Helpful Information about your Dogs Skin Conditions

Dog skin conditions skin conditions are among the most common heath problems for dogs and the condition of a dogs skin can also be an important indicator of its over all health.  There are many reasons why dog skin problems may occur and if you do not take immediate action then it will only get worse. Things to look out for that your dog has a skin condition are frequent scratching, licking or chewing on skin or bald patches where the hair has fallen out. Dog skin conditions can be group into categories according to the causes,

1. Immune mediated skin disorders


2. Physical and environmental skin diseases


3. Infectious skin diseases


4. Flea allergy dermatitis


5. Hereditary and developmental skin diseases

This site will provide you with information on detecting, treating and preventing different types of dog skin conditions.

Allergic Dermatitis

You dog can suffer a allergic reaction to a variety of things such as grooming products, food and environmental irritants. Such  allergic reactions may cause your dog to scratch relentlessly and can often cause a bad rash. The most effective treatment for Allergic Dermatitis is to identify what is causing it and avoid exposure.

 Yeast Infection

Symptoms of a  Yeast infection include itchy, irritated or discolored skin and can cause your dog to constantly scratch their ear or licking their toes. This type of skin condition is easy to diagnose and your veterinarian could prescribe oral drugs or medicated baths.

How to Treat Skin Problems in Dogs

Who wouldn’t want a healthy and playful dog in the house? And because the dog is your pet and lives in your house, it is your responsibility to keep it healthy. I have always categorized pet dogs into two types, one who have are ‘huggable’ and others who are ‘avoidable’. It’s not a dog’s fault that it is suffering from a skin problem, it is rather a sign of an inattentive owner. If you don’t want yourself to be called one, then it is very important for you to understand the need to treat skin problems in dogs and make your house, a home of a huggable dog, and not an ‘avoidable’ one!

Different Approaches to Treat Skin Problems in Dogs

Treating skin problems in dogs can be both easy and difficult at the same time. Easy, if the skin problem is as normal or common as pollen allergy; difficult, if it is associated with some autoimmune disease like lupus. The medications and drugs used for treating these skin problems vary depending upon the skin condition. The most popular option is the use of antihistamines, which is usually used to deal with allergies. Apart from that cortisone pills, sprays and injections are also used for treatment purposes. However, the treatment of canine problems involves a step by step process wherein you need to understand what is bothering your pet. Have a look at the following tips and instructions that will help you cure your dog’s skin problems.

Find out What Skin Problem Your Dog is Suffering From
Now there are various kinds of skin problems that your dog can suffer from. Some of the most common ones include hotspots, hair loss and shedding known as alopecia, problems caused by parasites (mites, fleas and ticks), yeast infections and dry and flaky skin. Though most of these skin infections are not life-threatening, they are definitely ‘mind threatening’! I mean, don’t you find it highly irritating when you watch your dog licking or scratching like nobody’s business? Most of the dog owners don’t take this behavior seriously and consider it to be common. But being a responsible dog owner, you need to understand that there is something bothering your dog and you need to do something to relief him.

Find out What Could be the Cause of the Skin Problem
The most common reasons for dogs to suffer from skin problems include food allergies, parasites, allergies from environmental pollutants like dust and pollens, and in severe cases the skin problem could be a result of underlying illnesses including immune disorders and cancer! So you must not neglect even the slightest of skin rash or problem that you see in your dog’s skin and find out what is it that is causing the problem.

Consulting Your Vet is a Must
Unless you are a vet yourself, it is not possible for you to find out the ‘what and why’ behind the skin problem. Your doctor would check the symptoms and the appearance of the skin and then conduct certain physical examinations and tests including a skin test and a blood test. These tests will actually help in determining the type of skin problem that your dog is suffering from and the reason behind it. The treatment would depend upon the problem. If it is due to a food allergy, then the solution would be to stop using the food containing the source of allergy. On the other hand, if your dog has certain lesions which are diagnosed to be cancerous, then radiation therapy and surgery would be required.

Take Care of Your Pet Dog by…
Like humans, even dogs need grooming and care. If your dog is suffering from allergies and skin problems, you need to make sure that you do all that you can, to take care of your dog. This can be done by following the vet’s advice and making sure that you give your dog the prescribed treatment. As mentioned earlier, the treatment would depend upon the skin problem. For example, if your dog is suffering from ringworm, then treatment would include various antifungal treatments. Another skin problem known as impetigo, which is a bacterial infection which results in pus-filled blisters. This is usually treated with topical application of anti bacterial solution.

Observe Your Pet Dog Regularly to Check on Recurrence!
Well, some of the skin infections may tend to re-occur once the treatment is stopped. So you need to keep monitoring the behavior of your pet in terms of the licking and the scratching. Like how you need to pay regular visits to the doctor to keep a track of your health and fitness, your dog also needs the same, in fact more than you because you can at least express to your family that you’re not feeling OK. But your dog cannot do so, unless you read his behavior.

Additional Tips for Prevention!
There are certain things that you must do for your pet like, regular grooming and maintaining cleanliness. These and the things listed below can make sure that your dog is healthy and huggable.

• A healthy diet is a must as well, although make sure that you don’t feed your dog with food items that contain food colorings and chemicals. Including supplements of omega 3 essential fatty acids would prove to be beneficial and is commonly advised by vets for dogs with skin problems.


• A bath with “colloidal oatmeal” soothes the skin from itching and irritation not only for humans, but for animals as well. Make sure that you make your pet dog bath in cool water as warm water can add to the itchiness and discomfort.


• Avoid using chemical detergents and washing soap to clean your household. It may be because of the chemicals present in the bed sheets, sofas and cushions that may be the culprit behind the skin problems.

When you get a pet dog at your home, it is not just a ‘pet dog’, it is a part of your family, and you need to take care of it as you would take care of any other ‘human’ family member. So, instead of getting confused and trying to be the doctor yourself, you should understand that the best way of how to treat skin problem in dogs or any other pet is to take them to the vet. Just make sure that you cater to their basic needs of food, shelter, hygiene and cuddling, and you can be assured that you will have a loving, huggable, and adorable best friend for life.

Common Skin Problems in Dogs - More On Paws And Claws

Dogs are susceptible to various skin problems which can be frustrating for owners who want to see them comfortable and happy. Does your dog have a skin problem, and if so, how do you fix it?

That depends on the symptoms you see. Of course, the most common sign of a possible skin problem in your dog is constant, excessive itching. Other symptoms include fur loss, either localized in a certain location or spread across the dog’s entire body. More severe cases may involve redness in the skin, changes in skin pigmentation or even open sores that your dog constantly licks.

No particular symptom necessarily proves your four-footed friend has a certain type of skin disorder, and you’ll need to investigate other areas before you draw conclusions. While it’s common and helpful for veterinarians to diagnose skin problems, it’s also essential for dog owners like you to familiarize yourself with typical canine skin problems, so you can react quickly and keep his discomfort to a minimum.

Fleas, Lice and Ticks

One of the most common problems in dogs is the presence of fleas, lice and ticks, which are parasites that live on the surface of the skin and feed on the dog’s blood. These parasites’ saliva causes skin irritation and results in intense scratching.

Lice and ticks can be detected visually when you check your dog’s fur, while fleas are hard to spot with the naked eye. However, fleas cause red pimple marks on the skin and also can be spotted through the black, gritty trail of “dirt” they leave on a dog’s belly.

While you can remove ticks and lice with tweezers applying alcohol to relax the tick’s grip before doing so you can also adopt more general methods. For instance, you can give your dog a dip with special tick shampoo to eliminate ticks. Flea sprays or flea powder can also be applied to the dog to kill parasites. But all these require persistence and it may be a while before you see results.

One of the best methods to keep your dog comfortable is to prevent ticks from living off your dog in the first place through the use of a spot-on product, such as FrontLine or BioSpot. To apply these chemicals, you drip a small amount onto the back of your dog’s neck once a month. The chemical spreads throughout the dog’s skin and kills parasites including the eggs and larvae. When regularly treated, your dog becomes an unattractive host.

Mange

Mange is a skin problem caused by mites that burrow underneath the dog’s skin, causing intense and even agonizing itching. Bald spots or inflamed red skin are common symptoms of mange. Two types of mange exist in dogs: sarcoptic mange and demodectic mange, depending on the kind of mite involved.

Inflamed red skin on dog

Most dogs carry the mites involved in demodectic mange or demodex. However, these mites usually do not cause itching except when they suddenly multiply into huge numbers. This may happen in young puppies, or in dogs with decreased natural body defenses, sometimes from stress.

On the other hand, Sacroptic mange or scabies causes intense itching in the dog as the mites burrow under the skin and even lay their eggs there. This causes large red spots on the dog’s skin, and sometimes fur loss on the ears and elbows. Scabies can infect humans as well and cause itchiness, although infection in humans usually disappears by itself after a while. However, it is still important for people to seek treatment if they get infected.

Treatment for mange requires patience and time, as eliminating them or lowering the mite population takes a while to take effect. The best way to kill the mites is to soak your dog in a lime and sulfur medicated dip for 10 to 15 minutes a few times in a week. The dip should not be washed off, but left to dry on your dog’s skin and fur. During this time, it’s best to watch your dog closely and prevent him from licking himself dry. As a further precaution, you can feed him a raw egg to line his stomach before dipping him in the solution. This way, even if he does lick himself, the solution won’t be absorbed on an empty stomach.

When fighting mange, it’s also important to support your dog with the highest quality diet you can find, to improve his immune system. Healing from mange will take a lot of his internal resources. You might consider looking into the raw diet for dogs and avoiding any corn or rice-based products for the time being.

