He Most Common Dog Skin Problems
A healthy animal will also have healthy skin. If dog skin problems occur, it generally indicates that the dog has an underlying condition. These conditions can be caused by multiple factors, including infections, pests, and allergies. Stress or metabolic disorders can also create problems. When a pets external appearance noticeably worsens in any way, medical help should be sought. Letting conditions become chronic can cause further damage to the health of a pet. In addition, some untreated conditions are contagious and can infest other animals. Some can even be passed to humans.
The symptoms of problems are very diverse. Key behaviors such as frantic scratching, frequent licking, or even chewing should not be ignored. Pets might also signal discomfort by rubbing up against furniture or carpets. When these behaviors are recognized, a closer look should be taken at the fur and skin of the animal.
If there are any scabs, scaly patches, bald spots, rashes or lesions, a veterinarian should be notified. Other reasons for concern include redness, blood, pus, swelling, lumps or discoloration. There are many different conditions that can cause these symptoms and they are best detected by a professional.
Pests may be the culprit. Fleas can cause irritation with their bites and droppings. Allergic reactions to the saliva in a flea bite can also occur. Unfortunately, sometimes negative reactions can be the result of attempts to eliminate fleas. Certain powders, sprays and other formulas toxic to fleas can also be irritants to a pet.
All kinds of infections can occur on the skin. Fungal, bacterial, or yeast infections are all possibilities. Ringworm is a common type of fungal infection. It manifests itself in bald spots, scaly patches and irritation. If these are observed, the animal should be taken in for treatment immediately. Ringworm is highly contagious and can be transmitted to both pets and humans. Any infections caused by bacteria or yeast signal a more serious underlying problem. Both normally occur only when skin has already been damaged in some other way.
Allergies can affect skin as well. These may be aggravated by naturally occurring irritants from the outdoors or allergies to food. Outdoor allergies improve or worsen with the seasons, and depend on the circulating amounts of dust, pollen, grass, or mold. Foods that typically cause reactions contain chicken, beef, soy, corn or wheat based ingredients. Food additives, such as colorings, can also be aggravating.
Sometimes problems may be behavioral. If a dog is highly stressed it may gnaw on itself or excessively lick its skin. Similarly, it may also perform these behaviors due to simple boredom. It is important that dogs are exercised and given the attention that they need to be healthy and happy.
Most of these skin issues are avoidable. Preventative measures include using only products on your dog that were intended for animals. In addition, a hypoallergenic diet free of synthetic or empty ingredients is very important. Dogs should be kept in calm and quiet environments, and in clean conditions. This will prevent the animal from high levels of stress and make its surroundings less pest friendly. Methods to further prevent infestations by pests can be provided by a veterinarian.
