This article is all about pruritus, eczema, dermatitis, skin inflammation, hot spots, allergies and mange in dogs and the causes, possible remedies and treatments available. Please see my other blog here at:
http://itchydogskin-naturalremedies.blogspot.com/2011/05/dog-itchy-skin-ingredients.html
for home made recipes to help your dog’s skin. You need to find the best solution suitable for you, your dog and situation.
Itchy, Scratchy Dog?
Does your dog scratch, itch, lick his paws, shake his head as if he has water in his ears, chew or bite his skin? Any or all of these can be signs of skin or parasite problems.
The proper medical term for a sensation within the skin that produces an urge to scratch, bite or lick, is called Pruritus. All dogs scratch at some time or other and for various reasons. If your dog scratches more often than normal, starts licking and/or chewing his paws and legs a lot, rubbing or biting himself and sometimes shaking his head, then he may have prolonged pruritis. If left untreated, this can lead to skin and ear infections and fur loss.
However, there are many causes of pruritus, which are given below, including dry skin, like humans get. It is best to consult a vet to get a diagnosis first as they can take a blood test or recommend a skin specialist if need be. When you have an idea of the cause, after ruling some things out, then you know what you are treating and can choose to treat it with vets prescribed medicine or holistically, herbally, homeopathically or a combination of both, with the approval of the vet in case a medicine might possibly clash with a herbal one. Or your vet may want your dog referred to a skin and allergy specialist for a course of treatment.
Personally, the best thing I have found for my Staffordshire Bull Terrier, who has a skin condition, is one of a good, natural, allergy-free diet and a food/nutritional supplement, combined with general daily washing with a warm flannel in a diluted anti-fungal solution recommended by the vet, such as Hibiscrub which is used in hospitals. He tested positive for allergies to dust mites, grain mites (on dry biscuit) and moulds.
Dogs that are white or have white or pink patches have a much higher chance of developing skin and allergy problems. It is rather like fair-skinned humans who burn from the sun more easily and blue-eyed, fair-skinned, fair- or ginger-haired people being more prone to allergies.
Here’s a great product I found and can recommend that has been written by a lady called Linda Kajda, and who knows all about dogs and their skin problems. I am sure you can relate to her story, like myself.
Click here to see.
How to break the itch-scratch/bite/lick-itch pattern
You know yourself that when you scratch an itch it soothes it for a very short while and then you need to re-scratch it again and again to get some relief. When your dog scratches, histamine is produced, the same as in an allergic reaction. Creams and tablets can be given but the need to find the source is of paramount importance and will help a great deal. Firstly, you need to look at the possible causes of the skin condition. Then, once detected, you can look for a remedy. Some common skin problems are listed below:-
Pruritus and the causes
Skin Inflammation
Skin inflammation in dogs can be caused by many allergens, which are foreign substances on or in the body, including chemicals, infectious bacteria and other pathogens and harmless substances, such as pollens, mould spores etc. These may be harmless to a normal immune system, but can become a nuisance and even dangerous sometimes to an animal if it becomes allergic to them.
Inflammation shows as five symptoms:
Redness
Pain
Heat
Swelling
General problems functioning
Inflammation is actually the body’s protective reaction to try to rid itself of foreign bodies from the organs and the skin which have been affected. Inflammation damages the tissue around it. Eczema is a very itchy skin rash and is caused by inflammation as described below:-
Eczema and Dermatitis
Both these words mean inflammation of the skin. Dermatitis tends to cover all skin conditions which are inflammatory and eczema covers a known pattern of dermatitis.
The word ‘Eczema’ means inflammation of the skin with fluid weeping out, which contains a lot of protein and cell debris, literally meaning ‘boil out’ and is from the Greek two words ‘ec’ meaning ‘out’ and ‘zema’ meaning ‘boil’. The eczema looks as if it is boiling out of the skin, which may be itchy, hot, red and appear scaly and at either a mild, acute or severe stage. The inflamed patches weep and scab over. In a few days the scabs may fall off, leaving bare red skin. Eczema is not contagious and it usually occurs when the immune system is under stress. The dog’s fur may fall out and bare batches be left behind.
