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One of the best things in life is to see the joy your dog has
when he looks at you. It is just as sad when your best-friend is
suffering from some illness and looks at you with sad eyes,
unable to vocalize what he is going through. However, this does
not mean that you cannot detect what has happened to him. Dogs
can be affected by different types of diseases. Here are four
things to look out for which will indicate if your dog is having
skin disease:
-
Hair-fall:Needless to say, this is one symptom
that every dog owner knows is caused by a skin disease.
However, it is better to know more about it so that you will be
better able to take the right decisions at the right time. The
hair fall can be a result of either a systematic disorder, or a
symptom as a secondary disorder. Either ways, it is one of the
saddest things to see your pooch losing patches of hair and
going bald. If your best-friend is balding, seek medical help
immediately as it can get very difficult to diagnose the
problem. The causes vary- sometimes it can be due to parasites,
and at others it could be due to the hormonal glands.
-
Itchy skin:This is a very common problem in
dogs. However, this does not mean it can be taken easily. If
you notice your dog persistently scratching, any time of the
day you should be seeing a vet. Though itching does not seem
like a big problem, persistent itching leads to wounds, gashes,
hair loss and lesions in the skin. One of the most common
causes of itching can be flea allergy.
-
Dull-coats:Has the shine of your dogโs coat of
fur been replaced with a dull-looking shade? If yes, then that
is another sign of skin disease. This could possibly be caused
by a deficit of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Try
supplementing these fatty acids in your dog's diet and look for
a change. It is always advisable to do this under the guidance
of a vet. Try making these supplements a part of your dog's
diet.
-
Red-spots:If you find sores or red spots on
your dog's skin, find out if it is a secondary symptom caused
by itching. Red spots are usually symptoms of allergies and
bacterial infections. In case your pooch has sores that are
sticky, take him to the vet without delay as it such things are
know to worsen with time.Some symptoms can overlap with others.
Observe your dog carefully to observe any patterns. Determine
the effects of different foods, environments and medications on
your dogs and keep a careful not of these patterns. After all,
if your best-friend is happy, so are you.
Common Dog Skin Issues
Skin diseases are common among dogs and are often caused by some
underlying problem like bacteria, parasites (internal
like worms or external
like fleas), fungi, or hormonal
problems. Other causes might include poisons or toxins, like
household cleaners or pesticides, or tumors, which can be more
common in older dogs. Learn about some common dog skin issues and
how to treat them here.
Signs of Skin Diseases
Yellow pustules and crusty skin can be a sign of a bacterial
infection. Hair loss and ulcerations might also be seen. Most
often such problems are seen on the chin, behind the elbows, on
the stomach or between the dogโs toes.
Ringworm, a common skin
infection that can affect animals and people, shows signs of
circular patches of missing hair. The infection is more common on
a dogโs legs and head, but it can spread over the rest of their
body.
A skin allergy may be causing the dogโs discomfort, and signs of
a flea allergy might include constant biting of an
area, flea โdirtโ (little
black spots of blood), or red and inflamed skin. Contact skin
allergies, when the dog is allergic to something their body comes
in contact with, would be on the areas of contact, for example on
the dogโs feet or belly.
Mange is another skin
disease that can cause crusting and hair loss. It normally
affects the areas around the dogโs ears, belly, and chest.
Ear mites can cause a dog to scratch their ears so intently that
they lose the hair behind them.
Hormonal imbalances can cause hair loss, but the signs can be
somewhat different than other skin diseases; with hormonal
problems, the hair loss is usually uniform around the body.
Treatment
Treatment for skin problems typically begins with getting a
correct diagnosis. Your veterinarian will observe the signs and
run tests to determine the cause of your dogโs discomfort. Tests
might include skin scrapings and blood work.
Once the underlying cause of the skin problem is determined, your
dog can be treated. Treatment might include dips or specially
medicated shampoos (for fleas or
mange), antibiotics like Clavamox for
dogs and cats (for infections); Tresaderm; or Cephalexin; antihistamines
and steroids (for allergies), antifungals (for ringworm), removal
of the offending allergen (like a cleaning solution), or a change
in diet (for food allergies, for example, to corn or beef).
Determining the source of the dogโs problem may take some time,
but if you are observant of your dogโs health and diligent in
treating the issue, what might be a chronic condition for your
dog can be controlled successfully.
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Certain Food?
This information is for informational purposes only and is not
meant as a substitute for the professional advice of, or
diagnosis or treatment by, your veterinarian with respect to your
pet. It has, however, been verified by a licensed veterinarian
for accuracy.
