How to Avoid Dog Skin Problems
Almost half of our visits to the vet are because of dog skin problems. It’s hard to diagnose skin problems in dogs which is why we need a vet’s opinion. If you have an older dog, it’s important to have any lumps and bumps on your dog’s skin examined in case of tumors.
All dogs scratch, but if your dog scratches continuously there must be an underlying cause. It’s not enough to treat the itching alone because the problem will keep on recurring. Leaving skin problems untreated can lead to other problems such as agression, personality changes and may affect your dog’s overall health in the long term.
There are two main types of skin diseases in dogs, immune mediated and autoimmune. Immune mediated skin diseases stem from a weak immune system, while autoimmine diseases are largely caused by allergies. Symptoms of skin diseases are itching, inflammation, lumps, lesions and hair loss. In an attempt to relieve the aggravation, your dog will scratch, lick, roll on the ground or bite himself continuously.
Your vet will examine the dog’s skin with and ultra violet light and may take a scraping of skin for more accurate diagnosis. Where the problem is hard to diagnose, a sample of blood may be taken as well.
Treatment will depend on the type of skin disease affecting your dog. For allergic skin reactions, antihistamines are usually recommended. Fungal skin infections such as ringworm can be treated with an anti fungal shampoo. Bacterial skin infections (pyoderma) will need antibiotics.
It makes sense to try and prevent dog skin problems in the first place. This can be done by making sure you dog has a good diet and by regularly bathing and grooming him. For mild skin irritations, here’s a few natural solutions…
Run some water through a bag containing colloidal oatmeal and use this to wash your dog.
Rub your dog’s skin with aloe vera gel after grooming
Mix some garlic with your dog’s food to keep fleas away.
For itchy skin and insect bites, add some baking soda to your dog’s bath.
For itchy feet, dissolve Epsom salts in some cool water.
I hope you find these suggestions helpful. However if the problem doesn’t respond, don’t hesitate to consult your vet. If not treated properly, dog skin problems will only get worse and result in more serious health issues.
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