Skin diseases of dogs: how they manifest and how to treat. Dog Skin Diseases: Symptoms and Treatments

Skin diseases in dogs are becoming more common these days. The reason is in many aspects: improper and malnutrition, deterioration of the ecological atmosphere of the air, a sedentary lifestyle, crossing with infected individuals. Often skin diseases in animals manifest themselves as hereditary predispositions of the skin to disease.

Types of skin diseases in dogs

At the slightest change in the hairline of a dog, they turn to a veterinary clinic to conduct the necessary tests and make an accurate diagnosis of the disease. Here are some common skin conditions in dogs. An accurate diagnosis can only be made by a doctor.

Symptoms of the disease

If skin diseases appear in dogs , The symptoms are classified into 3 groups.

1. Excruciating itching, in which the dog scratches the body to abrasions and scratches.
2. The appearance of neoplasms on the skin: plaques of different sizes and colors, warts, blisters. On the damaged body, the dog develops peeling, redness of the skin, turning into baldness.
3. If an infection or microbes gets on the damaged areas of the skin, the dog's skin becomes inflamed, swollen and festering.

Skin diseases in dogs are dangerous for animals and humans. It is important to provide timely medical care to your pet.

Treatment of skin diseases

Selected simple diseases of dogs, skin diseases can be cured at home.

Healing properties has a home flower - aloe. Aloe juice applied to damaged dog skin will relieve itching, discomfort and burning sensation. Aloe juice is easy to squeeze out on your own or buy a ready-made remedy at a pharmacy.

Decoctions of herbs have similar actions: medicinal chamomile, calendula, echinacea. The drugs reduce pain in the dog, relieve inflammation and eliminate microbial suppuration on the skin.

These funds are used exclusively in the initial stages of the development of the disease. If complex skin diseases are observed in dogs, treatment is carried out in a veterinary clinic. The doctor, before prescribing drugs, is obliged to conduct a complete diagnosis of the alleged disease, take the appropriate skin tests and blood tests, remove a scraping from the dog's skin. After determining the exact diagnosis of the disease, an effective treatment is prescribed.

An accurate diagnosis of the disease cannot be made solely by visual examination. You will need to conduct laboratory studies of the dog's hairline.

If the doctor, after looking at the dog, immediately prescribes medication, you can not treat the dog under the guidance of such a doctor. Remember, improper treatment can lead to the death of the animal.

Preventive measures

Often dog diseases are associated with improper maintenance and care. It is necessary to fulfill simple conditions so that the pet remains healthy and cheerful.

Do not let your four-legged friend suffer, remain a responsible owner.

Skin diseases are common in dogs. They cause suffering to animals and impair health, and therefore require treatment. Information about the types of these diseases, symptoms, their treatment and prevention of occurrence will be useful for any dog ​​owner.

Types and their description with a photo

Many skin diseases in dogs are infectious, although this is not always the case. According to this criterion, they can be divided into groups according to the source of infection or other reasons for the appearance. For example, the causative agents of diseases can be fungi or bacteria, skin lesions can be allergic in nature or occur for other reasons.

fungal

Mycoses affect the skin, coat and nails of dogs, as well as internal organs. They can become ill after contact with an infected animal or simply after walking in areas where pathogens can be found. We advise you to read more about the treatment and prevention of mycoses

ATTENTION! Even pets who have never left the house can get sick - in this case, fungi enter the home on people's shoes or clothes.

In addition to pathogenic fungi, there are also conditionally pathogenic ones. They are constantly on the skin of animals, but their number is corrected by a healthy immune system, so diseases do not develop. But as soon as the dog’s immunity drops sharply, the fungi become active and begin to multiply.

The development of dermatomycosis is also facilitated by mistakes in caring for a pet made by the owner. For example, Dogs often get sick with fungal diseases for the following reasons:

• poor nutrition, due to which the body's defenses are reduced;
• dirty, greasy and felted wool, to which oxygen does not penetrate;
• clean but dry coat due to washing too often.

