Common Dog Skin Conditions You Should Know About

Being a dog owner ensuring every possible comfort to your cherished pooch is your top priority. But the issue that can overwhelm you is the skin problems in your loving pooch. It is a very typical occurrence in dogs that become more frequent, especially in winter and summer. Though common, if not treated properly, they can be worse and cause serious health issues or discomfort to your pet. Unfortunately, some of them can even be deadly if they lack professional treatment. Again, some skin problems arise as indications of other underlying diseases that may need immediate attention.

The skin of your pup is the mirror of his overall health. The thicker and lustrous the fur of the pet is, the healthier he is. Skin plays a very significant role in protecting your pup. So you need to ensure that the dog enjoys sound coat health. Dog skin and coat supplement can be your choice to maintain the sound condition. The best quality of such a product ensures healthy and shiny fur and provides all essential nutrients to boost the immune system of your canine friend.

Some Common Indications of Skin Problems

Every dog is unique, so is his coat. But all of them exhibit some common symptoms when they get affected by epidermis issues. 

  • The pup will start scratching or rubbing the coat more frequently.
  • The fur may become dull.
  • Brownish discharge from the ear
  • Redness on the skin
  • Dryness or itching issues
  • Loss of fur
  • Dandruff
  • Inflammation
  • Lumps

Whenever you notice any of the above indications on his skin, it is time to consult your vet and treat the issues.

Some Common Skin Problems in Your Dog

Let’s get insight into some of the common skin conditions in your dog you need to know.

Environmental Allergies

Your beloved pup may be sensitive to some environmental conditions including, dust, mud, or grass, and start itching his coat when he comes in contact with any of the reasons. 

They can also develop ‘hotspot,’ another epidermis issue caused by the entrapped moisture.

Another allergic issue named ‘Canine Atopy’ is an outcome when your dog comes in contact with environmental allergens, and he starts rubbing or scratching the fur continuously. It is a problem that increases over time if untreated and makes the skin more sensitive.

Your dog needs to go through a blood examination to evaluate the allergen. Different medicated shampoos or pills work great to treat such problems.

Food Allergies

If your pet is allergic to a particular food, he may start scratching his feet, face, or anus when he consumes the food. Consumption of some proteins, including eggs, meat, dairy, chicken, or even, veggies can cause food allergies in your canine friend.

Besides itching, the potential problem may incorporate diarrhea, vomiting, or other digestive issues.

Again, he may face nutritional dermatitis if his diet lacks the essential nutrients. 

Your vet may suggest that the dog should go through the ‘elimination process’ for 8-12 weeks to evaluate the allergen in his food.

Folliculitis

It occurs when your dog suffers from other skin diseases and causes inflammation in hair follicles. Most of the time, folliculitis is a bacteria-induced problem and affects the skin of armpits, genitals, and belly.

Due to some underlying causes, the already-present bacteria of these areas over-grows and causes folliculitis. The affected area becomes swallowed. Depending on the severity of the problem, you will notice redness, fur loss, bumps, hyperpigmentation, pains, etc.

It is a common occurrence in some breeds, including Scottish terriers or boxers. For treatment, your vet may prescribe medicated shampoos, oral drugs, or ointments.

Hormonal Skin Conditions

Your pooch can suffer from potential problems in some glands, including the thyroid, adrenal, pituitary, testicles, or ovaries that may lead to epidermis issues.

Unfortunately, such conditions are difficult to determine. Your pooch may need to go through a blood examination to evaluate the problem.

Parasitic Dermatitis

Parasitic dermatitis is another common issue in canines caused by the saliva of the parasites. They suck blood from the pet. When the protein of the saliva enters the skin, it causes inflammation, redness, or itching. The problem can even get deadly if not treated professionally and causes anemia and hair loss in your pooch.

Your vet may prescribe a combination of medicated shampoos or sprays to get rid of these parasites. You can even try flea preventive regimen once a month.

Ringworm

It is an outcome of fungal infection affecting the outer layer of the epidermis, hair follicles, or even the nails. It affects the head, legs, chest, or ears of the dog, and the infected area looks like round spots. The canine may suffer from fur loss in patches in the head or tail. 

The pup gets affected when he comes in contact with the fungus, an infected pet, or even humans.

Depending on the severity, the vet may suggest oral drugs or a combination of topical medication and specialized shampoo.

Try Skin and Coat Supplements

To maintain the shine and thickness of his fur, you can feed him coat supplements. They will prevent and treat the dryness or itchy conditions, hair loss, and boost his immunity. 

Your cherished puppy holds a special place in your life, right? He deserves the best health condition combined with shiny and lustrous hair. To ensure the best health, you also should have a comprehensive idea about the epidermis issues he may face.

Author Bio:

John Brooks is the Professional Content Marketer. He writes a lot of articles on his career. Last one year he has been working with Orbeen.com as a digital marketing expert. The company provides various types of Digital Marketing services i.e, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), Search Engine Marketing (SEM), Social Media Optimization (SMO), Web design & development, Link Building services, Outreach guest post, Content Marketing & blogger outreach.