Various allergens can make the skin sensitive and these can be from external sources (such as pollen or pollution) or internal sources (such as food).
The word ‘Eczema’ has been around since the sixth century, 5AD, but although Dermatologists have tried to replace the word ‘eczema’ with the word ‘dermatitis’ during the last hundred years but they failed.
The word ‘Dermatitis’ is used more in the USA, while the word ‘Eczema’ is more often used in the UK and Europe. All eczema is dermatitis, but all dermatitis cannot be classed as eczema, although usually the words ‘eczema’ and ‘dermatitis’ are used in place of one another.
Canine eczema is not contagious but the condition needs to be treated to avoid any secondary skin infections and to relieve irritation and itching. Eczema also makes dogs much more susceptible to yeast infections and may indicate an underlying health condition that needs attention. Yeasts can invade the body when it is under stress of some sort and a yeast-free diet can help.
Canine eczema can be caused by several factors, including fragrances or skin products, vitamin deficiencies, chemicals around the house or in the environment, kidney problems, hormonal imbalance, parasites and/or bites, smoke, mould, high protein or allergy-inducing dog foods, pollens, sudden changes in temperature, boredom, stress or loneliness. Poor quality food, vaccinations and psychological problems like depression and anxiety may also occur as a result.
It is best if the cause of the irritant can be found and avoided where possible. However, sometimes it isn’t that easy or possible. Creams and tablets are available from your vet to help relieve symptoms and possibly clear the rash, including potassium permanganate (a chemical salt also used in hospitals, a disinfectant for ponds and a parasitic treatment for koi carp!), medicated shampoos (under the supervision of a vet), topical antibiotic ointments (creams) and neem oil (take care when using this and do not use if your dog is pregnant or you want to mate your dog). Please see my other blog for details about neem oil and other remedies which may suit your dog better here at :-
http://itchydogskin-naturalremedies.blogspot.com/2011/05/dog-itchy-skin-ingredients.html
Or you may prefer to take a look at this:-
Click here to see.
Occasional or regular injections can be given to these dogs to try and desensitize them to the irritating allergen. Your vet or skin specialist can organise these.
Canine Hot Spots
(Also known as Acute Moist Pyoderma or Moist Dermatitis/Eczema)
Canine hot spots can suddenly appear within a very short time, like in an hour or so. These are sore, red patches on the skin and are usually caused by a bacterial infection. They can appear anywhere on a dog's body, and can rapidly spread, but mostly they tend to appear under a dogs ears, on his rear, or near the rectum. Hot spots can also be the result of allergic dermatitis.
Note:- if cortisone is used for allergic dermatitis, it has been proved that the scabies mite will multiple faster.
It is important to find the underlying cause of the hot spot in order to prevent further injury to the skin from occurring as the dog will try and scatch the area, making it worse and any dirt your dog has under his claws will add further bacteria, causing more inflammation and infection.
These hot spots can usually be cured with oral and topical (cream) antibiotics and they mostly occur in our hot summer months. A dog who is wet, dirty and/or matted is much more susceptible. Fleas, ticks, and burrs (sticky prickly plant balls that attach themselves to clothes or dog’s fur) can cause hot spots, or allergic reactions due to food allergy, flea allergy, atrophy, parasites (such as mange), anal gland problems, localized inflammation of the skin from being clipped or groomed, or skin infections.
A dog with a hot spot will often lick, nip, bite and/or scratch at the area. The area becomes sore, wet, red and may have pus which forms into scabs. In longer haired dogs, the area may become matted from the discharge of pus. Painful, itchy lesions often appear, causing the dog to chew and lick even more and this will cause thickened skin and scars.
