Pet Skin Doctor
Archive for October, 2009
Sorting through the Misinformation about Ferrets
As a longtime ferret owner, I’ve learned the hard way that you can’t believe everything you hear about the cuddly critters. For one thing, many people are predisposed to dislike them because of their quick movements, lanky bodies and the belief that they are rodents. In fact, ferrets are close relations of otters, badgers and other proud creatures that are decidedly not pests. It’s also tough to trust any medical advice you hear in passing pertaining to ferrets. The fact is that they aren’t as common a pet as cats and dogs.
Keeping close tabs on any skin conditions before they worsen is one key to ferret care. Bear in mind that ferrets are susceptible to the same parasites that plague cats and dogs – with the single exception of ticks. Since ferrets are kept indoors, they don’t have a chance to pick up ticks out in the woods. Check their bodies for abscesses and cysts that might develop, and contact a veterinarian immediately if you detect such abnormalities.
Taking preventative measures is usually the best care for your pet, but what if that’s not good enough? What if you only notice here and there that your dog is scratching here and you don’t realize it might be a lager problem - until it is?
Dog atopy involves excessive itching. The first signs will often be excessive scratching in paws, face, ears, armpits and groin areas. Your dog may chew his feet or rub his face on walls, carpet or furniture. Watch for your dog licking, chewing and grooming for extensive periods of time. Your dog’s ears may also be very red and hot to the touch. If your pet is between the ages of 6 months and 3 years, they will be more likely to show signs of atopic dermatitis.
Dog Skin Allergies – Inhalant, Food or Flea Bite?
Like humans, dogs can have allergic reactions to just about anything. However, the most common allergens among canines is inhalent (such as mold or pollen), food or flea bite. Unfortunately, diagnosis can be difficult because all of these allergies tend to manifest in the same way.
Symptoms of inhalant dog skin allergies include scratching, biting, chewing at their feet and constant licking. Like inhalant allergies, food sensitivities primarily manifest themselves with itchy skin. Lastly, flea allergies usually include severe itching, but it is not a reaction to the flea itself but rather to proteins in its saliva. Dogs most prone to this problem are not dogs constantly flea ridden, but those who are exposed only occasionally. A single bite can cause a reaction for five to seven days, so many fleas may not be present to cause your dog severe itching.
Cats are much like humans, it seems some are more resiliant and able to fight off disease then others. Sometimes it is genetic and family information could be useful, but other times there seems to be no rhyme or reason for the problems, they just appear.
The most common causes for cat skin conditions are listed as pest bites (fleas) and food allergies, skin mites and ringworm, or feline acne. Skin mites and ringworm are contagious to other animals as well as humans, so exercise caution if you think this is the cause of your cat’s problem. Diagnosis is best made by narrowing down the conditions on the above list; Compare the symptoms and location(s) of your cat’s skin condition to the symptoms/location(s) associated with the above list.
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!
Generally speaking, pet food supplement is most often used just as it sounds; to supplement regular dog or cat food. The reason for the supplement is to provide additional high quality protein, essential fats, vitamins and minerals, as well as important nutrients such as creatine, glucosamine and chondroitin, among others.
You may be aware that pet skin care begins from the inside out. While traditional dog and cat foods contain protein, it is generally of inferior quality making it difficult for your pet to digest and absorb. A small amount of an all-natural, high quality food supplement can make a significant difference in the health and quality of life of your pet.
Choosing the right dog or cat food for your pet may seem confusing. You may have asked the breeder or boarder of your dog, the vet or even your pet-loving friends. But finding the right food is often a changing process. Obviously the type, breed and age of your pet are the first considerations. But did you know that many pet skin problems are caused by an allergic reaction to their food or food ingredient?
A food allergy may be developed at any time and may seem to happen overnight. Limiting and changing your pet’s diet until the cause is found is one of the steps taken. Your vet may also perform many tests to help find the culprit.
Skin infections on the surface of your dog or cat’s skin are called hot spots. They are 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.
Be careful! Untreated pet 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 your pet is continually scratching.
My ex-boyfriend spent so much time complaining about the allergic reactions brought on by my cat Frank that I completely overlooked Frank’s own allergy issues. Cat-proofing my bedroom was a huge pain in the neck; it required that I vacuum the room constantly and that Frank couldn’t be allowed inside – not even to lounge in his favorite patch of sun that covers my bed sheets. Eventually the boyfriend had to go, and my attention returned to the cat.
As it turned out, he had developed some cat allergies that were manifesting themselves in the form of itchy skin patches. I spoke to the veterinarian about it and he recommended the occasional application of skin therapy cream. The dry, flaky skin and hot spots healed in a matter of days, and Frank returned to his leisurely, carefree lifestyle.
If you have noticed ”hot spots” on your feline, you may take him to the vet only to pay for the visit and possibly a steroid shot. The hot spot may disapear only to reapear shortly after.
This is evidence that the cat hot spots are a symptom of a deeper problem. “Hot spots” are patches of red, inflamed skin. This moist, raw skin disorder has a variety of causes but the most consistent factor is bacteria. It’s important to document location of the hot spot and when you noticed its appearance. As these are helpful things to know while trying to diagnose the underlying problem. In the mean time, using a natural skin therapy lotion on the hot spot will help the area to heal faster without the expensive, time-consuming trips to the vet or the long-term ill effects of steroids.