Do you remember the last time you woke up to find an unwanted pimple or even pimples pocked across your cheeks? Well, we know we do. However, did you ever consider the fact that you are not the only one who can develop these sorts of problems? While it is not such a social embarrassment, dog skin problems can be just as common as a human's.
Now, there are plenty of reasons surrounding the topic of dog skin problems, and it does not have to do with some kooky theory about fried food after five in the evening or about having an excess amount of chocolate.
Actually, just as a quick extra rule of thumb, dogs and chocolate do not mix.
Back to the meat of the issue. You see, dog skin problems can arise from a number of sources and more often than not one will learn that the hives that have broken out or the rash that has appeared are the result of a nasty case of fleas. It is likely you may not even realize that your dog has more a serious problem until you seem some more unfortunate examples or symptoms of an allergen, like inflammation. Inflammation can of course be undetectable under the coat, or present itself in and around the eyes of your dogs.
However, as likely as the problem is to be fleas, which dogs are quite susceptible to, and come in continual contact with when outdoors, one can never be sure. In fact, a good number of people tend to treat every skin problem they find as if it is fleas, sometimes adding to the problem, or, at the very least, prolonging its improvement.
As you probably realize by now, dogs enjoy sticking their noses into every nook and cranny and every stranger's palm they are able. Due to this, they have extremely increased odds when it comes to running into an allergen causing dog skin problems.
Yet, what does one have to look out for you may be wondering, and the answer is pretty extensive. For example, when your dog is out just on one of its daily walks and looking about, they are already exposed to a whole number of elements one would not have thought would cause dog skin problems. Let's see, on the basic neighborhood walk a dog will find pollen, dirt filled with insects, various grasses that may have been treated with chemicals, other dogs, other people, free floating dust, and, lets not kid ourselves, the waste or urine of other dogs marking their territory. So where could a dog come into contact with a bacteria or allergen that could cause harm to their skin? Take your pick.
Of course, while the way your dear old dog tracks down its dog skin problems may seem too abundant to read through, ease on into it. As long as you are investigating potential symptoms, you should have no problem treating the issue and improving his or her well-being. Not to mention, we are willing to bet that if the paws were on the other feet, they would be doing the very same for you.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Finding Out About Dog Hot Spots
On a regular basis, your dog is likely to cross paths with any number of sticky situations. No, we are not talking about sticky foods, but a more serious conversation about skin problems, such as dangerous allergies or bacteria that may cause infections you were not anticipating. Where these infections localize are called dog hot spots.
Dog got spots are intense sections on a dog's skin, beneath his big furry coat, where a rash or hives have developed making the area particularly raw and puss filled. As well, these rashes are unbearably itchy, making your dog want to scratch them out as in primal a way as possible. Of course, that's if your saying your dog hasn't been scratching this whole time, which he or she might have been.
To be preventing the likeliness of these dog hot spots, as owners, you can do a couple of things, which are pretty basic seeming in scope, but can go a long way. The first is to bathe your dog on a more regular basis. If you can provide your dog with a specialized shampoo to help treat the skin, or toughen it, you really improve your pet's chances in fighting off these hot spots. The second is basic. Check! Just by moving around your dogs fur to see if any anomalies appear, you are saving yourself time and your dog a bad day of illness.
Actually, many will mistake a dog's itching or hot spot area to just a case of fleas. While it can often be this, not treating your dog's truer target area effectively can cause even more suffering for man's best friend.
With that in mind, it is really quite important to understand what it is your dog hot spots are showing you.
Due to the significance of needing to know, we highly, highly recommend a good veterinarian. After all, who could possibly say a vet has not gone through proper training to know what the rash is? We certainly wouldn't, not when they have invested a great portion of their life's time, energy, and resources to attend medical school!
