Common Skin Diseases of Dachshund Puppies

Dachshund puppies may develop inherited skin problems or suffer from diseases such as demodectic mange. Environmental factors, mites, worms and lice may all cause skin diseases in puppies. Symptoms of these afflictions include severe itching, dry skin, scabs or sores, oozing lesions, skin ulceration and hair loss.

  1. Acanthosis Nigricans

    • Acanthosis nigrigans is an inherited skin disease some dachshund puppies have at birth. This disease may appear in dachshunds from 3 to 12 months of age, and can be diagnosed by a veterinarian. Acanthos nigricans causes a darkening of the skin in the armpit and, at times, the groin area. Other symptoms associated with this condition are hair loss in the affected area, leathery skin and seborrhea, in which the skin becomes rancid and greasy. Puppies that suffer from seborrhea often develop bacterial or yeast infections. While there is no cure for acanthos nigricans, corticosteroids and topical creams help manage it. Dachshunds that suffer from this condition should not breed, to prevent the spread of the condition to offspring.

    Demodectic Mange

    • Dachshund puppies can develop demodectic mange, caused by a mite that strikes puppies from three to 12 months of age and lives on their skin. Veterinarians are unsure why some puppies develop symptoms of demodectic mange while others do not, but one theory is that the mite produces a substance that may lower the affected puppy's resistance to the mite. Demodectic mange also appears to be more common in purebred dogs. The symptoms of the disease are oozing or crusty sores on the skin and hair loss in multiple areas of the body. Treatment consists of a medicated shampoo and an insecticide to kill the mange mite.

    Cheyletiella Mange

    • Puppies are at an increased risk of developing cheyletiella mange, also known as walking dandruff, according to CanisMajor.com. Cheyletiella mange may develop from the presence of a reddish-colored mite on the skin. Dachshund puppies that suffer from this type of mange may have symptoms such as dandruff on the back, head and neck and mild itching. Cheyletiella mange is highly contagious, but usually easily treated by a veterinarian.