By the Pethocyn editorial team. Published October 29, 2026. Updated November 1, 2026. Sources are listed at the end of the article.

Sebaceous adenitis is an uncommon, immune-related skin disease of dogs in which an inflammatory reaction gradually destroys the sebaceous glands, the oil glands of the skin. [1] It brings hair loss, thickened scaly skin and seborrhea (greasy or flaky skin) in varying degrees. [1] With little or no oil coming from these glands, the skin also loses part of its natural protection against microbes. [2]

This guide covers what published studies say about which dogs get it, the signs, how it is diagnosed and the outlook. For other causes of scaling and hair loss, see dandruff and dry, flaky skin in dogs and hair loss in dogs.

Which dogs get it

  • It has been reported in more than 50 breeds and is best documented in the Standard Poodle and the Akita. [1] A 2026 review lists the Vizsla, Akita, Standard Poodle, Havanese, Springer Spaniel, Chow Chow and Samoyed among the breeds that are often affected. [2]
  • A Swedish study of 104 cases found the most cases in English Springer Spaniels (25), Standard Poodles (21) and Akitas (10), and suggested the English Springer Spaniel is a predisposed breed. [1]
  • A study of Havanese dogs found sebaceous adenitis in 12 of 34 Havanese dogs presented over a 5-year period, and called it a common diagnosis in that breed. [3]
  • Sebaceous adenitis has also been reported in other breeds, such as a black Labrador Retriever. [4]

When it starts

Signs are reported to begin in young adult to middle-aged dogs. [1] In the Havanese study, signs began in young adulthood. [3] The mean age at diagnosis was 4.8 years in the Swedish study, [1] and the average age at diagnosis in a 2026 biopsy study was 4.6 years in Akitas and 5.5 years in Poodles. [5] Some forms of the disease stay localized, with only passing inflammation and mild signs. [1]

Signs on the skin and coat

  • Hair loss, thickened skin and scaling. Hair loss, thickening of the outer skin layer (hyperkeratosis) and seborrhea vary in degree from dog to dog. [1] Redness can also be seen. [2]
  • Where it starts. Lesions often begin on the top of the head, the neck and the ear flaps, then move back to the trunk, usually sparing the belly and often the legs. [1]
  • Coat type matters. Long-haired dogs mostly show widespread scaling, seborrhea and follicular casts, while short-haired dogs tend to get red bumps or raised patches that turn into round, scaly, hairless areas, which can later merge. [1] In Akitas, the first lesions were mainly along the middle of the back and on the ears, with hair loss affecting mainly the undercoat. [6]
  • Follicular casts. Scale that clings around the base of the hairs is a typical sign, especially once the disease has gone on for a while. [1] The hairs end up sheathed in keratin that stays on as the hair grows. [2] In the Havanese study, follicular casts were seen in 11 of 12 affected dogs, along with hair loss and thinning hair. The trunk, head and ears were commonly affected, and 8 of 12 dogs had involvement of the ear flap or ear canal. [3]
  • Skin infections. Secondary skin infection (pyoderma) was seen in 5 of 12 Havanese dogs. [3] Secondary skin and outer ear infections are treated by the vet when they occur. [1] See pyoderma in dogs.
  • Itch. Itching is usually not an early sign, but it can develop once a secondary skin infection sets in. [1] The Labrador in a 2010 report had hair loss that was not itchy. [4]
  • Breed differences. In the Swedish study, Springer Spaniels with widespread signs had significantly more severe hair loss, seborrhea, pyoderma and overall signs at diagnosis than Standard Poodles. [1]

The eyes

Sebaceous glands and the meibomian glands of the eyelids share anatomical, physiological and developmental similarities. A 2024 study compared 9 dogs with sebaceous adenitis with 9 healthy dogs of matching breed and age. Dogs with sebaceous adenitis showed a thinner oily layer in the tear film and more severe meibomian gland changes than the healthy dogs, and these changes seemed to progress with age. One third of the affected dogs had small crystal-like spots in the cornea (subepithelial crystalline opacities), which the authors said might reflect a reduced tear film quality. [7]

How it is diagnosed

In the studies cited here, the diagnosis was confirmed with a skin biopsy (a small skin sample examined under the microscope). The Swedish study included only clinically and histologically verified cases, [1] and the Akita study established the diagnosis by showing an inflammatory reaction aimed at the sebaceous glands or a reduced number of glands. [6] In the 2026 biopsy study, sebaceous glands were missing in 15 of 20 Akita samples and 8 of 13 Poodle samples, and Akitas showed more inflammation while Poodles showed more severe thickening of the outer skin layer. [5]

What causes it

  • The disease is considered immune-mediated, with the immune reaction ending up destroying the oil glands. [1][2]
  • A recessive pattern of inheritance (a dog is affected only when it inherits the trait from both parents) has been proposed for the Standard Poodle and suggested for the Akita. [1] The Akita study added that immune-related factors, apart from genetic background, possibly influence the onset and course of the disease. [6]
  • A 2015 genetic study of 761 Standard Poodles, Miniature Poodles and crosses says sebaceous adenitis increased rapidly in incidence among Standard Poodles after the mid-twentieth century. Standard Poodles with sebaceous adenitis were strongly linked to an inbred part of the population, with affected dogs being the most inbred. No specific genetic markers other than those reflecting the degree of inbreeding were consistently linked to the disease. [8]

