Common Dog Skin Disease Symptoms

It’s important to make note of the symptoms of any dog skin disease that your pet may be suffering from so that you can help the vet confirm diagnosis and rule out other underlying health concerns. Healthy skin and coat is an indicator of good health and if your pet is suffering from any type of skin infection, conduct a vet check at the earliest to find out the cause.

Common Skin Conditions Include:

  • Ear mite infections
  • Flea allergy dermatitis
  • Allergic reactions
  • Cheyletiella 
  • Hot Spot

Skin Conditions in Pets

Some symptoms of skin conditions are common to 2 or more skin disorders. It’s therefore necessary to learn more about different skin conditions that your pet may develop. The symptoms can also cause your pet a lot of pain and discomfort and this is one reason why you need to seek medical help as soon as possible.

The symptoms exhibited by individual pets suffering from the same disease often differ in severity. If the condition is left untreated it can worsen and cause complications.

Ear Mite Infections

Pet suffering from ear mite infections show signs of ear discharge, foul smelling ears, inflammation in and around the ears, wax buildup and the accumulation of dirt and debris. The pet will attempt to scratch the ears frequently and his ears may be sensitive to the touch.

Ear mites are parasites that are microscopic in nature and they feed on ear wax, fluids and tissues present in the ear canal. This causes your pet severe discomfort and he will try to scratch his ears due to the irritation present.

Flea Allergy Dermatitis

If your dog has a flea infection he may develop flea allergy dermatitis or an allergic reaction to flea saliva. If your pet’s skin is sensitive to flea saliva he will start scratching and chewing different parts of the body where fleas have latched on.

The constant scratching and chewing could lead to hair loss in patches. If this isn’t treated in time the hair loss will become more severe and the dog’s skin will be exposed to UV rays.

Allergic Reactions

Dogs often develop allergic reactions when their skin comes in contact with allergens present in the environment. Pets suffering from allergic reactions will develop hives, a swollen face, redness and skin inflammation, and in some cases nasal and eye discharge. The pet will also feel itchy all over the body.

Since there are different types of allergies that develop in pets, the vet will try to find out what the dog is allergic to before prescribing any medication.

Cheyletiella

This condition is also known as walking dandruff. Pets suffering from Cheyletiella develop rough scaly skin and thickening of the skin. Pets may also suffer from hair loss. Dogs suffering from this condition will scratch affected areas and this in turn leads to open sores.

Hot Spots

The symptoms of hot spots are skin inflammation, redness and itchiness. The pet will also start scratching the affected area frequently and may not allow you to examine it. The frequent itching will give rise to hair loss and skin lesions.

Although these are some of the most common skin conditions seen in dogs, there are several other conditions that occasionally occur in pets. Since your pet relies on you for help and support, make note of any abnormalities present on the skin and seek vet help at the earliest.

 

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