It will help if the area around the hot spot is shaved to allow the air to help it scab. The dog must be stopped from scratching, licking and biting the area in order for the hot spot to heal. Easier said than done, I hear you say! Yes, but you can try a plastic collar if your dog will let you put it on, or use just his usual muzzle, if he has one, will help. These are quite cheap to buy. A topical antibiotic can be applied, however care should be taken that the dog does not lick it off! The plastic collar which is also called a buster collar and will be available from your vet or pet shops, fixes around the neck and is like a big cone. It does restrict the dogs head movement and they don’t like it, tending to bang it against walls and doors and maybe even your legs!
However, a muzzle is probably the best solution to get creams and ointments on your dog and to stop the dog scratching the area/s. Please remember to take it off regularly to let your dog drink water and at meal times as it is easy to forget, especially in hot weather.
Mange and Parasites
Years ago, stray dogs that used to roam around and looked bedraggled and had infections were called mangy dogs. I’m sure you may have seen a few, if not in England then in foreign countries where dogs and animals roam free outside and aren’t kept in the house as pets. They tend to pick up fleas and infections easily.
The term Mange is commonly used for skin diseases that are caused by different types of parasitic mites.
i. Parasites that live on the skin
External parasites like ticks, lice and fleas
Parasites live on the skin of living things. Mushrooms are parasites as they can grow on tree bark. Parasites on dogs are tiny animals which feed the dog’s skin and breed. Fleas, ticks and lice are a good example of this. Mites and ticks are small, eight legged creatures which are actually related to spiders.
Ticks
Often found in long grass. Occasionally humans are bitten by them. They can cause Lyme disease in humans and must be removed carefully with a tick remover as they cling onto the skin by using their claws so the whole thing must be removed. They can cause great irritation to dogs and may be hard to see in their fur.
Lice
Stick to the skin and attack skin that has been damaged before. The dog will scratch or rub vigorously until the area bleeds. Use warm water and bacterial soap or liquid as a treatment and rub it into the skin and hair and then rinse off with warm water again.
Fleas and flea bites
Fleas are parasites that live on other living animals in their fur by biting and sucking their blood. They are common in cats, dogs, and also foxes. The adult fleas can live for 7-14 days on your cat or dog and they also live in carpets, in which they lay their eggs. Females lay eggs every day which hatch into small larvae that burrow into carpets, upholstery and also bedding. These then develop into pupae and can remain dormant for months before it gets warm. Then they will find a passing host, such as a warm animal, to start the life cycle again. Fleas can transmit diseases, including certain blood parasites.
The obvious sign of fleas is constant scratching because they bite the skin. The reaction is usually towards the protein which is found in the flea’s saliva and not the flea itself. One flea bite can cause a reaction for up to 7 days, rather like a gnat bite in humans, especially if you scratch it!
Fleas are dark brown and can be up to 2mm long. They look like small black specks, which are flea faeces, in your dog’s coat when examining or combing. To test if they are flea dirt comb out the black spots and put then onto damp tissue paper. If they are, they will turn red from containing digested blood . Late summer is peak season for fleas because of the high humidity and temperatures, but even if you use central heating in winter it means you need to de-flea your dog and bedding, if necessary, throughout the year. Old bedding should be destroyed and fresh bedding used to prevent further infestation and breeding.
A skin test can be performed to test for flea allergy but desensitising injections are often not effective as it is extremely hard to collect a lot flea saliva!
Dogs should be have regular anti flea treatment, roughly every month, according to the instructions on the packet.
Dog anti flea treatments include:-
Advocate
Stronghold - from a vet on prescription only. Usually treatment is monthly, but in my dog’s case it was advised to use it fortnightly for a short time and then change to something else monthly. It does help with skin and allergy problems.
Drontal
Fiprospot
Advantage
Frontline
Spot On
Advantix
Scalibor Collar
A lot of the above are available on prescription only, so you will need to go to a vet for administration. A few can be bought on the internet or pet shops.
Types of Mange
There are 3 types of mange:- Demodex, Cheyletiella and Sarcoptic.
