Why is my dog losing hair in clumps
5 Common Dog Skin Problems: Hair Loss, Hot Spots and Dandruff, Allergic Dermatitis, Itching
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five common docs skin problems
underneath your dog's
healthy coat whether it is a full and
luscious mane or a short
and bristly pelt is a whole lot of skin
and what's more
a dog's skin is very sensitive which is
why it's so important to use the right
pet shampoo before going forward
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and press the bell icon when it comes to
canine skin care
we may be dismissive at times or even
downright forgetful because of how
little skin
is exposed on our dogs however dogs are
susceptible to skin problems
and here are the top five common doc
skin problems you could encounter as a
dog owner
hair loss for the most part hair loss in
dogs
is the symptom of more severe skin issue
rather than the underlying cause
when you begin to notice your dog losing
hair it is important to pay close
attention to whether the hair is falling
out on its own
or your dog is chewing it off as the
result of irritated skin underneath the
fur
if the hair is falling out on its own
then it may be one of the following skin
conditions that are the impetus for the
hair loss
causes the two leading skin conditions
that cause
hair loss in dogs are pressure source
and parasite infestation
pressure sores are more prevalent in
older dogs but can manifest themselves
at any age depending on your dog's
predisposition to them
parasite infestations occur as a result
of contact with a particular parasite or
bug
and an infestation occurs when the
contact goes unnoticed
or untreated most often parasite
infestations come in the form of fleas
ticks
and occasionally ringworm dogs tend to
pick these critters up from parks
wooded areas and even other dogs signs
and symptoms
pressure sores can be identified by hard
scabs
and scaly skin tissue in and around the
joints and an infestation can be
identified by vigorous gnawing or
scratching at the affected area
both of these skin conditions are
characterized by hair loss
while the cause of hair loss is slightly
different for each
in both situations the hair falls out as
a direct result of skin irritation
whether from pressure or parasitic
infestation when your dog's
skin becomes irritated it begins to scab
over
as this happens the hair will not be
able to grow in the affected areas
and it will start to fall out look for
bald spots or patches of thin hair signs
that your dog's skin may be under attack
from an external source
treatments the treatments for pressure
source is twofold
and includes treatments like topical
creams to suit the affected areas
as well as introducing padded surfaces
like a dog bed to allow your dog a more
comfortable surface with less abrasive
pressure
bug and parasite infestations are often
treated with a combination of topical
antifungals and in some cases more
intense chemicals to kill
and eradicate the pests from your dog's
skin be sure to speak to
and work with your vet to develop a
treatment plan best suited for your dog
hot spots in dandruff hot spots are also
called moist dermatitis
and can be categorized as wet open
source on your dog's skin
a related skin issue to hot spots is
dandruff where instead of the surface
being irritated by too much moisture
it is caused by a lack of moisture
turning the skin scaly
and flaky causes hot spots comes
as the result of excessive licking or
scratching and sometimes as a
combination of both
much like hair loss hot spots are often
the result of a different more deep
seated skin issue that causes your dog
to attempt to lick
and scratch the irritation into
submission this irritation could be the
result of something as simple as a flea
bite
or a thorn that is stuck between the
skin and fur dandruff is caused by a
lack of moisture in the skin
and often if your dog suffers from
dandruff hot spots are soon to follow
as your dog deals with the dry and flaky
irritation of dandruff
it will try to compensate by licking and
scratching at the surface of the skin
this inevitably causes more serious skin
issues like
hot spots to wreak havoc on the skin
signs and symptoms
dandruff is an easily noticeable skin
condition as the skin dries out and
becomes flaky and scaly due to dandruff
small particles of skin usually white in
color will flake off and either stick in
your dog's fur
or fall to the ground hot spots are a
type of infection
and often cannot be seen underneath the
coat some signs your dog may be
experiencing a hot spot include
excessive licking
itching and guarding the surrounding
area if you suspect that your dog is
suffering from a hot spot
separate the fur and inspect for an open
wet sore treatments
dandruff is not curable it is however
treatable
and relatively easy to keep in check
because dandruff comes on as the result
of dry skin
introducing more fatty acids into your
dog's diet and using a conditioning dog
shampoo will both help
in keeping dandruff can check by adding
moisture to your dog's skin
hot spots should be treated by shaving
away the fur around the lesion
and applying a topical treatment daily
to kill bacteria and prevent further
growth be sure to keep the area clean
and allow it to heal on its own to
prevent your dog from messing with the
hot spot
and making it worse you may want to
consider using a cone
allergic dermatitis allergic dermatitis
simply means an allergic reaction
manifested in the skin
this skin condition can be brought on by
any number of external triggers
that cause a dog's immune system to
overreact with a physical response
allergies in dogs are quite common and
typically fall into the categories of
contact allergies
inhale and allergies and ingested
allergies causes
