Pet Skin Doctor
Pet Skin Information
Archive for the ‘Dog Hot Spots’ Category
Many cases of dog skin problems exist in this country and most pet owner’s don’t realize the signs at all or not until it is at it’s worst. Some breeds of dogs seem to be more likely to have dog skin problems.
Though they may not have the same underlying cause for the dog skin problems, breeds like Scottish Terriors tend to have drier skin in general, which often leads to dog atopy, hair loss and/or hot spots. English Bulldogs may experience hair loss and skin discoloration, which may start out seasonally, but often becomes worse quickly.
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Generally, the Lhasa Apso is a very healthy breed of dog. Often mistaken for a Shitzu to the untrained eye, these little dogs are perfect apartment living pets. Unfortunately these lovable indoor companions are prone to dog skin conditions, especially if special care isn’t taken when it comes to their coat.
It is very important to keep this particular breed’s skin and coat free of parasites. Some advice when it comes to grooming: No trimming or stripping is needed, although when in full coat, they need to be brushed about once a day to keep their coats from matting. Some owners opt to cut the coats short for easier or less grooming. Dry shampoo as necessary. Check the feet for matting and for foreign matter stuck there. Clean the eyes and ears meticulously, for they tend to tear. A Lhasa Apso is an average shedder and is hypoallergenic, so they make great pets for people with sensitivity to pet odor.
Many pet owner’s will learn the hard way, especially first-time dog owner’s, that the animal’s skin and coat will be your first and possibly only sign of a potential health issue. Proper nutrition, grooming, exercise, preventative care and quality of life all play important roles in dog skin care.
However, dog skin problems such as atopy, hot spots, skin allergies and even dry skin are not always preventable no matter how caring or loving a pet owner that you are. These ailments are typically the symptoms of deeper causes and can be very expensive to diagnose and treat. Often times even a proper diagnosis cannot lead to a cure. Many breeds of dogs are predisposed to certain types of skin disorders. Others may develop problems at any time, such as allergies to their pet food or a flea bite.
“You don’t always find a definite underlying cause for hot spots, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t find a cure,” a pet owner tells me in a recent conversation. “Don’t give up, not even after you think you’ve tried everything.” For the past three years, Michelle has been trying to find a cause and cure for her poor bulldog, Marty.
The dog hots spots began nearly undetected and grew to three very large patches, one on each side and one on the lower back/top of his buttocks. Poor Marty’s hot spots spread a lot more quickly than they vanished. Even after a year of intense skin therapy and a diet supplementation rich in Essential Fatty Acids, there is still a little discoloration, but the hair has begun to return. To this day, a definite cause of the hot spots has not been discovered.
A hot spot in general terms is an area on your pet’s skin that is red, irritated, also possibly dry, very sore or infected. There are many potential underlying causes for a hot spot.
And although finding the original cause for pet hot spots is very important for the long-term health of your animal, treating the hot spot itself immediately will prevent it from getting worse. If the hot spot was caused by excessive scratching or chewing, then you must prevent your pet from being able to continue this destructive behavior.
Even though the symptoms of atopic dermatitis show up on the skin, it is most often caused by airborne allergens. The basic definition of this common skin problem is a predisposition to develop allergic symptoms following exposure to substances that are usually harmless, but have triggered an allergic response. Two of the most common offenders are dust mites and pollen, which are incredibly difficult for pets to avoid, since dust mites are virtually everywhere and pollen permeates the air outdoors.
The most common symptoms of atopic dermatitis in dogs include itching, excessive scratching, rubbing on the carpet, hair loss, greasy or flaky skin with a foul odor, excessive chewing on the paws and areas such as the groin and armpits. Over time, the skin that is scratched can develop hot spots – raw, inflamed areas – that may become infected. Unfortunately, once dogs develop dog atopy they usually suffer more and more each year because their skin becomes more sensitive over time. What may start out as canine atopic dermatitis only in the spring and fall can become a year-round problem as your dog ages and his skin becomes increasingly sensitive.
If you’ve noticed your dog is constantly scratching and you’ve already ruled out fleas, then it’s time to get serious about figuring out what the cause is for the dog itchy skin.
First things first, begin checking over your dog’s skin and coat often, at least daily. Is constant scratching his only symptom? Or does he have patchy, red skin? Hot Spots? Loss of hair, as well? Dog itchy skin may just be caused by the dog’s natural oils being stripped, therefore causing dry, sensitive skin or it can be a much more serious health problem. This is especially true if your dog has any combination of the above mentioned symptoms.
If you’ve ever had a dog with hot spots then you know what they look like and how disruptive they can be to your pet’s quality of life; as well as your own. What you might not know is what the cause of the dog’s hot spots are, especially if they seem to be returning off and on again.
Dog hot spots that tend to come and go with a particular season may be a sign of an allergy, such as an inhalent or contact allergy. Although an all-natural skin therapy lotion containing essential fatty acids and the Omegas will most likely remedy the hot spot, it will not solely be enough to cure the problem.
Our boxer had been fighting a yeast infection for nearly a year. The vet gave him several steroid shots and Prednizone. The infection would get a little better, but it kept coming back. He lost most of his hair, his appetite and his skin became discolored and thick in places.
Turns out he had an allergic reaction to one of the grains in his pet food and that is what lead to his dog skin problems. I supplemented his dog food with an all-natural food supplement as well as applying a skin therapy lotion to the problem areas of the skin. Because he had fought this problem for so long, it did take several months to correct it. He began to eat better and more and slowly regained weight. The truth is I never would have tried these methods if it hadn’t been suggested by a close friend who shows dogs professionally.
Hot spots are surface skin infections caused when populations of normal skin bacteria grow and overwhelm normal resistance. They are generally circular patches that lose hair, can be swollen, may exude a smelly pus, and can be painfully itchy, causing the dog to scratch, lick, or bite to the point of self-mutilation.
Untreated, dog hot spots can spread and provoke a normally even-tempered dog to growl or nip when touched. The most common locations for hot spots are the legs and feet, flanks, and rump — areas that can be reached by licking or biting — but these localized infections can also appear on ears, neck, and chest if the dog is continually scratching.