
Its almost impossible for your Shih Tzu to not get fleas at some point; they tend to jump on when youre out taking them for walks! You might also find that the first thing you notice will be your Shih Tzu scratching intensely, before you even see a flea.
The majority of the itching will take place on the skin around your Shih Tzus tail and neck. You might also see some skin bumps on your Shih Tzu. Other than those signs, you could see one on your furniture time to get the flea treatment out!
Fleas are simple enough to treat, with oral and topical medicines available as well as anti-flea collars from companies such as Seresto. You should always make sure your Shih Tzu is up to date with worm and flea treatment, and always make the wear a collar click the image below to buy one on Amazon.
If your dog is has really itchy skin due to fleas, your vet may need to put them on anti-itch medications such as steroids. Canine antibiotics are also an option if they have a bad skin infection from the fleas.
5. Shih Tzu skin issues from autoimmune diseases
Another possible reason for a skin issue could be due to an autoimmune disease. This is where the dogs body will attack itself; this can be triggered by genetic traits, existing medication, or often for no obvious reason at all.
Your dog can develop skin lesions, such as ulceration of its nose, or its body can even attack its red blood cells or platelets, leading to life-threatening anemia.
Unfortunately, there arent really any remedies you can do at home to treat autoimmune diseases. Instead, your vet will need to diagnose the disease, often with a skin biopsy, followed by starting immunosuppressive medications.
These may include prednisone or cyclosporine, and some pets need to be on a combination of medications to be effective treated.
6. Shih Tzu skin rash from ringworm
Ringworm can also create a skin rash in Shih Tzus. The rash is the first sign of the fungal infection developing, which will then develop into hair loss, looking circular in pattern with scabs and scales.
Vets will treat ringworm with a topical antifungal medication, especially if the problem rash is in one spot on your Shih Tzus skin.
With more serious cases of ringworm, vets will recommend treatments such as oral medications and medicated shampoos.
What other Shih Tzu owners say
I am a member in various Shih Tzu Facebook groups, and they can be a great resource for tips and advice. I found a few questions on there that people has asked concerning skin infections and rashes, so have replicated those below with some of the best responses.
Ive been asked to share my Shih Tzus skin problems with you fellow Shih Tzu lovers, in the hope it may help some of you. I am not offering any medical advice, or sure-fire cures, just sharing my experiences in the hope it may help some of you. Ive tried a few different things which help such as avoiding a raw food diet but poultry and wheat free. For medication I use small amounts of Piriton. I bathe them in either tea-tree oil shampoo or coal tar. Needless to say regular walking and stimulation helps with the scratching of skin.
Our Shih Tzu gets skin bumps and rashes due to food allergies. Weve tried all sorts of lotions and potions and the things that have worked best are grain and poultry-free food, hydrocortisone spray for when there is an attack of the itchies, and a water pistol to discourage for foot licking.
My Shih Tzu has terrible skin problems. After a lot of trial and error, I put him on salmon and sweet potato dried food, and it worked wonders. My Shih Tzus skin is lovely now with no more scabs or redness.
We use coconut oil on our Shih Tzus, rubbing it into their skin and fur and also a spoonful into food once a week depending on the severity of the skin rash. We also had to put them on a salmon and rice-based food which has helped skin and stomach problems no end.
Ive tried everything including steroids from the vets and honestly, the best thing that still works for our Shih Tzu is Piriton twice a day and Sudocrem. Sudocrem is an absolute life saver and when his skin flares up, he gets covered in it for every night for 3 to 4 evenings and his skin calms right down. I have also used an antibacterial shampoo.
Conclusion
Shih Tzu skin conditions can be varied, and most will probably get one at some point in their lifetime. To help minimize the risk, try to feed your Shih Tzu good quality food, keep their skin clean and dry, and keep an eye on them with daily checks.
Make sure to regularly clean out their ears. Shih Tzu skin allergies can quickly start in darker and wetter areas like ears, so be careful not to get water in them, and if you do, dry it out.
It goes without saying really, but if your Shih Tzus skin doesnt get better in a day or two, get professional advice form a vet. They will be able to diagnose and treat your dog effectively, reducing their discomfort from dry skin conditions, allergies, bumps, rashes, and infections.
