Skin fold dermatitis in dogs – signs and what to do

Updated 2026-09-30 · 2 sources

Based on: PDSA, Science for Animal Welfare (UFAW), Genetic Welfare Problems of Companion Animals

Book a vet visit

Book a vet appointment if you think your dog has this – a vet needs to confirm it and plan the treatment. It is an infection in a pocket between two folds of skin.

What to do now

What you can do now

Contact your vet.
Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see.
Take a photo or short video to show the vet.
Keep fresh water available.

Don't

Do not give any human medicine.
Do not wait if it gets worse.

What it is

Skin fold dermatitis is an infection in a pocket between two folds of skin.^[1] Skin fold pockets are warm and moist, providing a place for bacteria and yeast to grow; it is common in overweight dogs, dogs with wrinkly skin and dogs with short noses.^[1] It can cause smelly skin, sore skin folds, discharge and pain when the folds are cleaned or moved.^[1]

Signs

Smelly skin
Scratching, rubbing, licking or biting
Red, sore skin folds
Yellow or white discharge inside skin folds
Pain when skin folds are cleaned or moved

Causes and risk factors

Overweight
Wrinkly skin
Short noses
French Bulldog
Pug
Shar-Pei
Pekingese
Boxer

How vets treat it

Regular cleaning
Keeping infected skin folds clean and dry
Reducing inflammation
Antibiotics
Anti-inflammatories
Steroids
Antifungal treatment
Medication

Breeds prone to this

Veterinary charities list these breeds as more likely than others to get this condition. Each breed page lists the inherited conditions documented in the breed.

What the experts say

“Treating skin fold dermatitis involves regular cleaning, reducing inflammation and sometimes antibiotics /anti-yeast treatment. It's very important to keep infected skin folds clean and dry.”
— PDSA [1]

If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

OkPaw is on Android now – an iPhone version is on its way.

Common questions

What is skin fold dermatitis?

It is an infection in a pocket between two folds of skin.^[1]

What signs can skin fold dermatitis cause?

Signs include smelly skin, scratching, rubbing, licking or biting, red and sore skin folds, yellow or white discharge, and pain when the folds are cleaned or moved.^[1]

How may a vet treat skin fold dermatitis?

A vet may use regular cleaning, reduce inflammation and sometimes use antibiotics or anti-yeast treatment; infected skin folds should be kept clean and dry.^[1]

Sources

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages