Despite having a full coat of fur, dogs can have skin issues just like humans. In fact, the fur may be contributing to the skin condition by preventing its early detection. If you see your dog chewing or scratching frequently on their fur or skin, then it may be time to take them to the vet to determine the issue.
But there are things you can do to help keep the skin of your dog healthy. What follows are five of the most common issues with their skin and what you can do about it.
Allergies
Dogs can have allergies just like people. The three most common types associated with dogs and their skin are fleas, food, and something in their environment. A single bite from a flea mostly causes mild irritation, but in dogs, with an allergic reaction, it can be quite serious. To manage such conditions, you will need to treat your dogs for fleas frequently, identify other causes of allergic reactions, and ensure that the food you are serving them is not the source as well.
Dull Coat
Admittedly, this may be difficult to spot, but it is important. A dull coat is often the result of improper nutrition. And having a dull coat means that the skin underneath is not healthy either. The addition of fatty acids such as Omega-3 and Omega-6 may improve the coat of your dog. This, in turn, means healthier skin and a reduction of inflammation.
General Itchiness
This is probably the most common conditions that veterinarians see in their clinics. Nearly 40% of all dogs have some type of skin-related issue that causes itchiness. The continued scratching only develops its own problems after a while, not to mention keeping the dog and you awake at night. The persistent scratching can lead to sores, infections, and even the loss of hair along with additional stress-related issues.
Infection
Parasites such as mites and fleas can bite the skin which exposes it to bacterial infection. This is probably the easiest type of itchy skin issue to treat. Clear up the infection and you stop the itchiness from occurring. Bathing your dog and checking under their fur for sores, especially sticky ones means you can spot issues before they really get started.
Loss of Hair
If your dog starts losing their fur, you will need to have them checked out. There is more than one reason as to why your dog may be losing its hair. So, take them to the vet to find out. The cause may be parasites and mites to internal causes such as Cushing’s disease or thyroid disease. The dog may be facing an adrenal disorder as well.
If the hair loss continues, then there is something systemic happening to your dog. Be sure to schedule an appointment if you notice your pooch losing its hair.
As with any condition, the sooner you notice it, the faster it can be treated. If you notice that your dog is scratching frequently, that is the time to make an appointment with your vet.
