Monday, September 26, 2011

Types of Dog Skin Problems

By Jennifer Gretson


There are different dog skin problems that our pets may suffer from. As a pet owner, it should be our responsibility to get ourselves better acquainted with what these are so we can prevent them from pestering our dogs. When these skin problems are left unattended, they can eventually become mixed with the blood of our pets and cost more major problems in the long run.

Allergies are among the common skin problems that dogs face. There are many known causes of allergies and among them can be due to food problems and even by allergens-just as humans typically experience an allergy. This is why you should pay attention to how your dog reacts with the food you feed them. You should also remember to keep your dwelling place clean to prevent allergens such as dust mites from mixing with the air you breathe.

You can also count in fleas as among the biggest source of dog skin problems. They reside on the skin of our dogs and does not grow content with that. They also feed right on the dog's blood and when they do, their saliva leaves behind an irritation right on the dog's skin. As a result it becomes too itchy that the poor dog has to scratch on it repeatedly.

Ear mites are also a common type of parasite that causes skin problems for dogs. What it does is enter right through your dog's ears and then reside inside of them. They are known to look like coffee grinds and they can also spread to other parts of the dog's body. They can be quite dangerous to leave untreated because they can burrow deep into your dog's ear canal. Usually, medications are being prescribed to treat them.

If you find gray spots on your dog's skin and know that the dog's breed is not known for such dots, they might be suffering from ticks. Ticks are also parasites that reside on the dog's skin, feeding on your pet's blood. When it worsens, these ticks can give your pet the Lyme disease which can enlarge their lymph nodes and induce loss of appetite.

Canine lice are also known to exist among dogs. The spread of this can happen if your dog gets to move close or come in contact with another dog that already have lice. This parasite can hardly be seen by the naked eye but they are known to have wings which allows them to transfer from one unknowing host to another. But thanks to a shampoo with phrethrin, lice can easily be removed.

Dog skin problems are also rounded up with fungal infections. Usually, a parasite like ringworn is behind such problems. You would know that your dog is suffering from fungi infection if they exhibit dry flaky skin. Your pet's skin would also appear to be scaly and redness around the infected area will appear.

To be free from dog skin problems, make sure you bring your dog to the vet regularly. You should also keep your home clean to avoid attracting parasites that might harm everyone in the household including your dogs.




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