About the author
Blake Kritzberg is proprietor of Poodle-oo: Fashion for Toy Dogs. Stop by for toy dog couture and home decor, free toy dog postcards and the Toy Dog Blog. http://www.poodle-oo.com/

Category: Dogs

Care For a Dog"s Dry Skin

If your dog is itchy and has dry, flaky skin accompanied by bumps, scabs, pimples and patches of thinning hair, he might have seborrhea (dandruff). Bathing him every other day with warm water and a medicated shampoo containing sulfur or salicylic acid may help. You can also use an after-bath rinse or moisturizing spray containing colloidal oatmeal, glycerin, fatty acids or urea

Your dog’s condition might be caused by poor nutrition. Many commercial dog foods lack essential fatty acids and vitamins such as A, E and B-3 (niacin) . Try a higher-quality dog food or talk to a veterinarian about supplements specifically for healthy skin and coat.

Frequent bathing can cause dry skin. Bathe your dog as little as possible, using a moisturizing shampoo made especially for dogs. Human shampoo is too harsh for dogs because our skin has a different pH [source:  Brushing your dog regularly will help him stay clean and stimulate his skin to produce moisturizing oils

You can also try the following home remedies to relieve your dog’s dry skin problem:
Add olive oil to his food two or three times a week.
Bathe your dog in a warm water and oatmeal solution.
Apply teat tree oil, fish oil, calendula extract or vitamin E (all available in health food stores) to his skin.
Make sure your dog is well hydrated by providing him with more water, fresh fruits, vegetables and meats, or by adding water to his dry dog food

If nothing helps, or if your dog’s skin condition worsens, see a veterinarian to rule out other causes for his dry skin, like mange, infection or ringworm. It may be necessary to treat your dog with prescription medication

Just read aloe vera listed in poisonous plants for dogs, yet this gel has cured skin problems on my Jack Russe

The flesh (called gel) of the Aloe Miller Barbadensis, commonly known as THE Aloe Vera, is not poisonous. Only the skin of the leaves contain bitter substances which cause irritations and diarrhoea in humans and animals. But the Aloe Ferox, also known as the Cape Aloe, has these bitter substances throughout the leaf rind and the flesh and must be avoided. The gel of the Aloe Barbadensis Miller is good for skin problems, can be used internally and externally for all animals and humans. See that you get the gel, which is 100 percent Aloe Vera, and not just the juice, which has been diluted 200 (yes, two hundred) times with water!

Just read aloe vera listed in poisonous plants for dogs, yet this gel has cured skin problems on my Jack Russe
aloe is a healing plant but ingested can be poisonous
Reply:Ive never heard that you could not consume Aloe, maybe its becouse a dog doesnt know when to stop eating and they will make themself sick that way, I usto drink it when I was pragnate.
Reply:poison if you eat it
Reply:It’s only poisonous if you eat it. You can apply it to skin and it helps with healing. Go figure!
Reply:i dont know all confusing to me..poisonous if you eat it but ok in drink and tablet form to us!!! dogs have a different system so its ok for their skin but not stomachs etc
Reply:The flesh (called gel) of the Aloe Miller Barbadensis, commonly known as THE Aloe Vera, is not poisonous. Only the skin of the leaves contain bitter substances which cause irritations and diarrhoea in humans and animals. But the Aloe Ferox, also known as the Cape Aloe, has these bitter substances throughout the leaf rind and the flesh and must be avoided. The gel of the Aloe Barbadensis Miller is good for skin problems, can be used internally and externally for all animals and humans. See that you get the gel, which is 100 percent Aloe Vera, and not just the juice, which has been diluted 200 (yes, two hundred) times with water!

Sore Feet in Dogs, Pododermatitis

Imagine having sore, infected feet. This is a common problem for many dogs, and it makes them miserable. You’ll notice your pet licking its feet—this is because they hurt and it’s trying to make the pain stop. If licking helped, your pet would be better in no time, but licking isn’t enough. Most cases of sore feet or pododermatitis don’t improve without medical help. Fortunately, there’s a lot we can do for this problem.

Our first step is to ensure the pet doesn’t have an endocrine disease such as hypothyroidism. Dogs with hypothyroidism are especially prone to skin problems, including nonhealing skin infections on the feet.

Our next step is to identify whether the problem is the skin and between digits or is the pad of the foot. Foot pad problems are more likely to be autoimmune disease, zinc-responsive dermatosis, or hepatocutaneous syndrome. Foot pad problems are diagnosed with biopsies. In contrast, problems involving skin between and around the digits, but not the pads are usually diagnosed with skin scraping and culture. The skin scraping and culture help tell us whether the problem is demodex mites, skin parasites, contact allergy, food allergy, bacterial, fungal or yeast infections. We choose a treatment based on the problem we’ve diagnosed.

