Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How dog skin hydration, pH, and oil vary by age sex and breed
By Kwon, Je-Seong et al.·Published in Veterinary dermatology·2025·Biosafety Research Institute and College of Veterinary Medicine, South Korea·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Variations in skin biophysical parameters with age, sex and breed in dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study looked at the skin health of 149 healthy dogs to understand how age and breed affect skin hydration, pH, and oil levels. It found that older dogs (over 13 years) had lower skin hydration and pH compared to younger dogs. Beagles had better skin hydration and pH than Malteses and miniature poodles. This information can help veterinarians develop better care strategies for dogs with skin issues, especially as they age or based on their breed.
People also search for: dog skin health · why is my dog's skin dry · beagle skin problems · older dog skin care · Maltese skin issues
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Understanding the physiological and biophysical characteristics of skin provides information for developing appropriate management strategies for skin diseases. However, in dogs, variations in skin biophysical parameters, such as age, sex and breed, remain poorly understood. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: This study analysed three biophysical characteristics of healthy dog skin (hydration, pH and sebum content) and investigated the effects of sex, age and breed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred forty-nine dogs without skin problems were enrolled. Skin hydration, pH and sebum content were measured using a multifunctional skin physiology monitor. The dogs were divided into four age groups: <1 year, 1-6 years, 7-12 years and >13 years. RESULTS: Skin hydration levels were significantly lower in the >13 years group than in the 1-6 years and 7-12 groups. Additionally, skin pH levels in the >13 years group were significantly lower than in the 7-12 group. Furthermore, skin biophysical parameters among the five breed groups - beagles (n = 37), Malteses (n = 18), miniature poodles (n = 24), cocker spaniels (n = 11) and Pomeranians (n = 12) - revealed that skin hydration and pH were significantly higher in beagles than those of Malteses and miniature poodles. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These findings indicate that biophysical properties, including skin hydration and pH, vary with age and breed. This study provides fundamental data on the effects of age, sex and breed on the biophysical characteristics of dog skin.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40525614/