Treatment and outlook

  • Your vet will choose any treatment; this guide does not name medicines or doses. In milder cases, care is often aimed at the skin itself, with shampoos, moisturizing products and oil treatments, while treatment by mouth is used in more severe cases. [1]
  • The Swedish authors describe the care as lifelong and demanding for owners, even though the disease itself is not fatal. [1]
  • The Akita study found that the destruction of the sebaceous glands progressed differently between dogs, was not seen in all cases, and that the glands may regenerate. [6]
  • A 2026 study of 122 dogs from the records of a multicentre veterinary dermatology group over 10 years rated the response to treatment as excellent in 18.9%, good in 29.5%, fair in 21.3%, no improvement in 10.7% and progressive in 18.9%. 39% of dogs had a flare after reaching maintenance. The authors concluded that outcomes cannot be predicted from breed or type of treatment, and that each dog’s care needs to be adjusted to its own response. [9]
  • In the Havanese study, improvement ranged from minimal to marked, with better response linked to longer treatment, and owners with more than 1 year of follow-up commonly reported occasional flares. [3]

When to see your vet

  • Patchy hair loss with thickened, scaly or greasy skin, especially in a Standard Poodle, Akita, Springer Spaniel, Vizsla or Havanese. [1][2]
  • Hair loss and scaling that start on the head, neck or ear flaps and spread back along the body. [1]
  • Scale clinging around the base of the hairs, hair loss or thinning hair on the trunk, head or ears. [1][3]
  • Signs of skin infection or new itching on top of these coat changes. [1][3]

FAQ

Is sebaceous adenitis in dogs genetic?
Studies point to an inherited part in some breeds: a recessive pattern has been proposed in Standard Poodles and Akitas, [1] and in Standard Poodles the disease is closely tied to inbreeding. [8]

Is sebaceous adenitis itchy?
Usually not at first, but itching can develop when a secondary skin infection sets in. [1]

Can sebaceous adenitis be cured?
Results vary a lot. In a 2026 study of 122 dogs, just under half had a good or excellent response, and 39% had a flare after reaching maintenance. [9] In Akitas, the oil glands may regenerate. [6]

Does it affect the eyes?
A small 2024 study found more severe changes in the oil glands of the eyelids in dogs with sebaceous adenitis than in healthy dogs. [7]

The bottom line

Sebaceous adenitis is an immune-related disease that destroys the oil glands of the skin. It is best documented in Standard Poodles and Akitas, is common in Havanese and Springer Spaniels, and usually starts in young adult to middle-aged dogs. [1][2][3] Hair loss, thickened scaly skin and scale clinging to the hairs are typical, and itching usually comes only with a secondary infection. [1] Care is often lifelong, and a 2026 study found that outcomes cannot be predicted from breed or type of treatment. [1][9]

This article is for general information and is not a substitute for a veterinary exam. If you are worried about your dog’s skin or coat, see your veterinarian.

Sources

    Hernblad Tevell E, Bergvall K, Egenvall A. Sebaceous adenitis in Swedish dogs, a retrospective study of 104 cases. Acta Vet Scand. 2008;50(1):11. doi:10.1186/1751-0147-50-11. PMID 18501018. PMCID PMC2412885 (open access, CC BY). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2412885/
  1. Pfannkuche H, Maus J, Engel KM, Schiller J, Schneider MR. Decoding sebaceous gland functions and diseases: insights from domestic animals. Vet Res Commun. 2026;50(3):197. doi:10.1007/s11259-026-11128-0. PMID 41824006. PMCID PMC12987846 (open access, CC BY). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12987846/

    2. Frazer MM, Schick AE, Lewis TP, Jazic E. Sebaceous adenitis in Havanese dogs: a retrospective study of the clinical presentation and incidence. Vet Dermatol. 2011;22(3):267-274. doi:10.1111/j.1365-3164.2010.00942.x. PMID 21210878. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21210878/

    Varjonen K, Rest J, Bond R. Alopecia in a black Labrador retriever associated with focal sub-follicular panniculitis and sebaceous adenitis. Vet Dermatol. 2010;21(4):415-419. doi:10.1111/j.1365-3164.2010.00868.x. PMID 20374570. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20374570/

    Puvača N, Lemo N, Banović F, Kurilj AG. Comparative histopathological characterisation of sebaceous adenitis in affected Poodle, Poodle-related breeds and Japanese Akita dogs: a retrospective, blinded study. Vet Dermatol. 2026;37(3):386-394. doi:10.1111/vde.70055. PMID 41703908. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41703908/

    Reichler IM, et al. Sebaceous adenitis in the Akita: clinical observations, histopathology and heredity. Vet Dermatol. 2001;12(5):243-253. doi:10.1046/j.0959-4493.2001.00251.x. PMID 11906649. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11906649/

    Striuli G, Vandenabeele S, Nachtegaele F, Devriendt N. Correlation between meibomian gland dysfunction and sebaceous adenitis in dogs. Vet Dermatol. 2024;35(6):605-616. doi:10.1111/vde.13293. PMID 39210731. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39210731/

    Pedersen NC, et al. The effect of genetic bottlenecks and inbreeding on the incidence of two major autoimmune diseases in standard poodles, sebaceous adenitis and Addison’s disease. Canine Genet Epidemiol. 2015;2:14. doi:10.1186/s40575-015-0026-5. PMID 26401342. PMCID PMC4579369 (open access, CC BY). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4579369/

    Batt H, Griffin J, Daniels MW, Miller J. Therapeutic outcomes and owner assessment in canine sebaceous adenitis across breeds: a multicentre retrospective analysis and owner survey. Vet Dermatol. 2026;37(5):650-658. doi:10.1111/vde.70095. PMID 42311196. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42311196/