In addition, dermatomycosis can be a consequence of the treatment of other diseases with drugs that suppress the immune system.

Mycoses are divided into:

• superficial (the fungus does not penetrate deeper than the skin and mucous membranes) - microsporia, malassezia, candidiasis, pityrosporosis;
• subcutaneous - sporotrichosis, eumycosis;
• systemic - coccidioidomycosis, aspergillosis, histoplasmosis.

A common disease of this group in dogs and cats is microsporia and trichophytosis (ringworm) caused by microsporum and trichophyton fungi. Humans can also be infected from animals.

Bacterial

Common diseases:

• eczema (you can read about ear eczema in);
• tick-borne borreliosis;
• yersiniosis;
• tularemia.

We offer you to watch a video about eczema in animals:

Dogs of any breed and age can become infected with a bacterial infection. But especially puppies, adult weakened and old animals get sick. Infection occurs by contact (communication with a sick individual, use of someone else's dog ammunition and care items), alimentary (after eating contaminated feed) and airborne droplets. The risk group includes animals living in poor conditions, receiving insufficiently good nutrition, kept together in large groups.

allergic

Other cases

Skin lesions in dogs can also be caused by ticks. Settling under the skin of animals, they cause diseases such as sarcoptic mange, demodicosis, otodectosis (ear scabies).

Hormonal disorders resulting from endocrine pathologies or age-related disorders can cause increased hair loss ( alopecia).

Symptoms

Symptoms of skin diseases in dogs are varied, but, first of all, this is a change in the skin, coat and claws in the form of:

• loss of shine and hair loss;
• redness or graying, swelling and peeling of the skin;
• rashes of various etiologies.

A frequent symptom of damage to the scalp, body, limbs, paws, ears in dogs is severe itching, causing the animals to constantly itch. Pets can refuse food and games, sleep most of the time, react sluggishly to external stimuli. They may have a rise in general body temperature or become hot lesions, there may be serous or purulent discharge from the eyes and nose, coughing, sneezing, shortness of breath, anemia of the mucous membranes, and digestive disorders.

Diagnostics

Dog skin diseases are diagnosed in veterinary clinics. A preliminary diagnosis can be made already during an external examination, but it is possible to establish exactly what caused the disease only after laboratory tests and studies:

• blood test;
• bakposeva;
• cytological analysis of biomaterials;
• allergy tests.

According to studies, patients are prescribed treatment.

Treatment

Therapy of skin lesions in dogs is carried out taking into account the characteristics of the diseases that caused them:

In addition to special preparations, in all cases, immunomodulators and vitamins are also prescribed to help the dog's body cope with the disease.

Treatment of skin diseases is carried out mainly at home and only in special cases - in veterinary clinics. For the duration of therapy, the dog must be given peace, children and other pets should not be allowed near it. All treatments should be carried out with medical gloves, do not touch the pet unnecessarily, immediately eliminate everything that was used for the procedure (fleece, sticks).

REFERENCE! From home remedies for external use, you can use aloe juice, infusion of chamomile, calendula, echinacea to relieve itching, inflammation, swelling and redness.

Prevention

Skin diseases in dogs are often associated with illiterate maintenance and care, so every owner of a four-legged pet necessary:

These simple preventive measures will help reduce the risk of contracting or developing diseases that result in skin lesions in dogs and keep your friend healthy.

Useful video about the symptoms and treatment of pathology

So it's time to figure out what skin diseases in dogs exist, what are their symptoms and how to treat them!

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fungal

In addition, there is some tendency to fungal diseases in Yorkshire Terriers. Dermatophytosis is a contagious disease, it is transmitted from dog to dog, as well as through contact with fungal spores. Which, by the way, even you and I can bring into the house, without knowing it ourselves.