Demodex mange
Demodex is a mite which belongs to the Demodicidae family. The Latin name for mange is Demodex canis and other names are demodicosis or demodectic mange. Demodectic mange is also called Red Mange. All parts of the body can be invaded by mange but it tends to first appear around the face, particularly the nose, eyebrows and ears as well as on the back.
Healthy dogs actually carry Demodex mites on them in the follicles of their fur.
Where Demodicosis is found on only one area of the body it is called localised demodicosis. However, it can actually spread all over the body, and is called generalised demodicosis, although this is rare. The dog will need to be bathed once or twice a week for six to eight weeks in a special solution. The dog may have to be shaved for this treatment to work as you can get closer to the skin that way. Localised demodicosis is the commonest and can often clear up by itself if left.
Demodicosis is thought to be genetic, and it has been advised in the past by dog specialists that dogs diagnosed with it should perhaps be neutered so they don't pass it on! These dog breeds seem to get a lot of demodicosis:-
Pugs, Afghan Hounds, Boxers, American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Dobermans, Boston Terriers, Bulldogs, Chihuahuas, Chinese Shar-Pei, Collies, Dalmatians, German Shepherd Dogs, Great Danes, Old English Sheepdogs.
In most dogs there is never a problem with these mites but sometimes, in situations such as a poor immune system, stress or malnutrition, or some or all of these, the mites can reproduce rapidly and cause symptoms in sensitive dogs ranging from mild irritation and hair loss on a small patch of skin to severe, widespread inflammation, secondary infection, and sometimes, although quite rare, life-threatening.
Small patches of demodicosis can sometimes heal themselves over time as the dog's immune system matures or improves, but treatment, like tablets or cream, is usually recommended to help speed up healing. This type of mange is not contagious. Signs of localised demodicosis are patchy hair loss and scaly, red skin on the face or down the front legs. Generalised demodicosis has similar signs, but they are more widespread and more severe, affecting the feet mainly.
To diagnose demodicosis, your vet will gently scrape off some of the top layers of the dog's skin and look at them under a microscope to see which mites, if any, are the cause. If necessary, he can prescribe a wash and either cream or tablets, or antibiotics to ward off any secondary infections caused by scratching. Unfortunately, if an older dog gets demodicosis it can be persistent and recovery is much longer, and sometimes not at all.
Cheyletiella mange
Cheyletiella mange is also called walking dandruff and is highly contagious. A large red mite that is often found in kennels is the cause.
ii. Parasites that live in the skin - mites
Parasites can also live in the skin. The acarus mite is one such parasite. It burrows into the top layer of the skin, the epidermis, and irritates it.
Acarus Mite
This mite can be found in dry grains or on dry dog food or biscuit. Known as storage mites, they become allergens in dogs with atopic (allergic) dermatitis. The Tyrophagus, Acarus, and Lepidoglyphus mites cause the most problems for atopic dogs.
Sarcoptic Mange or Scabies
Sarcoptic Mange is better known as canine scabies, a very contagious burrowing mite, from the species Sarcoptes scabiei canis. This mite burrows into the skin's top layer and lays its eggs. When the eggs hatch and the larvae mature, the adult mites then repeat the life cycle all over again.
Scabies is very contagious and can be passed on from dogs to people by close contact. It causes intense itching on areas of the body with little hair, such as the ear flaps, elbows, hips, and stomach. It can be diagnosed by a skin scrape by a vet, but it can be hard to find on a scrape. Vets will treat pets for scabies mange if the animal has a history of it and on examination. Treatment is tablets or injections of Invermectin (given by your vet who needs your permission as it isn‘t approved by the Federal Drug Administration as a treatment. Note:- it can be fatal if the right dose isn‘t given), or use Revolution cream.
The best treatment for mange is to try and prevent it. Regularly brushing helps remove the scaly skin and scabs. If your dog has been infested with mange mites, wash his bedding and other areas around the house that he goes to.
iii. Parasites that live internally
Internal parasites and organisms can invade the nasal passages, digestive organs, blood, the brain, kidneys, liver, urinary tract etc. Chobart first discovered pentastomum tenioides, a parasitic worm, in the nose. He confused this worm with the tenia because of it’s shape, and called it tenia lanceole (band or ribbon-like and shaped with head of a lance).