The following are twelve recommendations & treatments used to improve sore feet. Your veterinarian will work with you to choose those that will most help your pet:

1. An elimination diet consisting of only two things the pet has never had before, one a protein source such as pork, and one a vegetable such as sweet potatoes. The diet is continued for several weeks, and when the pet improves, an additional food is added.
2. Keep feet dry.
3. Separate toes with little cosmetic sponges so toenails don’t scrape adjacent toes.
Prevent skin from contact with grass or pollens by putting your pet in booties when it goes outside. If it won’t wear booties, wipe the feet when your pet comes in from the outside. Have your pet walk on concerete rather than grass until the skin improves.
4. Soak feet for 5-10 minutes twice a day with Burrow’s solution or Epsom salts to kill bacteria and yeast. Rinse well and dry.
5. Bathe feet daily with anti-yeast/anti-fungal/or anti-bacterial shampoos: Malaseb, ResiKetoChlor, KetoChlor.
6. Give prescribed oral antibiotics or topical antibiotics, such as mupiricin or Bactoderm if resistant Staph is present.
7. Give prescribed oral antifungals if the problem is fungal infection: Terbinafine, Itraconazole or ketoconazole. These antifingal medications may be given daily, then gradually decreased to 2-3 days a week.
8. Give herbal formulas such as Si Miao San to change tendency to develop “damp heat.”
Give Omega 3 Fatty acids if your pet tolerates fish oils or the ground flax seed.
9. Acupuncture points to promote healing including LI 4, TH 3, TH 4
10. Photon (soft laser) to promote pain relief and skin healing regardless of the cause.
11. When necessary for a pet to sleep, use oral or topical steroids –as long as no demodex was found.
12. When necessary, use oral meds that block the immune system, such as Atopica. This controls symptoms but doesn’t bring about healing in the same way herbs can.

Infected feet hurt; they smell; they make life unpleasant. Whatever steps you take to make your pet’s feet comfortable, it’s going to love you for it.

What Causes Cherry Eye in Dogs, and How to Correct It

By Linda Cole

Cherry eye in dogs isn’t a life threatening condition, but if left untreated can cause your dog eye problems later on. If you’ve ever seen a red bulge in the corner of your dog’s eye, you’ve seen firsthand what cherry eye looks like. What causes cherry eye in dogs, and how is it treated?

A dog’s eye has three eyelids: an upper and lower lid, as well as a third eyelid we seldom see. The importance of the third eyelid is to give added protection to the dog’s eyes. It acts like a wipe to help keep the eye clear of dust and debris and has a tear gland that produces around 35% of the moisture to the dog’s eye. Sometimes the gland in the third eyelid, located in the corner of the eye next to the dog’s nose, slips out of place and bulges. We see it as a red or pinkish blob, and this bulge is what’s called cherry eye.

Why it slips out of place is not clear, but if it happens in one eye, more than likely it will happen in the other, although it can be months later. What you want to pay attention to in your dog’s eye is any watery or thick discharge, a red or pink blob in the corner of their eye, any redness in the lining of their eyelid or if your dog is pawing at his eye.

For unknown reasons, the connective tissue around the tear gland becomes weak and starts to move around. Movement irritates the gland which leads to swelling that can produce a mucous or clear discharge. It’s possible cherry eye will correct itself within a couple of weeks, but it’s best not to wait. If it doesn’t correct itself, the longer the gland is out of place, the more swelling there is. This makes it harder to reposition it, and there’s a greater chance it will happen again. Left untreated, cherry eye can lead to more serious eye problems later on. You need to have your dog examined by your vet as soon as you notice the out-of-place gland.

It’s not understood why some dogs get cherry eye, but it’s thought the cause could be from a parasite, some kind of bacterial infection, dermatitis, possible sun damage, cancer, fungal infection or it could be a result of a problem with the dog’s immune system. Whatever the case, cherry eye is hereditary, so it’s best not to breed a dog that has developed this condition.

Cherry eye is usually seen in younger dogs between 6 weeks to 2 years and is more commonly found in Newfoundlands, Bloodhounds, Bulldogs, Cocker Spaniels, Shar-Peis, Shih Tzu, Beagles, Pekingese, Lhasa apso, Miniature Poodles and Neapolitan Mastiffs. It’s also seen in some breeds of cats. The Persian and Burmese cats are more likely to develop cherry eye than other breeds.

Treatment for cherry eye is done under local anesthesia to push the gland back into place. Some vets will elect to remove the third eyelid, but it’s not recommended. There’s nothing wrong with getting a second opinion if it’s needed. Removing the eyelid can adversely affect proper tear production which keeps the eye from becoming dry. Dogs who have had the eyelid removed are at risk of developing a condition called “dry eye” later on. The third eyelid should only be removed as a last resort. If it’s removed, you are compromising your dog’s eye health as they age.

During surgery, a small part of the gland is removed. What’s left is carefully tucked into the inside of the third eyelid and tacked into place. Dogs who have had their cherry eye corrected using this type of surgery have an excellent chance for recovery. However, there is a 5 to 20% chance the gland could slip out of place a second time. It all depends on how long it was out, the condition of the cartilage in the third eyelid, how swollen the gland was and the type of surgical procedure that was done. That’s why quick medical treatment is important.

