As the body’s biggest organ, the skin serves as your dog’s primary interface with the rest of the world. Since your dog may encounter a wide variety of irritating chemicals, it is vital to keep an eye on their skin. In some instances, this damage may be caused by autoimmune or allergy disorders.
Allergies and skin disorders may affect our dogs in the same way they afflict us. Because they cannot communicate their problems to humans, it may be challenging for owners of pets to recognize the signs of illness as soon as they appear.
What can I do about my dog’s skin problem?
The sensitive skin that lies under your dog’s hair is prone to several different types of skin irritation. Scratching and chewing are frequent issues. It is imperative for you, as a dog owner, to be informed of the typical factors that contribute to these common canine skin problems, as well as the treatment options available for them.
1. Atopic Dermatitis
Atopy is an overreaction to common and harmless things in the environment. As a result of these external stimuli, dogs prefer to lick, rub, or chew their skin, particularly their tummies, paws, and ears. Their skin may get red and thicken as a result of this. The primary cause of Atopy is long-term exposure to pollens, dust mites, or molds from the environment.
If you see any signs of Atopic dermatitis in your dog, contact a specialist in veterinary dermatology immediately. Your veterinarian may prescribe anti-itch shampoos and steroids to ease your pet’s discomfort.
2. Mange
Is your dog’s hair loss bothering you? One possibility is mange, a common skin allergy. Demodectic mange is the more common of the two types. It causes bald spots and sores, especially on the face. When a dog’s immune system is compromised, Demodex mites thrive.
Depending on the kind of mange, there are various treatment options available. However, your veterinarian may prescribe using a benzoyl peroxide-containing dog shampoo to help open up the pores. Another good advice is to give your dog a lime-sulfur pesticide soak.
To protect your puppy from illnesses, you can complete its vaccination and schedule routinary check-ups. To know more about the importance of vaccines, you can type in “puppy vaccination near me” in your search tab and read articles to gain more info.
3. Food Allergy
The connection between your dog’s itchiness and food allergy may go unnoticed because you’ve been feeding the same thing for a long time. Ear and bottom skin are irritated as a consequence. When a dog’s immune system mistakes a protein for an intruder, it causes food allergies. Soy, eggs, wheat, and milk are the most frequent allergies.
Foods that trigger such an allergy should be avoided at all costs. To prevent this, you should let your pet eat a hypoallergenic diet that does not cause skin issues.
4. Pyoderma
The most typical signs of an illness like this are severe scaling and red bumps on the paws and belly. They frequently include pus and resemble human pimples in appearance. Other symptoms include thinning or falling out of hair and dry, flaky skin. Most pyoderma instances may be traced back to bacterial infections. It generally happens when a wound is left untreated.
How dogs with Pyoderma are treated depends on the case. Three to four weeks of antibiotic medication is the most common course of action. Depending on the severity, it may take eight to twelve weeks to heal a recurring or long-term pyoderma fully.
If your pet figured out an accident and injured itself, you need to consult a veterinary orthopedic surgery specialist to operate. Proper correction of the injury can make a difference in how your pet will live the rest of its life.
5. Hotspots
Hotspots, or moist dermatitis, commonly appear on the chest, head, or hip. The infected part of the skin looks like a red, small, wet patch that is excruciatingly uncomfortable and might exude pus. Hotspots are caused by thorns, wounds, or flea bites. Flaky, dry skin from dandruff will certainly produce hotspots.
Trimming the hair around the hotspot might help. Apply a topical therapy to the hotspot to prevent future development. Keep cleaning the area every day until the spot is completely healed.