A vet will be able to tell you right off if you are dealing with fleas, or if the hives, rash, inflammation, what have you, is the result of a larger issue. If it is, they can usually prescribe you a special cream or medication to eradicate the infection and target the dog hot spots. While the cost of prescription drugs is never the most welcomed circumstance, it is often the most effective, and letting the condition go untreated could allow for a bigger medical expense to enter the door by way of your dog's infection.
Overall though, the situation is not on your vet. While they are a reliable source to use and should be sought out, they do not live in your house and work and live right beside your beloved dog. That said, in order to diagnose dog hot spots sooner, one should take heed of our advice and perform routine checks on their dog's skin. It can only lead to a healthier outcome for all!
Dog got spots are intense sections on a dog's skin, beneath his big furry coat, where a rash or hives have developed making the area particularly raw and puss filled. As well, these rashes are unbearably itchy, making your dog want to scratch them out as in primal a way as possible. Of course, that's if your saying your dog hasn't been scratching this whole time, which he or she might have been.
To be preventing the likeliness of these dog hot spots, as owners, you can do a couple of things, which are pretty basic seeming in scope, but can go a long way. The first is to bathe your dog on a more regular basis. If you can provide your dog with a specialized shampoo to help treat the skin, or toughen it, you really improve your pet's chances in fighting off these hot spots. The second is basic. Check! Just by moving around your dogs fur to see if any anomalies appear, you are saving yourself time and your dog a bad day of illness.
Actually, many will mistake a dog's itching or hot spot area to just a case of fleas. While it can often be this, not treating your dog's truer target area effectively can cause even more suffering for man's best friend.
With that in mind, it is really quite important to understand what it is your dog hot spots are showing you.
Due to the significance of needing to know, we highly, highly recommend a good veterinarian. After all, who could possibly say a vet has not gone through proper training to know what the rash is? We certainly wouldn't, not when they have invested a great portion of their life's time, energy, and resources to attend medical school!
A vet will be able to tell you right off if you are dealing with fleas, or if the hives, rash, inflammation, what have you, is the result of a larger issue. If it is, they can usually prescribe you a special cream or medication to eradicate the infection and target the dog hot spots. While the cost of prescription drugs is never the most welcomed circumstance, it is often the most effective, and letting the condition go untreated could allow for a bigger medical expense to enter the door by way of your dog's infection.
Overall though, the situation is not on your vet. While they are a reliable source to use and should be sought out, they do not live in your house and work and live right beside your beloved dog. That said, in order to diagnose dog hot spots sooner, one should take heed of our advice and perform routine checks on their dog's skin. It can only lead to a healthier outcome for all!
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Treating Dog Skin Allergies
If you are dealing with a sort of skin problem, or just reflecting on when you did, you are probably wandering into memories of pubescent life and teenager angst when your face was covered with zits and you were getting nervous about going into the public eye with them. In a nut shell, worrying about skin problem before major events was high school. Only, you were probably not considering those pimples to be skin allergies. And if that's true then you definitely weren't thinking that your family pet could get such a thing, or maybe that dog skin allergies were much like humans.
And that's the truth of the matter that many do not realize, and that's that dog skin allergies can be just as critical a concern as human's.
Not to mention the fact that dog skin allergies have symptoms that might actually just appear to be regular dog behavior. Let's be honest, when was the last time you looked suspiciously at a dog scratching its ear? With all that hair covering up their actual layer of skin, it can be a difficult game to detect rashes.
That is how dog skin allergies seem to turn up. The dog might attract the allergy from a random source, and then the days go by that he or she is experiencing the effects of the allergy. Only no one exactly notices because there is nothing visible, and there is nothing out of the ordinary about a dog taking its hind leg to the back of the ear. In fact, it could be more alarming if your pet is not demonstrating such a habitual love.
However, dog skin allergies are brutal to attend with and unbelievably common overall.
To begin, the most recognized cause is with fleas. Fleas are going to be a risk if a dog is outside for any length of time. But, this flea risk can be cumbersome for someone who thinks they are treating fleas, but actually need to be treating a more serious allergy.
