.com Forum · Real Show Dogs

What types of skin issues (if any) are commonly associated with Australian Shepherds? Is there anything in particular, skinwise, they might be prone to getting? (i.e. skin allergies, dry skin, etc.)

Thanks in advance for any information you can provide.

Some might show allergies.Can be managed though,with treatment.I have heard of few cases of sarcoptic or demodex mange in the breed,but that one is definatly more serious to treat since many aussies have the gene that makes them extremly sensitive to ivermectin.

Above poster was me!

Sarcoptic mange can be managed with Revolution treatments now too, not just ivermectin. The Aussie can also be tested for the MDR1 mutation if the parents were not tested for some reason (in the case of rescues).

Never had any skin issues with my guys, one of my parents' dogs had a severe flea allergy and frequently hot spots. Their current Aussie reacted poorly to Frontline and chewed himself raw in the area of application. At the veterinary clinic I work at, I think we only have one with seasonal allergies and that's it.

My Aussie had demodex as a 7month old, it was around her eye. We used a cream(orangey/yellow and gross but I can't think of the name). She is Mdr1 normal/mutant, sooo we stay far away from that list of drufs i keep in my dog bag. ithe demodex cleared up quickly though, no allergies that I've noticed.

Thats good to know there are other treatments now for it!

Sentinel and Revolution are both heartworm preventatives that don't contain Ivermectin.