August Dog Skin Care: Late Summer Infections, Ragweed, and Post-Swim Routines

Based on peer reviewed veterinary research · For educational purposes only · Updated October 2026 · 8 min read

What Does August Mean for Your Dog's Skin?

August dog skin care is the practice of managing the late summer overlap of heat, humidity, swimming, and the start of ragweed pollen season, the combination that drives a seasonal spike in itch, hot spots, and secondary bacterial and yeast infections. In much of North America, ragweed begins releasing pollen in mid August and continues until the first hard frost, so allergic dogs often get no relief between summer grass season and fall weed season.

Canine atopic dermatitis (environmental allergy) is estimated to affect about 10% of the dog population (Hillier & Griffin, 2001). For these dogs, August is not just hot; it is a month of sustained allergen exposure layered on top of moisture from swimming, bathing, and panting.

The result is a predictable pattern seen in veterinary clinics every year: paw licking, face rubbing, recurrent ear trouble, and sudden moist lesions on the neck, hips, and flanks. If your dog struggled in midsummer, review our July Dog Skin Care guide, because the problems that start in July tend to compound in August.

Why Do Skin Infections Peak in Late Summer?

Skin infections peak in late summer because three risk factors stack together: allergic inflammation, persistent moisture, and self-trauma from scratching and licking. Each one weakens the skin barrier, and a weakened barrier lets resident microbes overgrow.

The two organisms involved most often are Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, the leading cause of canine superficial pyoderma (bacterial skin infection), and Malassezia pachydermatis, a lipid-loving yeast. Both live normally on healthy dog skin. International consensus guidelines describe canine pyoderma as almost always secondary to an underlying cause, most commonly allergy (Hillier et al., 2014), and the same is true of Malassezia dermatitis (Bond et al., 2020).

Ragweed adds a new allergic load at exactly the time humidity is highest. Allergic skin releases inflammatory mediators, the dog scratches, the stratum corneum (outer skin layer) is damaged, and bacteria and yeast exploit the gap. A dog that swims daily and never fully dries out gives those organisms a constant warm, wet surface to colonize. Breeds with dense double coats, deep facial or body folds, and pendulous ears are overrepresented. For allergen specifics, see Pollen Allergies in Dogs: Which Plants Cause the Worst Reactions.

How Do Veterinarians Diagnose Late Summer Skin Problems?

Veterinarians diagnose late summer skin problems by first identifying any infection, then working back to the trigger that allowed it. Treating the infection without addressing the cause is the main reason the same dogs return every August.

The core in-clinic tests are simple and inexpensive:

Skin cytology, tape or impression samples examined under a microscope, shows cocci (round bacteria), Malassezia yeast, and inflammatory cells within minutes. Skin scrapings rule out mites such as Demodex. Bacterial culture and susceptibility testing is recommended when infection recurs or fails to respond, because methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is increasingly common (Hillier et al., 2014).

Atopic dermatitis is a clinical diagnosis of exclusion. Fleas, food allergy, and infection are ruled out first, and the history is compared against Favrot's criteria, which are approximately 85% sensitive and 79% specific when five of eight criteria are met (Favrot et al., 2010). Allergy testing (intradermal or serum IgE) is used to select allergens for immunotherapy, not to make the diagnosis itself (Hensel et al., 2015). If you are trying to sort out what you are seeing at home before the appointment, the Dog Skin Condition Checker can help you organize the signs.

Signs and Symptoms to Watch For in August

The signs that matter most in August are new or worsening itch, moist red lesions, odor, and changes in the paws, ears, and skin folds. Different problems tend to look different, which helps you describe them accurately to your veterinarian.

How Should You Care for Your Dog's Skin After Swimming?

After swimming, the goal is to remove irritants and get the skin itself dry, not just the top of the coat. Lake water carries algae, bacteria, and organic debris; pool water carries chlorine; salt water leaves residue that draws moisture out of the skin.

A practical post-swim routine has four steps. Rinse with clean, lukewarm water to remove chlorine, salt, and debris. Dry to the skin with a towel and, for thick double coats, a cool-setting dryer, paying attention to the armpits, groin, and under the collar. Dry the ears by gently wiping the outer canal and flap with a soft cloth. Inspect the paws, between the toes, and any skin folds for redness, odor, or moisture.

Dogs that swim repeatedly face the same cumulative exposure described in our guide to Dock Diving Dogs: Skin Care for Repeated Water Exposure and Pool Chemicals. If your dog is already prone to hot spots, the seasonal advice in Preventing Hot Spots in Dogs: A Seasonal Prevention Guide applies directly to August.

Treatment Options for Late Summer Skin Infections

Late summer skin infections are treated on two tracks at once: clear the infection, and control the allergy or moisture problem that caused it. International guidelines recommend topical antiseptic therapy as first-line or adjunctive treatment for superficial pyoderma, because it acts directly at the skin surface and reduces reliance on systemic antibiotics (Hillier et al., 2014; Mueller et al., 2012).

