Dog Skin Disease

The skin and coat of a dog can tell a lot about the general health of the dog. Dog skin diseases can be general skin ailments or something more complex and serious. Dog skin diseases can be treated and the earlier you detect a dog skin disease the better it is for your dog and you. Any problems should generally come to light during his regular grooming sessions and if you find your dog’s skin abnormal or infected, you need to get to your vet for diagnosis and treatment. The symptoms of dog skin diseases are mild itching, redness of skin, falling hair, soreness of skin, skin ulcers, small open sores and large infected sores. A dog suffering from a skin disease may have any one or a combination of these symptoms and the skin disease may also be accompanied by a bad odor.

Your vet’s advice is very important to get your dog cured and consistency and persistence is also important as some treatments may stretch on for weeks together. Some conditions may relapse if the treatment is not continued as per the vet’s advice.

Pyodermas is a bacterial infection that is most commonly caused by staphylococci. The Pyodermas bacteria can attack between the toes or at the elbow and although not contagious, certain breeds are more susceptible to it especially the pug- nosed breeds where the bacteria make their homes within the skin folds of the face and vulva.

Dermatophytosis or Ringworm is a fungal infection caused by microsporum canis, microsporum gypseum or trichophyton mentagrophytes, the one that most commonly inflicts dogs is called microsporum canis. The ringworm fungus lives in hair follicles causing the hair to break at the skin resulting in bald rings which later can become irregular in shape.

Topical shampoo therapy, where the antifungal shampoo is left on the body for a few minutes before rinsing, and special antifungal creams are recommended for ringworm. Be careful with creams if ringworm is near eyes though. Oral medicines are also available. Ringworm is normally acquired when dogs are in close proximity of the burrows of rats and mice or if they have been around other infected pets or dogs. There are chances of ringworm being passed on to humans.

Fleas, ticks and lice are usually ‘caught’ from the surroundings or from other infected dogs. Their presence leads to itching which can lead to scratches which can become infected. It is therefore best to ensure that you get them removed and then use the available powders to ensure that they stay off. The cleaning of the home is necessary and it is best to keep them away from other infected pets. The presence of fleas, ticks and lice not only leads to infections due to the dog’s scratching but can also give rise to other diseases.

Mange is the most common contagious infections caused by the invasion of mites. Mange can be due to demodex canis or sarcoptes scabiei canis.

Demodex canis are normally present in dog hair follicles, and when they reproduce above the safe limit they cause skin irritation and inflammation leading to loss of hair or other infections. These mites usually go away on their own or with light treatment but can lead to fatal conditions. The probable aggravators of this form of mange are stress, malnutrition or even a weakened immune system. This is Demodectic Mange. Demodectic Mange usually appears around the eyes, at the corners of the mouth, on the other parts of the face or on the forelimbs. It is not considered highly contagious but can be passed on from the mother to her pups.

The second type is Sarcoptic Mange where sarcoptes scabiei canis burrows into the skin which leads to extreme itching. Your dog will definitely begin to itch himself which will lead to crusting. This can lead to infection. Sarcoptic Mange usually appears around the ears and at the elbows. This is very contagious so it is best to keep the infected dog away from other dogs and pets and a thorough cleaning of his kennel is needed while his treatment is on.

Mange can be diagnosed by a portion of the top layer of skin being viewed under a microscope but the symptoms are pretty good indicators of the presence of mange.

It is not uncommon to track down skin diseases to allergic reactions. Chemicals in soaps and other items used on the dog, dust, mold, insect bites and certain kinds of food could cause skin allergy. If you notice symptoms like itching, sneezing, watering of eyes and nose or diarrhea, you will have to check if it is an allergic reaction. The best treatment is to keep your dog away from the allergens but this is extremely difficult especially if one considers dust, etc. There are other medicines given to reduce itching, etc. and to control the effect but it is extremely difficult to totally cure the allergy.

Important points to consider:

• Abnormal functioning of the immune system of the dog can lead to yeast and bacteria thriving in their skin or antibodies being produced within the body to act against the dog’s own tissues and cells. This also leads to infections.
  
• Hormonal abnormality, where hormone- producing glands either produce above normal or below normal amounts of hormones, affects the skin and coat. This causes the dog to lose hair and may also show other effects on the general health of the body which depends upon the function performed by the hormone in the body. It is therefore important to ensure correct diagnosis of the skin as it can indicate a much more serious internal disease.
  
• Dogs could have inherited a condition where the skin cannot perform its function properly. This can lead to skin diseases.

Cutaneous Lymphosarcoma is a form of skin cancer that gives rise to flaky red skin that itches. Lumps and ulcers can also be present and Cutaneous Lymphosarcoma does not restrict itself to any single part of the body but can be found all over including the gums and pads of feet. The cancer can be present in other internal organs. Although it may not be completely cured, treatment that can reduce severity of symptoms are available that will make your dog much more comfortable.

Proper cleaning of the dog and his surroundings, good grooming sessions, regular check-ups and a good diet will go a long way towards minimizing the risks of his falling prey to most skin diseases.