Symptoms

The main symptom of fungal infections is spontaneous alopecia (baldness). Moreover, on bare skin areas, concomitant lesions are almost never observed and itching is rarely present. Sometimes with trichophytosis, onychomycosis can be observed - damage to the claw and periungual bed. In this case, the claw turns yellow and exfoliates.

Quite rarely, dermatophytosis occurs in the form of a kerion - a nodular skin lesion. In this case, purulent exudate can be released from the kerion. In severe fungal infections in animals, microsporial lesions of the paw pads can be observed.

Treatment

Treatment of fungal infections involves external treatment and bathing in special antifungal shampoos such as Nizoral or Dermazole. You can also use the veterinary drug Imaverol. In addition, dermatophytosis is treated with the systemic antifungals Ketoconazole, Itraconazole, and Terbinafine.

Please note that the treatment of fungal infections is not complete without measures aimed at cleaning the habitat of dogs. Be sure to treat their bedding or couch to destroy all fungal spores.

Symptoms

Symptoms of otodectosis and sarcoptic mange are often severe itching. At the same time, with otodectosis, ear lesions and a symptom of excessive accumulation of sulfur in them can be observed. Sarcoptic mange is characterized by severe itching on the paws, head and neck. Due to scratching, wounds and inflammation of the skin can occur. As well as the so-called self-induced baldness, when the dog combs the hair on its own.

allergic reactions

Allergy is the most difficult to diagnose, because it is always very difficult to isolate a certain irritating component - an allergen. The very nature of the origin of allergies is not fully understood.

Allergies in dogs are usually divided into:

• food;
• allergy to environmental components (dust, plant pollen, down, feather).

Diagnosis of allergic reactions has the following standard algorithm:

However, the diagnosis of allergy by blood is carried out in only a few European laboratories. At the same time, it is advisable to carry out it if it is possible to carry out exclusive expensive treatment - allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT).

Symptoms

Allergy is always manifested by severe itching. Since the protective properties of the skin decrease with allergies, this creates favorable conditions for the development of various bacterial processes on the skin. Therefore, redness, pustules or rashes are almost always integral symptoms of allergies. Due to strong combing, bald patches naturally appear.

Treatment

If your dog has a food allergy, he will be treated with a specific diet that will eliminate allergenic foods. However, veterinarians say that it is food allergies that occur infrequently, allergies to environmental components are much more common.

Skin cancer

Many owners mistakenly believe that any neoplasm in their pet is cancer. While cancer is just one type of tumor process. And as such, skin cancer is rare in dogs, unlike other skin cancers. Cancer is a tumor of epithelial cells and can only be malignant. Much more often than cancer, veterinarians observe in their patients a type of tumor such as a mastocytoma or a mast cell tumor.

Symptoms

Cancer often manifests itself as skin lesions on the fingers or head. These lesions look like non-healing extensive ulcerative skin lesions. These lesions are quite painful and in order to make a disappointing diagnosis - cancer, you need to conduct a smear-imprint followed by microscopy. More common than cancer, mastocytoma manifests itself in the form of cutaneous and subcutaneous swelling, often of a malignant nature.

Image opens on click

Treatment

Cancer treatment is always only surgical intervention. After surgical removal, the veterinarian decides on further treatment: it can be radiation or chemotherapy.

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Video "Dog skin diseases"

To learn more about what skin diseases in dogs exist, the video below will help you!

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Unfortunately, today skin diseases in dogs are not uncommon. There can be many reasons for such a problem, ranging from malnutrition to poor ecology. Skin diseases in dogs - symptoms and treatment with photos, as well as preventive measures are described below.

Types of skin diseases in dogs

If you notice any changes in the coat of your pet, then first of all you need to ask a doctor for help. Only a specialist will be able to correctly take the necessary tests and accurately diagnose the disease. To get started, let's get acquainted with the most common skin problems. The skin conditions in dogs described below will help you determine what's wrong with your pet.

