Skin Fold Dermatitis

Brachycephalic breeds with shortened noses will have facial folds to a certain degree. Pugs, Bulldogs and Perkinese tend to have more exaggerated skin folds. The close apposition to the eye means tearing can add further moisture to the skin folds.

Some of the brachycephalic breeds like Boston terriers, Bulldogs and Pugs have 'corkscrew' or 'ingrown' tails. This conformation creates a deep skin fold underneath the tail.

Spaniel breeds, Setters and Saint Bernards have large lower lip folds which predispose them to lip-fold pyoderma.

Although skin fold dermatitis is relatively common in these breeds, it is important to note that not all dogs will develop skin issues. Many other factors can contribute to whether an individual will have skin issues.

Other contributing factors include:

1. Overweight or obese - this creates more tissue around folds, which can make moisture, friction and collection of tears, urine or even faeces much worse.
2. Allergies - some dogs will have underlying allergies, this can affect the skin barrier and trauma can occur from rubbing or scratching.
3. Endocrine influences - certain endocrine disorders can contribute to skin problems or make the skin more susceptible to infection, such as Cushing's Disease or Hyperadrenocorticism.
4. Mammary development- if an entire female dog or ex-breeding dog has significant mammary folds, this can also be a troublesome area. To read more, see our article Everything you need to know about desexing your pet.