When it comes to their health, our canine companions can deal with a lot. From dental disease to joint health issues, there are many conditions that we, as pet parents, need to watch out for, try to prevent, or manage if they arise.
Issues with the skin are some of the most common conditions. If your dog is scratching, licking, chewing, or sporting a suspicious-looking patch of irritated skin, you may immediately think, “Oh no… skin infection!”
And while infections can certainly cause skin problems in dogs, they aren’t always the root cause.
In fact, many different conditions can affect your dog’s skin. Some are infectious, some aren’t, and some can create the perfect environment for a secondary infection to take hold.
So, what’s the most common skin infection in dogs? And how can you deal with it best? Let’s dive in!
What is a Skin Infection in Dogs?
A skin infection in dogs occurs when microorganisms such as bacteria, yeast, or fungi multiply on or within the skin and cause inflammation or other symptoms.
Healthy skin has its own ecosystem of microorganisms. The skin’s microbiome, protective barrier, immune system, and natural oils all work together to keep potentially problematic organisms in check.
When that balance is disrupted, problems can develop.
Things like allergies, moisture, scratching, hormonal changes, immune challenges, and damage to the skin barrier can all contribute. In many cases, the infection isn’t the original problem – it’s a secondary consequence of something else going on underneath.
That’s why it’s important to look beyond the surface.
The Most Common Skin Infection in Dogs
Here are six common conditions that can cause itchy, irritated, flaky, or uncomfortable skin.
1. Allergies
Allergies are one of the biggest underlying causes of chronic skin problems in dogs.
Dogs can develop allergies to things in their food or environment, including certain proteins, pollens, grasses, dust mites, and other environmental allergens.
Allergic dogs may:
- Scratch or chew at their skin
- Lick their paws
- Rub their face
- Develop red or inflamed skin
- Experience recurrent ear problems
- Develop hot spots
- Lose hair from excessive scratching or licking
- Develop secondary bacterial or yeast infections
The important thing to understand is that allergies themselves aren’t actually a skin infection. However, constant scratching can damage the skin barrier, creating tiny breaks where bacteria and yeast can get a foothold. This can turn an underlying allergy into a much bigger skin problem.
Are allergies at play for your dog? Read these posts next:
- What Causes Allergies in Pets?
- Environmental Allergies in Dogs: How to Help Your Pet Cope
- Dog Skin Health: A Breakthrough for Allergies & The Skin Microbiome Ecosystem
- Natural Antihistamines for Dogs: A Gentle Approach to Allergies
2. Hot Spots
A hot spot is a localized area of inflamed, irritated, and often moist skin. The technical term is acute moist dermatitis, and these lesions can seem to appear almost overnight. One minute your dog looks perfectly fine. The next, they have a red, raw patch that they’re desperately trying to scratch or lick.
What causes them? Hot spots are often part of an itch-scratch-lick cycle. Something makes the dog itchy – perhaps an allergy, insect bite, moisture, or irritation. The dog scratches or licks the area, damaging the skin. The damaged skin becomes inflamed and moist, which creates an environment where bacteria can multiply.
And then the cycle continues.
Common triggers include:
- Allergies
- Flea or insect bites
- Moisture trapped in the coat
- Swimming
- Poor air circulation through thick coats
- Skin irritation
- Excessive licking
- Underlying pain that causes a dog to repeatedly lick one area
Hot spots aren’t necessarily caused by infection in the first place, but secondary bacterial infection is common.
If your dog is dealing with hot spots, read this post next:
3. Yeast
Oh, yeast… Yeast is another very common skin infection in dogs and a common culprit behind itchy, irritated skin.
Dogs naturally have small amounts of yeast living on their skin. Problems can arise when certain types of yeast – particularly Malassezia – multiply excessively.
This is called a yeast overgrowth or yeast dermatitis.
What does this look like? Dogs with yeast overgrowth may have:
- Red or inflamed skin
- Itching
- Greasy skin
- Flaky skin
- Hair loss
- A musty or “corn chip” smell
- Darkened or thickened skin
- Recurrent ear infections
Yeast tends to love warm, moist environments, which is why problems can be particularly common in skin folds, paws, ears, and other areas with limited airflow.
What causes this yeast overgrowth?
An overgrowth of yeast is often associated with an underlying imbalance rather than simply “too much yeast.”
Allergies are a major contributor. Dogs with allergies may have compromised skin barriers, making it easier for yeast to proliferate. Moisture, skin folds, hormonal changes, immune dysfunction, and other factors can also contribute.
This is another reason that simply addressing the yeast without investigating why the yeast keeps coming back may not solve the bigger problem.
