Dogs
Dogs are man's best friend and suffer from many illnesses like man. Dogs can develop many dog allergies and infections that lead to skin diseases. Skin disorders in dogs are amongst the most common conditions that a vet treats. Dogs can be infected with many parasites like fleas, mites, fungus, etc, that lead to skin disorders in dogs. Many times dogs keep scratching an irritated skin that leads to development of secondary bacterial infections.
Parasitic Skin Disorder in Dogs
The most common causes of skin diseases are parasites. Fleas are often the main cause. The other parasites that lead to skin conditions are mites that causes 'mange'. Mites, lice, ticks, etc. are other parasites that may cause these condition. The dog becomes irritated with these parasites living in his coat and keeps scratching. This leads to many skin disorders in dogs.
Symptoms of Diseases Due to Parasites
In case of ear mites in dogs, the dog will experience severe irritation in his ears. You will observe that the dog keeps scratching the back of his ear. Many times ticks, lice and fleas feed on the dogs blood and causes itching. This also leads to severe scratching and the dog may suddenly become agitated for no apparent reason.
In case of sarcoptic mange, you will observe itching, hair loss and crusting on the skin. The ears, front legs, chest and abdomen of the dog becomes severely affected due to sarcoptic mange. In case of demodectic mange, the dog experiences itching, the skin becomes red and scaly. There are round patches on skin due to hair loss that look like 'ringworm'. Most of the time front legs are affected by the disease and in many cases it is a generalized infection.
Treatment
The vet may advise cleaning the dogs ears thoroughly after sedating the animal. There will be a couple of follow-up treatments in which the doctor may apply ointments and solutions to kill the mites. He may also prescribe insecticidal dips, sprays, powders, etc. for home treatment. The vet may also prescribe dis, shampoos, dog flea collars, foams and floggers to get rid of lice, ticks and fleas.
Treatment for mange includes clipping of the infected area and giving an antiseptic wash. The vet may advise use of anti mite dips twice or thrice a wee. You need to plug the dogs ears and protect the eyes with mineral oil before applying the dip. In case of infection, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics.Allergic Skin Disorders in Dogs
Dogs can develop severe allergic reactions due to hypersensitivity to allergens. The most common cause of skin diseases due to allergy is flea saliva. Even a single flea bite can lead to a severe allergic reaction. Other causes include house dusts, molds and pollens. Sometimes dogs develop 'contact allergy' due to chemicals in soaps, waxes, carpets and flea collars. Insect bites and stings may also lead to skin disorders in dogs.
Symptoms of Skin Diseases Due to Allergy
You may observe itching, red and moist spots on skin. These spots are known as 'hot spots'. The dog will continuously lick and scratch affected skin areas. Flea allergies are seen on the back and near the tail. Pollen and dust allergies cause swelling of face, feet, chest and abdomen. You will observe allergies on the abdomen and the feet pads due to contact allergy.
Treatment
The vet may administer antihistamines and corticosteroids to provide relief form the intense itching. Immunotherapy is also tried by many vets to help control the hyposensitization in dogs.
Bacterial Skin Disorder in Dogs
The main causes of this form of disease is Staphylococci. Staph is a common skin bacteria that is found on every dog. These opportunistic bacteria causes infections, when it finds an opening in the body due to skin injury or continuous scratching.
Symptoms of Skin Diseases Due to Bacteria
You may observe yellow and itchy pustules developed in dogs. The dogs skin becomes ulcerated and red. As the infection advances, there are dry,crusted areas with hair loss on the skin and you may smell an odor.
The most common skin area to be infected by bacteria is chin that is called 'chin acne'. Obese dogs, pug nose breeds, etc. also develop bacterial infections in the face, vulva and lip region. Puppies are commonly affected by bacterial diseases between the toes, calluses of the elbows, etc.
Treatment
The vet may shave off the hair around the lesions, and give the dog a bath with antiseptic shampoos. Antibiotics may be administered orally for 3 to 4 weeks. The vet may give antiseptic shampoos, antibiotics ointment and antibiotic tablets to get rid of the infections.
Fungal Skin Disorders in Dogs
The most common causes are due to microsporum and trichophyton. These fungal infections are commonly known as 'ringworm' diseases.
Symptoms of Skin Diseases Due to Fungi
You will observe circular patches, dry crusty skin in dogs infected with ringworm. The legs and head are commonly infected by ringworm that can spread to other parts of the body.
Treatment
Treatment for ringworm in dogs involves clipping of hair and use of anti fungal shampoos to bathe the dog. The vet will advice topical lime sulfur and systemics to be administered.