The holostomum alatum worm has been found in the small intestine. It has two small suckers which can attach to something.
The spiroptera sanguinolenta is found in the stomach and the glands of the oesophagus. When it is in the stomach, it makes the dog extremely hungry.
Tapeworms are common. There are three or four varieties found in dogs; the common ‘round worm’ which can crawl from the stomach into the nose and irritate it, the ‘maw worm’, and the Cestoida class of worms, to which the tenia belong.
Three forms of cystic worms have been found in the urinary organs, blood, bowels, brain etc. An animal affected with worms in the bowels is normally restless, depressed, may howl or cry and it’s fur may be dry, and matt, not glossy. Parasites in the brain can cause convulsions and fits. A good product that covers a wide range of these nuisances should be given regularly, usually once a month.
The lung worm is a common parasite or nematoid (unsegmented) worm around today. It is on the increase and as it’s name suggests, it lives in an animal’s lungs. Usually affecting dogs that are scavengers, lung worm can be fatal and is caused by the dog eating infected snails and slugs, which carry the larvae of the parasite. It is thought to be carried further afield by foxes, who have also eaten these contaminated slugs and snails. Long, wet summers help snails and slugs breed. Birds may also carry and drop snails further afield, that may be another reason why it is spreading around the country.
Dogs with a lungworm infection have breathing problems, difficulty coughing and a lack of energy. They may lose weight, be sick and not be hungry. It can be a fatal illness but if caught early, veterinary treatment can be given, which is in the form of a liquid in a small tube which you put on the dogs neck while parting the fur. This is also used to prevent infection and lasts a month. Advocate is one such treatment and kills a whole range of other mites and hosts. Try and get advice from a vet before administering as every animal has a different history of health.
Allergies and/or sensitivities (also see Atopy below)
Allergies can develop in dogs at any time, as in humans, but the usual time can be when the puppy is between eighteen months and 3 years. Allergies are inherited via genes. The most common type of allergy seen in dogs and cats are skin related, known as allergic dermatitis. The usual signs are hair loss, sore skin from scratching, head shaking, anal itching, rubbing their face or chin on a carpet or surface to relieve the itching, licking paws etc. Sneezing, asthma, fits, diarrhoea and vomiting are rare, although my dog does sneeze occasionally.
The best way to eliminate a food allergy is to feed the dog with food that he has never had before, one protein and one starch. For example, venison, rabbit or lamb with rice or potatoes. The dog must not be given any other pieces of food, biscuits, chew toys (as they can be allergic to the materials), pills or grass or other animal stools. If your dog is already on medication that is necessary, finish the medicine first and then leave at least days before trying the diet so its system is clear of medicine.
If your dog is permanently on medication, then you cannot do a completely pure elimination test, but you can try eliminating foods one by one and not reintroducing them for at least a week. In humans it is avoiding foods from the same food families on a four day rotation basis. It may be easier to try a week in the monitoring of dogs.
Common culprits are beef, pork, chicken, milk, whey, eggs, fish, corn, soy, wheat and preservatives. The simpler the diet, the better and easier it will be to pin down the offending allergen(s), as it is possible to be allergic to several, not just one. It is not ideal to do this diet for too long as the dog won’t be getting all it’s vitamins and minerals. It is better to consult a vet before you begin. If symptoms disappear on the new diet, then that could be the culprit food. Then go back to the original diet and if it flares up again, you will know what is causing the reaction. A hypo-allergenic diet is very effective for allergic dogs. You can try ‘Natures Recipe’, ‘Grange Farm’, ‘Natural Life’ and others.
None of the above contain any added chemicals or preservatives. You will need to look at the ingredients if buying from a store or supermarket. As a rough guide only, generally the cheaper the produce, the more additives it contains, which will only over-burden your dog’s system even more.