Skin diseases in dogs and their signs are listed below.

It should be noted that the above ailments are dangerous not only for the pet, but also for the breeder. So if you notice symptoms or even a slight manifestation of them, then the dog needs to be helped as soon as possible. Of course, the best option would be to consult a veterinarian, but there are certain rules that every dog ​​owner should know.

Treatment of skin diseases

From some of the ailments, if they are simple, it is quite possible to rid your pet on your own. As practice shows, a flower that is in almost every home has excellent healing characteristics. We are talking about aloe, which can be used for treatment. The healing juice of this plant must be applied to the damaged areas of the skin. Such treatment will save your pet from itching and burning, as well as discomfort in general - you can prepare the juice yourself or purchase it at a pharmacy.

It should also be noted that other decoctions of herbs are characterized by practically similar properties. For example, for treatment, you can use echinacea, calendula or medicinal chamomile. In addition to the fact that these herbs significantly reduce the pain of a pet, they also help to relieve the inflammatory process. Also, healing herbs can eliminate microbial suppuration. Herbal treatment is possible only as an auxiliary therapy that will not bring harm (although it can bring harm with eczema) (video author - dog-channel.tv).

Before prescribing medications and prescribing treatment, the veterinarian should:

• carry out diagnostics of the animal organism;
• take a blood test;
• do the necessary skin tests;
• remove scrapings from the skin of a pet.

When all these manipulations are performed, the specialist will be able to make a final diagnosis. As a result, the veterinarian will be able to prescribe the necessary treatment. Do not forget that a specialist will never be able to make a correct diagnosis by externally examining the dog. In this case, one way or another, the dog will have to undergo a laboratory examination. However, if the dog is teeming with fleas, then it makes no sense to take scrapings and look for another cause of itching, so sometimes a visual diagnosis is enough for the doctor.

Always remember that the wrong treatment can cause serious problems. Sometimes it even leads to death.

Preventive measures

In fact, most of the diseases of pets are associated with errors in maintenance and care.

You, as a dog owner, need to do everything in your power to protect your pet from disease. Always monitor the health of your four-legged friend, take preventive measures in time. And if you notice any of these symptoms, do not hesitate to contact a specialist.

Video "All about dog skin diseases"

Find out everything that the owner of a domestic dog needs to know about skin diseases from the video (the author of the video is GuberniaTV).

Responsibility for illnesses and ailments of pets lies entirely on the shoulders of the owners, because our smaller brothers do not know how to talk and will not be able to report discomfort.

In order not to start the treatment of the disease, it is necessary to diagnose the disease in time and take appropriate measures, and even better - to carry out constant prevention. there may be many, and the consequences are different. This article will discuss skin diseases, diagnostic methods and treatment methods.

In order to identify a skin disease in a dog, you need to remember what skin is. This is an organ of the immune system, which is the primary barrier through which all foreign substances pass. Some of them pass inside (drugs, ointments, etc.), and some (viral life forms, infections) are rejected by antibodies.

Skin ailments are primarily a violation of the immune system, which can be triggered by malnutrition, deficiency of vitamins or trace elements.

Diseases of the endocrine system are in second place in terms of frequency of occurrence. Deficiency of certain hormones and enzymes can cause non-viral diseases and skin irritations, even with a normal balanced diet.

Another reason may be impaired function of the sebaceous glands. Hypertrophy of the sebaceous channels, hypofunction or hyperfunction. All these ailments disrupt the balance of sebum and interfere with the work of the sebaceous glands.

Abscess

A situation where a foreign substance that enters the body is wrapped in a film that should isolate the substance until the body produces antibodies. If the process of immunological response is delayed or the virus is too strong, an abscess occurs. The white blood cells that enter the film are engulfed by the virus and increase the size of the abscess. Sooner or later, the film will not withstand the pressure and the pathogen will enter the bloodstream, which will lead to systemic infection and blood poisoning. To get rid of an abscess, you need to call a veterinarian, but while you are waiting for his arrival, apply a warm compress from celandine or an alcohol lotion.

lupus erythematosus

Lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune chronic disease in dogs. It provokes an endocrine disruption when the body is attacked by its own cells.