Hormonal Skin Disorders in Dogs
The main causes are due to disorders in the hormonal secretions of the thyroid, adrenal, pituitary glands, testicles and ovaries. The hyper or hypo secretions lead to many skin disorders that cause changes in the hair coat and skin.
Symptoms of Skin Diseases Due to Hormones
You will observe hair loss, thinner or thicker skin and changes in the color of the skin and hair coat. The dog will not be itchy and scratchy due to hormonal skin disorders in dogs.
Treatment
It is a symptom of a serious disorder in dogs. The vet may treat the underlying disorder to treat the skin disorder. Many times surgical neutering or spraying may help reduce the symptoms of skin disorders in dogs.
If you observe anything that is not normal,speak to the vet. Dog health should be the number one factor in pet care. Give proper dog care and keep the dog in hygienic conditions. Dog grooming, like brushing and bathing, should be carried out at least once a week. Use antiseptic shampoos to reduce the chances of infections. A healthy skin is a sign of a healthy and happy dog.
- Skin Disorders In Dogs
Dog's skin and coat serve as indicator of the pets' health. Itching, skin rashes, or very dry skin and fur loss are the common indications of skin disorders in dogs. Some of these disorders have such a long run, that dog owners need to have...
- Canine Skin Diseases
Skin diseases are one of the most common ailments in dogs. In most cases, skin disorders are caused due to infections and allergic reactions. Dog allergies affect the skin, rather than the respiratory tract observed in humans. The immune system of...
- Dog Skin Problems
With a pet dog, the most frequently reported problem is a skin or ear related health complication. Like humans, dogs are susceptible to various skin disorders, which may develop due to allergies, parasites, infection or as a referred symptom of other...
- Dermatitis In Dogs
Unhygienic surrounding is the most common reason for skin infections in dogs. Dermatitis can be caused by bacterial or fungal infection. It can also get triggered due to some dog allergies. Some dogs that suffer from dermatitis have been detected...
- Itchy Skin On Dogs
The problem of itchy skin in dogs is caused due to different dog health problems. Diseases caused due to these problems can give you a hard time in maintaining the skin and coat of your pet dog. Itchy dog skin can also get quite troublesome for the...
Dogs
Skin Diseases in Dogs
Dogs are man's best friend and suffer from many illnesses like man. Dogs can develop many dog allergies and infections that lead to skin diseases. Skin disorders in dogs are amongst the most common conditions that a vet treats. Dogs can be infected with many parasites like fleas, mites, fungus, etc, that lead to skin disorders in dogs. Many times dogs keep scratching an irritated skin that leads to development of secondary bacterial infections.
Parasitic Skin Disorder in Dogs
The most common causes of skin diseases are parasites. Fleas are often the main cause. The other parasites that lead to skin conditions are mites that causes 'mange'. Mites, lice, ticks, etc. are other parasites that may cause these condition. The dog becomes irritated with these parasites living in his coat and keeps scratching. This leads to many skin disorders in dogs.
Symptoms of Diseases Due to Parasites
In case of ear mites in dogs, the dog will experience severe irritation in his ears. You will observe that the dog keeps scratching the back of his ear. Many times ticks, lice and fleas feed on the dogs blood and causes itching. This also leads to severe scratching and the dog may suddenly become agitated for no apparent reason.
In case of sarcoptic mange, you will observe itching, hair loss and crusting on the skin. The ears, front legs, chest and abdomen of the dog becomes severely affected due to sarcoptic mange. In case of demodectic mange, the dog experiences itching, the skin becomes red and scaly. There are round patches on skin due to hair loss that look like 'ringworm'. Most of the time front legs are affected by the disease and in many cases it is a generalized infection.
Treatment
The vet may advise cleaning the dogs ears thoroughly after sedating the animal. There will be a couple of follow-up treatments in which the doctor may apply ointments and solutions to kill the mites. He may also prescribe insecticidal dips, sprays, powders, etc. for home treatment. The vet may also prescribe dis, shampoos, dog flea collars, foams and floggers to get rid of lice, ticks and fleas.
Treatment for mange includes clipping of the infected area and giving an antiseptic wash. The vet may advise use of anti mite dips twice or thrice a wee. You need to plug the dogs ears and protect the eyes with mineral oil before applying the dip. In case of infection, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics.Allergic Skin Disorders in Dogs
Dogs can develop severe allergic reactions due to hypersensitivity to allergens. The most common cause of skin diseases due to allergy is flea saliva. Even a single flea bite can lead to a severe allergic reaction. Other causes include house dusts, molds and pollens. Sometimes dogs develop 'contact allergy' due to chemicals in soaps, waxes, carpets and flea collars. Insect bites and stings may also lead to skin disorders in dogs.
