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Schnauzer Comedo Syndrome

Schnauzer Comedo Syndrome

Schnauzer Bumps, Schnauzer Back

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Updated on September 26, 2024

SUMMARY OF CONTENT

Schnauzer Comedo Syndrome is a skin disorder that mainly affects schnauzers causing bumps and lesions on the skin.

SEVERITY:

Severity is mild to moderate to severe
  • Diagnosis Icon
    Requires a diagnosis by a veterinarian
  • Time to Cure
    Resolves: typically never. This is a chronic condition that requires lifelong management
  • Treatment Icon
    Manageable by a veterinarian and by the pet parent
  • Prevention Icon
    Do not breed affected dogs as it is believed to potentially be inherited
  • Spread Icon
    Transmission is not possible between animals nor to people
  • Lab Icon
    Diagnosis requires a physical examination. Skin scrapings, cytology or cultures may be recommended to rule out other skin conditions.

VERY COMMON IN

Although other breeds may be involved, this condition is typically seen in Miniature Schnauzers

Symptoms & Signs

Dogs with schnauzer comedo syndrome typically have raised, black, crusty bumps (comedones) all along the spine. There may also be pimples, wart-like lesions, patchy hair loss, and the skin may become thickened and red. In some dogs, the skin takes on an oily nature with a strong odor.

Diagnosis

The condition is usually diagnosed by history, breed, and physical examination findings. Visual inspection of the lesions is normally enough to diagnose this condition, but the veterinarian may recommend a skin scrape, culture, or biopsy to rule out any other potential causes to definitively diagnose the condition.

Causation

The exact cause of schnauzer comedo syndrome is not known but it is believed to be an inherited dysfunction of the hair follicle which causes the follicle to become dilated and blocked with keratin and oils leading to the development of blackheads (comedones) along with the potential for secondary bacterial skin infections. Although not life threatening, this condition affects the appearance and smell of the animal. In severe cases, secondary infections can develop.

Treatments

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AT-HOME CARE

Treatment is primarily aimed at managing the condition. Comedo syndrome usually persists in varying degrees for the life of the pet affected by this disorder. Frequent cleaning with a veterinary antiseptic solution (chlorhexidine) or cleansing wipe may be recommended by your veterinarian to help loosen and soften the comedones. Medicated benzoyl peroxide or anti-seborrheic shampoos can work well and should be used on a regular basis, if recommended by your veterinarian. Regular brushing is recommended to help remove excess hair and dirt while helping to spread the natural oils in the dog’s skin and fur, however caution should be taken if skin lesions are present as they can be itchy or painful, especially if infected.
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SUPPORTIVE CARE

Keep the dog well-groomed and treat or wash as directed by a veterinarian
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MEDICATIONS

If a secondary bacterial infection develops, an antibiotic may be prescribed to treat the infection. Vitamin A and Omega-3 fatty acid supplements may also be recommended. Isotretinoin (Accutane) is a synthetic retinoid that is occasionally prescribed for refractory cases of schnauzer comedone syndrome. While many medications are often administered for ‘off-label’ or 'extra-label' use in veterinary medicine, it is important to know that off- or extra- label use of a medication can only be done by a veterinarian when there are no other more appropriate medications for a particular pet's circumstances. Your veterinarian must also know all vitamins, supplements, medications etc. your pet is taking to help avoid complications. You must also be sure to follow all instructions provided by your vet carefully and consult your veterinarian with any questions or concerns if they arise.
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DEVICES

An Elizabethan collar (cone) may be used to prevent excessive licking or chewing at affected areas.
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SPECIALISTS

A competent general practitioner usually manages most dogs with schnauzer comedo syndrome, although a veterinary specialist in dermatology may be necessary for refractory cases.

Cost Of Treatment

The cost of veterinary treatment can vary widely for a multitude of reasons, but s prescribed shampoos and medication may cost $50 to $150 each month depending on the size of the dog, the severity of the condition and length of treatment.

Recovery

Although this is usually a lifelong condition that needs to be managed, it is not detrimental to the health of the pet and the pet typically lives a normal life as long as any secondary infections are properly treated.

Monitoring

Dogs with this condition should be monitored closely for secondary bacterial skin infections and inflammation so medications recommended by your veterinarian can be started as soon as possible. For patients on isotretinoin treatment, blood testing will need to be performed every 6-12 months to monitor for potential side effects.

Prevention

Since this disease is genetically inherited, responsible breeding by removing affected dogs from a breeding program will help prevent this disease.

Disclaimer
The information contained on this page is for educational purposes only. Treatment should only be provided under the advice of a veterinarian who has examined your pet under the laws applicable to your state of residence.

Questions about Schnauzer Comedo Syndrome
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My one year old boxer just ate a NexGard 5 days after her last dose. Will she be okay?