The frequency of the disease is high predisposition plays a big role.

REFERENCE. Most often, lupus occurs in collies, poodles, Scottish and German shepherds.

This autoimmune disease most often affects females between the ages of 2 and 8 years. The disease is hereditary, but inflammation, severe bacterial or viral infections can lead to infection.

Also, veterinarians believe that lupus can progress against the background of certain pharmacological drugs or UV radiation. Symptoms make themselves felt no earlier than the 6-year-old age of the pet.

The course of the disease can be both gradual and acute.

The main symptom is nasal hemorrhage, which forms ulcers on the skin around the nose if left untreated. At this stage, active degradation of the connective tissue is already taking place. The integrity of the joints is violated, and at the same time the bone tissue. The result is polyarthritis. An increase in body temperature is often noted.

In some cases, there are disturbances in the work of the central nervous system (epileptiform seizures). Lupus is accompanied by anorexia and malfunction of the urinary system.

Folliculitis

Folliculitis in dogs is accompanied by a pustular lesion of the skin in the region of the hair follicles. The causes are staphylococcus, hypertrophy of the sebaceous glands.

Favorite places of folliculitis - forehead, cheeks, neck, nose.

IMPORTANT! Some muzzles or collars made of poor quality fabric can provoke this ailment.

The infected area must be treated with brilliant green or formalin. In the presence of a large number of pustules - treat with ultraviolet radiation. In special cases, the use of antibiotics, vitamin complexes is prescribed.

If there is a relapse, or a systemic lesion of the skin, the following procedures are performed:

• autohemotherapy;
• therapeutic tissue treatment;
• ultraviolet irradiation;
• blood filtration.

The veterinarian also conducts diagnostics on the fact of the presence of diseases that are associated with the gastrointestinal tract, as they can also cause folliculitis in pets.

Specialized preparations are used to regulate the intestinal microflora. With an exacerbation of the disease, you need to adjust the diet and include dietary supplements in the diet.

Phlegmon

Phlegmon is an acute purulent inflammation, which goes side by side with a necrosis of friable cellulose.

The reason for the occurrence of this disease in dogs is the ingestion of purulent bacterial masses into the tissues. In addition to phlegmon, there may be a complication with purulent inflammation.

During the development of phlegmon in dogs, characteristic clinical symptoms are noted. So, at the first stage, swelling appears in the form of hot inflammatory edema, which has a rather dense and hard structure.

Important! At the same time, the skin is in a tense state, and its borders are smoothed. On palpation, it is diagnosed that the temperature of the areas around the inflammatory edema is significantly increased.

The animal has a sharp deterioration in condition, depression, apathy, food refusal, rapid pulse and shortness of breath. Increasing leukocytosis occurs in the blood with an increase in the number of neutrophils. In the future, swelling is limited and necrosis begins.

At the same time, the amount of infiltrate increases, intoxication of the body occurs. To make a diagnosis, a puncture is performed.

Furuncles

A furuncle on the skin of animals is formed due to inflammation of the sebaceous glands, hair follicles and loose fiber. The source is staphylococcus aureus.

Factors contributing to the development of the disease:

• various skin injuries (scratches, burns);
• metabolic disorder;
• polyhypovitaminosis;
• acne
• seborrhea.

A furuncle is a dense swelling that has the shape of a cone. It hurts a lot and sometimes reaches the size of a walnut. As the boil matures, a yellowish-gray spot appears on its top. This means that the purulent necrotic core of the boil has firmly settled in the skin.

In the center of this rod is the hair. If the furuncle opens itself, a rod can come out along with pus. However, the pus spreads to nearby areas of the skin and forms new boils.

