Why is my dog's skin flaking and scabbing?

Scabs in dogs are a dermatological sign of an underlying condition. Scabs are formed from hardened scales on the surface of the skin that usually act as a protective barrier. They are a product of the wound healing process or keratinisation disorders, although the latter are much less common. Parasites External parasites are one of the main causes of scabs in dogs. Most cases are due to flea bites. In fact, some dogs may be very sensitive and develop flea allergy dermatitis, which means they do not even need to be infested for the clinical signs to manifest. Canine demodicosis caused, for example, by the over-proliferation of mites in the Demodex genus can also occur with small nodules, follicular plugs, flaking, seborrhoeic conditions, pustules, comedones, ulcers and scabs. Food allergens are also a common cause of scabs in dogs, a problem that usually occurs at an early age of between 6 months and 2 years. Excessive bathing can also cause scabs in dogs as hygiene products can dry out the animal’s skin and deplete its natural oils, affecting the balance of the bacterial flora that protects it from dermatological diseases.

The veterinarian will need your help in tracing the onset of your dog’s condition, so be sure to give a detailed account of when the signs began, how they are progressing, and how your dog is behaving. The veterinarian may conduct standard laboratory tests, such as blood count, blood biochemistry profile and urinalysis to rule out hyperthyroidism, bacterial or fungal infections, or parasites. The most important tests are those of the skin itself: a scraping of your dog’s skin will be analyzed for fungal and bacterial cultures. If the veterinarian identifies any growth on your dog’s skin, a biopsy may be taken and submitted to a pathologist for examination in order to determine the presence of parasites, infection, or cancerous cells. If allergies are suspected, allergy testing may be recommended, or your veterinarian may elect to treat symptomatically. If a food reaction is suspected, you may conduct an outpatient elimination trial and report your dog’s condition to the veterinarian regularly.