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Dog
Skin Conditions and
Dog Skin Disorders
Dog
skin conditions and dog skin disorders are the number one
health issue
addressed by veterinarians. They are a widespread yet easily
detected problem, so don’t worry… you are not alone in your struggle
against dog skin conditions - and we are here to help!
Parasites
that cause skin conditions in dogs
The
main symptoms of dog skin disorders
Common
causes
of dog skin problems
Natural
and holistic treatments
The skin is the body’s largest organ and is very responsive to the
overall health of the body.
For example…try and think about a time when you were extremely stressed
at work or home. Can you recall any type of physical reaction
to this mental stress? Certain people may experience an acne
break out or a skin rash, while others may sweat excessively or develop
canker sores.
People react very differently to stressful situations, but it is
important to note that many do experience physical side effects due to
extreme stress, and believe it or not, our dogs can have the same skin
reactions!
Dog skin conditions and dog skin disorders can also be heavily affected
by the environment. Certain pollutants in the air along with
chemical products used in our homes and lawns can be very damaging to
our dogs’ skin.
So you see, a dog’s skin can be affected from inside and outside causes
which can make it difficult to determine the exact cause of the problem.
Parasites
that Cause Dog Skin Conditions
Skin parasites tend to be the most attracted to dogs that have a poor
overall health. These can be aging dogs, dogs with an
inadequate diet or dogs living in an unhealthy environment.
Dog skin parasites range from mild to severe and each type can cause a
different reaction in your dog.
Here is a list of the common dog skin parasites, listed from least to
most serious (click the links to jump to those pages):
Fleas -
Many dog owners have dealt with fleas at one time or another,
and with adequate treatment they can be history in no time!
Keep in mind…healthy dogs are less likely to attract fleas.
Ticks
- Ticks are not permanent residents on the skin of your
dog. They attach themselves to the skin, suck some blood, and
then fall off to lay eggs. Ticks can be a menace to your dog
and your home and may cause your dog some strife…but they are short
lived as long as you keep your dog well groomed.
Lice
- Lice are less common on dogs than ticks and fleas, but there are
still many reported cases. They are tiny white varmints that
may be difficult to find; you will need to look for the eggs attached
the hair follicle of the dog. These too are easily treated.
Mange -
The most common form of mange is caused by a tiny mite that
lives in the hair follicles of the infested dog. There are a
few other forms of mange which are discussed in detail in the dog mange
article. Dog mange can be very serious and can cause your dog
much distress and physical discomfort.
Ringworm
- Ringworm can be serious and can also be spread to
humans. It often starts as a red area, then it develops into
a
small ring that slowly grows. The effected area in dogs will
usually be hairless, irritated and possibly have scabs. If
your
dog has widespread ringworm, it is probably
an indication of overall poor health.
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conditions)
Symptoms
of Dog Skin Disorders
Though dog skin diseases can be very aggravating for your dog, they are
always the easiest to detect and often times the easiest to
treat.
Keep in mind that your dog is very different from the dog next door,
meaning the two dogs could contract the exact same skin condition and
could be showing very different physical symptoms. Always
collect information and share it with your veterinarian to get an exact
diagnosis.
Dog skin conditions and dog skin disorders may show one or more of the
following symptoms:
- Anal glad problems
- Brown, black or grey discoloration
- Chronic inflammation of the inner ear canal
- Foul odor to the skin
- Greasy coat
- Hair loss
- Itching- mild to severe, meaning blood is drawn
- Large brown flakes
- Pimples and blisters that may discharge blood
or pus
- Redness and irritation
- Scabs or crusts
- Skin flaking, resembling dandruff
- Very dry skin
See additional symptoms by specific dog skin conditions at the bottom
of
this page.
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conditions)
Common Causes
of Dog Skin Conditions
There are numerous causes of dog skin conditions and dog skin
disorders. Like we talked about above, dogs’ mental and
physical unbalance along with unhealthy environmental factors can show
up through skin problems:
Poor
Quality Food
Many experts believe that the number one cause of skin
disorders in
dogs is poor-quality food. We need to make sure that
what we
feed ours dogs is healthy, natural and well balanced food made by
quality growers and producers.
Do you know for sure that the food you feed your dog is high quality
and nutritious? If not, click
here to test your current dog
food to find out!
Toxic
Environmental Pollutants
Our dogs are living in a human world, and often times we don’t think
about the effects it may have on our dog’s health. Certain
toxins we use in our homes and gardens can be harmful. Make
sure to do your research before using sprays in and around your
home. And if you must use a toxic spray, make sure to keep
your dog far away for a safe amount of time.
