A Look At Common Dog Skin Problems

Dogs that are scratching more than usual are probably suffer from some type of dog skin problems whether they be caused by an allergy, parasite, or condition. Vets can typically treat these issues quickly and seeing one might be the end of the issue. So when a dog is scratching there are many different things that one can look for.

Rashes are typically allergies. The best way to aid in relief is through corticosteroids but this is not something that will solve the problem. The only way to really get rid of the problem is to figure out what the pet is allergic to and then to make sure that there is no exposure to the allergen.

There are many things that a lot of dogs are allergic to that could potentially be the problem. These include insect bites, food, grooming products, and pollen. When the dog seems to be scratching just his or her ears then the most likely cause is a yeast infection.

There are many different symptoms that one can look for in a dog that is suspected of having a yeast infection. These are discolored skin that is itchy or irritated and typically in the areas of the paws and ears. Most of the time the dog will only need to have a topical cream prescribed.

Now if the cream does not work then sometimes oral medicines or special medicated bath options are needed as well. Another common condition is superficial bacterial folliculitus which looks bumps, sores, and scabs. Long haired dogs will instead appear scaly and be shedding.

Most commonly this is because of some other skin issue that is happening at the same time. A common problem for puppies is impetigo. This will appear as blisters filled with pus.

Once the blisters pop the will actually scab over. The blisters are going to be seen in the abdomen area on the puppies as there is no hair here. This is simple to treat with topical ointments.

If a dog has scales and greasy skin then seborrhea is probably to blame. This can be genetic which means no cure or caused by another underlying issue. This issue would have to be found and treated before the condition would go away.

If a dog is seen with a thinning coat and a lot of hair loss then the problem is most likely alopecia. Then when one has mange there will be redness, itching, hair loss, and sores. Skin problems can also be caused by parasites, the most common being fleas and ticks.

Ringworm is also common and an issue that shows up as lesions that are in the shape of a circle and need to be treated with anti-fungal cream. Dog skin problems are very numerous and there might be others that are seen that would cause one to show concern. The last thing that one must watch for is if there is a problem and it is not healing then it might be because of acral lick granuloma which is where the dog is not allowing the skin to heal because he or she is licking it too much and might need a cone collar.

I'm a dog health professional who specializes in dog allergy remedies.