|
Dogs are a man's best friend, so we run into one of any number of dog skin problems, then we should be able to figure out what it is, then what is causing it, then what to do about it. A few common issues that you might run into are as follows. Skin problems come from a variety of different causes, and can be either contagious or non-contagious. There are physical and environmental skin diseases like hot spots or ulcers caused by compulsive licking, and there are infectious diseases that include parasitic, bacterial, fungal, and viral diseases. Allergies are often one place that skin problems come from, as dogs have a tendency to bite, scratch, and chew at areas that itch or irritate them, and then that area can quickly become infected with a worse condition. Just like human, dogs have allergies, and new statistics say that potential one out of every seven dogs is quite allergic to something or other. Another skin condition that dogs occasionally have is something called a hot spot, which is basically an area where there is a rash that the dog makes worse by licking or biting at. It become further infected and can spread rapidly to other parts of the dog's body, causing a lot of discomfort and it looks particularly ugly in some cases. There are pictures that would make you cringe! Fleas and ticks are often causes of skin problems as well, and once again, when dogs start biting and scratching, infection and red spots are soon to follow. Dogs can get these little critters both from home environments and while walking around, especially in wooded or forest areas, so be aware that these are some types of places that your dog can come in contact with them. Hair loss often accompanies skin problems, either because the dog scratches the fur away, or whatever is creating the issue causes the skin cells to have their fur drop out. It can be an indication of many different things, so if you aren't sure, ask your local veterinarian. Treatments for different skin problems vary greatly depending on the root cause. For allergies, try to get the dog away from the problem. For dry and itchy skin, there are shampoos that you can use to help ease the suffering. For many of the other disorders, you need to use anti-biotic creams or potentially put medicine in the dog's food and water. So there are many potential causes for dog skin problems, but they aren't all that difficult to identify and treat if you catch them soon enough. If you have any questions, be sure to check with your local vet to find out the bets course of action for you and your pooch. Jennifer is a canine health professional who specializes in canine skin problems.
Related Articles -
dog skin problems, pets, dogs,
|
