Skin fold dermatitis causes chronic pain and infection in brachycephalic breeds. Managing this preventable condition requires regular care and sometimes surgical correction.
Skin fold dermatitis causes chronic discomfort from moisture maceration, bacterial and yeast infection, and friction in affected skin folds. The malodor associated with infected skin folds indicates significant bacterial overgrowth causing inflammation and pain. Mildly affected dogs may tolerate the discomfort stoically but show relief following treatment. Severely affected dogs have constant pain from raw, infected skin that requires daily management as a minimum and surgical correction for definitive resolution. The condition is an inherent consequence of the exaggerated physical conformation selected in these breeds, making prevention at breeding level the most welfare-positive approach.