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Treatment

The medicines prescribed will depend on what the underlying cause of your dog's skin disease is. Your veterinarian may prescribe oral or topical (or both) antibiotics if bacteria are present. If your dog has parasites, it will need to be bathed and given a parasiticidal dip (a preparation that is used to destroy parasites).

If your dog is having a reaction to sunlight, you will need to limit your dog's exposure to sunshine between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., or apply sun block that is safe for use on dogs.

For cases of squamous cell carcinoma, a form of skin cancer, the long-term outlook is poor. If your dog is a good candidate for surgery, your veterinarian will counsel you on your options. Often, surgery in conjunction with other therapies is necessary.

Living and Management

You will need to revisit your veterinarian as often as recommended for chemical blood profiles, complete blood counts (CBC), urinalyses, and electrolyte panels if your dog is receiving cyclosporine, retinoid therapy or synthetic retinoid therapy.

Dogs with mange should be monitored until they show no more signs of the infection, while those with ringworm will need to have fungal cultures repeated until they have a clear return.