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Dog Skin Ulcers & Draining Lesions: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment
Skin Ulcers, Skin Lesions
SUMMARY OF CONTENT
SEVERITY:
- Requires a diagnosis by a veterinarian
- Resolves within days to months, or may be a lifelong management condition
- Treatable by a veterinarian, by the pet parent
- Possible in some cases
- Transmission is not common, but may be possible between animals or from animals to people
- Diagnosis requires physical exam, lab tests, skin cytology, skin biopsy
VERY COMMON IN
Symptoms & Signs
With skin ulcers and draining lesions, the first sign of a problem may be a crusty area on the skin, nose or foot. In other cases, skin problems may start out small and progress into more extensive lesions. They may open, drain and then develop a crusty surface. In some instances, there may be hair loss and the surface of the skin can become red and oozing, and ulcers may develop. Skin ulceration and draining lesions can be caused by a variety of underlying problems. Certain conditions are more common in specific populations of dogs or in some geographic locations.
Diagnosis
Since there are so many possible causes of skin ulceration or draining lesions in dogs, the underlying cause must be determined so that proper treatment can be initiated. As a starting point, affected dogs must be examined by a veterinarian. During the exam, the veterinarian evaluates the skin lesions as well as the overall health of the dog. Based on the findings of this exam, the veterinarian will determine the next diagnostic steps. Skin cytology is often needed to microscopically examine samples taken from the surface of the skin or scrapes from deeper layers of skin. A biopsy of the skin, fungal culture, bacterial culture or blood testing may be needed.
Causation
Skin ulcers or draining lesions can occur due to a very wide variety of conditions, which can range greatly in severity. In most cases, these conditions disrupt the outermost layer of the skin called the epithelium. When this outer protective barrier is damaged, the deeper layers of the skin and underlying tissues are more susceptible to infection and damage. As a result, more significant ulcers and draining lesions can develop. These skin lesions typically cause considerable discomfort to dogs, which often causes them to scratch, lick or chew on their skin, exacerbating the existing condition.
The following list includes many of the more common causes of skin ulceration and draining lesions in dogs, but it is not exhaustive:
Bacterial infections
- Abscess (a swollen pus-filled area of infection)
- Pyoderma (infection of the skin)
- Folliculitis (inflammation of the hair follicles, typically caused by infection)
- Furunculosis (infection of the deep layers of the skin and hair follicles)
- Nocardia (infection with a type of bacteria that is most often found in the environment)
Fungal infections
- Aspergillosis
- Blastomycosis
- Coccidioidomycosis
- Cryptococcosis
- Histoplasmosis
- Pythiosis
- Sporotrichosis
- Zygomycosis
- Ringworm
Parasitic
Self trauma
Immune-mediated
- Lupus erythematosus (an autoimmune disease where the body attacks healthy tissues)
- Pemphigus erythematosus (an autoimmune disease affecting the outer skin layers of the face, ears and feet)
- Pemphigus foliaceus (essentially a more severe form of pemphigus erythematosus)
- Pemphigus vulgaris (the most severe form of pemphigus, affecting the deepest layers of the skin)
- Toxic epidermal necrolysis (a potentially life-threatening autoimmune disease that can result in detachment of the skin layers)
Congenital
- Dermoid sinus (a congenital defect essentially resulting in a tubular hole in the back or neck)
- Dermatomyositis (an inherited inflammatory disease of the muscles, skin and blood vessels)
- Schnauzer comedo syndrome
- Ulcerative dermatosis of Collies and Shetland Sheepdogs (an inherited ulcerative and erosive skin disorder)
- Uveodermatologic syndrome (an autoimmune disease that affects the pigment cells in the eyes, hair coat and food pads)
- Zinc responsive dermatosis (zinc deficiency, typically caused by malabsorption of zinc, that typically causes crusts around the face)
Cancer
- Basal cell tumors
- Epitheliotrophic lymphoma (a cancer of the lymphocyte blood cells in the skin)
- Fibrosarcoma (a cancer arising from connective tissues)
- Hemangiosarcoma
- Lymphoma
- Mammary cancer
- Mast cell tumor (MCT)
- Melanoma
- Perianal gland tumor (a cancerous tumor originating from specific cells near the anus)
- Sebaceous gland tumors (tumors arising from oil glands in the skin)
- Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)
Trauma
- Bee stings
- Burns
- Bite wounds
- Frostbite
- Insect bites
Secondary to other diseases
- Calcinosis cutis (calcium deposits in the skin, typically occurs with Cushing's disease or long term steroid treatments)
- Ear margin dermatosis (crusts and hair loss on the edges of the ears)
- Hepatocutaneous syndrome (crusts and ulcers of around the mouth, eyes and footpads that progresses to liver disease, typically associated with diabetes)
- Erythema multiforme (an acute inflammatory condition of the skin that typically occurs after another disease or medication use)
- Decubital ulcers (ulceration of the skin over pressure points, typically occurs in debilitated or handicapped dogs)
- Urine scald
Drug or injection reaction
Treatments
AT-HOME CARE
The specific treatment of skin ulcers or draining lesions is based on the underlying cause, but most treatments occur at home. In many cases, veterinarians prescribe medications or shampoos to be given at home. Elizabethan collars (e-collars) or No-Bite collars are commonly recommended to prevent itchy dogs from scratching or chewing on themselves and making their lesions worse.
SUPPORTIVE CARE
Feed or medicate your dog as directed by your veterinarian.
MEDICATIONS
For most causes of skin ulcers and draining lesions, medications are necessary, yet the precise medication required is dependent on the underlying cause. A combination of antibiotics, antifungals, parasiticides, steroids, antihistamines, immunotherapy or chemotherapeutics may be needed.
DEVICES
None
SURGERY
Surgical procedures are needed for most cases of cancer, as well as many bite wounds and some abscesses.
SPECIALISTS
General practice veterinarians diagnose and treat most cases of skin ulcers and draining lesions, but depending on the underlying cause and severity of disease, referral to a specialist in surgery, oncology, dermatology or internal medicine may be needed.
Cost Of Treatment
The cost of treatment will vary on the underlying cause, severity and size of the dog.
Recovery
Depending on the underlying cause of the skin ulcers and draining lesions, dogs can recover in as little as a few days to weeks, or they may require several months of treatment. Other more serious conditions require lifelong management or may be fatal.
Monitoring
Dog owners must monitor their dogs at home for changes in their clinical signs. Recheck exams with a veterinarian as well as diagnostic testing are often needed; the frequency varies depending on the underlying condition.
Prevention
Prevention is possible in some cases such as with parasites or trauma. Use a monthly preventative to control parasites and avoid situations that could result in trauma. Other causes may not be preventable.
Disclaimer
The information contained on this page is for educational purposes only. Treatment should only be provided under the advice of a veterinarian who has examined your pet under the laws applicable to your state of residence.