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Diseases and conditions canine skin is very difficult to diagnose since there are many causes. The key to understanding which condition your dog is suffering from is to do your best to match the characteristics of each cause with the symptoms exhibited by your dog.Skin conditions tend to vary based on the following symptoms: Causes of each of the aforementioned symptoms tend to be caused by one of the following: Symptoms of diseases and conditions of canine skinSymptoms of diseases and conditions canine skin include:* Dog Skin Sores • Dry, flaky skin (seborrhea) • Red, irritated looking skin • Loss of hair • A dry, dull-looking coat • Lumps of bumps on or under the skin • Red patches on the skin • Scaly patches or scabs on the skin • Your dog may scratch or lick his skin excessively Characteristics of diseases and conditions canine skin by type: Bacterial Skin Infections – Can look like pimples bumps or open sores, matted hair and open sores Acne – some dogs can get acne with pimples around the mouth and chin. Use a dab of human benzoyl peroxide to see if the condition gets better. Yeast Infection – spots on the feet. Seborrhea – scaps, bumps and pimples on the skin in addition to flaky skin and itching. Immune-mediated skin disease – sores on top of the muzzle and possible spreading to the face Dry foot pads – a dog’s feet are supposed to be dry and possibly cracked. You usually only need to treat the feet if your pet is in pain. Lotions or ointments are licked off by your pet. Small red hairless area (s) - Could be mange (scabies). Other symptoms iunclude hairless area with pimples, thick skin and puss, Scaling around the eyes, mouth and front legs, itching. See
a photo of mange. Diagnosis of disease and conditions of canine skinYour vet will examine your dog’s skin carefully as part of a complete examination. In order to properly diagnose skin ailments, various tests may be needed. Tests might included:• Examining skin under a special light (a woods lights)- this is done to check for certain fungal infections such as ringworm. If you keep your dog clean and it continues to smell or have a greasy coat then your pet is probably suffering from parasites, seborrhea or a skin infection. Treatment of disease and conditions of canine skinThe treatment of the diseases and conditions canine skin depends on the exact disease or condition. Treatment may involve oral or topical medication. It may also involve removal of any lumps or bumps from your dog’s skin. If your pet’s skin is affected by poor nutrition, treatment will involve making a correction in the diet.There is a myth that baths are not good for diseases and conditions canine skin. This is not correct as bathing is an important part of just about every skin treatment. Shampoos are particularly effective on bacterial infections with a medicated bath 1 - 2 times per week. Anti-fungal shampoos such as Dermisil Anti-fungal shampoo If the bacterial infection has progressed deep into the skin then antibiotics are needed. You should also carefully look at your dogs diet. Follow this link to understand
Dog Food for Skin.
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sensitive skin dog food. SourcesCarter, G.R., Wise, D.J., and Flores, E.F. (Eds)A Concise Review of Veterinary Virology Carmichael, L. ThePetCenter.com More On Canine Skin Infection
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