If your dog develops cherry eye, the other eye should be watched closely and you may want to consider having both eyes corrected surgically at the same time. After surgery, you will need to watch your dog’s eyes to make sure they don’t develop dry eye. Signs to watch for that would indicate dry eye are: redness to the lining of the eyelid, a thick pus-like discharge from the eye, and a cloudy cornea.

Read more articles by Linda Cole

Dry Skin on Dogs - Know the 3 Main Causes and How To Prevent Them

Does your canine have dry skin? Dry skin on dogs is a warning sign. It is a warning sign that something is not right when your skin is dry and scratchy. So it is with your dog. Left untreated, dry skin can develop serious problems and get infections. To keep this from happening, you need to know what causes the dry skin.

1 – Allergic reactions

Dogs can be allergic to a wide range of things just like humans. Probably the most ordinary things canines are allergic to are fleas and their food. If your canine is allergic to fleas, you will spot pink, swollen spots or patches.  All-around these patches will often be dry skin. Both the swollen areas and the dry patches are irritating to your pet and causes itching, scratching and biting.

If you assume your dog is allergic to fleas, buy a topical medicine from the store or get one from your vet. The medicine must have both an antibiotic or steroid. Brush him properly and trim the hair from the swollen and itchy spots. Trimming the hair lets the spot get air, which helps the spot heal faster. Using cotton balls, apply the medicine. This treatment ought to heal these spots. If it doesn’t, see your vet for stronger steroids and an antihistamine.

If fleas aren’t the problem, your dog’s food could also be causing an allergic reaction. Experiment with different brands of foods to see if you notice an increase or decrease in the dryness and different symptoms.

2 — Bathing and Grooming

Bathing your dog might be the cause of his dry skin. For those who’re bathing your dog more than a few times each week that is most likely the cause. The natural oil in your canine’s coat not only makes your dog’s coat shiny, it also protects your canine’s skin. If you bathe your canine too much, you’re bathing away this natural protection leaving his skin dry and itchy.

How often you must bathe your dog depends on his breed and dirty he gets. Ask your vet or knowledgeable dog groomer how often you need to bathe your specific dog.

Bathing your canine with the wrong shampoo can even trigger dry skin. Shampoo your canine’s coat with shampoo made particularly for dogs. If that is what you’ve been utilizing and your dog nonetheless has problems, your dog could also be allergic to the shampoo. Look around at your pet retailer for hypoallergenic dog shampoos and see if it offers him any relief. Additionally, try using a moisturizer made for dogs. These can greatly help with the dry, itchy skin problem.

In between baths, make sure and groom your canine at the least once per week with a mild brushing. Giving your canine a gentle brushing helps spread his pure oils throughout his coat and skin and protects it from dryness.

In the event you’re not bathing your canine too typically or using the wrong shampoo, this most likely is not the cause of his dry skin problem. It could possibly be a normal health problem.

3 – Health

Because of misleading advertising and lack of quality food, it’s difficult to feed your dog food that that gives him all of the nutrition he needs. Simply to be on the safe side, it’s best to consider giving him vitamins. Even if your canine appears healthy to you, it’s best to get the professional opinion of a vet. By telling your vet what and how much your dog eats, he can inform you if he’s getting sufficient nutrition.

To ensure your canine is getting correct diet from his food, ensure you feed him food made specifically for his age, measurement, breed and any special medical issues he could have. Additionally, ensure your dog food isn’t low-cost and made with too many kinds of filler. Dogs need plenty of protein and this needs to be the main ingredient.

Be careful for fillers. These are listed as ground corn, corn gluten meal, floor wheat, peanut hulls and plenty of more. Feeding your dog low-quality meals stuffed with fillers means your canine is not getting the vitamins he needs to be healthy and this can cause skin problems in dogs.

Guarding against flea and foods for allergic reactions, bathing and grooming your dog properly, and being certain he’s getting the correct vitamin along with his meals and canine supplements, is a good start to putting an end to dry skin and skin problems on dogs. Use this info to determine what’s causing problems for your dog’s dry skin problem and put an end to dry skin on dogs.

Are dust mites the cause of your dog"s skin problems?

Yesterday, I wrote about food allergies as the possible source of your dog’s skin problems.  Today, I’m going off-topic to talk about dust mites. 

You may be surprised to know that your dog probably tried to tell you for a couple of years that he was developing an allergy but he learned to quiet down because, without realizing it, we scold our dogs when they lick themselves in front of our guests or when they scratch excessively and bother us.  So we don’t realize he has an allergy until he actually starts to shed fur or develop sores.

You always want to check with your vet for skin problems because it could be anything from fleas to a problem with his thyroid.  Very often, a skin problem isn’t caused by food.  It’s usually caused by something actually on or burrowing under the skin.

