Dog Skin Problems

You will know if your dog is

suffering

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Dog Skin Problems

You can normally tell if your dog has a skin problem as he will probably scratch a lot, which

may just be a parasite that is annoying him but don’t assume it’s a flea or something similar as it

only takes a minute or two to check.

Dog skin problems are many and varied but your dog’s skin and coat is a good indicator as to

your pet’s general health and many skin disorders tend to be a long lasting and persistent,

requiring long term treatment.

Of course as already mentioned parasites are the most common cause of skin and irritation

problems for our dogs but due to the scratching that your dog will do to relieve the irritation

secondary problems can occur and we very often see loss of fur and sore broken skin in this area.

Ticks and fleas are well known to all dog owners and are reasonably easy to get rid of or get

under control. Mites are a bit different situation primarily because you can’t see them. There are

two main types of mite that affect our dogs and are the cause of demodex or sarcoptic mange.

Mange is a skin irritation caused by these mites, resulting primarily in hair loss. Mites embed

themselves in the hair follicles, or in the skin.

Demodex mange is caused by overpopulation of this particular mite. This mite occurs naturally

in the hair follicles of most dogs and never causes a problem unless certain situations arise for it

to do so. We are talking here about situations such as malnutrition, intense stress or a problem

with your dog’s immune system.

Small patches of mange will often clear up themselves over time but in order to see the full

extent of your dogs condition a visit to your vet is quite important.

Sarcoptic mange is a highly contagious infestation of the sarcoptic or burrowing mite which digs

into the skin causing intense itching. This is very uncomfortable for your dog and hair loss along

with skin damage around the ears and elbows is a sign of infection. Affected dogs need to be

isolated from other dogs and their bed and any other areas they sleep should be thoroughly

cleaned. This will not clear up on its own and a visit to the vet is called for.

Dog skin problems – Allergies

Allergies can be another common cause of dog skin problems. Your dog just like you can be

allergic to almost anything.

The main causes of allergies in dogs are pollen, grass, dust or even their food and can cause

rashes, scratching, chewing of their paws and frequently rubbing their face.

If you notice these symptoms and you have recently changed your dog’s food or shampoo then

you can probably isolate the source of the allergy yourself and the problem will be solved. If not

you will need your vet to perform an allergy test to determine what is causing the problem.

Other allergies classed as normal by vets but none the less uncomfortable for our dogs include

our old friend the flea, food as already mentioned, is a very common allergy seen by vets.

Certain breeds of dog or dogs with very dense coats like the collie or German shepherd can get

what are known as hotspots. These can occur seemingly overnight and is often caused by an

insect bite which is then made worse by the dog licking and scratching at the area. This can

cause an incredible amount of damage to the dogs coat and needs to be treated by thorough

cleaning and the use of anti inflammatory which your vet will prescribe.

Hormonal imbalances even very small amounts can have very large effects, high estrogen levels

may cause your dog to lose hair along their tummies and flanks. If your dog has been spayed she

may produce too little estrogen on occasions which causes the fur to get thinner.

There are many reasons for these dog skin problems, most are not serious, the occasional one

could be but help is always at hand. Your vet has seen most, if not all of these things before and

it’s the place to go if you have concerns or worries.

You will know if your dog is

suffering

Click on the link below to visit our website

http://www.allyouneedtoknowaboutdogs.com