There are also pollutants in the air that certain dogs may be sensitive
to. Unfortunately, we all have to breathe in the toxic fumes
created as we continue to populate and industrialize the
earth. I could go deeper into that subject…but it would
probably be better to head to a more
focused site.
(www.GlobalWarming.org)
Vaccinations
Certain dogs may have negative skin reactions to
vaccinations. There is no way to tell whether or not your dog
will react negatively to specific vaccinations, but if it does happen,
go back to your veterinarian immediately and they will be able to help
you. The necessity and health impact of vaccinations is
heavily debated between the conventional and holistic veterinary
communities.
Atopy
Atopy is a common allergic condition affecting about 15% of dogs in
which the dog has an inborn tendency to be allergic to various
environmental allergens. Once this inborn allergy develops,
dogs tend to have scratching spells for the rest of their
lives. Most atopic dogs are allergic to fleas, food and dust
mites.
Psychological
Factors
Mental issues can show themselves as physical skin problems.
Dogs who are very bored, angry or irritable or lack stimulation on a
daily basis may show their problems through the skin.
Suppressed
Disease
Diseases will sometimes appear to go away when they are actually still
present in your dog’s body. This is especially common when a
disease’s symptoms have been treated conventionally. We
highly recommend visiting a holistic veterinarian for recommendations
on how to cure the disease itself rather than only focusing on the
symptoms.
Dog allergies
Sometimes dogs experience allergies to certain foods or things in their
environment. If you think your dog is suffering from
allergies, click here to learn how to do an elimination
diet for your
dog.
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conditions)
Natural and Holistic Treatments for Dog Skin Disorders
If you notice a skin condition developing on your dog, there are a few
things that you can do to treat it at home. If at any time
the skin condition worsens or becomes serious, please seek guidance
from your veterinarian immediately. (As always – when in
doubt, call your vet!)
As
a preventive measure, if your dog is prone to skin
problems we
recommend supplementing their diet with the herbal Skin
& Coat Tonic from
Native Remedies.
It contains several herbs that have been proven to improve the health
of the skin and coat, along with other positive effects such as
boosting the immune system, liver, kidney and thyroid functioning:
- Horsetail - known for its high silica content,
which is the main component in all connective body tissues.
Positively effects all body tissue along with urinary tract
health.
- Dandelion - benefits the liver and digestive
system and helps to maintain normal blood pressure.
- Spirulina - contains protein, vitamins and
carotenoids and supports energy, the immune system and liver
functioning.
- Fucus vesiculosis - concentrated source of
minerals, and aids in the production of thyroid hormones which helps to
maintain healthy metabolism in all body cells. One of its
major effects is to improve overall skin and coat health.
- Kalium sulphate - a salt that is essential for
distributing life giving oxygen throughout the body and keeping cell
membranes in peak health.
Fasting is
the first step to combating a specific skin problem or
outbreak. 
Fasting your dog mimics what the dog would do in the wild which is to
allow the dog’s body a chance to clean itself out. It will
also allow the dog’s system to focus on healing the disorder instead of
digesting food. For a detailed guide to fasting your dog,
please click
here.
If fasting doesn’t work, try supplementing your dog’s diet with one of
the following:
- Cod-liver oil
- Cold-pressed unsaturated vegetable oil
- Granular lecithin
- Nutritional yeast
- Vitamin-C
- Vitamin-E
If your dog
has particular areas where he is developing a skin
condition, follow these few steps to clean and treat the
area.
Clip away excess hair covering the spot on the skin
Bathe your dog, focusing special attention on the spot(s).
Use a mild organic soap or shampoo. We like SynergyLabs AntiFungal Pet Shampoo
which uses Neem Oil, the world's oldest natural pesticide. It
is
specifically formulated to treat a wide range of dermatological skin
conditions.
After drying the hair and skin, try cleansing the spot(s) with a black
or green tea. This can be done often. Using these
teas supplies a tannic acid which helps to dry up the moist areas of
the skin.
Next, apply natural vitamin E oil or an aloe vera gel extracted from a
living plant. These can be found at most health food stores.
If you would rather use a pre-made herbal cleanser, Clenzor from PetAlive is an
excellent choice. It contains witchhazel (styptic and
soothing skin remedy that helps skin resist infection), marigold to
help regenerate damaged skin tissue, lemon balm (also sooths and calms
irritated skin) and urtica urens for its cleansing and healing
properties along with being a styptic (help reduce bleeding).
If you have tried these options and the skin spot(s) stays the same
or continues to get worse, please consult your veterinarian.
You can also get more specific by checking out:
There are also many homeopathic
options to explore. Contact a
homeopathic
vet in your area to learn more.
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conditions)
Back to Illnesses
& Remedies (includes other specific skin problems)
from Dog Skin Conditions
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