ACNE 



455 



Acne. Furunculosis. 



Under the name of ''acne" we mean an inflamimation of the hah-- 

 follicles and sebaceous glands resulting in suppuration. This form of 

 skin disease is not produced, however, by follicular acari. This condition 

 is classed as folliculitis or perifolliculitis, and in the dog is regarded as a 

 rather grave condition, as the various follicles in the dog are freciuently 

 connected by one common follicular duct, particularly in the hair bulbs 

 where they have a very complex arrangement with the sel)aceous 

 glands, and the irritation of one duct involves the whole hair bulb and 

 sebaceous gland, causing extensive elevations, painful nodules, or dark 

 bluish-red tumefactions (furuncle, dermatitis furunculosa). 



This condition generally appears on the nose, cheek, side of the face, 

 external fascite of the extremities, between the toes, and in some cases 

 over the entire body. 



Etiology. — ^"er3^ little is known of the actual cause of this disease. 

 Local irritations have been thought to be the cause, such as constant 

 pressure of the muzzle, licking or rubbing the affected parts, and in certain 

 cases to some hereditary predisposition due to alteration in the character 

 of the sebaceous glands, to waste products or pus that breaks down and 



Fig. 160. — Acne of the nose. 



tends to encourage the growth of bacteria which invade the hair-follicles 

 and sebaceous glands. Dogs affected with chronic constipation are more 

 liable to have acne. 



Clinical Symptoms and Prognosis. — This disease which seems to 



