Inflammation of dog hair follicles with small black spots

Dog folliculitis often presents with redness, swelling, and hair loss in the affected area, along with numerous small black spots. This is caused by abnormal sebum secretion in the dog's hair follicles. Common symptoms include the formation of papules or red nodules on the hair or follicle mouth, and further progression can lead to severe pyoderma. It is best to take the dog to a pet hospital, purchase a medicated shampoo for folliculitis, and strictly follow the doctor's instructions for use.

Characteristics of Folliculitis

The most common type of dog folliculitis is a superficial bacterial infection involving the hair follicles and adjacent epidermis, which may be focal or multifocal. Dogs with folliculitis exhibit reddened skin, many black spots on the follicles. It is recommended for owners to clean and disinfect the affected area daily with alcohol, then apply erythromycin ointment for treatment; if the dog is infected with fungi, there may be symptoms such as tinea, hair loss, crusting, scaling, and dandruff.

Are the black spots in the follicles fungal?

Having black spots in the follicles is called folliculitis. Folliculitis is caused by excessive sebum secretion in the dog's sebaceous glands, which leads to blocked pores. The accumulated dust, bacteria, and impurities inside the blocked pores form the so-called black spots. Treating folliculitis involves two aspects: first, improving skin nutrition by feeding essential fatty acids or lecithin; second, using soothing pore-clearing, antibacterial shampoo baths, with a general course of more than one week.

Treatment for Folliculitis

Mild folliculitis can be treated by using a clean cotton swab dipped in diluted alcohol to remove the black spots, then applying erythromycin ointment to the reddened skin and regularly bathing in medication. Additionally, oral antibiotics can be given. If the folliculitis is severe and accompanied by extensive redness and pyoderma, it is recommended to consult a veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment. Avoid feeding the dog excessive oil in its daily diet to reduce the risk of exacerbating folliculitis.

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