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Dogs have long since been man’s best friend and today, rather than putting them to work like they were many years ago, they’re treated just like a member of the family. Dogs bring a great deal of joy to many peoples’ lives but, their attitude towards hygiene leaves little to be desired at times. For reasons unknown to us, dogs love nothing more than getting wet and rolling around in the dirt which not only makes for a messy dog, but on some occasions a messy owner as well! This sort of behaviour (as fun as it might be at the time) can cause certain skin conditions in dogs and if they’re not cleaned up immediately after a mud bath, there are all sorts of problems that can occur. Knowing the Signs Your dog has a fur coat and under that coat is his skin. The coat is a little bit like a carpet in that it can hide all sorts of unseen parasites that will cause itchy dog skin. This is one of the first signs your beloved pet might be suffering with something more than just a bit of dried mud that was missed when he had his last bath. Of course, fleas are one reason why your dog might start to constantly scratch and any responsible owner will immediately take their dog straight to the vets for some treatment. However, if the problem persists, it could be something more sinister. Malassezia Dermatitis You may notice that your pet’s fur has started to come away from his skin and bald patches are appearing. If this is the case, you may have a yeast infection on your hands called Malassezia Dermatitis. Although any breed of dog can contract this skin condition, it is more common in Basset Hounds, Dachshunds, Cocker and Springer Spaniels and West Highland Terriers, to name but a few. Malassezia which is a form of yeast will naturally occur in your dog and can normally be found around the ears without causing a problem. However, if the conditions are right and the weather is warm or humid, the yeast will multiply causing the infection. Another sign that’s common with this form of skin condition is the smell. It won’t seem to matter how much you bathe your pet, if he does have this infection and it’s not treated correctly, he will still smell. It’s not pleasant for you and it’s definitely not pleasant for your dog. Treatment for Malassezia Skin conditions like this in dogs will need veterinary attention. For the most part treatment will either be oral, topical or both (depending on how severed it is). It’s also advisable that you get some form of medicated shampoo for dogs that will help keep this nasty infection at bay. The main thing is that once treatment starts, your pet will stop scratching and everyone can stop holding their noses when he walks by! If you’re in any way concerned or just want to find out more about skin conditions in dogs because of the breed you have, speak to your vet. You’ll be doing you and your pet a favour in the long-run. Richard Hawkins is a frequent contributor of content for Perfect Pet Skin; he has written many articles pertaining to all things regarding animal skin and coat conditions but especially on such subjects as dog mange and skin conditions in dogs and caring for some of these conditions.
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