Dog Skin Problems

One sure way to determine if your dog has a skin problem is if they are constantly licking, scratching or biting themselves. This in turn can lead to serious infections if not treated properly and you should consult your veterinarian immediately. Things to watch out for related to dog skin problems are dry or flaky skin, redness, bumps, open sores, and any hair loss found in patchy areas on the body.

Parasites which are fleas, ticks, and mites will bite which cause itching, swelling and eventually infection. Mange which is caused by mites can eventually lead to death along with fleas. Sometimes a skin scraping will be taken by your veterinarian and examined under a microscope to determine which parasite is present for proper treatment.

Allergies are one of the hardest to diagnose. There are three types which include food, inhalent, and contact allergies. This can be anything from your household cleaning products, dog yummies, mold spores, dust, and even pollen can be brought in on their coat from the outdoors leaving them with an attack of hay fever. Sometimes a hypoallergenic diet for 8 to 12 weeks will help for food allergies.

Hot spots are commonly called Summer Sores or Moist Eczema. This normally occurs from your dog getting wet from bathing, swimming, lakes, ponds or just laying on the wet grass and the coat does not completely dry out. This can lead to infectious bacteria getting trapped under the fur creating hot spots or sores on the body.

Ringworm is a fungal infection which is prevalent in hot, humid climates and can be transferred to humans. Ringworm looks like a small hairless lesion with the skin in the center of the lesion being scaly looking. It can keep growing and is normally found on the head but can also appear on the legs, feet and tail.

Dry Skin is common in the winter from the exposure to dry heat. This is itchy, flaking skin which can create a very unhappy dog scratching and chewing. A few ways to help control dry skin is adding a home humidifier which adds moisture, skin or coat supplements, or adding a small amount of Olive oil to their food.

Treatment for skin diseases completely vary and may include antihistimines, antibiotics, various topical drugs, antifungal drugs, shampoo and rinses, creams, ointments, and a complete change of diet.

Unfortunately, there are many different kinds of dog skin problems. They can range from dry skin, oily skin and itchy skin. Dealing with dog skin problems can involve a trip to the vet’s office, purchasing skin products and changing the dog’s diet.

Some of the skin problems are caused by flea or tick hypersensitivities. There is also mange. Other skin problems can be caused by internal health problems, for example, hypothyroidism. The dog can also have allergies, much like a person can.

The allergies are mainly caused by food such as beef, corn, wheat and dairy products. A visit to the vet needs to be taken immediately when the dog is seen licking, biting or scratching his skin. This type of behavior can lead to infection and the vet can prescribe or recommend a skin lotion, powder or shampoo that can relieve the discomfort. A change in diet to avoid these types of foods is also in order. Many pet foods contain these items, and the vet must recommend a food that doesn’t include them.

A bacterial infection may be the cause of the dog skin problems and the vet may need to treat it with antibiotics either directly on the skin or taken orally.

In dealing with dog skin problems, the best thing to do is to visit the vet first. He can diagnose the cause of the irritations. The treatment could be a range of items from steroids, antihistamines, antifungals, rinses, shampoos or changes in diet. Sometimes the cure may just take a few days, and for other dog skin problems, the treatment may need to go on for the dog’s whole lifetime.