Seborrhea is not one disease but a description: the skin makes too much scale, and sometimes too much grease, because keratinization has gone wrong. In most dogs it is the visible end of something else, such as allergy, an endocrine disorder or parasites, so the exam question is nearly always "what is driving it?" rather than "which shampoo?". True inherited (primary) seborrhea exists, but it is rare and is diagnosed only after everything else has been excluded.
Key facts
Seborrhea at a glance- Species: dogs (more common than in cats).
- System: integumentary; a disorder of keratinization (cornification).
- Cause: secondary seborrhea, from allergies, endocrinopathies, parasites, infection and others, is far more common; primary idiopathic seborrhea is an inherited defect and very rare.
- Classic picture: a scaly, greasy, smelly dog with secondary Malassezia or staphylococcal infection; primary disease starts young (usually before 18–24 months) in a predisposed breed and is not itchy.
- Not zoonotic, not reportable (but rule out zoonotic look-alikes such as dermatophytosis and sarcoptic mange).
What's inside
12 sections in the full guide- Key facts
- How the NAVLE tests this
- Cause and pathophysiology
- Clinical signs
- Diagnosis
- Differential diagnoses
- Treatment and management
- Prevention and control
- Prognosis
- Quick review
- Test yourself
- References
The full guide also has 6 tables, 2 figures, 3 self-test questions and 15 references, available to NAVLE members.
Read the full study guide
The full guide is part of every NAVLE plan, with diagnosis and treatment tables, figures, a quick review and self-test questions. Start a free trial to try the question bank, or log in if you are already a member.