Skin Problems With Dogs
There are various skin problems that dogs are susceptible to. Dog owners can get quite worried about seeing their pet being distressed with skin problems.
How can you tell if your dog has a skin problem?
And how do you help to fix the problem?
Of course it all depends on the symptoms of the skin problem. The first thing you are going to notice is the constant itching and scratching, then the coat loss either in local places or all over the body. Severe symptoms could be apparent by skin redness, skin pigmentation and oozing sores that your pet may be licking.
You don’t have to draw conclusions right away. In fact investigate the symptoms. You could go down to your local Veterinarian, but that could prove to be expensive in the first instance. Familiarise yourself with common dog skin problems by looking on the Internet or a book from the library.
Common causes of skin problems of your pet dog could be fleas, lice or ticks.
These are all parasites that live on the skin and feed on the blood with the parasites saliva causing irritation of the skin resulting in aggressive scratching.
Inspect your dog’s fur for lice and ticks, which can be seen by the naked eye although fleas may be a lot harder to locate. Pimple marks created by fleas could be a give away for the presence of fleas and the appearance of a black grit trail on the underbelly could also be a sign.
Ticks and lice can be removed using tweezers, but apply some alcohol first to release the grip of the tick. There are other methods like bathing your dog with tick removal shampoo. There are also sprays and powders for the removal of fleas and other parasites. These all require regular application and it could be some time before you see some symptom relief.
A recommended method to relax your pet is tick prevention and keeping your dog clean in the first place using such products as Frontline and BioSpot.
The application of these products is to place small amounts onto your pet’s neck and back monthly. This compound spreads over the skin and terminates the parasites, including any eggs or larvae. After regular application of the treatment the parasites will stay away.
Another skin problem is Mange, propagated by mites that get under the poor dogs skin and creating uncomfortable to painful itching.Patchy coat or inflammation on the skin could be symptoms of this. The two types of Mange,sarcoptic and demodectic, could exist on dogs.
Of course general treatment of your dog such as dieting and cleanliness are other factors in the prevention of these skin problems. Avoid corn and rice in your pets diet. Recovering from mange will take a lot out of your dog. So, during recovery take time to observe your dog closely for any recurring symptoms.
And don’t forget another important point; give your dog lots of affection and attention.