Common Dog Skin Problems and Their Causes

Dogs are great pets. They are friendly, active, and very adorable. Small, furry dogs are the favorite of kids and ladies, while big and strong canines are dads' best hunting mates. Because they are already considered as members of the family, dogs also need love and attention. A dog owner especially needs to look out for his adored pet if it has dog skin problems.

Sometimes, despite all the care and attention you give to your dog, it can still develop skin problems and allergies. These conditions are inevitable, especially if your dog is active and loves to explore. Some allergies and skin disorders may be caused by the canine's contact to grass, air particulates, dust mites, mold spores, carpets, blankets, food, and other plants.

Although there are a lot of skin problems that may occur on a canine, one of the most evident symptoms of every one of them is itching. A dog that itches constantly may be experiencing a skin allergy or a developing rash that may progress into a worse skin condition. There are several forms of skin problems for canines, and some of them will be discussed further.

Allergies are the most common forms of skin problems on dogs, and the flea bite is the most prevalent of them all. Fleas are small parasites that suck blood from animals like dogs, and their saliva is deposited on the skin after their bite. The allergic reaction does not come from the bite itself, but the irritation of the skin to the flea saliva. When a dog scratches the itchy area, hair falls off and scabs may develop, which may in turn develop into worse conditions.

Other forms of allergies include contact allergy which develops from coming in contact with objects like plants, grass, and toxic chemicals; food allergies which can be caused by eating dog food or treats with soy, wheat, yeast, or beef; inhalant allergies which are airborne and can be caused by pollen, smoke, and air fresheners; and the result of the itching and scratching of these allergies which is allergic dermatitis.

Allergic dermatitis is the result of the constant scratching, licking, chewing, and gnawing on the itchy area of the skin. This skin disorder is very bothersome for a dog because it is painful, itchy, and can last an entire lifetime. Sometimes allergic dermatitis can be accompanied by seborrhea, a bad odor that develops when the sebaceous gland and hair follicles become over-productive.

Another skin problem in canines are the so-called "hot spots", also known as acute moist dermatitis. Hot spots can be caused by practically anything, but the actual condition is characterized by infection that develops on the skin of the dog. Scratching and gnawing on the skin can develop allergic dermatitis, but once the skin is infected by bacteria or fungi, it becomes a hot spot.

These are the most common forms of skin problems for canines. Sometimes, diagnosing these problems may be difficult, so as owners, we should always look out for our dogs' skin health. Treating these skin problems is a tedious task, but natural products like those offered by DERMagic Skin Care for Animals can be very helpful in relieving dog skin problems.

Common Dog Skin Problems and Their Causes

Dogs are great pets. They are friendly, active, and very adorable. Small, furry dogs are the favorite of kids and ladies, while big and strong canines are dads' best hunting mates. Because they are already considered as members of the family, dogs also need love and attention. A dog owner especially needs to look out for his adored pet if it has dog skin problems.

Sometimes, despite all the care and attention you give to your dog, it can still develop skin problems and allergies. These conditions are inevitable, especially if your dog is active and loves to explore. Some allergies and skin disorders may be caused by the canine's contact to grass, air particulates, dust mites, mold spores, carpets, blankets, food, and other plants.

Although there are a lot of skin problems that may occur on a canine, one of the most evident symptoms of every one of them is itching. A dog that itches constantly may be experiencing a skin allergy or a developing rash that may progress into a worse skin condition. There are several forms of skin problems for canines, and some of them will be discussed further.

Allergies are the most common forms of skin problems on dogs, and the flea bite is the most prevalent of them all. Fleas are small parasites that suck blood from animals like dogs, and their saliva is deposited on the skin after their bite. The allergic reaction does not come from the bite itself, but the irritation of the skin to the flea saliva. When a dog scratches the itchy area, hair falls off and scabs may develop, which may in turn develop into worse conditions.

Other forms of allergies include contact allergy which develops from coming in contact with objects like plants, grass, and toxic chemicals; food allergies which can be caused by eating dog food or treats with soy, wheat, yeast, or beef; inhalant allergies which are airborne and can be caused by pollen, smoke, and air fresheners; and the result of the itching and scratching of these allergies which is allergic dermatitis.

Allergic dermatitis is the result of the constant scratching, licking, chewing, and gnawing on the itchy area of the skin. This skin disorder is very bothersome for a dog because it is painful, itchy, and can last an entire lifetime. Sometimes allergic dermatitis can be accompanied by seborrhea, a bad odor that develops when the sebaceous gland and hair follicles become over-productive.

Another skin problem in canines are the so-called "hot spots", also known as acute moist dermatitis. Hot spots can be caused by practically anything, but the actual condition is characterized by infection that develops on the skin of the dog. Scratching and gnawing on the skin can develop allergic dermatitis, but once the skin is infected by bacteria or fungi, it becomes a hot spot.

These are the most common forms of skin problems for canines. Sometimes, diagnosing these problems may be difficult, so as owners, we should always look out for our dogs' skin health. Treating these skin problems is a tedious task, but natural products like those offered by DERMagic Skin Care for Animals can be very helpful in relieving dog skin problems.

