Most pet parents look at their dog’s fur. The shine, the thickness, whether it’s shedding more than usual. But the fur is just the output — what’s happening underneath, at the skin level, is where problems start and where early intervention matters most.
Here’s a simple skin check you can do at home, once a month, in under ten minutes.
What You Need
Just good lighting, your hands, and a fine-tooth comb or your fingers to part the fur. No special tools.
The Five Things to Check
1. Colour
Part the fur and look at the skin directly. Healthy dog skin is typically pale pink or light beige — the exact shade varies by breed and coat colour. What you’re looking for is anything that seems different from your dog’s normal baseline:
- Redness or pink patches — can indicate irritation, allergic reaction, or early infection
- Dark or hyperpigmented patches — often a sign of chronic inflammation or hormonal issues
- Pale or white patches where skin was previously pigmented — worth a vet check
2. Texture
Run your fingers across the skin. It should feel smooth and slightly supple — not rough, flaky, or thickened. What to watch for:
- Flakiness or dandruff — dry skin, possible nutritional deficiency, or early fungal activity
- Thickened, elephant-like skin — often seen in chronic allergic dogs
- Bumps, pustules, or crusty spots — bacterial infection, usually treatable with the right protocol
3. Smell
Lean close and smell the skin, not just the fur. A healthy dog has a mild, neutral scent from their skin. Warning signs:
- Musty or yeasty smell — classic Malassezia (yeast) overgrowth, very common in Bangalore’s humidity
- Sour or “off” smell — bacterial infection, often accompanied by visible skin changes
- No smell even after outdoor time — sometimes normal, sometimes worth noting
4. Parasites
Use a fine-tooth comb and go through the fur slowly, especially around the ears, neck, between the toes, and at the base of the tail — tick hotspots. Look for:
- Ticks — small, dark, often pea-sized when engorged. Remove carefully with tweezers — grasp close to the skin and pull steadily without twisting
- Flea dirt — tiny black specks that turn red when wet (it’s digested blood). If you see this, fleas are present even if you can’t see them
- Mites — harder to see; look for intense scratching at the ears or face, with crusty deposits
5. Hair Follicles and Coat Density
Look for any areas where the fur is visibly thinner, patchy, or where the follicles look inflamed or blocked. Circular patches of hair loss, especially with redness at the edge, often indicate ringworm. Diffuse thinning over the back and sides can be hormonal.
When to Act Immediately
Don’t wait for the monthly check if you see any of these:
- Your dog is scratching hard enough to break skin or create sores
- You find multiple ticks in one session
- There’s a rapidly spreading patch of redness or hair loss
- Your dog is rubbing their face or ears on furniture repeatedly
- The smell from the skin is strong and unpleasant
What to Do With What You Find
For anything beyond mild dryness, we’d recommend sending Vijay at Mylopaws Dermacare a photo via WhatsApp before deciding on next steps. A photo of the affected area often tells us enough to recommend whether it’s a Dermacare therapy, a vet visit, or just a nutritional adjustment.
💬 Send Vijay a Photo on WhatsApp
Mylopaws Dermacare Centre — HSR Layout, Bengaluru | Mon–Sat, 11am–6pm
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