Atopy, Atopic Dermatitis, or Allergic Inhalant Dermatitis
This affects about 10% of dogs. Atopy is also known as an inhalant allergy, but it is usual to find that it is the skin that is affected. The dog will scratch, lick, bite or chew or rub the affected area where there is pruritis.
Signs of atopy usually show up when the dog is between 1 and 3 years of age. My dog was a year and a half when this happened. Causes can be flea droppings, pollen, moulds, dust mites, carpet mites etc.
Atopy could be compared to hayfever in humans. Both humans and dogs (and any animal) may inhale pollen, dust, molds, house dust mites or other allergens, then have an allergic reaction. A few horses react to hay or straw, or the mites in it.
The difference between atopy in humans and dogs is the different part of the body or “shock organ,” which reacts to the atopy. In humans, the shock organ is the respiratory tract, and you might cough, sneeze, have a runny nose and a sinus infection, whereas in dogs, atopy causes a skin reaction, which mostly affects the front of the body.
Itchiness occurs on the face, webs of the paws and on paws themselves, ears, axillae (the armpits or groin area) and down the legs.
There are said to be at least 64 allergens that dogs can inhale and have an allergic reaction to.
Dogs who have ear infections early in life are more likely to become atopic later. The average onset of these signs appearing is 3-5 years of age, although puppies as young as 12 weeks old have been known to have atopy and dogs as old as 14 years can have their first problem.
Many dogs affected with Allergic Inhalant Dermatitis rub their faces in the carpet or paw at their noses. Eyelids can get inflamed, eyes be moist and even lose fur. If the dog rolls over, you will see the axillary region (under his arms and legs) is inflamed and has no fur or hair on.
Dogs that have chronic atopy and itchy feet may have dermatitis between the toes (webs), top and bottom. Deep bacterial infection from long-term moistness, like walking in puddles, will add to the problem.
Also note that dogs don’t care where they urinate. Once they have found a place, they go and often will tread in the urine, will can irritate and burn their paws.
These infections often contain highly resistant organisms. The syndrome is known as pododermatitis. In Latin ‘podo’ means ‘foot’, ‘derma’ means ‘skin’ and anything with ‘itis’ on the end of the word means ‘inflammation’.
Allergic Inhalant Dermatitis can cause infection in other areas of the body and this is called pyoderma. Pyoderma affects the pores and hair follicles of the skin and it will irritate. Long-term antibiotics may be needed for pyoderma.
Dogs who are difficult to give pills to can be given Convenia, which is an antibiotic that is given as an injection and is quite effective. Pyoderma also needs to be given topically as well usually, with regular washes or baths. Frequent shampooing removes any allergens the dog picks up daily on its coat, and is especially helpful during the pollen season.
Other treatments for atopic dermatitis in dogs are antihistamine tablets such as Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and Hydroxyzine. Apparently, Diphenhydramine can help between 20% to 40% of dogs with atopy but Diphenhydramine can be of limited help in most dogs. The most noticeable effect in people is drowsiness, which can be quite severe in dogs, while it is limited in controlling the itching. Hydroxyzine is normally used for atopy. It is safe, highly effective and doesn‘t cost much. Oral and/or injectable corticosteroids can also be used as short- or long-term treatment.
Atopica oral tablets by Novartis Animal Health is a cyclosporine product (an immune suppressant) approved by the FDA to use for this condition, and has been effective but you may wish to consider other treatments before this one. See my blog here at:-
http://itchydogskin-naturalremedies.blogspot.com/2011/05/dog-itchy-skin-ingredients.html
Or take a look here and be very surprised:-
Click here to see.
Another treatment might be for your dog to have ‘allergy injections’ although the correct term is hypo-sensitization or desensitisation. The Latin prefix “hypo” means low or below, so the process decreases sensitivity. The immune system, which reacts badly to pollen, dust and moulds by treating them as a foreign body, is desensitised to these irritants and so in time there is little or no reaction to them. The injections contain tiny amounts of the very things the dog is allergic to. In doing so, the immune system reacts less and less to these allergens, although the injections will be an on-going process, probably for life.
