10 common skin problems for dogs

If your child has a severe rash, he will understand the words “Don’t itch.” (If she hears it’s a completely different story!) Unfortunately, not so with pets. They hurt, itch, whine, scratch, and before you know it, the situation is worse.

Dogs can be affected by a wide range of skin problems, including:

1. Canine atopy: seasonal pollen allergies that occur in dogs ages 1 to 5, beginning in late summer and fall. Symptoms include itching around the face and legs, which can spread to the ears, armpits, elbows, and groin. Up to 75 percent of dogs diagnosed with atopy experience recurrent ear infections. Immunotherapy is the most effective treatment, sometimes in collaboration with an antihistamine treatment or a dietary supplement of essential fatty acids.

2. Chiggers (also known as thrombiculiasis): Common skin parasites found in the central United States that cause severe itching and irritation of the skin around the legs, head, and abdomen. Chiggers are generally found in large numbers during the spring and fall in grassy areas. These mites appear reddish-orange in color, and although you will often not be able to see them, you will notice a small welt. Treatment involves a couple of pyrethrin-based dips a couple of weeks apart or the application of a topical deworming medication.

3. Dermatitis: allergic inflammatory skin conditions, including: pyotraumatic dermatitis, which manifests as a red, wet, hairless sore; acral lick dermatitis, which produces a wound that your dog will likely lick all day; contact dermatitis, caused by direct contact with an irritant, such as fertilizer or bleach; and flea allergy dermatitis, caused by a sensitivity to saliva or fleas. Your vet may recommend an oral antibiotic or injection to treat dermatitis.

4. Ear mites: Tiny, crab-like parasites that live in the ear canals of dogs. They are very contagious and common in puppies. Although they live on the surface of the ear skin, they can spread to your dog’s back, neck, and tail. If you notice your dog shaking his head excessively or scratching around the ears, or if you see dark debris on the ears or notice a bad smell, mites could be to blame. Several over-the-counter medications treat them effectively.

5. Flea allergies: proteins in flea saliva cause intense itching. A single bite can provoke a reaction for 5-7 days. Desensitizing injections are generally not effective because it is difficult to collect enough flea saliva to make a serum. Consult your veterinarian about a flea control program that will not further irritate your dog’s skin.

6. Impetigo: Inflammatory skin condition characterized by superficial blisters that break easily. In younger animals, you will notice inflamed white pimples on the stomach. They ooze pus, dry out, and then crust over. You can treat impetigo with daily applications of antiseptic powder, such as BFI.

7. Strangled puppies (juvenile cellulite): a skin irritation affecting the face, ears and lymph nodes of puppies less than four months old. Pimples develop and break open, and then scabs and small sores form. Your puppy may have a hard time eating or swallowing, and he may become depressed or develop a fever. Strangulations can be treated with antibiotics.

8. Ringworm: a skin disease that has the appearance of a round, crusty or scabbed sore, caused by a fungus. As the disease progresses, you will notice more of these sores. Treatment consists of cleaning infected spots, applying a fungicide regularly, keeping lesions clean to prevent infection, and maintaining proper hygiene to prevent spread.

9. Scabies (sarcoptic mange): A condition caused by mites that causes hair loss, itching, and lesions. Mites burrow into the surface of dogs’ skin, often on the abdomen, chest, legs, and ears, and store their eggs in a trail behind them. You will only notice a few scabs and perhaps a few hairless patches. The most effective treatment involves the application of topical solutions, such as Salamectin.

10. Ticks: large parasites that adhere to the skin. They are commonly found under the ear flap and where the hair is fine. Ticks can transmit a variety of diseases, including tick paralysis, Lyme disease, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Now that you know about some common skin problems that affect dogs, you will be better equipped to identify them.