For allergic itch, veterinarians use a stepwise plan: allergen avoidance where possible, bathing to remove pollen from the coat, and, for moderate to severe flares, prescription anti-itch medications. The ICADA guidelines emphasize that flares are best controlled by treating secondary infection at the same time as the itch (Olivry et al., 2015).

For topical antimicrobial support, Chlorhexidine Spray contains chlorhexidine gluconateand ketoconazole. Chlorhexidine disrupts bacterial cell membranes and is active against Staphylococcus, while ketoconazole inhibits ergosterol synthesis in the Malassezia cell wall, so a single application addresses the two organisms most often involved in late summer flares. It is an FDA-registered OTC veterinary drug listed on DailyMed, not a cosmetic spray. It is most useful on localized areas such as paws, folds, and the armpits after the skin has been dried. A hot spot, a spreading rash, or any lesion that does not improve within a few days needs a veterinary exam, and broader allergy context is available on our Dog Skin Allergies page.

Prevention and Long-Term Management Into Fall

Preventing August skin problems means reducing allergen load, keeping the skin dry, and catching early changes before they become infections. Because ragweed season usually continues until the first frost, the habits you set in August carry into September and October.

Wipe paws and the lower legs after walks during high-pollen days, since pollen collects on the feet and belly. Bathe allergic dogs regularly with a shampoo your veterinarian approves, which physically removes allergens from the coat. Keep flea prevention current, because flea allergy dermatitis remains active in warm months and adds to the itch threshold. Wash bedding weekly in hot water.

For dogs with a history of seasonal flares, talk with your veterinarian before ragweed season about a proactive plan. Long-term options such as allergen-specific immunotherapy take months to work, so August is the right time to start that conversation (Olivry et al., 2015). For a month-by-month view of what changes next, see Seasonal Allergies in Dogs: When Spring and Summer Mean Scratching.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my dog itch more in August?

August overlaps peak humidity with the start of ragweed pollen season, which usually runs from mid August until the first frost. Dogs with atopic dermatitis, estimated at about 10% of dogs, often flare at this time, and moisture from swimming makes secondary infection more likely.

Can dogs be allergic to ragweed?

Yes. Ragweed and other weed pollens are recognized environmental allergens in dogs with atopic dermatitis. Unlike people, dogs usually show ragweed allergy as itchy skin, paw licking, face rubbing, and ear problems rather than sneezing.

What should I do after my dog swims?

Rinse with clean, lukewarm water, dry the coat down to the skin, gently dry the outer ears, and check the paws and skin folds for redness or odor. Thick double coats may need a cool-setting dryer to dry fully.

Why do hot spots appear more in late summer?

Hot spots, or pyotraumatic dermatitis, form when a damp coat and an itchy trigger lead to intense licking and scratching. Late summer provides both: humidity and swimming keep the skin wet, and pollen and fleas drive itch.

Sources

1. Hillier A, Griffin CE. The ACVD task force on canine atopic dermatitis (I): incidence and prevalence. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology. 2001;81(3-4):147-151.
2. Hillier A, Lloyd DH, Weese JS, et al. Guidelines for the diagnosis and antimicrobial therapy of canine superficial bacterial folliculitis (Antimicrobial Guidelines Working Group of the International Society for Companion Animal Infectious Diseases). Veterinary Dermatology. 2014;25(3):163-e43.
3. Bond R, Morris DO, Guillot J, et al. Biology, diagnosis and treatment of Malassezia dermatitis in dogs and cats: Clinical Consensus Guidelines of the World Association for Veterinary Dermatology. Veterinary Dermatology. 2020;31(1):28-74.
4. Favrot C, Steffan J, Seewald W, Picco F. A prospective study on the clinical features of chronic canine atopic dermatitis and its diagnosis. Veterinary Dermatology. 2010;21(1):23-31.
5. Hensel P, Santoro D, Favrot C, Hill P, Griffin C. Canine atopic dermatitis: detailed guidelines for diagnosis and allergen identification. BMC Veterinary Research. 2015;11:196.
6. Olivry T, DeBoer DJ, Favrot C, et al. Treatment of canine atopic dermatitis: 2015 updated guidelines from the International Committee on Allergic Diseases of Animals (ICADA). BMC Veterinary Research. 2015;11:210.
7. Holm BR, Rest JR, Seewald W. A prospective study of the clinical findings, treatment and histopathology of 44 cases of pyotraumatic dermatitis. Veterinary Dermatology. 2004;15(6):369-376.
8. Mueller RS, Bergvall K, Bensignor E, Bond R. A review of topical therapy for skin infections with bacteria and yeast. Veterinary Dermatology. 2012;23(4):330-e62.

Related Reading

• July Dog Skin Care: Peak Heat, Humidity, and Yeast Infection Prevention
• Pollen Allergies in Dogs: Which Plants Cause the Worst Reactions
• Preventing Hot Spots in Dogs: A Seasonal Prevention Guide

E. Maddens

Founder of Vetified. Develops topical antifungal and antimicrobial formulations for companion animals. Vetified products are listed on DailyMed and manufactured through FDA-registered facilities in the United States.

Research basis: All Vetified content references peer reviewed research published in journals including Veterinary Dermatology, JAVMA, and Journal of Small Animal Practice.