How did those reactions occur? Simple, from allergens in house dust, in pollen outside, or just grass outside that the dog was rolling around in. It's almost impossible to tell what triggered it.
With the latter under one's belt, they must also consider the food option. Was the dog fed a scrap of table food they were not supposed to get? Or, did they simply not like their new brand of dog food. Dog skin allergies are not picky enemies.
Now, this is simply a plain survey of what one should look out for in terms of possible allergens. One should also know that symptoms go beyond scratching, resulting in swelling or hives. So always look out for that.
And that's it. Now, we know this means you have a whole other can of worms to work with, but it is for good measure. By having a handle on dog skin allergies, one can hopefully prevent distress for their dog and bolster the kind of life he or she leads. We think that is something that counts.
And that's the truth of the matter that many do not realize, and that's that dog skin allergies can be just as critical a concern as human's.
Not to mention the fact that dog skin allergies have symptoms that might actually just appear to be regular dog behavior. Let's be honest, when was the last time you looked suspiciously at a dog scratching its ear? With all that hair covering up their actual layer of skin, it can be a difficult game to detect rashes.
That is how dog skin allergies seem to turn up. The dog might attract the allergy from a random source, and then the days go by that he or she is experiencing the effects of the allergy. Only no one exactly notices because there is nothing visible, and there is nothing out of the ordinary about a dog taking its hind leg to the back of the ear. In fact, it could be more alarming if your pet is not demonstrating such a habitual love.
However, dog skin allergies are brutal to attend with and unbelievably common overall.
To begin, the most recognized cause is with fleas. Fleas are going to be a risk if a dog is outside for any length of time. But, this flea risk can be cumbersome for someone who thinks they are treating fleas, but actually need to be treating a more serious allergy.
How did those reactions occur? Simple, from allergens in house dust, in pollen outside, or just grass outside that the dog was rolling around in. It's almost impossible to tell what triggered it.
With the latter under one's belt, they must also consider the food option. Was the dog fed a scrap of table food they were not supposed to get? Or, did they simply not like their new brand of dog food. Dog skin allergies are not picky enemies.
Now, this is simply a plain survey of what one should look out for in terms of possible allergens. One should also know that symptoms go beyond scratching, resulting in swelling or hives. So always look out for that.
And that's it. Now, we know this means you have a whole other can of worms to work with, but it is for good measure. By having a handle on dog skin allergies, one can hopefully prevent distress for their dog and bolster the kind of life he or she leads. We think that is something that counts.
Friday, October 28, 2011
A Little About Dog Allergies Treatment
In our daily lives we have a good deal of hustle and bustle, which can sometimes make it a challenge to be on top of our own health. However, when you figure in the situation of your own pet's health, the equation gets even trickier. While we do our best to check them over when they get sick or are acting oddly, it can be difficult to miss the smaller angles. For example, dogs, such as humans, have very common problems with allergies. When these allergies surface, it is extremely imperative we care for them with a dog allergies treatment that will get the job done.
However, allergies can be a really tough topic to tackle, and even more so when you take into consideration where it is a dog hangs out during the day. That means we generally need a dog allergies treatment that is going to keep fighting long after its first use.
In fact, some dogs can be allergic not just to foods, but things they may come in contact with outside, and one cannot expect to keep their favorite dog cooped up on a leash. When they are running free then, it is important to equip them with the right protection for the job.
That especially goes for parks. Just think for a moment about what happens in your local park.
Once free to roam in a park a dog can stumble upon any number of allergy producing causes. They can have a bad interaction with an insect, with the pollen floating in through the air, with the lake water should they lap some up, with picnickers, and especially the food left behind of the picnickers, and then just outdoor crossings with nuts and berries and mushrooms. It is almost impossible to say where to draw the line about what they may find in a local park.
This means that one can never be too careful.