There’s a neat little research website on dustmites.  This is what they had to say about dustmites and dogs:

Dogs can be strongly allergic to house dust mites too, but the allergens that cause dermatitis in dogs are different from the major mite allergens that affect humans.  Dogs react to the enzymes, which act to degrade chitin.  Chitin comes from the outer part of arthropods and from the cell walls of fungi. Both dead insects and fungi are an important part of the mite’s extensive diet.   For dogs, scientists have named the guilty allergens as Der f 15 and Der f 18.  For humans, similar ‘chitin-busting allergens’ called Der p15 and Der p18, can also cause allergy.  To guard your dog against mite-related dermatitis, you should keep all resting places mite free and wash your dog regularly with a shampoo that contains a small amount of tea tree oil.* The oil will act to clog up the breathing holes on the mite’s shell and suffocate the mite.  *Please refer to your vet before taking this action.

Reference:
The chitinase allergens Der p 15 and Der p18 from Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus.
O’Neil SE, Heinrich TK, Hales BJ, Hazell LA, Holt DC, Fischer K, Thomas WR, Clinical and Experimental Allergy, 2006, 36, 331-339 

I know of two products that are wonderful at dealing with skin problems in dogs.  Always see your vet, but once you’ve made sure he has the healthiest diet and his surroundings are clean and as free as possible from dust mites, you can try an Oxyfresh hot spot ointment (available at your vet) or the herbal Soothing Mist available from HealthyPetNet. 

Teresa Holladay
The Holistic Pet Food Blog
http://IsYourPetFoodSafe.com

Filed under: Holistic Pet Food

Simple solutions for problems of dry skin for dogs

Dog Skin Allergies

One of the best things that the dog is that you have so much fun in the sun, where and when you feel like it. Unfortunately, the external environment is one of many factors that are the most common dog skin problems, dog dry skin can help. But do not despair, because this condition can be easily attached to the rule, if properly diagnosed.

Dog Skin Allergies

Visit a veterinarian beforecontrol everything, if the state of the dog’s skin is not really a character. If it is confirmed that the excessive dryness of the skin of the dog does not learn due to fungal infections, allergies or parasites, then we can go to relieve the discomfort of the dog with the application of simple treatments for dry skin dog.

Dog Skin Allergies

Sometimes the people is to diminish the importance of food for the dogs over, apparently. Serve your animal healthThe food will be positively affected skin and hair. If you are a commercial food brands are available with the ingredients, well balanced and rich in omega 3 fatty acids. There are many vitamin supplements on the market, which also help to fill your pet’s hair to its former glory.

Dog Skin Allergies

When possible, always a part of the fresh food every day with meals. Meat and vegetables are not only the appearance of the animal, it will be good for hergeneral state of health as well. Fresh vegetables moist, which hydrates the dog’s body will continue. Use carrots, broccoli, celery and apples (with seeds removed). Be sure to cut foods into small pieces to facilitate chewing and prevent choking.

You can also directly with the water directly on his meals for the extra dose of moisture. Soak dry food in water or pour a teaspoon of olive oil a day for his food dish. Olive oil helps to relieveItchy skin, scaly animal. Make sure he drinks plenty of water every day, especially during the days of intense physical activity.

Evaluate care routine and products needed for your dog. If the shampoo contains ingredients which may mean that the authors of the disks of his dry skin. Find the natural products with features specifically designed to add moisture to the skin dog. Frequent washing the dog will be stripped of its natural oils, such as swimmingif necessary.

Oatmeal should be a very useful tool to relieve the itching caused by dry skin. Mix 1 teaspoon of chamomile tea, 2 teaspoons of oatmeal in 1 cup of boiling water. When the mixture is hot enough – take the place of oatmeal and chamomile itching area with a towel for 10 minutes. Apply this regularly until you see improvement after several days or weeks.

These simple adjustments in his routine and life goes a longWay to improve the appearance of your pet. A good dog is a simple task for us who know what to do. Register now to take these tips and skin problems with a good dog.

Simple solutions for problems of dry skin for dogs

Dog Skin Allergies

Sunburn Protection for Dogs

By Linda Cole

We know the health concerns and dangers associated with sunburns for people. We have all had our share of too much sun after a day at the beach, hiking or just enjoying a day off relaxing outdoors. If your pooch is at your side while enjoying outdoor activities, don’t forget the sunburn protection for your dog.

Sun, fresh air and exercise are good for our pets as well as for us. Rays from the sun aid the skin in producing vitamin D and helps balance calcium levels with metabolism. Enjoying summer sun doesn’t have to be painful for either man or dog.

Dogs can and do get nasty sunburns, although not as easily as we do which can make it harder to determine if your pet is burned or not. Hairless, short haired and light colored breeds are the most prone to sunburn, but any dog can pick up a burn after a day in the sun. Because dogs are closer to the ground, they can get sunburned from above and from the reflection of the sun’s rays off a sandy beach or concrete. Like us, repeated burns can result in skin cancer and skin damage.

