Pet Skin Doctor
Pet Skin Information
Archive for the ‘Dry Dog Skin’ 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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Dog itchy skin may actually be caused by dog dry skin. “What difference does it make?” You might ask. Well, a dog’s skin can become dry to any number of reasons. Some are more serious than others. If it is dry skin then you will not be able to get rid of dog itchy skin until you get the problem under control.
An often overlooked cause of dog dry skin is bathing too often. I know it’s hard not to give your dog regular baths. Especially in the summer with an indoor dog. I have a Dane and a Rottweiler and we try to bathe them only once every six weeks, but sometimes it makes me cringe to look at my hands after a good petting! However, bathing a dog too often will strip it’s skin of the natural oils that help produce a healthy skin and coat and therefore a healthier canine companion!
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 factors can determine what might cause your dog dry skin. Some of these factors are breed related or genetic, the climate where you live, your dog’s daily diet, bathing too often and whether or not the dry skin is a symptom of a more serious underlying cause.
If searching for a treatment for dog dry skin, first determine if there are any other signs or symptoms that may be the result of an underlying cause. For example, your dog may have allergies. He could be allergic to his pet food, a flea bite, grass, pollen or even the material of his new dog bed! Treating the dry skin with a topical skin therapy is a good idea to keep the area from becoming worse. If your dog scratches or chews the patches of dry skin, the patches will turn into open sores. However, if you don’t figure out what is causing the dry skin, it will probably continue to return.
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.
Since many breeds of dogs (and even cats) are prone to sensitive skin or certain types of skin infections, you must first rule this out as a cause for your pet’s dry skin. Dry, flaky skin, with or without other symptoms may be a sign of a more serious underlying health problem with your pet. It may be a simple diagnosis and fix, such as poor nutrition, or a more complicated issue, such as allergies.
It’s important that the cause of pet dry skin is properly diagnosed prior to treatment. However, because diagnosis may take some time, there are two recommendations made for immediate action. First, do the best you can to prevent your pet access to the area of dry skin – no licking, chewing or scratching it. Secondly, you may apply a skin therapy lotion to help prevent infection and possibly even temporarily heal the area.
If your dog is plagued with itchy skin, causing him to scratch persistently and he doesn’t have fleas, then dermatitis may be the culprit. The questions to be answered; what is the cause for his dermatitis and what can you as a loving pet owner do about it?
The most common reasons behind dog dermatitis are food related, such as sensitivities to their pet food or an ingredient or by-product, nutritional deficiencies, or allergies. Consider irritating substances or reactions to toxins or drugs, or an infection caused by fungi, bacteria, yeast or parasites (one flea bite or a single tick may cause a reaction in your dog). Also note that certain breeds are predisposed to certain skin infections.
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 your dog suffers from dry, itchy skin, then you’re probably beside yourself trying to decide what to do about it. I know I found it to be very frustrating trying to help my little Lhasa Apso. When I adopted my Lhasa, Sugar, she was about two years old. I have had many dogs in my day, so I was well aware of the potential problems associated with dog itchy skin.
Fleas, allergies, improper nutrition, rough grooming . . . after tiresome months of narrowing down the possibilities, I had all but given up. I didn’t want to put her through time-consuming, painful or expensive testing because she seemed healthy. It was just these occasional patches of dry skin that would appear. Sometimes they went away on their own and other times she scratched at them so much they became sores. The vet did tell me that if it was an allergy, it wasn’t necessarily to a specific item, but could be to many. The end result? I began keeping her coat trimmed close to her skin so I could catch the dry patches upon first appearance. then I rubbed a natural skin therapy lotion on the dry skin patches before she had the chance to scratch them open. They disappeared more quickly and I see them less often now. Maybe it’s not the cure, but it has made Sugar’s life healthier and mine easier!
Pets age differently than we, as owners, do. Many factors also account to when your pet is actually considered a senior. Generally, the larger breeds tend to age faster. Sadly, our pets are subject to the same conditions we face as we age. As your dog ages, loss of hearing and vision may make it difficult to connect with your dog. Also, decreased activity may lead to weight gain. A regular exercise program will keep your dog healthy and active in his later years. Gentle games or an occasional swim in the pool are good ideas to start with.
As your dog approaches senior citizenship, he or she is becoming more helpless to skin conditions. Although dog itchy skin is common in all dogs, it’s more prevalent in senior dogs. As an owner, you may need to start grooming and bathing your dog more often. A blow dryer may be very rough on your senior’s now dry skin so instead use a thick absorbent towel. A flea and tick treatment may be required as your dog ages; senior dogs are more prone to skin infections than their younger counterparts. Extra care and cautionary measures are important in keeping your senior dog healthier longer and to improve his quality of life during his later years.