Dog skin conditions are very common. Our dogs are our best friends. We try to give them the best that we can so that they stay as healthy as possible. Dog skin conditions are the more obvious diseases that are common in dogs. While they might not be lethal in most cases, untreated dog skin sores will make your dog’s life thoroughly unpleasant. Read on to find out more about canine skin problems and what you can do to make sure your dog is safe from these.
Dog Skin Conditions
One of the most valuable preventative measures for dog skin diseases (any diseases for that matter) is maintaining a healthy diet. There are several commercial pet food that have a list of beneficial nutrients that your dog needs. If you are serving dry kibble, soak them in water to provide maximum hydration to the animal. Add a teaspoon of oils (except citrus oil) to his meals to alleviate skin dryness, itchiness and other dog skin conditions.
If your pet is on a fresh food diet, even better. Meals that consist of superior quality meat, vegetables and fruits will ensure that he will get the needed vitamins and minerals that will boost his immune system so as to improve dog skin conditions. This is important as most skin diseases are actually immune system related. Look for natural supplements that will further aid you in this goal.
Caring for Dog Skin Conditions
Specially formulated canine products are available to care for your dog’s skin and coat. Ingredients like aloe vera, silk proteins, chamomile tea, safflower oil, sunflower seed oil, wheat and oat proteins, and vitamins A and E strengthen the hair and improve the animal’s skin condition. Bathe your dog only about once a month to retain the skin’s natural oils and improve any dog skin conditions.
Regular grooming is another helpful way in ensuring that the animal is kept away from painful dog skin conditions. Brushing his coat often will allow you to check for parasites and open wounds that are breeding grounds for bacterial infection. You need to take the necessary steps to treat these right away before they progress to anything more serious.
There are several kinds of canine skin problems but they will all manifest similar symptoms. Usually it will be dog skin sores, excessive itchiness, bald patches, redness and unusual growths. When you see these, you have to visit the vet for an accurate diagnosis. You need to know whether these are skin conditions or diseases that have an underlying cause to it.
Dog Skin Conditions Caused by Allergy
If the particular skin condition is caused by an allergy, you can apply hydrocortisone sprays or hydrocortisone cream to the infected areas to inhibit the dog’s adverse allergic reaction. Benadryl or other oral medications, no matter how mild, should have the vet’s approval first before it is administered to the animal.
Very seldom are dog skin conditions fatal. However, you should watch out for signs like difficulty in breathing, swelling of the face and paws, seizure and loss of consciousness. This may be the result of the canine experiencing a potentially deadly reaction to medication or a parasite infection. This is an emergency situation that needs serious medical attention immediately.
– Melissa Simmonds
Topic – Dog Skin Conditions.