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I regularly write about taking care of Shih Tzus, and here are some other topics that might interest you.
Image in header via https://pixabay.com/photos/puppy-mama-and-puppy-cute-sweet-4682515/
Seasonal Allergies in Dogs
What Are Seasonal Allergies in Dogs?
Dogs can be allergic to various things in the environment, such as pollen from trees and grass. If a dog displays allergy symptoms only during certain seasons, such as spring and fall, a seasonal allergy rather than a year-round allergy is suspected. This means that the dog is allergic to allergens that are in the environment only during certain times of the year.
Dogs with seasonal allergies can be itchy in specific areas, such as their paws, or be itchy all over. They can also have recurring ear infections and skin infections when they are exposed to various environmental allergens at certain times during the year.
Seasonal allergies are different from year-round environmental allergies and food allergies because symptoms are observed only during specific times of the year, depending on what the dog is allergic to and when the specific allergens are prevalent in the environment. In contrast, dogs with year-round allergies will have skin issues all year long.
Most dogs with seasonal allergies have symptoms during the spring (March through May) and fall (September through November), but this can vary based on weather and location.
Types of Seasonal Allergies in Dogs
The following allergens commonly cause seasonal allergies in dogs:
Symptoms of Seasonal Allergies in Dogs
Symptoms will vary depending upon the dog, but may include:
Excessive licking, usually of the paws, but the licking can be anywhere on the body
Saliva staining of the fur where the dog is licking the skin excessively
Chewing/gnawing
Scratching
Hair loss
Redness of the skin
Crusts
Moist skin
Darkening of the skin (black pigmented skin)
Thickening of the skin (elephant skin)
Odor to the skin or ears
Head shaking
Pawing at the ears, eyes, or face
Recurring scooting or licking of the anus due to anal sacs becoming problematic secondary to allergies
Watery eyes
Reverse sneezing
The most common areas of a dogs body that are affected by seasonal allergies are the paws (especially between the digits), limbs, mouth, ears, abdomen, groin, armpits, tail, and around the eyes.
Causes of Seasonal Allergies in Dogs
A dog that suffers from seasonal allergies has an immune system that is hypersensitive to specific allergens in the environment. When the levels of the allergens become high, the dogs immune system becomes triggered, leading to an allergic response and the development of symptoms.
How Veterinarians Diagnose Seasonal Allergies in Dogs
Seasonal allergies are diagnosed based on physical exam findings, symptoms, and a history of having recurring symptoms and infections during the same seasons annually.
Other skin conditions that can cause similar symptoms must also be ruled out, such as skin mites, fleas, or a food allergy, to reach a diagnosis of seasonal allergies. If fleas are found on a dog with symptoms of severe itchiness, redness, and hair loss, then a flea allergy is diagnosed and the dog is started on effective flea and tick prevention and anti-itch medication to see if symptoms resolve.
Treatment of Seasonal Allergies in Dogs
Seasonal allergies are a chronic condition, which means there is no cure. However, there are ways to treat and manage symptoms to keep your dog comfortable, including:
Year-round flea and tick prevention such as NexGard, Simparica, Bravecto, Seresto collar,and K9 Advantix II
Anti-itch medications such as Apoquel, Cytopoint, and prednisone are prescribed to alleviate any current itchiness and to manage the itch during flare-ups. If the itch can be controlled, the dog will remain comfortable and be at less risk for secondary skin infections.
Once the allergy seasons are determined for a dog based on prior history, the anti-itch medication is started one month prior to the start of the allergy season and continued one month past when the allergy season ends.
An omega-3 fatty acid (fish oil) supplement, such as Welactin, Vetoquinol, or Dermaquin, will protect the skin barrier and minimize allergy symptoms.
An omega-3 fatty acid supplement can also help with anal gland issues for dogs that tend to need their anal glands expressed more frequently during allergy season. It takes four to sixweeks for an omega-3 fatty acid supplement to become effective, so it is best for a dog with seasonal allergies to be on this supplement year-round.