Being lenient with your animal's health and care can lead to a whole host of problems, but when you throw in the unpredictable nature of allergies, you can see where the dangers double.
As described once before, dogs take on similar allergic reactions as humans, meaning their level of dog allergies treatment can also require a certain level of need. The treatment might have to work to eradicate unwanted swelling to any juncture of the body, large rashes beneath the dog's coat, and just spare hives. All of these conditions gone untreated could situate into something far worse if not cognizant.
With all of this being known now, we hope you seek out an appointment with your veterinarian. Your local vet's office will understand the sensitivity of these allergens and will surely offer you a dog allergies treatment that is proven to work, and work well. That means you now have no excuses. Begin really looking after your favorite family pet today.
However, allergies can be a really tough topic to tackle, and even more so when you take into consideration where it is a dog hangs out during the day. That means we generally need a dog allergies treatment that is going to keep fighting long after its first use.
In fact, some dogs can be allergic not just to foods, but things they may come in contact with outside, and one cannot expect to keep their favorite dog cooped up on a leash. When they are running free then, it is important to equip them with the right protection for the job.
That especially goes for parks. Just think for a moment about what happens in your local park.
Once free to roam in a park a dog can stumble upon any number of allergy producing causes. They can have a bad interaction with an insect, with the pollen floating in through the air, with the lake water should they lap some up, with picnickers, and especially the food left behind of the picnickers, and then just outdoor crossings with nuts and berries and mushrooms. It is almost impossible to say where to draw the line about what they may find in a local park.
This means that one can never be too careful.
Being lenient with your animal's health and care can lead to a whole host of problems, but when you throw in the unpredictable nature of allergies, you can see where the dangers double.
As described once before, dogs take on similar allergic reactions as humans, meaning their level of dog allergies treatment can also require a certain level of need. The treatment might have to work to eradicate unwanted swelling to any juncture of the body, large rashes beneath the dog's coat, and just spare hives. All of these conditions gone untreated could situate into something far worse if not cognizant.
With all of this being known now, we hope you seek out an appointment with your veterinarian. Your local vet's office will understand the sensitivity of these allergens and will surely offer you a dog allergies treatment that is proven to work, and work well. That means you now have no excuses. Begin really looking after your favorite family pet today.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Easy Remedies for Dog Hot Spots
You will know that your dog’s skin has been inflamed when you see dog hot spots all over it. These appear as red moist patches that can either be concentrated on one portion alone or appear as scattered areas on the dog’s skin. In the medical field, the condition is more commonly known as moist dermatitis.
Because of the appearance of dog hot spots, it’s quite easy to note if your dog has this. You should first notice this when your dog starts to scratch with an unnatural frequency. When he begins to do this, you should inspect the area where the dog often scratches.
If you see an inflammation that might already be a hot spot. Of course it helps to bring him as soon as possible to the vet but if you can’t just yet, there are important things you can do on your own to treat it.
First off, you should consider shaving the area. This is especially important if your dog has a heavy coat on him. This will help you see how much damage has been done on the skin already. Dogs who have hot spots often have falling hair as well but if you shave it off, you would see more clearly if there are severe and larger problem areas that would need to be attended by a vet.
When the area has already been shaved off, you should then proceed to cleansing the wound. Even if you have only seen red patches, you should still take the time to cleanse it to prevent from further infections. You can use a gentle skin cleanser to wash out the dirt and kill the bacteria from the area. This can also help alleviate the itchiness from the area.
Once you’ve done the cleansing and until such time that you can bring your dog to the vet or he gets better, you can apply a cool compress over the dog hot spots. You can do this for two to four times daily using a clean wash cloth submerged in cool water. Tea bag compresses are also known to help dry and disinfect the area.
If you also want to keep your dog from scratching the affected areas during the healing period, it would be best to make them wear an Elizabethan collar. This way, they would not be prompted to scratch at the areas and further infections can also be avoided.
