Have you noticed lately that your dog is constantly licking and scratching? There are many possibilities as to why this is happening and it is very important that you move quickly to diagnose the problem for the sake of your dog’s well being, and your sanity as well. Skin problems can be very troublesome for you dog and can leave him very uncomfortable which can lead to lack of sleep and other health issues. Here are some steps you can take to diagnose the problem and get your dog back on the road to good health and comfort.
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Infectious – bacterial, fungal, and yeast are skin and coat pathogens. Fungi cause circular patches of hair loss that usually do not itch. Yeast infections cause greasy, and odor causing sores.
Neurogenic – no medical reason for the dog skin problem. Incessant licking characterizes this dog skin problem which is basically, a nervous habit of licking and chewing. This is often brought on by dogs that arent getting the proper exercise or attention they need and they bite, chew, and lick themselves as a nervous energy outlet.
Allergenic – an allergic reaction to numerous things; food ingredients, synthetic and natural fibers, medications and pharmaceutical products, plant material and even dust. All other causes must be ruled out before this diagnosis is used.
Environmental – itching brought on by what the dog is exposed to in his environment; swimming, digging, romping through fields. If the dog is sensitive to grasses or gets scrapes and cut, the wound often stays moist, bacteria sets in and causes an infection. This is most often referred to as a “hot spot.”
Nutritional – due to imbalanced diet without proper nutrition. This dog skin problem is often caused by the owner feeding the dog an inferior dog food. Just because a brand of dog food states, “Complete and Balanced” doesn’t mean it is a good source of nutrition for your dog. Owners will often opt for cheaper dog food and feel secure that they are feeding their dog a good diet because they fall for false advertising. Remember, false advertising is just as prevalent when it comes to pet products as it is in human products.
Parasitic - fleas, ticks, chiggers, deer flies, and gnats are the most common parasites that cause your dog’s skin problem. Repeated exposure to these parasites can cause sensitivity and eventually infection. Cheyletiella mites, often referred to as “walking dandruff” and Sarcoptic mites which are called scabies or red mange, are much more serious. These mites cause very intense itching and scratching, hair loss and inflamed skin.
Identifying the reason for your dog’s itching and scratching, you are one step closer to getting relief for your pet.
The first step in treating your dog’s skin problem is to pinpoint exactly where the problem lies. Is the itchy area on the belly, legs, neck, or all over? This will help lead to further possibilities of what the issue may be. Next, you’ll want to check for symptoms like flaky skin, red bumps, discoloration, sores, and so on.
There are a number of different types of skin conditions that could be present based on the symptoms you find. For example, contact dermatitis is a skin irritation resulting from contact with certain things like detergent, carpet powders, or other household chemicals that react negatively with your dog’s skin. This could be the cause of itchy raised bumps on your dog’s skin. One other possibility for itchy raised bumps is some king of parasite infestation. Parasites usually tend to target areas on a dog where there is increased blood flow so if there are signs of irritation in these areas alone, you may consider looking further into the possibility of a parasite problem. The skin condition could be a simple skin infection which could have been by a number of different sources. Typically a skin infection will not be targeted to a specific are of the body, but rather a more general area like the entire chest and belly.
Another possibility that could be affecting your dog’s skin is food allergies. This one of the toughest conditions to pinpoint because of the time and steps needed for diagnosing. Assuming that the current food is causing the allergic reaction could be incorrect and therefore any efforts to get your dog on a new food source would be unnecessary. You won’t know this until you determine that the skin irritation is not getting any better.
There are a number of ways to treat skin conditions or at least temporarily relieve the symptoms caused by irritated, infected skin. You can purchase antiseptic spays that provide temporary relief from the itchy, irritated feelings of the infected areas. Many of the sprays also contain ingredients that produce a bitter taste, which is helpful in reducing the amount of licking that your dog does. This helps speed the process of healing. Another way to treat the skin condition is by washing the infected area with medicated shampoo every couple days. This will provide relief from the symptoms and promote healing as well. If these techniques do not work, your veterinarian will be able to give antibiotics that will help your dog’s body fight off the infection and heal the affected areas.
The important thing to remember is that if you are unsure about what a skin condition actually is, consult a veterinarian before making your own decisions as far as how to treat the skin condition goes. What you think could be a suitable treatment for the skin problem that your dog is experiencing could actually end up causing your problems and you would end up spending more for treatment in the long run than if you were to simply consult a veterinarian right away.
If in doubt consult your Vet.
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