Some breeds like Collies and Shetland Sheepdogs have a hypersensitivity to the sun and can get a condition known as “Collie nose.” However, any breed who has little to no color on their face are more susceptible to the sun than others. “Collie nose” can be a serious health issue for these dogs. Lesions can develop on their nose, eyelids and lips which need to be attended to in an early stage to prevent a deadly cancer that can develop if the condition is left untreated. Weimaraners and boxers need to be monitored carefully since they are more prone to cancer than other breeds. It’s important to follow a dedicated sunburn protection routine for these dogs.

Signs that your dog is getting sunburned are the same for them as it is for humans. You will see redness on the bridge of your dog’s nose, the tips of their ears and tummy. They can also experience a loss of hair. The burn can blister and peel, and be just as painful for them as it is for us.

Prevention is easy. Make sure your dog has plenty of shade during peak hours of summer’s heat. Even cloudy skies can let enough UV rays through for a nasty burn. Apply sunscreen, SPF 15 or higher, to their belly, ear tips, inside the legs and on the bridge of their nose. Look for lotions that have titanium dioxide as the active ingredient. Active dogs will need to have sunscreen reapplied throughout the day, especially if they are playing at the beach, in the water or running through tall grass that can wipe the sunburn protection off their bellies and legs.

To help prevent sunburn, put a T-shirt on your dog. Doggles (dog sunglasses) help prevent sun damage to their eyes. You can even find a variety of hats at most stores that sell pet apparel. If you want the newest type of protection, a body suit made out of a spandex type material has hit the market. This suit will give your pooch the ultimate protection from harmful UV rays. It might also help him catch the eye of that cute Schnauzer that sits under the umbrella with her human companion watching his athletic abilities catching a Frisbee.

It’s safe to use the same sunburn protection you apply to yourself, but be careful your dog doesn’t lick it off. Use baby sun protection if your dog is prone to lick the lotion off. Alternatively, sunscreen made specifically for dogs can be found at pet stores. Avoid lotions that contain zinc oxide. You can use it on their nose and ears, but if they ingest too much zinc oxide, it can cause gastrointestinal problems.

If a sunburn occurs, keep an eye out for rawness or broken skin. Minor burns don’t usually require medical attention, but if your pet is showing signs of pain or raw skin, it would be a good idea to schedule a visit to your vet.

Dogs enjoy being outside, especially with their favorite human. Just take it easy during peak sun hours (noon to 4:00 p.m). Find a nice shady spot for an afternoon siesta and avoid the sun’s dangerous UV rays. No one likes to deal with a sunburn, and that includes your pooch. Remember sun protection for your dog and enjoy outside activities free from worry about sunburns.

Read more articles by Linda Cole

Probiotics for Dogs, Essential for Optimal Health - What, Why, When and How

 
The Definition of Probiotics 

The original meaning of the word probiotic is ‘benficial to life’. Probiotics are live microorganisms which when ingested in appropriate amounts (not to little, not too much) are beneficial to the host and help prevent disease…and in the case of this discussion ‘host’ is defined as dog! 

These micororganisims are live, friendly bacteria that live in the gastrointestinal tract (GI tract). Dogs have over 500 types of bacteria living in their GI tract, humans have just over 400. The most common good bacteria are L. acidophilus and Bifidobacterua bifidum.

The Benefits of Probiotics

Probiotics can play a huge role in protecting your dog’s immune system. The good bacteria found in probiotics fight the un-friendly, ¹pathogenic bacteria that are also found in the GI tract.

 

The skin and the mucous membrane linings of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary and respiratory tracts are the first line of defense against invasion of microbes and parasites – the GI tract is the largest of these barriers.

When a dog does not have enough good bacteria residing in his/her GI tract, the bad bacteria flourish unchecked and take over – this condition can cause:

• Cadidiasis (overgrowth of Candida albicans, a bad bacteria that causes yeast infections);


• Digestive upset due to E. coli, which causes diarhea;


• Lethargy.

On a daily basis physiological (real or perceived physical threat) and psychological (emotional threats i.e. anxiety) stress can cause fluctuations in the balance between good and bad bacteria in the GI tract.

Probiotics give the naturally occurring good bacteria found in the GI tract a population boost which in turn…

• 
  Alleviates and helps prevent constipation, diarrhea and IBS;
  


• Enhances immune system response (thus helping to fight cancer and other diseases, illness, viruses);


• Encourages anti-tumour and anti-cancer activity in the body;


• Increases the ability to absorb and utilize nutrients such as B complex vitmens, calcium, copper, iron, phosperous, zinc;


• Increases the GI tract’s ability to digest food;


• Helps fight bad breath; 


• Helps reduce gas and reduces the odour of stools;


• Helps prevent shedding and scratching caused by stress when GI tract good flora is compromised;


• Helps in the fight against anxiety and depression;


• Replenishes the good bacteria that are killed-off when taking antibiotics;


• Reduces incidence of yeast infections (Candida), yeast related rashes and skin problems.


• Replenishes good flora killed-off by antibiotics.

