Pet Skin Doctor
Pet Skin Information
Archive for the ‘Dog Hot Spots’ Category
At Pet Skin Doctor we hear of many pet skin problems or conditions, some more complicated than others, but all are of great concern to loving pet owner’s. One pet owner’s battles with her dog’s sensitive skin comes to mind. Her Dane was loosing patches of hair on her elbows. The canine also seemed to have an excess number of “battle scars” after walking and playing.
Dog skin care is an important part in the responsibility of pet ownership, but often canine’s with sensitive skin require a little extra effort. Great Danes may be large dogs, but do not necessarily have a thick skin or coat. Walking the dog through the woods for instance can cause sores and scarring. In this case, the Dane is still a puppy and tends to lay directly on her front paw elbows on the deck and hardwood floors of the owner’s home, causing the hair to rub off and not grow back fully, quickly. We recommended an all-natural skin therapy lotion applied to the trouble areas. The Dane didn’t need a lot very often before the fur returned (and stayed!). The skin therapy ointment also allowed the sores to heal quickly and without scarring (as a bonus!)
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If you’re worried your dog may be experiencing dog dermatitis, be sure that you have all of the facts straight on the matter. There is much confusion on the difference between dog dermatitis and other dog skin problems.
Dog dermatitis is ofter used as a general term for dog skin problems and conditions. It is more clinically known as a historic sensitivity prone to certain breeds.
As a dog owner, you are probably aware of the possibility of your canine friend running off, getting into something gross, contracting fleas or another parasite, or even becoming ill. A dog may show signs of a health problem through its coat and skin.
Because so many different underlying causes exist, it is difficult to diagnose many dog skin problems for certain. Fleas may be obvious, but a nutrition deficiency may have the same symptoms as the underlying cause for seasonal hot spots.
Despite being a loving and caring pet owner, one who always takes preventative measures when it comes to their dog’s health and well-being, it’s impossible to prevent everything.
Proper and regular dog skin care will certainly point you in the right direction of preventing problems. However, more importantly sometimes, regular skin care such as grooming, will provide you with a first-hand knowledge of when something might be wrong. The quicker you detect a potential problem the better chance your dog has for a quick diagnosis and treatment.
Is your dog constantly scratching, licking, chewing or rubbing? Does he have dry skin, red irritated patches of skin or even open sores?
Since dog dermatitis is basically a general term for skin and coat problems or “hot spots” appearing for unknown or even various causes, finding specific information may seem like a daunting task. You will really have to narrow down symptoms and behaviors to even get started on a proper diagnosis.
Jenna is an English Bulldog who’s vet couldn’t seem to find a reason for her “seasonal” hot spots. Jenna would loose hair in certain spots along her tummy. They were always small patches and seemed to get better but then would come back again. However, after two years of this, they stopped going away. Eventually Jenna had lost most of the hair on her tummy and under her armpits. It just wouldn’t come back no matter what type of expensive medications the vet would put her on.
If dog hot spots are noticed and seem to come and go, even seasonally, then it is most likely a more serious problem then you may realize. To be honest, Jenna was never actually “diagnosed”. However, a combination of skin treatment cream and food supplement was used for a few months. Slowly, Jenna’s hair is returning. Take note that hot spots are more common in certain breeds of dogs then others. Bulldogs are just one of these breeds.
Common Food Allergens Cause Dog Skin Conditions
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
posted by Essential Needs @ 11:40 AM
It may or may not come as a shock to you that certain dog skin conditions are caused by your pets food. There are two reasons for this: One is a hypersensitivity that your dog has or has developed to it’s food or a food ingredient. This is one of the most common types of allergy in a dog. The other is caused by a lack of proper nutrients in your dog’s food.
As far as dog skin conditions caused by an allergic reaction to an ingredient? The most common culprits are corn, wheat, soy or yeast, which is the main ingredients in many pet foods today.
Many dog skin problems take a while to surface but it always seems like it happened over night once you notice them. Some do surface more quickly than others, but it depends on the severity of the cause and how much hair your pup has.
For instance dog skin problems with excessive hair loss as a symptom may be noticeable to someone aware of it but other pet owner’s may not realize it until the dog has a bald spot. It is a good idea to regularly check your dog over. This is best done daily or at least weekly and should be done prior to bathing or brushing. Your dog may become frightened or hurt worse if water or a comb were to hit any soft areas, hot spots or open sores.
Since “hot spots” is a generic term for pet skin conditions, it may not always be clear as to what they look like, or even less clear – what causes them?
Firstly, pet hot spots will typically start off as small spots (hence the name). However, that doesn’t mean they won’t spread into much larger masses over time. Depending on how furry your pet is and the location of the spot, you may not notice for a long time. What you will probably notice first is your pet(s) constant scratching, chewing, biting or licking. Pay close attention to any area that he seemingly spends alot of time licking (for instance, his paws or in between his toes) or scratching (such as ears or face). Examine your pet thouroughly daily – you may not find anything at first sight. It’s important to locate a ”spot” before it becomes an open sore and infected.
Nearly every pet owner has had to deal with fleas at some time in their pet(s) life. It can be a real battle to get rid of a flea infestation, especially if you have several pets in one household. I’m not going to elaborate on getting rid of fleas though. I plan on making two other related points. One is short: The best flea medicine for your pet is the preventative kind. Two has to do with the poor dog itchy skin left even after you’ve gotten the fleas under control.
Depending on how long it took to get the fleas under control, they may have made a real mess of your dog’s skin and coat. Treating the skin aside from the flea medication is the best and quickest relief you can give your dogs before they turn the itchy skin into open sores or hot spots. Also, keep in mind that some dogs are allergic to flea salivia so even if you don’t have a manifestation of fleas, you could still have a serious problem on your hands.