What should I check if my dog keeps getting skin infections?

Read time: 3 minutes

Overview

If your dog keeps getting skin infections, it’s worth checking for patterns, skin irritation, and anything in their routine that might be making the problem come back. There can be several possible causes, including allergies, licking, moisture, grooming issues, or an underlying health issue, so it’s best to focus on what you can observe rather than trying to pin down one cause yourself.

Things To Check

1. Check when the problem tends to flare up, such as after walks, swimming, grooming, bathing, or during certain seasons.

2. Look closely at the skin for redness, swelling, broken skin, scabs, damp patches, discharge, or a sore smell.

3. Check whether your dog is licking, chewing, scratching, rubbing, or shaking more than usual, especially in one area.

4. Feel for areas that seem warm, sore, greasy, flaky, or unusually thickened.

5. Check the ears, paws, armpits, belly, groin, and skin folds, as these are common places for irritation to build up.

6. Look at their bedding, grooming routine, and anything that may be leaving the coat damp for too long.

7. Note any changes in diet, treats, flea control, or new shampoos, sprays, or cleaning products that might be irritating the skin.

Common Causes

Recurring skin infections are often linked to allergies, because itchy skin can lead to licking and broken skin that becomes easier to infect. Moisture trapped in the coat or skin folds can also play a part, especially after rain, swimming, or bathing.

Other common causes include parasite irritation, grooming problems, friction, or a dog that is repeatedly damaging the same area by scratching or licking. Less commonly, an underlying health issue may make skin infections more likely, so repeated episodes are worth taking seriously.

What To Do

Keep a simple note of when each episode starts, where it appears, and what was happening beforehand. That can help you and your vet spot a pattern more easily.

Dry your dog thoroughly after walks in wet weather, baths, or swimming, and keep bedding clean and dry. If your dog is licking one area a lot, try to reduce the irritation source rather than just waiting for it to settle.

Use only gentle, dog-appropriate grooming and washing routines, and avoid switching products repeatedly, as that can make the skin harder to settle. If the same areas keep coming back, that’s a good sign to get it checked properly.

Products That May Help

If your dog’s skin is prone to irritation, a gentle grooming and washing routine can be useful as part of day-to-day care and coat maintenance.

Pet Care

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