Dog Skin Allergy

Dog Skin Allergy

The sound of a dog constantly scratching or licking can be as irritating as nails on a chalkboard. When a dog is incessantly licking, scratching, biting and chewing to the point of wounding herself, then scratching becomes a symptom of an underlying pathology. Our team at Pet Care Hospital has combined some of the most common canine skin problems.

What caused skin allergy in my dog?

 

a.) Allergic Dermatitis:

Dogs can have allergic reactions to grooming products, food, and environmental irritants, such as pollen or insect bites. Corticosteroids can help with itchy rashes, but the most effective treatment is to identify and avoid exposure to the allergens.

 

b.) Yeast Infection:

Your dog cannot stop scratching an ear or licking and chewing its toes? You must ask your veterinarian to check for a yeast infection. Canine ear infections are most commonly caused by bacteria or yeast. Ear mites, excessive hair, moisture or wax, foreign bodies, allergies, and hypothyroidism can all be contributing factors in the development of an ear infection. 

dog yeast infection

 

 

c.) Dog Folliculitis:

Folliculitis is a term that refers to the inflammation of one or more hair follicles. In veterinary medicine, it's most commonly discussed as bacterial folliculitis, a condition which involves the infection of hair follicles with bacteria and is widely considered the most common kind of canine skin infection. Treatment may include oral antibiotics and antibacterial ointments or shampoos.

Dog-Folliculitis

 

 

d.) Impetigo

In the dog, impetigo is used to describe small areas of infection found on the hairless area of the abdomen (belly). Small areas filled with pus (pustules) can be seen. Often, these pustules break and form crusts or circular areas of scaling skin. Hydrogen peroxide, chlorhexidine, or benzoyl peroxide applied twice daily will usually clear the condition. Excellent benzoyl peroxide shampoos are available to treat this condition. In severe cases, your veterinarian may prescribe antibiotics, to be given orally or topically.

Impetigo in Dogs

 

 

e.) Seborrhea

Seborrhea causes a dog's skin to become greasy and develop scales (dandruff). In some cases, it's a genetic disease that begins when a dog is young and lasts a lifetime. With seborrhea, the sebaceous glands of the skin produce an excessive amount of sebum. The excess sebum is what gives off that doggy smell everyone complains about.

Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Antiparasitic & Antiseborrheic Medicated Shampoo for Dogs treats skin scaling caused by Seborrhea. Paraben, Dye, and Soap free. Helps relieve Mange & other parasitic infections.

Seborrhea in dogs

 

f.)  Ringworm

The most commonly isolated fungal organisms are Microsporum Canis (more commonly referred to as ringworm), Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and Microsporum gypsum. Despite its name, ringworm is not caused by a worm, but by a fungus. The term "ring" comes from the circular patches that can form anywhere but are often found on a dog's head, paws, ears, and forelegs.

A popular but not completely accurate way to diagnose the disease is through the use of a specialized black light called a Wood's lamp. Another method for identifying ringworm is to pluck and examine hairs on the periphery of the lesion under the microscope using a preparation of KOH (potassium hydroxide solution) to make them more visible. Between 40% and 70% of the infections can be diagnosed this way.

When it comes to your pet's health, there's no such thing as a dumb question. Ask any question you have in mind related to your pet. 

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