|
Dermatitis is the term for skin inflammation and irritation. It is a problem that troubles all breeds of dogs even though the exact cause of dog dermatitis can be hard to specify. Dermatitis is painful and unsightly and needs treatment since the problem will not go away on its own. Dogs that live in hot, moist climates tend to have more problems with dermatitis, especially long-haired breeds. Larger dogs like German Shepherds, Saint Bernards, Rottweiler’s and Golden Retrievers are also particularly vulnerable to a wet form of dermatitis. Still, it is a problem that any dog can encounter. Potential causes of dermatitis include insect or parasite bites, contact allergies, food allergies, weather conditions and allergies to something in the outdoor environment. Sometimes, the dermatitis may change with the season, but not necessarily. Just how bad the symptoms are for a dog depends, in part, on the general health of the dog. When dermatitis strikes it shows up in the following ways: • Dry, cracked or scaly skin • Angry looking bumps on the skin • Skin becomes thick and reddened • Swollen areas that are warm to the touch and which may ooze or weep (called hot spots) • Bald spots • Redness and swelling • Oiliness Even when the dog’s skin does not show obvious signs of inflammation, the dog’s behavior can be a clue that there are skin problems. A dog with dermatitis may rub his head along the ground. He or she may scratch repeatedly, chew their skin, bite at their skin or lick their skin repeatedly. Infected skin may produce a bad odor. An ear infection may actually be a skin infection. The most obvious symptom of dermatitis is scratching and itching. Vets refer to this as pruritis. It is miserable for the animal, but it can also open the skin and increase the risk for a secondary skin infection. Owners should know that dog dermatitis will not go away without treatment, in fact, it often becomes worse the longer it is ignored. As mentioned before, figuring out just what is causing the dog’s dermatitis is the real stumper. There are so many potential causes. Sometimes, the vet can identify the root of the dog’s problem and other times it remains a frustrating mystery. If ear mites, for example, are causing the discomfort, then a simple treatment for ear mites will resolve the issue. Other times the problem is less simple to diagnose or may stem from a cause which cannot be controlled. In these cases, giving the dog palliative treatment is the best option. Treatments which soothe the skin and relieve itching can make life much more enjoyable for the dog. Feeding the dog a healthy diet and providing him/her with an active lifestyle can also help to minimize the potential misery. ProLabs is a provider of top quality pet products including a zinc-based treatment for skin problems in dogs.
Related Articles -
dog dermatitis, ProLabs,
| 
