DOGS HEALTH

We often hear of dogs with a chronic and insistent itching problem.

1. Environmental Skin Disorders - Dogs with environmental skin problems are otherwise healthy, but present with signs of itchy skin and/or hair loss. Contact with some plastics can create an environmental pet skin disorder.

2. Nutritional Skin Disorders – Correction of these cases of itchy dog should be a very simple and no pet medication is required.

3. Parasitic Skin Disorders - Pet owners most commonly associate dog scratching with fleas. There are a number of highly effective and safe flea medications and natural flea remedies. Also called scabies or red mange, they create very intense itchy skin, hair loss, and inflamed skin with multiple small scabs. Sarcoptic mite infestation, more than any other pest, is frequently misdiagnosed as Allergic Pet Skin Disorder.

Demodex is most commonly seen in young dogs. An older dog with these mites might have a differnt and more serious problem

4. Infectious Skin Disorders – Bacterial, fungal and yeast organisms can lead to awful skin and coat problems. Yeasts can irritate an already diseased skin surface. Yeast infections typically create greasy, smelly and itchy signs in affected dogs. Bacterial problems rarely occur spontaneously on a dog with normal healthy skin.

Infectious pet skin disorders are often is so irritating that dogs will lick continuously at a spot and undo any healing that has taken place. Food ingredients, synthetic and natural fibers, medications and pharmaceutical products, plant material and even dust all can trigger an Allergic Pet Skin Disorder.

Even common bacteria on the dog’s skin can provoke an allergic reaction to themselves! Food allergies are so common that pet food manufacturers have invested millions of dollars in research for diets to help dogs and cats with food allergies.

The treatments of allergic skin disorders include topical medicated soothing baths and ointments.

5. Neurogenic Skin Disorders - This group presents a major challenge to diagnose and treat. No specific pet medication can be used to prevent this skin disorder.

However it is very important that you know how to practice dog skin care because this will affect his health as well.

A great diet is vital to improving the canine skin condition. There are many excellent commercial pet food-but serving fresh meat, fruit and vegetables are still a better alternative if you ask me. Incidentally, fresh vegetables hold in moisture that contributes to the animal’s hydration, keeping their skin looking good.

Daily add in oils in the dog’s meals as well. Do not share shampoos with your dog because human shampoos are harsher and get alter the dog’s pH levels. Look for specially formulated canine shampoos that contain aloe vera, safflower oil, sunflower oil, silk, wheat or oil proteins.

Brush your dog’s coat often. It helps in circulation and in spreading out the oils produced by the canine’s skin. When you find parasites on your dog you must immediately find a good treatment product available in any pet store. The dog will scratch and poke at his skin until he develops open wounds which can be infected when not properly treated.

It may be that your pet has a medical condition that requires more than dog skin care.