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Skin Disorders In Dogs

Skin Disorders In Dogs

Dogs skin and coat serve as indicator of the pets health. Itching, skin rashes, or very dry skin and fur loss are the common indications of skin disorders in dogs. Some of these disorders have such a long run, that dog owners need to have a continuous follow-up regarding persistent treatments. The animals fur and skin are the major areas which are affected by the diseases which may be inherited or congenital. Treatment is typically topical by nature, however, in some cases, they might require to take the medicines internally.

Canine Skin Problems

Alopecia
Alopecia [loss of hair (especially on the head) or loss of wool or feathers] in dogs are most commonly caused due to parasites, hormonal imbalances and allergies. The symptoms of alopecia in dogs simply include loss of hair on certain places on the body. Itching, scratching and abnormal changes to the skin itself, may also be noticed.

Black Skin Disease
The black skin disease is among the common skin problems found in dogs. Symptoms of hair fall, darkening of the skin and in some cases, inflammation or infection of the skin may crop up. Causes have not been identified yet and this disease seems to occur mostly after puberty.

Dermatitis
If you happen to see your pet itching persistently, then it might indicate a case of dermatitis. Causes of the disease are many and some of the common causes are bacterial, fungal, yeast, or parasitic infection, food allergies or sensitivities, nutritional deficiencies, sunburn, etc.

Skin Allergies
Skin allergies in dogs may be classified under food allergies, atopic allergies, flea bites, bacteria allergies and contact allergies. Dry and flaky skin, development of sores on the skin, inflammation of skin, nasal or eye discharge, constant itching and licking of skin, etc., are some common symptoms of such problems.

Ringworm
Ringworm is also a common skin problem that most dogs suffer from. Symptoms specifically include hair loss, circular pattern of the hair loss, scaly patches of skin and breaking off hair easily.

Yeast Infection
Another common of all skin diseases that affect dogs is a yeast infection. Itchy scalp, skin rashes, inflamed pimples with flaky edge are the prominent symptoms. Candida albicans give rise to yeast infection in dogs, when they start to overgrow in their intestinal tract. This arises when the immune system of the animals weakens and the number of friendly bacteria dwindles, allowing the candida albicans to shift from yeast form to fungal form.

Sarcoptic Mange In Dogs
The parasite Sarcoptes scabiei causes this disease in dogs of all ages and breeds. Hair loss and severe itching are the major signs. It is common to find the affected dogs scratching their elbows, ears, chest, belly, apart from ears and hocks.

Hot Spots
Occurring most commonly in the warmer months of the year, hot spots refer to localized areas of skin inflammation and infection that affect dogs that have heavy and dense coats. These skin disorders tend to worsen rapidly as dogs keep on licking and chewing the affected areas, to get relief from the pain.

Treatment can be best sought for and understood by a qualified veterinarian. Generally, antihistamines, antibiotics, antifungal medications and topical ointments are included in the prescription for the treatment of the diseases. Typically, the treatment is proceeded after diagnosing the cause of the disorder and a proper diagnosis often makes way for a successful treatment. Dietary changes and regular skin and coat maintenance also help in reducing any future risks of developing such diseases in dogs.

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