Dog Skin Problems: That May Plague Your Dog
Dog skin problems present themselves as the prime health issues so you might have to be prepared for the financial responsibilities to care for your dog when rashes, allergies or infections make your dog suffer. Possible causes for Skin problems can range from parasites to allergies to the underlying disease.
This brief gives you common skin problems that your dog may develop and ways you can help prevent and/or treat your dog’s skin problems.
Dog Skin Problems: Common Dog Allergies
Allergic dermatitis
Your dog may have allergic reactions to things like food, pollen, insect bites and grooming products. A red rash may appear on your dog’s skin and he may scratch at it relentlessly. Check with your vet immediately so you can identify the allergens before your dog needs medication to treat his itchy rash.
Yeast infections
Your dog may develop a yeast infection in his ears or on his paws. If your dog scratches at his ears or chews his paws you should bring your dog to your vet. A topical cream, medicated bath or dog medication may be needed to treat dog yeast infections.
Impetigo
Most common in puppies, this infection causes pus-filled blisters on your dog’s hairless abdomen. Impetigo can be treated with a topical solution and is rarely serious.
Seborrhea
Your dog may suffer from greasy skin and scales or dandruff that can be a genetic disease or dog skin problems like an allergy or a hormone disorder. Bring your dog to your vet immediately for treatment if you discover these symptoms on your dog.
Dry flaky skin
Your dog may be prone to dry skin which is a sign of allergies, mange and other skin diseases. Be sure to feed your dog high quality food and lots of water.
Skin Tumors
You should take your dog to your vet for a biopsy to determine whether the lump is cancerous if your dog has a hard or soft lump under his skin. Dog skin problems like these can be removed if the non-cancerous or cancerous lump is small enough.
Immune disorders
If your dog has skin infections or lesions that won’t heal, your dog may have an immune disorder like Lupus when your dog’s immune system attacks its own cells. The symptoms of Lupus include skin infections and abnormalities as well as kidney problems and can be fatal if untreated.
Ringworm
Despite its name, ringworm is not caused by a worm, but by a fungus. The word “ring” comes from a circular patch that can be formed anywhere, but is often found on a dog’s head, paws, ears, and foreleg. Inflammation, crusted patches and hair loss often surround sores. Puppies under one year old are the most susceptible, and the infection can spread quickly among dogs or among pet owners at home. Various anti-fungal treatments are available.
Hot Spots
Hot spots, also called acute moist dermatitis, are small areas that appear red, irritable, and inflamed. They are usually found on the dog’s head, hips, or chest, and often feel warm to the touch. Hot spots can occur as a result of a wide range of conditions, including infection, allergies, insect bites, or excessive licking and chewing. Treatment includes cleaning the hot spot and addressing the underlying condition.
Superficial bacterial folliculitis
Folliculitis causes scabs, sores and bumps on your dog’s skin and is often associated with mange and allergies. Your dog may need oral antibiotics and antibacterial ointments to treat these dog skin problems
When to See the Vet
Although most skin problems are not emergencies, it is important to get an accurate diagnosis so that the condition can be treated. See your vet if your dog is scratching or licking excessively, or if you notice any changes in your pet’s coat or skin, including scaling, redness, discoloration, or bald patches. Once the cause is identified, most skin problems respond well to treatment.
Common Skin Problems that Plague the Top 25 Dog Breeds
- Australian Shepherd– Non-cancerous skin masses, Skin allergies
- Beagle– Non-cancerous skin masses, Skin allergies
- Boston Terrier – Skin Allergies, Non-cancerous skin masses, skin infections
- Boxer – Skin Allergies, Non-cancerous skin masses, skin infections
- Bulldog – Skin Allergies, Skin infections
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel – Skin allergies
- Chihuahua – Skin allergies
- Dachshund – Non-cancerous skin masses, Skin allergies,Folliculitis
- Doberman Pinscher – Non-cancerous skin masses, Skin allergies
- French Bulldog – Skin Allergies, Skin infections
- German Shepherd Dog – Skin Allergies, Skin infections
- German Shorthaired Pointer – Non-cancerous skin masses
- Golden Retriever – Non-cancerous skin masses, Skin allergies
- Great Dane – Non-cancerous skin masses, Skin allergies
- Havanese – Skin infections
- Labrador Retriever – Non-cancerous skin masses
- Miniature Schnauzer – Non-cancerous skin masses, Skin allergies
- Pembroke Welsh Corgi – Skin Allergies, Skin infections
- Pomeranian – Skin allergies
- Poodle – Non-cancerous skin masses
- Rottweiler– Non-cancerous skin masses
- Shetland Sheepdog – Non-cancerous skin masses, Skin allergies
- Shih Tzu– Skin Allergies, Skin infections
- Siberian Husky – Non-cancerous skin masses, Skin allergies
- Yorkshire Terrier – Skin allergies
10 Popular Types of Dogs with Health Issues
- Beagle – Known as a great family dog with a happy disposition, Beagles are prone to Cherry Eye, glaucoma, hip dysplasia and epilepsy. also they have skin problems like Non-cancerous skin masses, Skin allergies
- Boxer – Often described as loyal, energetic and affectionate, Boxers are prone to heart problems, eye problems that may result in retinal atrophy or progressive blindness and skin issues like warts and malignant tumors.
3. Bull Dog – A confident and tenacious breed, the popular Bull Dog is prone to eye problems related to their eyelid, hip and elbow dysplasia, osteosarcoma and may need expensive surgery to shorten their soft palate and enlarge their nostrils if your bull dog has trouble breathing.also they have skin problems like Skin allergies,Skin infection
4. Dachshund – Bred to hunt badgers, the independent and combative Dachshund is prone to seizures and teeth and gum problems, obesity and intervertebral disk disease which is a chronic and painful back problem for these types of dogs.
5. German Shepherd – Valued as intelligent, loyal family protectors, German Shepherds are prone to epilepsy, vision problems, digestive problems, hip dysplasia and degenerative myelopathy which is an incurable condition that causes progressive paralysis.
6. Golden Retriever – One of the friendliest people pleasers of all dogs, the Golden Retriever is prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy and lymphoma, a disease that causes immune system cancer.
7. Labrador Retriever – An eager to please friendly breed, Labs are prone to cataracts, hip dysplasia, patellar luxation and arthritis.
8. Poodles – Intelligent, loyal and great for people with animal allergies because these types of dogs shed very little. Poodles of all sizes are prone to retinal atrophy, mitral valve disease, epilepsy, hip dysplasia and auto-immune haemolytic anaemia which is a condition where your dog’s body destroys it’s own red blood cells.
9. Shih Tzu – Happy, alert and friendly, this little dog is prone to ear infections, Cherry Eye, tooth loss, obesity, patellar luxation and intervertebral disk disease due to their long back and short legs.
10. Yorkshire Terrier – Tiny and bold lovers of adventure, Yorkies may suffer from achondroplasia or dwarfism, Legg-Perthes, a disease of the hip joint and a serious liver condition called portacaval shunts.
This news brief gives you information about dog skin problems so you can take better care of your dog if he suffers from skin allergies, infections or non-cancerous skin masses.
Share this article with your friends and family so they are informed about skin problems for their dog and take steps to prevent their dog from serious effects of infections, lumps and allergies.
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