Acne can affect pets of all species and ages, and diagnosing and treating these skin lesions in a timely manner can promote healing, while lessening the chance for the formation of serious and painful infections like abscesses.
According to Dr. Michael Levine, DVM, acne comes in two common forms. The more traditional pimple forms when dirt, bacteria or dead skin cells block a pore, leading to inflammation and infection. The sebaceous cyst forms when a skin pore or hair follicle is blocked, leading to the accumulation of sebum, an oil that keeps the skin moist and supple. The sebum cannot escape, so it builds up beneath the skin’s surface.
Pimples are often seen alongside blackheads in pets, which occur when oils accumulate inside a pore. Oxidation occurs when the oils come in contact with the air, resulting in a “black” appearance in the pore.
Common locations for pimples in pets include the face, muzzle and under on the cat or dog's chin. Oils from foods and dirt from sniffing and exploring the world can clog pores, leading to a bout of acne. Plastic food bowls are also notorious for triggering break-outs in pets, as minute scratches in the plastic’s surface harbor bacteria which is then transferred to the pet’s face during meal time.
The stomach and chest are also common areas for the formation of pimples and cysts in dogs, cats and other pets, as the thin fur in these areas, combined with the close proximity to the ground, allows for easy contamination of the skin’s surface which in turn leads to pore and follicular blockages. Pimples are often more easily noticed on the chest and stomach due to the thinner fur in these regions.
Puppies and other juvenile animals are often more prone to developing acne than adults, as hormones are also believed to play a factor.
Frequent bathing is another common cause of cysts and pimples in pets. The shampoo strips the skin of its natural oils, triggering an increase in oil production, which results in clogged pores, follicles and infection.
Cysts and pimples in pets vary in terms of their treatment. Pimples are generally small pockets of infection that will develop and begin draining relatively quickly and without much intervention, aside from daily washings and disinfecting. Redness and swelling is common at the site.
Cysts, on the other hand, can grow quite large and do not always drain on their own. Many require repeated lancing and draining, and during this process, infection is common, only compounding the situation. If infection is not present, the vicinity of the cyst – filled with a thick paste the consistency of toothpaste – will not necessarily be red or swollen.
Once a large cyst drains and heals, the site will be prone to cyst formation again in the future due to the pore/follicle damage that resulted from the initial cyst. So removal of the damaged tissue is often necessary to avoid repeated cyst formation problems in pets.
How Can I Tell if My Dog Has a Sebaceous Cyst or Something More Sinister?
Distinguishing a benign cyst or pimple from a potentially malignant growth in a pet is a task best left to the professionals in many instances, so a trip to the vet is recommended, particularly for first-time sufferers.
Diagnosis is performed in several ways. The vet will first examine the pet's lump visually and by touch. Cysts and pimples are located at skin level, not below. And they are typically fairly soft, while malignancies are generally hard and rock-like.
A fine-needle aspiration may also be performed. The vet will insert a needle into the pet's growth or mass, and a small biopsy sample will be obtained and examined under the microscope. Samples can also be sent out for lab analysis. In about 60 percent of cases, this quick and relatively inexpensive procedure will lead to a tentative diagnosis, which can help pet owners decide which method of treatment to pursue.
In cases where the vet cannot determine the nature of a mass, lump or bump through examination and non-surgical biopsy, an operation will be scheduled and the growth will be removed and then sent out for analysis.
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Mia Carter - Mia Carter - Journalist, Producer/Editor & Web Writer. Carter's work has appeared on CBS and CNN.com.
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