DOG SKIN AND COAT PROBLEMS

Dog health problems can sometimes stay undetected because they tend to behave normally with us as they enjoy our company. You dog can often disguise the pain of eating, and eat if you hand feed it, because it is trying to please you.

You should try and make a record of your dog's signs of illness so that if your dog is suffering the pain silently, as dogs tend to do. then you can make an accurate diagnosis.
 
Dogs suffer many different skin irritations and scratching as it is their way of relieving the symptoms. Excessive scratching can damage the skin, allowing bacteria to multiply and you will notice this by an increased odour because the skin glands have produced excess discharge.

If you groom your dog regularly and routinely use some parasite control you are unlikely to have these problems. Fleas are very common though, so if your dog does constantly scratch then flea treatment would be good idea as a matter of course.
 
  Scratching

Dogs scratch and chew regularly and fleas account for most of the excessive scratching. Your dog could be scratching because of an allergic rash caused by inhaling pollen or dust, or as a reaction to other irritants such as shampoo or outdoor plants. If your dog is the breed that has to be clipped then this can cause skin irritations. On a more serious note, kidney and liver disorders can cause skin irritations.

Treatment

Always consult your vet if you suspect severe scratching because it could be an internal problem. Usually an anti-inflammatory medication will cure the problem.

Inflammation

Inflammation can be caused by an allergy, sunburn or by foreign bodies lodged in the skin such as grass seed which can get between the toes and cause abscesses. Skin infections cause bacteria to invade the skin surface and the skin becomes red, moist and oozing.

Treatment

Your vet can treat the inflammation with an anti-fungal or antibiotic medication, Abscesses can be bathed daily in tepid salt water and in hot, sunny countries it is best to use a high factor sun block to prevent sunburn.

If you are looking for dog skin and coat problems, the following links may also be of interest to you: See also: dog parasites, dog muscle joint and bone problems, puppy discipline and puppy house training.

 

Skin Changes

If your dog's coat is flaky, dull or greasy it could be due to an inadequate diet, hormonal imbalance, yeast infections or parasites. Dry seborrhea problem looks like dandruff and oily seborrhea problem makes the skin very oily.

Treatment

You can buy special shampoos and medications but if these don't cure the problem then your vet should be consulted.

Lumps

These can be Cysts, Warts, Tumours or Abscesses. Cysts are hard lumps under the skin. Warts, more common in older dogs, can be pink, mottled and crusty or pigmented. Tumours can be pigmented too if they are melanoma, these are highly malignant and are more frequent on dogs with bare coats such as boxers. Egg shaped lumps under the skin, in older dogs, are benign tumours.

Treatment

Consult your vet because all lump removal must be done by a professional.

Hair Loss

There are lots of causes of dog hair loss. Localised hair loss can be caused by fungal infections such as ringworm or the mange mite parasite. Generalised hair loss can be caused by hormonal problems such as thyroid, adrenal or pituitary glands or in the testicles or ovaries of your dog. Hair loss on the elbows of larger, heavier dogs, calluses, is caused by the pressure of laying on a hard surface.

Treatment

Anti-fungal ointments and antibiotics for Ringworm. Insecticidal shampoo for Mange mites. Hormonal problems can be diagnosed by a blood test and your vet will prescribe suitable medications. Calluses can be treated with a cream and soft bedding for your dog.

Excess Licking

It is normal for a dog to clean itself and to remove debris from their fur but excessive licking on any part of the body can be due to an more serious disorder and can damage the dog's skin.

Treatment

Your vet can cure skin sores caused by excessive licking (lick dermatitis) with antibiotic medicines and obsessive licking should respond to drugs.
 
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