Your dog's coat and
skin are great indicators of its general health
and condition. Skin disease is a common problem among dogs
and is attributable to insects,
environmental and hormonal issues. These diseases can be very
disturbing to your dog and frustrating to you if left untreated, but
most skin diseases are treatable and with
some preventive measures your dog will enjoy a healthier life.
Skin and Coat
A dog's skin is
different from a human's. Human skin is tough and has a good supply of blood vessels and sweat
glands, whereas, a dog's
skin is more sensitive and thinner with no sweat glands (except in feet pads).
In addition, its
skin helps retain water in the tissues; it’s
essential in producing vitamins, iinsulates
for extreme hot and cold temperatures and is
a barrier against foreign bodies/bacteria.
A dog's skin
consists of two layers. The outer layer (epidermis) covers
the nose and feet pads; it is scaly and tough, but
the creases of the groin and under the legs are thin. The
inside layer (dermis) nourishes the epidermis and produces
hair follicles, toenails and the sebaceous glands, which
secrete oil for waterproofing the coat.
Fleas
Fleas
are the most common skin problem for dogs. Fleas
are a parasite and can be seen as black and white (flea
eggs and feces) sand size specs in the coat. Flea
bites cause a mild itching and are found around the
tail, hindquarters and back. In cases of heavy, untreated flea infestation, severe
anemia or death may occur.
To treat
flea bites, an owner must rid the dog of fleas
with flea shampoo, collar, dusting or spray. Bedding and carpets
(in the home) should also be treated.
Ticks
Ticks
are small, flat insects; they usually attach
to a dog around the neck, head and between
the toes, and then continually feed on the dog. All
ticks are capable of transmitting diseases such
as, tularemia, encephalitis, Q-fever
or Rocky Mountain spotted fever and may cause tick
'paralysis.
To treat
for ticks, you must first kill the tick. Apply
alcohol, fingernail polish or ether to the tick with a Q-tip, and
then grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and
steadily pull until it detaches from the dog. This procedure
is the easiest for a few ticks, but for heavier
infestations, dips and dusting produce the best
results.
Bedding and carpets
should also be cleaned, and
for outdoor tick control, grass, brushes
and weeds should be cut and the area dusted
or sprayed with insecticide.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is a
deficiency of the thyroid gland, under
producing the thyroid hormone. This disease
causes the coat to become thin and the hair course
and brittle that easy falls out. The
skin also becomes thick, dark in color and tough.
It also affects the dog's energy level, causing it to become lethargic, have
droopy eyelids and lack mental sharpness.
Treatment for
hypothyroidism requires a visit to a veterinarian, a blood
test and daily thyroid hormone treatments.
Sores
There are two
common types of sores, lick and pressure. Lick sores
are found on the ankle or wrist and are caused by constant
licking of the same spot, causing the hair to
be rubbed off. The spot then becomes red, shiny
and itchy. Lick sores are signs that the dog is bored. Applying cortisone will ease the itching, but
interesting activities, a
change in environment, being walked every day, a trip to a dog park, or maybe a
new playmate will also be needed to prevent reoccurrences.
Pressure
sores are found on the elbows, buttocks
and sides of the legs. At first, they
are gray, thick, hairless pads of skin, but
left unchecked, they can cause the skin to break down.
Pressure sores
are caused from laying on hard surfaces for long periods of time.
Treatment
is antibiotic cream along with thick, soft
bedding to offset the hard surfaces.
Prevention
Basic prevention
for dog skin problems are baths, brushing and grooming.
Generally, baths
should be given once or twice a year.
Brush your dog about
10 minutes each day and clip its toenails as needed. Regularly
check the coat, ears, feet pads and toenails for
signs of any problems. Consult a veterinarian with any concerns
and for the best skin prevention/treatment for
your breed of dog.
Related Sites
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