Jennifer is a family dog health specialist specializing in dog skin problems. She endorses DERMagic all-natural solutions for canine skin allergies.

Skin Allergies in Dogs: Types, Causes and Symptoms

The skin is very sensitive to allergies and irritation. This is not only true for humans, though. Dogs may also develop skin allergies. It may not be common knowledge, but dog allergies can be triggered by a lot of various objects in the environment. In order to know more about the harm that the surroundings can cause your favorite canine, let us look deeper into dog skin allergies.

There are several kinds of dog allergies which are classified according to the substance that caused them. Contact allergies, food allergies, inhalant allergies, and flea allergies - these are all problems of a dog especially because of the insufferable itching that they cause. Whichever form of allergy it may be, it will definitely produce itching on a dog's body.

Contact allergies can be acquired by the simple skin contact of a dog to objects in the environment like grass, carpet, dust, plants, toxic chemicals, and the like. Usually, the more a dog is not exposed to that kind of object, the more severe the allergic reaction it can cause. Because of contact allergies, the skin of the dog may swell and become very itchy.

Food allergies are not uncommon because almost any substance can trigger an allergic reaction on a dog. This is the reason why dog food is very much advised and endorsed to dog owners. Foods like soy, beef, wheat, and yeast have very bad effects on the health of a dog. When a canine experiences food allergies, it exhibits itching and digestion problems.

Inhalant allergies are common for those who live in the more urban areas with a lot of pollution like smog, cigarette smoke, smoke from fires, and the like. But these aren't the only inhalant allergens. Air fresheners, dust particles, and pollen from flowers and plants can cause severe allergic reactions in most dogs.

Flea allergies are the most common of all. Although it is considered as a contact allergy, the bite of a flea is so prevalent an allergen to so many dogs, it has become a threat in itself. The saliva of a flea that it leaves on the skin of the dog is what causes the allergic reaction on the skin. The dog feels itchy and scratches and bites the affected area, worsening the problem.

When the skin of the dog is affected by an allergic reaction, whatever the cause of the allergy may be and wherever the allergen may have settled, the skin allergy may now be considered as allergic dermatitis. This is somewhat a complication of the initial allergic reaction. When a dog starts to gnaw, chew, lick, and scratch the itchy part of its skin, it starts to redden, swell. This allergic dermatitis is very difficult to treat, and in some cases, it may even last a lifetime.

Although dogs are animals, they can still be sensitive to certain objects and substances. Dog owners should not assume that their pets can endure anything, eat anything, and live in any kind of environment. As dog owners, we should be responsible and discover the needs of our pets in order to prevent any problems such as allergies to inflict them.

Dog Allergies Treatment and Causes

Any dog owner has probably heard about dog allergies. The truth is, there are a lot of dog allergens in the environment and they can affect canines through the air, water, food, or environment. Because canines are very adventurous animals, it is almost impossible for them to keep away from possible allergens, and every dog owner has to face the problem of finding the best cure for their dogs' allergies.

Dog allergies come in many forms. There are allergies which can be triggered by the simple skin contact of a dog to an allergen, by ingestion, and even by inhalation. A lot of everyday objects found in the environment can cause allergies to dogs, and dog owners need to be careful about exposing their pets to these possible allergens.

Allergies caused by simple contact on the skin are called contact allergies. These may be caused by grass, plants, and toxic chemicals. Food allergies are acquired from the ingestion of allergens like soy, wheat, yeast, beef, and other foods not meant for canine consumption. Inhalant allergies can be developed from airborne substances like smoke, pollution, and even air fresheners.

One form of contact allergy that has been classified as a form of allergy itself is flea allergy. This is the most prevalent form of allergy in dogs, thus the major classification. Fleas are tiny parasitic creatures that suck blood from bigger animals. What causes the allergic reaction is the saliva of the flea, and not the bite itself.

Whatever type of allergy a dog may acquire, when a dog is afflicted by it, the skin is always affected. Itchiness and inflammation develop on certain areas of the dog's skin, and like any living thing, its instinct is to scratch the itchy area. After regularly gnawing, chewing, scratching, and licking on the itchy part, the tendency of the skin is to develop allergic dermatitis.

This condition is feared by many dog owners because allergic dermatitis is very hard to cure. It may even infect a dog its entire lifetime. However, there are some treatment options that veterinarians prescribe to dog owners to use on their dogs. These options include topical creams, soothing baths, ointments, sprays, oral antihistamines, and steroids.

Although they have been prescribed by veterinarians, steroids are not really effective in treating allergic dermatitis. In fact, they can even worsen the condition. When the allergies persist, it may be caused by a secondary bacterial infection. Because steroids have cortisone which can inhibit the production of lymphocytes, the natural defense system of the immune system of dogs will not be able to fight against the bacteria. Thus, steroids cannot help but only worsen the skin problem of dogs.

Allergies have no real cure. However, there are treatments that can help soothe the itching and swelling of the skin. DERMagic Natural Skin Care products are effective products that can eliminate the itchiness and inflammation of dogs' skin. They can also fight against bacteria and help in the healing process of the infected area. Every dog owner should have the proper knowledge about the needs and sensitivities of their dogs so they may be able to prevent the development of allergies.