Routine ear cleaning can help clear a current ear infection and reduce the frequency of future ear infections. If an ear infection is present, treat the infection and clean the ears based on recommendations from your veterinarian. When there is no infection, clean the dogs ears with a routine ear cleaner, like EpiOtic Advanced, on a routine basis throughout the year (typically every two to threeweeks for maintenance).
Ear medications, such as Mometamax, Posatex, and Tresaderm, are prescribed to treat bacterial and/or yeast infections in a dogs ears. After treatment, make sure to schedule a follow-up appointment with your veterinarian to recheck that the infection has resolved.
Oral medications are often needed when a dog has a skin infection on multiple areas of the body. Antibiotics, such as clindamycin and cephalexin, are prescribed to treat bacterial skin infections, and anti-fungal medication, such as ketoconazole, is prescribed to treat fungal skin infections, such as yeast infections.
Topical therapy can be used to soothe the skin and help with treatment of skin infections. There are many topical therapy options, including anti-bacterial and anti-fungal ointments, shampoos, conditioners, mousses, sprays, and wipes. Ask your veterinarian which topical therapy would work best based on your dogs allergy symptoms and current skin condition.
Immunotherapy for Dogs With Seasonal Allergies
Immunotherapy consists of either allergy shots or allergy oral drops that are formulated based on allergy test results. To determine what environmental allergens a dog is most allergic to based on where the dog lives, a blood test can be performed by your veterinarian using a specific blood test (Heskas Allercept or Nextmunes Pet Allergy Xplorer) to screen a dog for environmental allergies.
In addition to the allergy blood test, a veterinary dermatologist will also perform intradermal testing, which involves injecting small amounts of various environmental allergens into a dogs skin in specific locations. The injection sites are then monitored over a period of time for signs of a skin reaction. If a reaction is seen, then the dog is likely allergic to the allergen that was injected at that site.
It is important to note that the allergy (blood) testing and the intradermal testing are not performed to provide a diagnosis of seasonal allergies. Rather, they are used to aid in creating immunotherapy treatment for a dog that has been diagnosed with seasonal allergies. The goal with immunotherapy is to desensitize a dog to the environmental allergens that trigger the allergy symptoms. Immunotherapy is usually given long-term at a maintenance dose.
It is difficult to limit a dogs exposure to certain allergens. Pollen from trees, grass, or weeds can be tracked into the house easily. Wiping a pups paws when they come inside can sometimes be helpful.
Recovery and Management of Seasonal Allergies in Dogs
Seasonal allergies are not only frustrating for dogs but also for pet parents, because they are not curable. Fortunately, though, with seasonal allergies, symptoms can be managed by knowing what seasons trigger a dogs symptoms and initiating treatment prior to the start of each allergy season. Anti-itch medication should manage the itch throughout each season so that the dog is not scratching, licking, or chewing at the skin, which can lead to secondary skin infections.
Cleaning your dogs ears every two to three weeks year-round with a routine ear cleaner is important to minimize the risk of an ear infection to develop. The ears should also be cleaned after your dog has a bath or partakes in a water activity, such as swimming, to remove any water from within the ear canals. Giving an omega-3 fatty acid supplement daily year-round can provide skin support as well. Management of seasonal allergies is usually lifelong unless a dog is able to move to an area where the allergen that is causing the reaction is no longer present.
Monitor your pet for the following symptoms throughout the year:
Itchiness (scratching, licking, gnawing, chewing)
Head shaking or pawing at the ears or eyes
Any skin lesions (such as redness, crusts, thickened or black pigmented skin)
Odor to the skin or ears
If you see any of these symptoms, schedule a vet appointment as soon as possible. Your dogs skin condition can worsen quickly if allergy symptoms are not controlled. If your dog is licking or chewing, have them wear an e-collar until the appointment to prevent further worsening of the skin. Your veterinarian will prescribe treatment to make your dog more comfortable and treat for any skin or ear infection, if present. Managing a dogs allergy symptoms with therapy and reporting to your veterinarian any skin issues as they arise are the most effective ways to help a dog with seasonal allergies.
WRITTEN BY
Michelle Diener, DVMVeterinarian
I live in Raleigh, North Carolina. I obtained by BS degree in Biology at UNC-Chapel Hill in 2000 and my DVM degree at NCSU in 2006. I have...