brought on by a myriad of sources
allergic dermatitis
is most commonly caused by pollen food
and direct skin contact with foreign
bodies like flea saliva
or harsh chemicals dogs can inherit
allergies from their parents
as a predisposition to specific
allergens can be passed down through
genetic material
allergic dermatitis occurs when an
allergen is exposed to the immune system
over a long period
eventually the immune system mislabels a
particular allergen
like pollen as a threat to the immune
system which triggers the immune
response of an allergic reaction
it is an owner's responsibility to
account for changes in environment like
seasonal blooms
the introduction of new chemicals like
fertilizers or changes in diet
as these could all trigger an allergic
reaction from your dog
the most common allergens that a dog is
susceptible to developing an aversion to
are
heat grass pollen dust mites mold spores
food bug bites symptoms of allergic
dermatitis include
itching excessive licking especially in
the paws and feet
itchy ears shaking his head back and
forth biting
now long at the skin excessive chewing
hair loss
red inflamed skin visible rashes hives
and other bumps
swollen face and paws treatments be sure
to monitor
any strange behavior your dog may be
exhibiting
in conjunction with the symptoms listed
above as they may indicate an allergic
response
as with any condition or irritation your
dog may be suffering from
it is crucial that you allow your vet to
make the official diagnosis
regarding your dog's condition and a
compatible treatment plant
rashes and hives rashes and more
specifically hives
are an extension of the allergic
dermatitis family with one crucial
distinction
while allergic dermatitis is caused by
the immune system's introduction to an
allergen over time rashes
and hives are an involuntary rapid onset
reaction to a specific stimulus
causes for the most part rashes and
hives are the result of a contact
allergy
typically to produce hives the skin must
come in direct contact with an allergen
there are cases where hives are the
result of ingesting or inhaling an
allergen but for the most part direct
dermis contact will spur a rash or hives
potential causes for hives and other
rashes include bug bites
poisonous plants pesticides and
fertilizer
signs and symptoms hives can appear
anywhere on your dog's body but are most
prevalent on the abdomen
face and legs rashes will tend to be red
in color
and generally carry with them some kind
of texture in the case
of hives look for patch's little red
bumps that are clumped together
hives are a specific rash that include
additional symptoms
such as swelling of the jowls redness
around the ears
excessive drooling and swollen face and
eyes hives may not always be visible
and they sometimes hide in your dog's
ears treatments
rashes can be treated the same way most
skin issues are dealt with by
administering a topical cream
remember to never give your dog anything
without having the substance approved by
your veterinarian
due to the rapid onset of hives and most
other rashes
typically a remedy for the ailment is
case specific
skin infections infection is one of the
most common forms of dog skin problems
due to the wide variety of skin
infections that are possible for a dog
it is vital that you consult your
veterinarian before attempting to
diagnose your dog yourself
bacterial infections are often treatable
and usually no cause for alarm
when the skin becomes infected it is
referred to as piotrma
and is the general term used to describe
any type of infection on the skin
causes hydromas any disruption of the
skin due to bacteria
fungi or other microbial agents that
cause infection
most commonly infections occur when a
wound goes untreated but infections can
also take root in healthy
undamaged skin the most common types of
skin infections for dogs include yeast
infections
impedigo and ringworm impetigo and yeast
infections
are both bacterial in nature while
ringworm is caused by fungal overgrowth
signs and symptoms depending on the
specific infection
symptoms will vary however there are a
few telltale signs that usually point to
infection of some kind
first skin infections will typically
include some sort of pus filled scabs
or red bumps on the surface of the skin
also known as pustules and lesions
in the case of impetigo pus filled bumps
will appear on the abdomen
and the pus second infections will
typically turn
the skin a discolored mix of red orange
yellow
and brown and include some kind of dry
discharge
in the case of yeast infections you will
notice a thick coating of yellowing
discharge in between the toes on your
dog's paws and in the ear flaps
finally infections will generally make
the skin hard and crusty
which will cause old hair to fall out
and prevent new hair from growing
this loss of hair known as alopecia is a
good indicator that your dog may be
suffering from some kind of infection
treatments treatments for infection are
case specific
and vary in intensity depending on the
severity of the infection
typically vets will prescribe a tandem
approach of topical
and systemic therapy such as antibiotics
traditionally infections are treated for
a few weeks
and monitored to prevent any further
issues in your dog's health
wrapping up with all the activity your
dog gets into
there's a good chance that at some point
your dog will have a problem with his
skin
however with the right knowledge and a
willingness to take the proper
action you can keep your dog's skin
healthy
all summer long skin problems and dogs
can be manageable but often require
long-term
or even lifelong treatment be sure to
act quickly when you notice a potential
problem with your dog's skin
and always consult a vet for a
professional diagnosis
