Skin and Coat Condition
Skin conditions are very common in dogs and can be linked to many different causes, making diagnose quite difficult. It is therefore essential to try to decipher the symptoms as accurately as possible and ensure the correct treatment is administered.
Many symptoms are common with all conditions and so it is vital all indicators of the condition are noted to allow an accurate diagnosis to be made confidently. The most common symptom of any skin condition is itching, scratching and biting of the skin causing it to become red and sore. Patchy hair loss is also very common along with flaky skin similar to dandruff and scaly patches of skin like scabs. Lumps can also form under the skin but not actually breaking the skin.
There are four main causes of skin conditions in dog namely; parasites, bacterial infections, fungal infections and allergies.
Parasites
Mange is the most common parasitic complaint caused by tiny mites in the skin. Mange generally causes skin rashes, itching and hair loss. Fleas are also regarded as a parasite as they feed on the blood of the dog causing anaemia and inflammation of the skin.
Bacterial infections
These are generally seen as secondary to an initial health problem on the dog. For example if the dog is unwell and their immunity compromised bacteria can attack any broken skin and quickly cause dermatitis. Bacterial infections will also elevate the dog’s temperature and cause localised skin conditions like pyoderma where puss accumulates under the skin.
Fungal infections
Ringworm is the most common fungal infection and one that is highly contagious as it is spread by direct skin contact. Hair loss and skin lesions are common symptoms of fungal infections.
Allergies
Flea bite allergy, environmental allergies and food borne allergies are the most common allergies in dogs and these can cause the dog to have an allergic reaction involving the immune response.
Many non specific treatments are available however it is important to get the best treatment for the specific skin condition to minimise longevity of the condition and discomfort of the pet.
Parasites
Prescriptive medication will tackle the condition head on. Medicinal shampoos with flea repellents can also act as a preventative measure as a long term solution.
Bacterial infections
Antibiotics, atopic creams and shampoos are probably the best treatment here as these can be hard to eradicate.
Fungal infection
Fungal drugs containing specific active ingredients as well as anti fungal shampoos are the best cause of action to eradicate the fungus.
Allergy
As the reaction is an immune response generating the release of histamine the administration of antihistamines is common practice in relation to allergies. A selective diet is also used when a food borne allergy is noted. This eliminates any potential allergens and reintroduces them one at a time to try to identify the possible allergen causing the reaction.
With each skin condition it is vital a good balanced diet is administered to promote the overall health of the pet. Good nutrition promotes health and vitality and tries to ensure the immunity of the pet isn’t compromised.
References:
Paterson. Skin Diseases of Dog – Revised Edition (Blackwell Science Ltd. 2000)
J. Morris, Small Animal Oncology (Blackwell Science Ltd. 2001)
Mueller, Dermatology for the Small Animal Practitioner, 2006
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