You should also observe the dog hot spots continuously until such time that it fully heals. If your home remedies do so little to change its appearance, you should immediately consult a veterinarian to look at your dog’s condition. Some oral antibiotics can be prescribed for your dog as well as topical sprays that can dry the wound. A special shampoo may also be prescribed to help cure the area.
Because of the appearance of dog hot spots, it’s quite easy to note if your dog has this. You should first notice this when your dog starts to scratch with an unnatural frequency. When he begins to do this, you should inspect the area where the dog often scratches.
If you see an inflammation that might already be a hot spot. Of course it helps to bring him as soon as possible to the vet but if you can’t just yet, there are important things you can do on your own to treat it.
First off, you should consider shaving the area. This is especially important if your dog has a heavy coat on him. This will help you see how much damage has been done on the skin already. Dogs who have hot spots often have falling hair as well but if you shave it off, you would see more clearly if there are severe and larger problem areas that would need to be attended by a vet.
When the area has already been shaved off, you should then proceed to cleansing the wound. Even if you have only seen red patches, you should still take the time to cleanse it to prevent from further infections. You can use a gentle skin cleanser to wash out the dirt and kill the bacteria from the area. This can also help alleviate the itchiness from the area.
Once you’ve done the cleansing and until such time that you can bring your dog to the vet or he gets better, you can apply a cool compress over the dog hot spots. You can do this for two to four times daily using a clean wash cloth submerged in cool water. Tea bag compresses are also known to help dry and disinfect the area.
If you also want to keep your dog from scratching the affected areas during the healing period, it would be best to make them wear an Elizabethan collar. This way, they would not be prompted to scratch at the areas and further infections can also be avoided.
You should also observe the dog hot spots continuously until such time that it fully heals. If your home remedies do so little to change its appearance, you should immediately consult a veterinarian to look at your dog’s condition. Some oral antibiotics can be prescribed for your dog as well as topical sprays that can dry the wound. A special shampoo may also be prescribed to help cure the area.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Different Kinds of Dog Skin Problems
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.
Among the most common types of skin problems that pester dogs are allergies. It’s not just humans who actually get affected by these but even dogs. There are a number of sources for allergies but the most common are food and allergens. This is why you should do some extra care when feeding new things to your dogs and also make sure you keep your home clean.
Fleas are also among the most common dog skin problems. They infest the dog’s skin and they feed on the blood of your dog. However, what’s considerably most irritating for dogs is the flea’s saliva. When this touches the dog’s skin it causes the unwanted irritation which leads to the development of rashes. This also appears to be very itchy for dogs, which is why they tend to scratch on it endlessly. In the long run the frequency of scratching would turn to wounds.
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.
Gray spots are also among the telling signs of dog skin problems. Dogs who suddenly have the appearance of dots on their skin might currently be suffering from ticks. Just like fleas, these ticks are also known to feed on the blood of your dog. In the long run, they might be the cause for the dog to have a Lyme disease which can enlarge the lymph nodes of your pet.
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.
If you want to preven dog skin problems, you should take the time to regularly bring your dog to the vet. You should also keep your home clean always.
Among the most common types of skin problems that pester dogs are allergies. It’s not just humans who actually get affected by these but even dogs. There are a number of sources for allergies but the most common are food and allergens. This is why you should do some extra care when feeding new things to your dogs and also make sure you keep your home clean.
Fleas are also among the most common dog skin problems. They infest the dog’s skin and they feed on the blood of your dog. However, what’s considerably most irritating for dogs is the flea’s saliva. When this touches the dog’s skin it causes the unwanted irritation which leads to the development of rashes. This also appears to be very itchy for dogs, which is why they tend to scratch on it endlessly. In the long run the frequency of scratching would turn to wounds.
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.
Gray spots are also among the telling signs of dog skin problems. Dogs who suddenly have the appearance of dots on their skin might currently be suffering from ticks. Just like fleas, these ticks are also known to feed on the blood of your dog. In the long run, they might be the cause for the dog to have a Lyme disease which can enlarge the lymph nodes of your pet.
