Dog Skin Diseases: A Sign of Underlying Health Problems

Last Updated on December 19, 2022 by Dogs Vets

Dog Skin Diseases: A Sign of Underlying Health Problems

Dogs are one of the most popular pets in the world, and they have been man’s best friend for centuries. But, as anyone who has had a dog knows, this friendship comes with a cost.

Dogs need to be taken on walks and cleaned up after. This means that dog owners need to know how to keep their dogs healthy and happy. You need to be aware of the common dog diseases that may affect your pet. 

Out of all, skin diseases are particularly common among dogs, causing significant discomfort. A dog’s skin condition can get severe if proper treatment isn’t ensured.

Some common skin disorders include bacterial skin infections, environmental allergies, and parasite allergies.

It would be beneficial if you were alert while dealing with these skin issues, whether they were caused by an insect bite or seasonal allergies.

To help you analyse your dog’s skin problems, we have summarised the most common symptoms of dog skin conditions. 

Symptoms of Common Skin Diseases in Dogs

Itching is one of the most serious dog skin diseases to be aware of. Keep an eye on your dog’s behaviour to see if there are any such issues.

While occasional scratching of the skin is completely normal for dogs, regular or protracted itching is a warning sign of an underlying condition.

Dogs may scratch the irritating area with their paws or brush their heads against an object to eliminate the itching.

Your dog may lick its paws or other body parts to calm the inflamed skin. Some of the other symptoms of dog skin diseases are:

• Skin sores
• Rashes
• Lumps
• Redness
• Dandruff
• Excessive licking
• Hair loss

Skin conditions in dogs can be difficult to spot and diagnose. Depending on the type of skin condition, it can appear in different areas of the body.

To help you identify what might be wrong with your dog, here is a step-by-step guide to spot if your pet has a skin condition:

• Regularly check your pet for any of these symptoms, and keep track of your dog’s reactions. Your pet may itch more frequently after meals, during a particular season, or if you’ve just finished cleaning the house; these symptoms may point to an underlying skin allergy or atopic dermatitis.
• It’s crucial to take your dog to the vet for a checkup if you notice any unusual behaviour or skin concerns. The vets and vet nurses can examine your dog’s coat, skin, and overall health to determine what might be bothering your dog.
• For your veterinarian to conduct a thorough and precise diagnosis of an allergy or skin infection, the more information you can supply (from monitoring the signs of irritation and allergic reactions or if your dog breathing heavily in some cases), the better.

6 Different Types of Dog Skin Diseases

Dog skin diseases can be devastating to an owner. Sometimes, dog skin diseases are passed down from the environment or are due to  family history.

Dog skin diseases come in many different shapes and sizes and can also be caused by a variety of different factors such as parasites, infections, or trauma to the skin. The following are some of the most common dog skin diseases.

 

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• Environmental Allergies

An environmental allergy becomes active when your dog comes into contact with the offending substance due to sudden itching, especially on the face, feet, chest, or stomach.

Dogs with this type of allergy, known as “atopy,” show irritated, itchy skin instead of watery eyes and sneezing, unlike how hay fever affects people.

Some of the most frequent allergens for dogs that cause skin allergies are grass, dust mites, and pollen.

To find out if your pet is responding, a blood test will be performed. The most severe types of environmental allergies require treatment with shampoos, pills, and injections, which can occasionally be difficult..

• Food Allergies

One of the dogs’ most typical skin disorders is increased scratching, which frequently affects the face, feet, ears, and nuchal region. This could indicate a dog food allergy.

Although some dogs also experience sensitivities to wheat or even vegetables, the types of proteins that make up a dog’s diet, such as beef, eggs, chicken, and dairy, might lead them to develop food allergies.

To rule out potential sources of the allergy, pets, like people, must go through an elimination diet regimen for 8-12 weeks. The optimum approach to administer this therapy will be explained to you by your veterinarian. 

• Folliculitis

Since the underlying skin condition infects the hair follicles, folliculitis, also known as inflamed hair follicles, typically appears when your dog already has another skin condition, such as mange or skin allergies.

It shows up as lumps, ulcers, and scabs on the skin when it affects the body. To help treat and ease this condition, a veterinarian may suggest shampoos, oral medications, and antibacterial ointments.

• Impetigo

Impetigo is one of the common symptoms in dogs which may be a sign of a skin issue. Impetigo lesions on the dog’s tummy may appear as blisters that rupture and scab over. Antibiotics or shampoos can be used to treat dog impetigo, and your vet can do a few tests to determine the exact cause of this condition.

 

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• Ticks and Fleas

Ticks and fleas harm your dog’s skin by biting and sucking blood. After an insect bite, flea saliva enters the body and can trigger an allergic reaction that irritates your pet’s skin and makes it itch a lot.

Dogs with severe parasite allergies may exhibit red, irritated skin.

To relieve the itching, pets frequently scratch bite marks. Because fleas are minuscule parasites that may thrive in our carpets and bedding, it’s crucial to vacuum frequently, wash your pet’s bed, and ensure they’re up to date on their prophylactic medicines to eliminate bugs.

• Dandruff

Dogs can experience dry skin, dandruff, or “scruff,” much like humans. This could be an indication of an infection or another underlying condition.

Some dogs are more prone to dry skin than others, especially during the winter, and the food may influence this condition. 

High-quality sources of protein and omega-3 & omega-6 fatty acids can help maintain a healthy coat. Shampoos can usually treat simple cases of dandruff, but the vet will want to ensure nothing is underlying.

Conclusion

Because the symptoms of dermatitis, parasites, fungal infections, and bacterial infections can be so similar, specific skin issues in dogs may be difficult to detect right away.

Normally, the vet will examine your dog’s skin and run any necessary tests. DNA test cost in India are quite high, especially when it comes to dogs.

Alternatively, you can purchase an at-home DNA test kit, which will be much less expensive. This will tell you if your dog is suffering from any of the common dog diseases.

They’ll also be looking for any information you can recall that may have contributed to the current problem. This could include introducing new items into your home, exposing your dog to a new environment, or noticing symptoms in your dog at a particular time of day.

Please pay close attention to your dog’s behaviour and note any changes to its environment, diet, or body to ensure you remain on top of any issues.

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