NexGard has a large margin of safety if as dog gets or eats multiple doses. Monitor for GI upset and feed a bland diet for a few days to settle the stomach. Your dog will likely suffer no ill effects.

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My dog I heated uses tampon is it an emergency

Unfortunately I'm having a little trouble understand your question as I'm not sure what you mean by "My dog I heated uses tampons..." I'm wondering if Bella ate a tampon or if you wanted to use one on her while she is in heat. I will answer both to be safe. If she ate a tampon, then yes this is a medical emergency and she has to see a vet now. Tampons can easily cause obstructions in the GI tract, especially since they are absorbent and can get large in the stomach from liquid in there. if Bella ate a tampon, you need to take her into a vet immediately to get it removed. If she is on heat, no you cannot use a tampon to control her bleeding. It's not safe to use at all, and are not meant for dogs. You can put a diaper on her to catch any bloody discharge. There are dog specific diapers online and at pets stores, or you can use one made of a human child. Just cut a hole in it for her tail. Hopefully this answers your question. If it doesn't, I'm sorry and ask you post again in the forum for free to it can get answered!

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My puppy had parvo virus. If I bring a fully vaccinated dog here, can it infect the new dog? Is there still a risk?

If they new dog is a year old and you are completely sure that that it is 100 percent vaccinated there is a very minimal risk that it will be infected. However, that being said, vaccines are never 100 percent effective so there is always a 0.09 percent chance that the new dog could get the virus. But you should be safe bringing the new dog home. I would make sure that the home environment has been cleaned as thoroughly as possible (this means with bleach to all surfaces) and make sure that the outdoor surfaces have been cleaned as well. Parvo can live in the environment for an annoyingly long time (up to 6 months) so it wouldn't hurt to apply a safe mixture of bleach product to your yard as well. This is probably going completely overboard, but you know how scary parvo can be!

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I have a cat that as a kitten was very ill. We got him from 7 months old. We knew he’d had cat flu prior to him coming here. He is now nearly 5 yrs old. He picks huge fights with our other cat. He keeps urinating and scratching at doors and windows around the house. We allow him to go out via the cat flap unlimited. What is happening to him

I'm glad to see that Pippin has been neutered because this eliminates that possibility of hormone-fueled behavioral changes and aggression. Behavioral changes in cats can occur at any point in time, and could be related to anxiety or stressful situations (even rearranging furniture or introducing new people to the home can be stressful to cats). Without a lot more information and observing Pippin's behaviors, I can't precisely tell you why these changes are occurring. It may be best to consult a veterinary behaviorist in your home so that they can observe everything firsthand. You can also try using calming pheromone collars or diffusers (Feliway is one example), and discussing the use of anxiety medication with Pippin's vet. I hope that all goes well!

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Hi! My cat was recently diagnosed with diabetes. He’s taking insulin and taking antibiotics for a Uti. It’s been 4 weeks and he wobles when he’s walking. He can’t jump up on the bed like he used to.He’s blood sugar is 250 it’s better than it used to. I don’t understand why he’s so wobbly.

Cats can develop what's called diabetic neuropathy, where their hindlegs become progressively weak. The best thing to do is try to get his diabetes under control as quickly as possible. Here is a link describing the conditon: http://www.diabeticcatcare.com/DCCCOK/Neuropathy.htm

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Can I reapply flea treatment early? It’s been 2 weeks with no results.

A [flea](https://www.petcoach.co/article/fleas-life-cycle-anatomy-disease-transmission) infestation on your pet or in your home can be [difficult and frustrating](https://www.petcoach.co/article/why-are-fleas-so-hard-to-kill) to deal with. Yes, if after two weeks the [flea preventive you applied isn't working](https://www.petcoach.co/article/6-reasons-your-flea-prevention-isnt-working), you can reapply flea treatment early, or switch to another brand. I recommend using Advantix or a chewable prescription product from your vet, like Bravecto, Nexgard, Simparica, or Credelio. This recommendation is unrelated to Petco or Boop by Petco. If you are seeing fleas on Mia now, you can give her Capstar ([Nitenpyram](https://www.petcoach.co/pet-medication/nitenpyram)). It's a one time pill that starts killing adult fleas in 30 minutes and is safe to use with a topical treatment. Use a monthly preventive on all pets for at least 3 consecutive months to break the flea life cycle. Year round use is preferred. You will also have to [treat the environment](https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-tips-to-get-rid-of-fleas). Wash all bedding in hot soapy water, and vacuum the furniture and carpet surfaces. Discard of the bag or empty the canister outdoors immediately afterwards. Use a spray, such as Indoorex or Knockout ES, in the house and to prevent reinfestation.

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