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.
If you want to preven dog skin problems, you should take the time to regularly bring your dog to the vet. You should also keep your home clean always.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Different Categories of Dog Skin Allergies
Dog skin allergies are among the main source of problem for dogs. No matter how supposedly good the coat of your dog’s breed is, that would be all for naught if the pet has a skin allergy. As a pet owner, you should make it a point to know what the different dog skin allergies are so you would find it easier to treat. Always remember that prevention is better than cure.
There are actually four different types of allergies that can affect an otherwise healthy skin for your dog. The first is known as Nutritional Dermatitis. This type of skin allergy happens on dogs who exhibit a negative or adverse reaction towards certain foods. They would react to it just as humans would typically react to food allergy-red rashes and severe itching.
Atopic Dermatitis is another kind of dog skin allergy. This happens when dogs inhale allergens just by breathing it in. Adverse reaction against allergens can be developed as early as puppyhood and reactions can worsen through time. Veterinarians note that Atopy is the most common type of allergy experienced by dogs.
Parasitic Dermatitis is something that is also common among the dog skin allergies. This is caused by a parasite residing right at the coat of your dog-fleas.
Gnats and ticks are other types of parasites that may also reside on the coat of your dog, aside from fleas. What happens is that the saliva of these parasites irritates the skin of your dog as they get bitten. As a result, a noticeable inflammation on the skin of your dog appears which can be made much worse as they continue to scratch on it.
However, there are times when neither of these skin allergy types can be noted on your dog. When this happens, a different and more alarming type of allergy must needs be treated-Neurogenic Dermatitis. This is actually more of a behavioural problem where you dog has developed an obsession for gnawing at his skin and licking himself.
Excessive licking and chewing is actually classified as Lick Granuloma or Acral Lick Dermatitis, as the obsessive behaviour causes an infection and irritation right on the dog’s skin. It’s been said that cases such as separation anxiety, confinement, and frustration can trigger this on your pet dog.
It becomes a pet owner’s responsibility to actually become more knowledgeable when it comes to understanding dog skin allergies. This way, you can immediately consult a veterinarian to give the right prescription for your dog’s case.
There are actually four different types of allergies that can affect an otherwise healthy skin for your dog. The first is known as Nutritional Dermatitis. This type of skin allergy happens on dogs who exhibit a negative or adverse reaction towards certain foods. They would react to it just as humans would typically react to food allergy-red rashes and severe itching.
Atopic Dermatitis is another kind of dog skin allergy. This happens when dogs inhale allergens just by breathing it in. Adverse reaction against allergens can be developed as early as puppyhood and reactions can worsen through time. Veterinarians note that Atopy is the most common type of allergy experienced by dogs.
Parasitic Dermatitis is something that is also common among the dog skin allergies. This is caused by a parasite residing right at the coat of your dog-fleas.
Gnats and ticks are other types of parasites that may also reside on the coat of your dog, aside from fleas. What happens is that the saliva of these parasites irritates the skin of your dog as they get bitten. As a result, a noticeable inflammation on the skin of your dog appears which can be made much worse as they continue to scratch on it.
However, there are times when neither of these skin allergy types can be noted on your dog. When this happens, a different and more alarming type of allergy must needs be treated-Neurogenic Dermatitis. This is actually more of a behavioural problem where you dog has developed an obsession for gnawing at his skin and licking himself.
Excessive licking and chewing is actually classified as Lick Granuloma or Acral Lick Dermatitis, as the obsessive behaviour causes an infection and irritation right on the dog’s skin. It’s been said that cases such as separation anxiety, confinement, and frustration can trigger this on your pet dog.
It becomes a pet owner’s responsibility to actually become more knowledgeable when it comes to understanding dog skin allergies. This way, you can immediately consult a veterinarian to give the right prescription for your dog’s case.
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