Common Dog Skin Conditions and Treatments
Is your furry best friend excessively itchy? Have you found a rash, worrisome sores, or a patch of inflamed skin? Figuring out what is wrong is the first step in getting your beloved pooch back to its happy self.
Here are some typical dog skin conditions and treatments to get you started on the right path today!
Identifying Your Dogs Issue by Symptom
Let’s begin with itchy skin. The two usual culprits are external parasites, such as fleas and mites, and allergies. If your dog is constantly scratching its stomach, inner thighs, and the base of the tail, fleas may be involved.
However, if the area affected is your pup’s feet, ears, armpits, and groin, it may be allergies or a yeast infection. If you see redness and irritation, these are other common signs of allergies — whether from food, pests, or an environmental reaction.
Does your dog have a rash on its belly?
A belly rash (contact dermatitis) is a reaction that your pupster has encountered an irritant such as a chemical or poison ivy. Further, the rash will commonly appear on your dog’s belly and should be washed promptly after discovery. Although a belly rash can also be from insect bites, that (hopefully) will clear on its own.
Is your canine losing hair or have balding spots?
Well, excessive hair loss and bald spots could be due to various sources such as allergies, fleas, or mange mites. However, other causes could be pressure sores, genetics, poor nutrition — or a common hormonal problem in older dogs known as Cushing’s Disease.
Note: It could be severe if you see sores on your pet without an obvious source and they aren’t correctly healing. Keep the sores clean and have them seen by your veterinarian promptly to identify the source.
The same goes for dark spots: Developing dark spots may be a sign of skin damage from the sun, trauma or could indicate a hormone-associated disorder.
What about red bumps on your dog?
Raised red bumps need to be seen by a vet as they can stem from bacterial or fungal skin infections causing severe discomfort. Larger red bumps may be hives caused by a dangerous allergic reaction, so it’s essential to contact your veterinarian immediately.
Get Your Dogs Tail Wagging Again
Correctly identifying the cause is key to successful treatment with some conditions that are treatable at home. Issues with your canine that persist longer than one or two weeks and seem to worsen are an excellent reason to schedule an appointment with your vet.
Want to help stop the itch now?
While prescription-based shampoos or ointments made specific to the parasite or cause may be needed, some at-home treatments are available over the counter.
However, you can treat mild allergies or itchiness with a specially formulated shampoo. Alternatively, you can give your pup an oatmeal bath to soothe and hydrate irritated skin. Another way to possibly stop and prevent the itch is to switch to a sensitive skin diet.
Maintaining your canine’s skin health is an essential step in helping it live its best life. For more information to help identify typical dog skin conditions and treatments, check out the infographic below.
Infographic brought to you by Banixx Pet HealthCare Products.