Before having desensitization injections, your dog’s Dermatologist or Vet may use skin testing, which is similar to patch testing done on people. Small amounts of allergens are injected into different parts of the skin to await a reaction and to determine which allergens are irritating your dog. That report is sent to a laboratory, which makes a hypo sensitization solution. Then tests begin with a blood sample, which is sent to a laboratory that tests for evidence of reactions to various allergens. These “in vitro” or “in glass” tests may be performed by any qualified Vet in a controlled environment.
Antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system specifically for the body’s reaction to each different type of allergen. The company that your vet dermatologist has sent off samples of skin scrapes to, can tell which allergens’ antibodies are present and will make up a unique desensitization solution for your dog. Your Dermatologist, Vet or Veterinary Nurse will teach you how to give the injections, which are continued for life. If the allergies get out of hand again, more tests can be done to see if new allergies have developed, which is also quite usual.
Atopy needs to be constantly monitored but can be kept under control. Unfortunately it will never go away and treatment will be required for life, but it can be managed well. Once you know the cause, remedies can be found and tried.
Yeasts and Fungus
In humans and animals, as a result of poor diet, low immunity etc., yeasts can grow and multiple where usually they would go unnoticed. An overgrowth of yeast can cause scratching, sores and shaking of the head if the ears are affected. Where the dog wears a collar, yeasts and fungus can multiply and the area will lose the fur. Damp conditions make bacteria, yeasts and fungus breed more, so change your dog’s collar regularly and wash it in an anti-yeast or anti-fungal solution like Hibiscrub. An anti fungal cream (like Canistan) can be applied sparingly to the affected neck area.
Problems around the neck area might also indicate a thyroid problem, like hypothyroidism, so it may be best to get an opinion from your vet first.
Ringworm was thought to be caused by a worm but has been established to actually be a fungus that grows in a ring when it is small, but as it gets larger it is more uncircular. The yeast infection will cause your dog’s fur to fall out in these rings. Dogs can carry ringworm yet show no symptoms but it is contagious and can be passed on. It can thrive in bedding, carpets and other places but can be destroyed by a bleach and water solution where appropriate.
General Illness
Bad or poor diet due to mal nourishment or low immunity can cause all of the above illnesses. If the dog is recovering from an illness then he is more prone to bad skin conditions. Feed a wholesome, complete diet, especially one that is additive-free and preferably allergen-free, so that the immune system is not overloaded. The simpler the diet is, the easier job the digestive system has, eventually making the immune system stronger.
Home Remedies and Other Remedies for Mange
If you have tried a few home remedies as soon as symptoms started and they haven’t worked, then a visit to your Vet will be necessary to determine the cause of the problem. If a skin condition is left untreated it can lead to more serious problems later.
After a diagnosis from a Vet, the necessary medication or treatment can be given as well as using preventative treatments in the future, like using an anti-fungal for washing etc. Your Vet will usually take a skin scraping and analyse it. Once analysed under a microscope, he can identify the cause of the problem. If he suspects allergies he will take a blood sample and send it off to a laboratory for testing and also refer your dog to a skin specialist or allergist. Once you have the report back it is easier to find a solution by either avoiding the allergen if possible, or finding a treatment which suits you, your dog, your lifestyle and budget. For example, you may prefer herbal or homeopathic remedies rather than conventional medicine. Please take a look at my other blog at:-
http://itchydogskin-naturalremedies.blogspot.com/2011/05/dog-itchy-skin-ingredients.html
OR you may prefer this great product I found and can recommend that has been written by a lady called Linda Kajda, and who knows all about dogs and their skin problems. I can relate to her desperate story, and I am sure you can, too.
Click here to see.
Disclaimer : this blog is written in good faith and understanding from many references and my own personal experiences. Please consult your Vet in the first instance before undertaking anything recommended here, or anywhere else for that matter. I hope that you are able to find something here suitable for you and your dog to bring relief.
