If you’re a loving pet parent, you know you can find few things a lot more disturbing than to watch your dog constantly scratch, or bite and chew on himself. And you also are possibly aware that summertime is the height of the season for itchiness, “allergies,” dog hot spots, and reactions to insect bites, specifically fleas and grass allergies. In this column we’ll talk about the early signs of skin disease, how you can recognize them, and the best way to get rid of it before it becomes a far more serious problem.
Fleas. Grass fungus. Grass seed and pollen. Ants. Mosquitoes. Bees. Scabies and mange mites. Ticks. Slivers and spiny things. Cuts and scratches. You’ll find so numerous things that our furry friends can get into that we will never know about. For just 1 example, there are tiny pollen grains which are covered in sharp spikes. When these get into cracks inside the pads of the foot, they can drive a dog insane with itching and stinging. Or they can be inhaled and produce a different kind of allergic response. The list is endless.
You will not likely ever see whatever it was that caused the itching-scratching-chewing cycle inside your dog. But there are lots of signs it is possible to see that must alert you to the beginnings of a serious skin situation on your pet.
Any time a dog scratches himself, there’s a great reason, and it is up to you to investigate. Check your dog carefully in and around the areas he’s scratching. It could be some thing as basic as his collar is bothering him, or as ominous as the beginnings of a serious allergic response to something. Whenever a dog scratches, his nails can open the protective barrier of the skin and permit an infection to take hold. Whatever the trigger, this is the time to nip it in the bud. The most effective treatment is prevention, and early detection is the key. Here are some things you can do at property.
First, ask your dog’s permission to check his underbelly. Turn him on his back and begin your inspection at the genitals as well as the area where the rear legs join the body. The skin here need to be virtually white, depending on the color of the dog overall. It should look clean and pure, maybe even quite slightly pink. Then check his legs at the joints for any irritations or hot spots forming. From there, turn him over and check his rump region near the tail, and work your way forward on the dog, combing the hair aside and looking closely at the skin underneath. Here are some early signs of trouble:
• There need to be no red or rusty or black dots on the skin. These look like tiny pinpricks or blackheads, but are flat or flush with the skin. This may possibly even look just like dirty skin. This 1st appears in the groin area, generally near the genitals. If you see this, you have already got a difficulty.
• Now check for black specks that look like pepper or tiny poppy seeds. These are tiny grains that are left behind by fleas. Flea “dirt” is actually excess blood (from your dog) consumed by the adult flea, passed as feces. (In the event you have any doubts about the source of this “dirt, location it on a damp paper towel. In case you see red, it is undoubtedly fleas.) If you see this, you should take immediate action to de-flea your dog and your house, and probably your vehicle.
• Does your dog have “dandruff”? Crustiness or flakiness on the rump region is an early sign of skin illness. Dogs, like men and women, don’t have excessive flakes if their skin is healthy. Correcting this problem also reduces people’s allergic responses to your dog’s dander.
• Look for any rash or red spot(s) or raw places. These are irritating to your pet and will likely get worse.
• Watch for thinning of hair or bare spots. On the back, near the tail, thinning is usually accompanied by crusty flakes, and can remain hidden for a long time if the dog isn’t groomed frequently. Should you see bare patches on your dog’s sides, this might be a condition known as bilateral alopecia, and you need to go to your vet appropriate away.
• Look for scratches, scabs, other superficial wounds. Keeping an infection out at the discovery stage is the most efficient method to treat it.
Here are a couple of ideas about prevention:
• There has been significantly discussion within the literature about how you can maintain fleas away. It’s critical to maintain fleas off your dog and out of your household, but it is also essential to do this in a secure and natural way. Flea collars and sprays contain harsh toxins, and can give rise to other severe conditions. Even the most natural flea chasers might be harmful in some methods. There’s a lot debate about pyrethrins, garlic, Brewers yeast, diatomaceous earth, and far more, several of which have been employed safely for years, but each and every dog is various. We recommend that you read everything you are able to and make your best decision. We use certified organic aloe vera gel (not juice) from Lily of the Desert (available at GNC stores), combined with Rosemary Crucial Oil as a topical rub to get rid of fleas and keep them off. But there’s no straightforward solution should you have a major infestation.
• Hot spots: There’s not much one can do to stop this. Hot spots tend to spring up overnight, for many different reasons. It really is crucial to treat this instantly, just before a bacterial infection sets in. Make sure the area stays dry, and that means you’ve got to prevent your dog from licking the spot. We use our DERMagic hot spot lotion, which contains organic aloe vera gel, vitamin E, rosemary vital oil and florets of sulfur, along with the hot spot disappears in a day or two. This combination of ingredients stops the itching, promotes rapid healing, and prevents or eliminates bacterial or fungal infection. We strongly recommend avoiding any steroids (cortisone, Prednisone), as these will do much more harm than very good by compromising the immune system.
• Mange, scabies, mites: You can find several varieties of mange, all caused by a variety of types of mites. This condition might be difficult to diagnose, much more hard to treat, and can grow to be terminal. The typical allopathic veterinary treatment is steroids to reduce inflammation, typically within the form of Prednisone. If your dog has a mite infestation, any steroid will make this worse. To prevent mites or mange, it is important to make sure your dog’s immune system is functioning well, and that requires a healthy diet, a happy property, and an active way of life. Anything that causes a compromised immune system will enable all those critters which are already on the dog to now dig in and make a house under the skin.
• Allergies: Bear in mind that an allergy is really a reaction to an allergen. To treat an allergy, the thing that is causing the allergic response must be removed from the dog’s environment. The result of an allergic response is frequently a failure of the immune system to protect the dog from infection, regardless of whether bacterial, fungal or yeast, and any skin infection must be treated with a topical application that eliminates this infection. Keep in mind that cortisone or other steroids only address the symptoms, not the underlying infection.
Should you discover, even with your finest and most careful intentions, that your dog has a skin dilemma, it wants to be treated appropriate away. There are numerous natural items in the marketplace, but beware! The “natural” label is not regulated and can mean just about anything. Look for items with certified organic ingredients, and steer clear of items containing harsh chemicals. Read the labels. Go on the internet and find out what the ingredients are, where they come from and what the side effects might be.