Sores and ulcers

An abscess is a local lesion of the skin or subcutaneous tissues, accompanied by the formation of pus. Every responsible dog breeder eventually acquires the skills of a trainer, nutritionist and veterinarian in one bottle. Fights, brawls, damage - often and quite a familiar situation, passing without obvious consequences. But what to do if you find an abscess on the dog's stomach, muzzle, paws?

An abscess is an inflammatory process that requires support, therapy and treatment. On the advice of cynologists and the rules for keeping pets, the owner should inspect the dog after each walk. You need to look out for ticks, injuries, bites, scratches. The most common causes of suppuration are injuries inflicted in a fight. Dogs use all their weapons - claws, paws, teeth. Dog nails are not as sharp as those of cats, but they leave wider cuts, which means that the vulnerable area for infection is larger.

Animals on the run come into contact with the ground, which contains many bacteria and infections. If the pet's immune system is weakened, foci of inflammation and purulent areas in the dog in the abdomen, chest, armpits, and groin may arise.

Advice! It is necessary to treat the wounds with antiseptic preparations and ointments, peroxide, you can apply a plaster or bandage.

Frostbite

Occurs due to hypothermia of tissues. A common mistake is to rub the frostbitten area. This aggravates the situation, because the liquid crystals scratch the skin and the walls of blood vessels.

In case of frostbite of the ears, you need to apply a warm, but not hot compress to the ears, immobilize the dog, so that crystals of frozen fluid do not travel through the bloodstream and damage nearby tissues. If the paws are frostbitten, they can be warmed up in a warm bath.

Other skin diseases

seborrhea

This is an extremely common ailment in dogs, especially those with long hair. The first symptom is an unpleasant smell. Seborrhea can be genetically transmitted and manifests itself at an early age, as the animal ages, it constantly progresses. Also, the causes of this disease are:

Seborrhea can be of three types: oily, dry and mixed.

With dry seborrhea, the pet's skin secretes excess sebum. It accumulates in the armpits and auricles of the dog, on the elbows, in the lower abdomen, and also near the ankle. Due to the strong fat content, an unpleasant odor occurs. The dog scratches the affected areas all the time, which leads to bleeding, irritation, hair loss, vulnerability to infections.

Seborrhea is most susceptible to breeds such as:

• West Highland White Terriers;
• basset hounds;
• american cocker spaniels;
• English Springer Spaniels;
• labrador retrievers;
• German Shepherds;
• golden retrievers;
• sharpei.

For a detailed diagnosis, you need to conduct a list of studies in a veterinary clinic, to eliminate the chance of primary diseases that can provoke seborrhea, such as an allergic reaction. For this, skin samples are examined, blood and feces are taken.

Treatment

Independent

IMPORTANT! First of all, you need to consult a doctor so as not to start complex diseases.

In the veterinary clinic

The doctor conducts a detailed analysis, possibly using a biopsy method (analysis of a sample of the affected area), after which he prescribes a course of medication, a list of physiotherapy procedures, as well as recommendations regarding diet and exercise.

Which dogs are most susceptible?

Short-haired and smooth-haired breeds fall into the risk zone, which are deprived of a powerful protective hairline. Exotic breeds brought to Russia from abroad are especially susceptible.

Follow the right diet. Remember that the dog's body was formed in certain nutritional conditions, which are not recommended to be changed. The basis of nutrition is raw meat and offal of animal origin, milk and cottage cheese, a minimum of cereals and vegetables, no sweets containing sugar. It is this diet that will allow you to get all the necessary nutrients and remain a healthy pet.

You also need to carry out hygiene procedures: brush your dog once a week and bathe it once a month with a hypoallergenic shampoo.

Take good care of your dog's health. Visit the veterinarian several times a year, even if there is no apparent reason. Sometimes it is better to prevent dangerous diseases at the initial stage than to spend a lot of money on treatment later.