Does your puppy have acne?  We know that humans have acne, but dogs can have acne also.  Acne is more common is certain breeds of dog.  Larger breeds tend to have the biggest issues with puppy acne.  The most common breeds are English Bulldogs, Rottweilers, Labradors, Doberman Pinschers and Boxers.  You will start to see puppy acne issues starting around five to six months of age.  The acne will show up in the form of blackheads on their lips, chin and around the muzzle.  Sometimes the acne may even stop hair from growing in that area. It will soon turn into scabs and they will start to scratch the area to relieve the pain and discomfort.  This is where you need to be careful, because these wounds can become infected.

The skin problem is caused by a blockage of the hair follicles caused by keratin and sebum(Sebum is fatty secretion of the sebaceous glands and Keratin is a scleroprotein or albuminoid substance, found in dead outer skin.)  If you feel your dog is suffering from acne issues, your best bet is take him to your vet and have him treated.  The problem with puppy acne is that in most cases it can not be cured.  It can be controlled with proper treatment and the right medication.

There are many reasons your puppy could be seeing these acne issues.  Your dog could have ringworms, mite infestations or your puppy might have allergies also.  All of these issues could cause your dog to develop swelling and blackheads.  Here are a few things you can do before going to your vet.  I know this because my vet instructed me to try these before we took Daisy my Rottweiler in to see him.

1. Try cleaning the infected area with acne products such as benzoyl peoxide or a mild anti-seborrhea shampoo.  This will tend to lessen the bacteria by cleaning out the pores.  Try keeping the area clean everyday by using a warm cloth on the infected area followed up by washing with antibacterial soap. Try applying some aloe vera to the area also, they have great healing and soothing properties that your puppy will appreciate.

2. Get your puppy treated for fleas and ticks.  I also have used a flea collar along with treatment.  Some people say that is overkill, that just treating them with frontline or a similar product is enough.  This has worked for all my dogs and they are healthy and flea and tick free.

3. A young puppy could also have a weakened immune system and you can try different herbs to rid the their body of toxins.  This is a holistic approach that some people think is a waste of time, but I have tried different herbs my self and have had good results.  You can try red clover, Echinacea,  and burdock root has also been know to help with acne.  Eating these herbs will help your puppy rid of acne from the inside out.  Which is as close to a cure that you will find.

4. You might try a different dog food also.  Sometimes the ingredients in dog food these days is not always good.  It may cost  more for a purely organic dog food, but your puppy will live longer and be a lot more healthy.

If you try these and the problem still lingers, you need to take fido to the vet.  The longer you wait the more likely your puppy with have to have some sort of antibiotics.  Your puppy with have to be on them for about three to four weeks and hopefully this will stabilize the puppy acne problem.  Remember, there is no cure for the issue.  This is something you will have to keep an eye on so it doesn’t get bad again.

If the puppy acne issue continues or worsens you may try a anti inflammatory drug like a cream applied to the area to try and lesson the discomfort.  Your Veterinarian should be consulted first before you go buy anything that endanger your dogs health.