Pet Skin Doctor

With the hot sticky summer upon us, many of our pets tend to experience skin problems such as hot spots or dry skin.  But is the weather really the cause?

Examine closely the location and type of pet dry skin.  Often, pets are more active in the summer and may not be receiving proper nutrition and care.  Other times, there is an underlying cause for the dry skin that may not be easy to diagnose.

If you’ve read any number of our posts then I’m sure you’re well aware of how we feel about preventative care.  However, there are times when preventative care just isn’t enough.  Some pet skin problems are NOT caused by things that can be prevented.

For instance, a flea allergy can be kept at bay with preventative flea treatment.  However, inhalent and contact allergies can begin at any time and there is very little if anything that can be done to prevent them.

As the manufacturer of an all-natural pet food supplement, we are often asked what a food supplement has to do with a dog, cat or ferret’s skin.

Pet skin care isn’t just about the surface of your pet’s skin.  Bathing and proper grooming are important, yes, but it’s the all together healthiness of your pet that makes their skin and coat shine.  If your pet is not receiving the proper diet then you can be sure the coat will reflect that.

Does your pet havesores between their toes from constant licking?  Licking between their toes may be a sign of a pet skin problem, although they may also have the sores from a cut or they could have a fetish – especially if your pet is a cat.

However, if the sores are literally between their toes or you’ve witnessed constant licking specifically in that area, then you are most likely dealing with pet hot spots.  “Hot spots” is actually a generic term for the sores it is not an actual disease or specific pet skin problem.

Whether your dog, cat or ferret; if your pet is experiencing dry skin, then it’s quite possibly a more serious problem then you may think.

So what can pet dry skin mean?  Your dog may be hypersensitive, or your cat perhaps is suffering from dry skin because of an improper diet.  Maybe your pet has an allergy to its food, medication or even the bed where he sleeps!  You must observe and document all symptoms your pet has and go from there.

As much as we would like to be able to feed our pets anything without having to worry about it thats’s just not the case.  It is not safe for our animals to let them eat anything.  This can range from the obvious branches, sticks, plants, mulch and other things most dogs like to tear into to the store-bought treats we feed them, as well as our cats and ferrets.

You may ask, “Why do they sell ”treats” if there is a possibility of harm or creating my pet skin problems?”  Good question.  Probably for the same reason they sell humans cigarrettes even though we all know how good those are for us.  The point is, we need to take the time to read labels and make sure that we are feeding our pets only the healthiest of choices for their age, breed and/or situation.  Food supplements and all-natural treats and products are a good place to start.  also keep in mind that not all pets are created equally.  If you have two dogs, for instance, one may have a skin allergy or dislike to certain products that the other dog has no problems with.

Since an animal with any type of allergy (flea, food, inhalant, contact) is not contagious, if you have multiple pets showing signs of a skin problem you may quickly rule out allergy. ( Unless your pets are related or both are hypersensitive to different things.)

It is highly unlikely that two pets may have an allergic reaction to their pet food or a food ingredient.  However pet skin allergies related to the pet food may be present.  Your pet may need a special food or food supplement because of the lack of needed nutrients in it’s present diet.

There are many potential reasons why your pet may be experiencing dry, itchy skin, “hot spots” and/or excessive shedding or hair loss in patches on their body.

These pet skin conditionsmay be caused by a lack of proper nutrients in their daily diet or bathing too much.  however, among one of the most common reasons for pet skin conditions are actually allergies.  An allergic reaction to flea saliva, an inhalant or contact allergy or an allergic reaction to a food product.