Pet Skin Doctor
Pet Skin Information
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.
add comment
(0 Comments)
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.
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.
Diagnose Pet Skin Allergies with Multiple Pets
Monday, June 21, 2010
posted by PetSkinDoctor @ 8:02 AM
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.
What are scabies? Sarcoptic mange, commonly known as scabies, is caused by the parasite Sarcoptes scabiei. These microscopic mites invade the skin. Important: ANYONE – humans and and other animals/pets can get scabies. They are most common in dogs, but will also infect others.
Ferret skin problems caused by scabies include hair loss and sores from severe itching. These are also signs for other skin problems, so carefully search your ferret’s skin for small bumps caused by the mites.
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.
Does your dog have allergies? The telltale signs for humans are sneezing, runny eyes/nose and headaches or dizziness. However, when it comes to our canine companions, signs (or symptoms) aren’t quite the same. Their skin and coat is where you will find signs of an allergic reaction. That is why dog allergies are often referred to as dog skin allergies.
Causes for dog allergies can be the same as in humans, though these are not the most common ones. A flea allergy, an allergic reaction to flea saliva, is the most common type of dog allergy. Since it is the saliva that is the allergen it only takes one flea to cause your dog lots of irritation.
There are topical skin issues such as feline acne, found on the chin and lips and often caused by stress or bacteria toting plastic food and water bowls. Although excesive shedding, constant scratching or licking and sores on the skin may seem like a topical problem, these are actually symptoms or signs of a much deeper issue.
If your cat is experiencing what seems like topical cat skin problems then one thing is certain: there is an underlying cause. Common are allergies – such as a food allergy, flea allergy, inhalent or contact allergy.
Having a feline companion has its perks. I love my cat, but he’s had his share of dry, itchy skin caused by flea dirt, hair loss from a lack of nutrients in his diet, and lastly, an allergy to fish oil, discovered over a very long 8 months.
These issues and symptoms are referred to in general as cat skin conditions. It’s important to diagnose the correct cat skin problem prior to attempting to treat it. It can be a very long process since so many ailments cause the same symptoms.
If your dog has a hypersensitivity to a food, product or other potential allergen (such as wool or grass) it may not be obvious at first. You may notice your dog scratching or licking all of the time, but you will be more likely to notice the irritated, red skin that surfaces after a small period of time. This condition is referred to as atopic dermatitis.
However, many veterinarians attain that atopic dermatitis in dogs cannot be diagnosed without an existing history of the condition. You may have to put your dog through many expensive (though not typically painful) tests before proper diagnosis can be made.