Dog has crusty lumps on hair folicles

[PaulSabin]

I noticed over the last month that my dog has these creamy coloured crusty things at the base of each hair follicle.

I first thought something has spilled onto her and it was localised, yet as she moults I can see many hairs with this light lump at the base of the hair. When looking thorugh her coat, it seems to be prevalent all over.

She is 13 years old and in good health. Nothing has changed with regards her diet. There are no signs of itching, or redness. I use Frontline Spot On flea treatment.

Could it be the frontline spreading round her hair follicles or is it something else? Many thanks in advance.

[kita1]

Don't know what causes it but my dog has had it all his life!

It doesn't seem to have caused him any problems.

Never noticed it on my other dogs.

Just curious - what breed (or crossbreed) is your dog?

[PaulSabin]

Thanks Kita. She is mainly terrier. Mum was a Staffordshire bull Terrier, and her dad was a Rottweiler / lurcher cross.

I gave her a bath tonight as I was thinking perhaps it's just muck. We walk a lot in the country and she rolls in anything she sees. I don't usually bath her as she doesn;t like it, so had a theory it could be general dirt.

As I said it does not seem to be causing her any trouble, but wondered if it may break out into something more serious, or be an infestation.

[kita1]

Not the same breed as mine - so obviously breed has nothing to do with it!

I wonder if it could be like dandruff in humans?

I would normally say mention it to a vet if you are worried, but to be honest if it is not bothering her in any way then I would leave well alone (a dog that age going to the vet - well no doubt the vet would find any number of things wrong and it would end up costing a fortune). I believe in the old saying - if it aint broke don't fix it! The vet would probably do skin scrapes etc., but like I say at their age they really don't need the stress, especially if she is fine in herself.

My boy is nearly 13 and I know if I took him near a vet they would find any number of things to treat, as long as he is happy and eating well I am content just to let him enjoy his old age in peace.

Oh, and he has never had a bath in his life!

[charlie8]

Today i have just noticed the same! We are wondering if it was Frontlines work and maybe it was clusters of flea eggs!.Tonight i will apply a small ammount of Vaseline and comb through in the morning. I do not bathe them often {we have three dogs} but i do run them in the bath some days as we go to the park alot and i put Neem Genie in the water