Symptoms of Skin Diseases Due to Allergy
You may observe itching, red and moist spots on skin. These spots are known as 'hot spots'. The dog will continuously lick and scratch affected skin areas. Flea allergies are seen on the back and near the tail. Pollen and dust allergies cause swelling of face, feet, chest and abdomen. You will observe allergies on the abdomen and the feet pads due to contact allergy.
Treatment
The vet may administer antihistamines and corticosteroids to provide relief form the intense itching. Immunotherapy is also tried by many vets to help control the hyposensitization in dogs.
Bacterial Skin Disorder in Dogs
The main causes of this form of disease is Staphylococci. Staph is a common skin bacteria that is found on every dog. These opportunistic bacteria causes infections, when it finds an opening in the body due to skin injury or continuous scratching.
Symptoms of Skin Diseases Due to Bacteria
You may observe yellow and itchy pustules developed in dogs. The dogs skin becomes ulcerated and red. As the infection advances, there are dry,crusted areas with hair loss on the skin and you may smell an odor.
The most common skin area to be infected by bacteria is chin that is called 'chin acne'. Obese dogs, pug nose breeds, etc. also develop bacterial infections in the face, vulva and lip region. Puppies are commonly affected by bacterial diseases between the toes, calluses of the elbows, etc.
Treatment
The vet may shave off the hair around the lesions, and give the dog a bath with antiseptic shampoos. Antibiotics may be administered orally for 3 to 4 weeks. The vet may give antiseptic shampoos, antibiotics ointment and antibiotic tablets to get rid of the infections.
Fungal Skin Disorders in Dogs
The most common causes are due to microsporum and trichophyton. These fungal infections are commonly known as 'ringworm' diseases.
Symptoms of Skin Diseases Due to Fungi
You will observe circular patches, dry crusty skin in dogs infected with ringworm. The legs and head are commonly infected by ringworm that can spread to other parts of the body.
Treatment
Treatment for ringworm in dogs involves clipping of hair and use of anti fungal shampoos to bathe the dog. The vet will advice topical lime sulfur and systemics to be administered.
Hormonal Skin Disorders in Dogs
The main causes are due to disorders in the hormonal secretions of the thyroid, adrenal, pituitary glands, testicles and ovaries. The hyper or hypo secretions lead to many skin disorders that cause changes in the hair coat and skin.
Symptoms of Skin Diseases Due to Hormones
You will observe hair loss, thinner or thicker skin and changes in the color of the skin and hair coat. The dog will not be itchy and scratchy due to hormonal skin disorders in dogs.
Treatment
It is a symptom of a serious disorder in dogs. The vet may treat the underlying disorder to treat the skin disorder. Many times surgical neutering or spraying may help reduce the symptoms of skin disorders in dogs.
If you observe anything that is not normal,speak to the vet. Dog health should be the number one factor in pet care. Give proper dog care and keep the dog in hygienic conditions. Dog grooming, like brushing and bathing, should be carried out at least once a week. Use antiseptic shampoos to reduce the chances of infections. A healthy skin is a sign of a healthy and happy dog.
- Skin Disorders In Dogs
Dog's skin and coat serve as indicator of the pets' health. Itching, skin rashes, or very dry skin and fur loss are the common indications of skin disorders in dogs. Some of these disorders have such a long run, that dog owners need to have...
- Canine Skin Diseases
Skin diseases are one of the most common ailments in dogs. In most cases, skin disorders are caused due to infections and allergic reactions. Dog allergies affect the skin, rather than the respiratory tract observed in humans. The immune system of...
- Dog Skin Problems
With a pet dog, the most frequently reported problem is a skin or ear related health complication. Like humans, dogs are susceptible to various skin disorders, which may develop due to allergies, parasites, infection or as a referred symptom of other...
- Dermatitis In Dogs
Unhygienic surrounding is the most common reason for skin infections in dogs. Dermatitis can be caused by bacterial or fungal infection. It can also get triggered due to some dog allergies. Some dogs that suffer from dermatitis have been detected...
- Itchy Skin On Dogs
The problem of itchy skin in dogs is caused due to different dog health problems. Diseases caused due to these problems can give you a hard time in maintaining the skin and coat of your pet dog. Itchy dog skin can also get quite troublesome for the...