Dog Skin Irritations and Disorders

There are a variety of different dog skin irritations and disorders that can effect the health of your pet.  Skin issues can range anywhere from allergies to disorders like mange and other parasites such as fleas and ticks.  The key is to be able to recognize potential issues with your pet so that you can act quickly so that you can restore their comfort and health.   Always consult with your vet for professional advice regarding questions about the health of your pet.  If you are in search of a good vet in your area you can always check 1-800-PetMeds Veterinarian Directory for more information on a vet near you.
 

Believe it or not people are not the only ones that develop allergies.  Dogs can also develop allergies to certain types of foods, mold, pollen, dust, plants, fleas and the list goes on.  A problem that can occur with skin allergies is that the dog will scratch or chew the itchy skin to a point where they can develop a condition called hot spots.  The symptoms of hot spots can include skin irritations, redness, soars and loss of hair.  In severe cases the condition is like self-mutalization where the dog will continue to chew on the skin to a point where it could lead to scarring. 

In most cases skin allergies are not fatal but it is a condition that should be evaluated by your vet. Your vet should be able to run test to see if changes in diet or the dog's environment need to be made to restore the health of your dog.  There are products on the market that will help with skin allergies and you can view a list of them by clicking here.

Parasites that can cause skin disorders

Skin allergies are not the only disorders that you have to worry about.  The more common disorders like fleas and ticks can be an irritating and potential life threatening disorder.  Fleas and ticks can potential create a very serious disorder called flea anemia. 

There are other parasites that you should be concerned with as well.  Most people are already somewhat familiar with mange but what a lot of people do not know is that there is more than one type of mange.  The treatments for the different types of mange, Demodectic and Sarcoptic, vary so it is important that your pet is diagnosed correctly. 

Tying it all together

Skin disorders should not be taken lightly, they cause a great deal of discomfort for your pet and if left untreated could be a negative impact on your pet’s health.  The golden rule for safety is to always consult with your vet on what treatment you should use if you pet is experiencing skin disorders.