Pet skin conditions
May 28, 2016
Have you observed your dog scratching and licking himself? The habit is surely annoying, for we expect the dog to be cool at night and only snoring while sleeping comfortably. So what could be the problem? In this article we are discussing some of these skin conditions that affect our pets and give them sleepless nights.
Atopic Dermatitis
This commonly affect dogs. To a small extend, cats are also affected by the same. So what is atopic dermatitis? This is an allergic skin condition brought about by an immunological hypersensitivity to usual ambience substances like pollen, molds and dust mites. The danger of this condition is that it can result to other complications such as ear infections.
Signs of Atopic dermatitis
Ø The dog incessantly licks, bites and scratches specific areas of its body. This causes irritation of the skin.
Ø The corners of the dog’s chin, mouth, armpit and groin or between the toes can have a red brown color due to saliva staining.
Ø Hyperpigmentation is seen on formerly pink skin after the red, irritated skin is gone. This condition is known as the black mottling.
We should take note that dogs are just like human and they can be irritated by human allergens. Contact with pollen, carpet or even grass can possibly irritate dogs. A reaction can also be cause by certain foods.
Treating dermatitis
There is no cure for atopic dermatitis, but it can be controlled in the following ways:
· use of steroids
· use of antihistamine
· oral medications like ATOPICA
· Use of fatty acids. They have great anti-inflammatory properties.
· Immunotherapy
Pyoderma
This is also another skin condition that very problematic to our pets. It a bacterial infection that is mostly caused by allergic reactions.
Signs of Pyoderma
Ø Red and inflamed skin. This mostly referred to as hot spots.
Ø Lesions or rashes. They look like raised round scabs or small bumps.
Ø Blood-filled or pus-filled blisters
Ø Scaling or crusting with loss of hair.
It is important to note that pyoderma has common appearance inside the ears, in between toes, in the groin area and along the middle of the back.
Acne
This is yet another skin condition affecting our pets. Cats have a tendency of rubbing their skin along different surfaces. This habit helps them release accumulated oil in the sebaceous gland. If these glands are clogged, acne shows on the cat’s lips or chin. The chin then appear dirty and swells. It could possibly get an infection.
Causes of pet acne
§ Stress
§ Use of plastic food bowels
§ Food allergies
§ Poor grooming habits.
Treating pet Acne
· Cleaning with antibiotic soap, iodine, hydrogen peroxide or Epsom salts
· If the case is severe, antibiotics may be used to treat infections or steroids applied to lower inflammation.
Among other skin conditions is the cellulitis. It is caused by untreated puncture wound due to a fight or something. The other is allergic dermatitis caused by a reaction to fleabites. The cat scratches itself cause excessive skin loss.
Pet skin conditions
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