With a pet dog, the most frequently reported problem is a skin or ear related health complication. Like humans, dogs are susceptible to various skin disorders, which may develop due to allergies, parasites, infection or as a referred symptom of other dog illnesses. As we frequently say, the skin is the mirror for the overall dog's health, whenever there are dog skin problems, the pet will respond with a change in behavior or showing irritation symptoms.

Common Canine Skin Problems

It is usual for your pet dog to have dry, flaky and itchy skin due to dry air and low humidity levels. Hence, during such cold winter climates, the pet may show signs of itchiness and discomfort. Such skin conditions need not be a cause for panic and can be combated with basic dog grooming guidelines. Besides dry skin, some of the common canine skin problems are discussed below.

Seasonal Allergies: Seasonal allergies refer to allergic reaction of the dog's skin while coming in contact with environment agents like pollen, weeds, molds, grasses, etc. Such dog skin problems are triggered only in particular months of the year, hence the name seasonal allergies.

Food Allergies: Popular dog food ingredients such as meat, food coloring, fillers and substitutes may trigger skin allergic reactions in dogs. Hence, purchase dog food from a good brand and try supplementing it with homemade food.

Hot Spots: Among the several dog skin disorders, hot spots are one of the most commonly manifested problems, especially in pet dogs with a very thick undercoat. The noticeable symptom of hot spots is intense itching in localized areas of the skin, which worsen with frequent licking and scratching.

Atopic Dermatitis: It is a chronic dog skin allergy, causing itching symptoms in the ear, around the eyes, muzzle and other specific areas. Being a hereditary dog skin problem, atopic dermatitis has no cure, but avoiding allergens, antihistamines and immunotherapy will help in combating the symptoms.

Flea Bites: Fleas and mites are another major reasons for causing skin problems in dogs. Some pet dogs are hypersensitive to flea saliva that triggers itching, scratching and rashes. Spot treatments have shown effective results in treating skin irritations caused by fleas and mites.

Skin Infection: Canine skin infection by bacteria, yeast and fungi may cause intense itching and scratching symptoms. Ringworm, a fungal infection common in puppies, causes severe itching and scratching symptoms. Other infections that cause skin problem in dogs are yeast infection of the ear, bacterial infection, pyoderma and Malassezia dermatitis.

Hormonal Changes: Change in the coat color, loss of hair and other symptoms of canine skin disorders are also manifested due to changes in the metabolic processes or hormonal fluctuations. Canine skin problems caused by hormonal imbalances are difficult to diagnose and treat.

Symptoms and Treatment

For nearly all types of dog skin problems, there are some common symptoms, which will be exhibited by the affected pet dog. Such signs and symptoms include licking, scratching, itching, inflammation, abnormal patches and rashes. If left untreated for some period, the skin problem may worsen and cause loss of hair, bald spots, lump formation, etc. An infection related canine skin disease causes drainage of blood, pus or unusual secretions.

Skin problems in canines may be mild to severe, based on the cause of the condition. Appropriate treatment methods are advocated to help relieve the pet from the irritating symptoms of skin diseases. The pet owner can try effectual remedies like feeding healthy food, brushing regularly and using hypoallergenic soaps.

In case of no positive responses, seek advice from the veterinarian, who may recommend antihistamines, antibiotics and corticosteroids for treatment of dog skin problems. Follow proper dog care tips and make your pet comfortable and lively.