If your dog is dealing with a yeast infection, check out these posts:
4. Ringworm
Despite its name, ringworm isn’t a worm at all. It’s actually a fungal infection caused by dermatophytes that feed on keratin in the skin, hair, and nails. Yuck…
Ringworm is also contagious, meaning dogs can spread it to other animals – and yes, even to people.
Dogs generally become infected after coming into contact with fungal spores from an infected animal or contaminated environment.
Some dogs are more susceptible than others, particularly puppies, senior dogs, or dogs with compromised immune defenses.
What does ringworm look like? Signs can include:
- Circular areas of hair loss
- Scaling or crusting
- Red or irritated skin
- Broken hairs
- Itching, although some dogs aren’t particularly itchy
- Brittle or damaged nails in some cases
The classic circular appearance is common, but ringworm doesn’t always look like a perfect ring.
If your dog has ringworm, read this post:
5. Interdigital Cysts
Those mysterious bumps that appear between your dog’s toes may be interdigital cysts, also called interdigital furuncles.
They’re painful, inflamed lesions that develop in the webbing between the toes. These are technically a common skin infection in dogs, but the causes vary, and sometimes they’re not literal infections. We’re still including them on the list here, though, just to cover all the bases!
With interdigital cysts, you may notice your dog:
- Licking their paws constantly
- Limping
- Avoiding walks
- Developing red or swollen areas between the toes
- Developing bumps that may drain fluid or blood
What causes interdigital cysts?
There isn’t always one single cause. Interdigital cysts can develop when hair follicles become irritated or damaged, leading to inflammation and infection deeper within the skin.
Potential contributing factors include:
- Allergies
- Chronic paw licking
- Bacterial infection
- Demodex mites
- Foreign bodies such as grass awns
- Conformation and pressure on the feet
- Excess weight
- Repeated trauma or irritation
In some dogs, allergies or chronic inflammation are the bigger underlying issue. This is why recurrent interdigital cysts deserve more investigation than simply treating each bump as it appears.
If your dog has interdigital cysts, this post if your next stop:
6. Dandruff
Yes, dogs can get dandruff too! And sure, not really a skin infection, but we’re going broad here, we’ll admit. We want to meet everyone where they’re at.
Just as with humans, dog dandruff is essentially excessive shedding of dead skin cells, resulting in visible flakes throughout the coat. It can look like tiny white or gray flakes, particularly along the back and around the tail.
What causes dandruff in dogs?
Sometimes the cause is simple: dry skin. Dry indoor air, frequent bathing, harsh shampoos, or inadequate grooming can all contribute.
But dandruff can also be a sign that something else is going on, including:
- Allergies
- Poor skin barrier function
- Nutritional imbalances
- Parasites
- Yeast or bacterial overgrowth
- Hormonal conditions
- Seborrhea
- Underlying systemic health problems
There’s also a condition called **walking dandruff**, caused by Cheyletiella mites. These mites can move through the flakes of skin, making it look like the dandruff itself is moving.
If dandruff is persistent, excessive, itchy, or accompanied by redness, hair loss, odor, or sores, it’s worth getting to the bottom of the cause.
Want to address the dandruff? Check out this post next:
The Common Thread: Look Beyond the Skin
As you can see, there are many reasons we might see a skin infection in dogs – and for a multitude of reasons.
That said, while these conditions may look completely different on the surface, there can be common underlying contributors.
Allergies can lead to scratching > Scratching damages the skin barrier > Damaged skin creates an opportunity for bacteria or yeast to multiply > Yeast or bacterial overgrowth causes more inflammation and itching > The dog scratches even more…
And around and around we go. (And that’s just one example.)
That’s why recurring skin problems can be so frustrating for both dogs and their people.
Rather than only asking, “How do I get rid of this skin infection?”, we need to ask: “Why is my dog’s skin struggling in the first place?” That’s the holistic approach, and really the only way to get to the bottom of the issue and solve it once and for all.
Remember: your dog’s skin doesn’t exist in isolation. It’s part of a much bigger system that includes the immune system, gut, nutrition, environment, brain, and overall health.
When it comes to a skin infection in dogs, there’s rarely a one-size-fits-all answer. Allergies, hot spots, yeast, ringworm, interdigital cysts, and dandruff can all cause visible changes to your dog’s skin – but they don’t all have the same cause or require the same approach.
The most important thing is to look at the whole dog, not just the patch of irritated skin. Supporting the foundations of good health can help your dog’s skin do what it’s designed to do: protect the body. Because healthy skin starts much deeper than the surface.
