Skin problems in your Dog

Skin Problems-dog many times when you are watching dog shows and dog competitions, you would surely notice the way these superb animals exude beauty and elegance with their skin and wonderful coat. Just watching the amazing glossiness from a well kept Rottweiler or just catching a glimpse of the free-flowing hair of an Afghan hound would make even non-dog lovers stop what they were doing and take notice.

Contrary to what people would think, expensive and good grooming is not the only factor that can create such beautiful coats for these wonderful animals. Good overall health, consistent skin care and a body that is devoid of any skin problems is the key for such beauty in any dog. A skin that is healthy is naturally smooth, soft and supple and would be devoid of any parasites like mange mites, dog skin diseases and other skin related problems like dermatitis or hot spots.

As the largest organ in your dog’s body, the skin provides a protection for all internal organs, muscles and tissues from the outside world. It also provides an indication as to the conditions of these internal organs, so if internal health problems exist in the body, it would usually show up through the animal's skin. Some of the indications include severe itching that would eventually result to scabs and bleeding, sores, redness, inflammation, discharges, discolorations, lumps and hair loss.

These are some of the most common dog skin ailments that you might encounter you’re your canine friend.

* Parasites are the most common problems that dogs may encounter in their skins. These include mites, fleas and ticks that can cause intense itchiness that would lead to severe scratching and eventually hair loss. Fleas and ticks can be easily seen while mites that cause mange in dogs are microscopic in nature. Topical and internal medications can be administered to address these parasites.

* Dogs are like humans in more ways than one and these include the potential to catch certain allergies. A common scenario involves dogs chewing on their skin due to severe itchiness caused by flea allergies and this can eventually result in your dog bleeding. Other allergies can come from dust, mold, pollen, food and even shampoos. Allergy testing should be performed by veterinarians in order to identify the proper antigens that can be administered to your pet.

* A wound that is caused by a bite or a puncture can sometimes close up and trap bacteria under the skin. The bacteria would eventually proliferate and would cause pus to develop in abscesses under the skin. This happened to my dog, Clancy, and because he is a collie, his long coat hid the bite until it had become infected. It was pretty messy. Abscesses usually will burst open and the pus eventually drains out, however prolonged cases would need the intervention of the veterinarian who will eventually lance out the wound to remove the pus. The open wound would then be cleaned, disinfected and applied with an antibiotic cream or ointment to prevent the recurrence of pus.

There are several other skin related problems that your dog may encounter in their lifetime. The key here is for you to know about and be aware of such problems and how to deal with them properly and effectively.