Dogs also suffer from skin diseases. Learn how to identify
Dog skin diseases are the main reason for treatment in clinics. Skin problems can cause significant discomfort to your pet, are more common during warmer seasons when allergies are more prone, and may indicate that an underlying medical condition has gone undiagnosed.
Dogs can suffer from mild to severe skin conditions, many of which require professional treatment to resolve before they worsen. In fact, when skin conditions are left untreated for a period of time, the situation tends to become more complicated. For example, an untreated allergic skin reaction can also turn into a bacterial infection. Some of the most common skin conditions in dogs include bacterial skin infections, environmental allergies, and parasite allergies. To help you understand the range of dog skin problems and the most obvious symptoms identified for each problem, we’ve rounded up the 10 most common skin conditions in dogs.
Symptoms of dog skin diseases
Itching is one of the most obvious symptoms if your dog has a skin condition, but it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly what is irritating your dog without a thorough veterinary exam. While it’s normal for dogs to itch occasionally, just as a person occasionally scratches their skin, frequent or prolonged itching is a sign of a problem.
Dogs can relieve itching by rubbing their head against an object or scratching the irritated area with their paws. You may also see your dog licking his paws or other parts of his body to soothe irritated skin.
Other signs of a problematic skin condition include the following symptoms:
- Skin wounds
- Dry skin
- Eruptions
- Lumps
- Redness
- Dandruff
- Swelling
- Hair loss
Check your pet regularly for any of these symptoms and pay attention to how and when your dog responds. You may find your pet scratching especially after a meal, during a certain season, or when you have done a chore recently, which could indicate an underlying allergy. The more information you can provide by observing when your pet is showing signs of irritation, the better, so that your veterinarian can make a complete and accurate diagnosis of an allergy or skin infection.
Most common types of dog skin diseases
The most common dog skin disease conditions include contact allergies; bacterial infections; fungal infections and parasite allergies.
- Environmental allergies
The sudden appearance of itching, especially on the face, feet, chest and stomach, may indicate environmental allergies, which are triggered when your dog comes into contact with the cause of the irritation.
This specific type of allergy in dogs is called an atopic allergy, and it’s similar to the way people get allergic rhinitis — except dogs react through itchy, irritated skin instead of watering and sneezing.
A blood test can help diagnose whether your pet is allergic to grass, dust mites, and pollen, which are the most common allergies in dogs. Treating environmental allergies can be difficult and, in the most severe cases, requires shampoo, pills and injections. In recent years, several new medications have emerged that have revolutionized the care of dogs with the disease, and combined treatments can help effectively alleviate symptoms in pets.
- Food allergies
Increased itching that often involves the face, feet, ears, and anus is a sign of an underlying food allergy. Dogs can develop a food allergy based on the type of protein they get in their diet (such as beef, eggs, chicken, and dairy), although it can be anything in their diet, such as wheat or even vegetables.
Like humans who suffer from food intolerances, pets must go through an 8- to 12-week elimination process before any cause of allergies can be ruled out. Your veterinarian will recommend this type of treatment gradually. It is critical to avoid introducing your dog to any suspected allergens during the elimination process to ensure an effective treatment process.
- Folliculitis
Folliculitis, which refers to inflamed hair follicles, often occurs when your dog has other skin problems, such as mange or allergies, because the follicles are infected by an underlying skin condition. It appears on wounds, bumps and crusty skin on the body. Veterinarians prescribe shampoos, oral antibiotics, and antibacterial creams to help treat and soothe infections.
- Impetigo
Puppies are more prone to impetigo, which may also indicate an underlying skin condition. As with all situations in young animals, immediate specialist treatment is recommended as soon as you suspect a problem.
Impetigo lesions can appear on the
dog’s stomach like blisters that can rupture and heal. Dogs can be treated for impetigo with antibiotics or lotions, and your veterinarian may do some tests to diagnose existing problems.
- Ringworm
Ringworm is caused by a fungus that is highly contagious to other animals and humans. The fungal infection manifests as round spots and hair loss in the affected area and is usually found on the dog’s head, paws, ears, and front paws. Your dog’s skin may also show inflammation and redness as it irritates the area when scratched. If you notice any signs of irritation, you should immediately contact your veterinarian, who can prescribe a topical treatment to kill the fungus and prevent it from spreading.
- Fungal infections
Hot spots on dogs can attract yeast infections, and yeast likes to grow in hard-to-reach areas, such as the ear canal, between the dog’s toes, groin, and perineum. The skin may thicken, causing your dog to scratch and bite the infected area. Yeast infections can discolor the skin and smell bad: Topical creams, lotions, and pills will help alleviate symptoms and help the site of the infection heal.
- Ticks and fleas
Ticks and fleas affect a dog’s skin by biting and sucking blood. Flea saliva enters the body and can cause allergic reactions that irritate the animal’s skin, causing it to scratch profusely. Pets with severe parasite allergies will have red, often itchy skin, and dogs may chew their fur to relieve itching. Under extreme conditions, their coats may come off.
Fleas are tiny parasites that can live in our carpets and bedding, which is why it’s so important to vacuum, wash your pet’s bedding regularly, and make sure they’re up to date with preventative treatments to stay safe. get rid of any insects.
- Scabies
Mange is a serious skin disease caused by several types of mites that live in a dog’s fur and skin.
There are two main types of mange: Demodex mite, caused by the Demodex mite, which tends to affect dogs less than a year old, older dogs, or pets with other underlying medical conditions. Mange, also known as canine mange, is caused by mange mites, an intensely itchy condition that often first appears in a dog’s ears. Symptoms of scabies include hair loss on the face and legs and severe itching and redness around the affected area.
As with fleas and ticks, if your pet has mange, wash the bedding and make sure other animals avoid contact with the pet. Mange is diagnosed by a veterinarian by looking at a partial skin sample under a microscope. Treatment includes specialized pills and shampoos to kill mites and relieve itching and inflammation – in fact, some vet-prescribed flea and worm products can also prevent mange.
- Dandruff
Just like humans, dogs experience dandruff and dry skin. This could be a sign of an underlying problem, such as an infection. Some dogs are prone to dry skin, particularly in winter, and this can be affected by their diet; A good source of protein, omega 3 and 6 fatty acids help keep your pet’s coat healthy. Simple cases of dandruff are usually easy to treat with shampoo, but a veterinarian will want to check for anything.
- Lupus
Lupus is an autoimmune disease, meaning the body’s immune system attacks its own cells. Unfortunately for our pets, open skin wounds and scabs that take a long time to heal can indicate an immune disorder, and are commonly found around the nose, eyes and paws. Lupus can be very serious if left untreated, so it’s important for your pet’s health to make sure your veterinarian understands any skin conditions that don’t improve.
If your dog shows any symptoms of skin disease, go immediately to an accredited clinic in our network for professional advice. Mild to severe dog skin problems require a thorough examination so that a veterinarian can make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe the correct treatment for the identified skin condition.
Now that you know how to identify the most common diseases in pets, don’t forget to always take your animal to the veterinarian for routine checkups.