It is important to note that antibiotics are the premier over-subscribed drug for both humans and dogs alike. Enabling your dog’s immune system to work at optimum capacity helps to ensure that your dog will not require antibiotics. 

The two biggest issues with antibiotics are:

One – Antibiotics kill the kill the beneficial bacteria (in your dog’s GI tract) not just the  pathogenic bacteria. When this occurs the delicate but healthy balance of the tract is disrupted which can lead to the overgrowth of yeast enabling the formation of yeast colonies. Yeast bacteria (hyphae) can bore holes through the lining of the intestinal wall – resulting in a condition called ‘leaky gut’. This leaves your dog susceptible to a wide spectrum of health problems such as:

• Allergies;


• Arthritis;


• Asthma;


• Autoimmune Disorders (when the body mistakenly attacks healthy body tissue);


• Digestive problems;


• Kidney Problems, and;


• Skin Problems.

Two - The more antibiotics your dog takes the more your dog’s risk of immunity to antibiotics rises. This can put your dog in grave and mortal danger. In addition, the over use of antibiotics has resulted in the appearance and increase of ¹MRSA in dogs. 

To lesson the chance of your dog having to take antibiotics: 

• Make sure your dog is on a good diet;


• Learn about alternatives to prevent, and remedy issues without the use of antibiotics, for example treating:




• 
  Ear infections;
  


• Good oral hygiene;


• 
  Outbreaks of candida. 
  

When Should your Dog Take Probiotics?

Probiotics are essential to the maintenance of optimal health therefore…

1. 
   Probiotics should be included as part of a healthy puppy, teenage and adult dog’s daily diet;
   
   


2. 
   If your dog is on antibiotics you should be supplementing your dog’s diet with Probiotics as antibiotics kill bacteria in the GI tract – bad flora and good flora alike, which puts your dog’s immune system at risk;
   
   


3. Your dog will be better protected against the side affects of other common stressors (such as vaccinations) when he/she has a back-up system to replace good GI tract flora.

 When Should Your Dog Not Take Probiotics?

If your dog is undergoing treatment for disease (i.e. cancer and is receiving chemotherapy) taking probiotics may be too much for the dog’s weakened system. If your dog is suffering from any disease you must speak to your veterinarian before adding any supplement such as probiotics to your dog’s diet.

Don’t Be Fooled By Advertising

Many dog food manufactures promote their kibble, canned food and treat products as containing probiotics.

To be effective, probiotics must be live. The beneficial micro-organisms and probiotics required by the GI tract are susceptible to heat damage. Most commercially made dry pet food is sterilised or pasteurized – canned food is prepared using dry heat. The only way in which the manufacturers can add probiotics to these foods is by coating the products with a liquid or powder after processing is complete. This presents two fundamental problems:

• The coating is inconsistent, and;

• Preservation of the probiotic is difficult.

Advertising that the food contains probiotics is just a means to market the product, however the actual benefit derived from the ‘probiotics’ added to these foods is minimal if any.

In order to ingest enough probiotics on a daily basis your dog requires a high quality concentrated source of probiotics.

Options for Providing Probiotics to Your Dog

1. You can purchase probiotic supplements, or;


2. You can feed your dog food that is rich in naturally occurring probiotics.

Probiotic Supplements:

Probiotic Supplements for dogs are not regulated in many countries. Like everything else in the pet food industry, not all probiotic supplements are created equal, therefore you really need to know how to choose a good supplement.  

There are some very good probiotic supplements among the many average and poor ones – to identify the good supplements you really need to know what to look for. Do you know how to tell which of the supplements shown below is a really good product, which are average and which provide little benefit?

Beware! Just because a manufacturer says the product is probiotic does not mean that it is a probiotic.  

 

Some products labelled ‘probiotic’ do not include any clinically validated strains. Tests carried out on multiple products have revealed that many manufactures and retailers are selling probiotic supplements that do not include ingredients as noted on the product label and/or include dangerous contaminants. Another thing to keep in mind – a probiotic supplement is not cheap to purchase, especially if you have multiple dogs.

If you would like to understand how to choose a good probiotic supplement you can read this article. 

Foods That Are Rich in Naturally Occurring Probiotics

You can make sure that your dog receives very high quality probiotics by adding these dog-safe amazing foods to your dog’s diet…

1. Kefir

2. Sauerkraut

If you would like to learn about the amazing benefits of these two foods and how to incorporate them into your dog’s diet, etc. you can read this article.

Related Articles

Foods, Rich in Probiotics – Beneficial For Your Dog

How to Choose a Good Probiotic Supplement for Your Dog

DIY Probiotics for Your Dog

Notes

¹ Pathogenic -  causing disease or able to cause disease.

²MRSA – Methicillin-resistant Staphyloccus aureus. Staphyloccus aureus (commonly known as staph) is a naturally occurring and present bacteria found in the GI tract, on the skin and in mucous membranes. Genetic mutation can occur in the staph bacteria making it resistant to even the strongest antibiotics. If your dog becomes ill he/she may die if infection cannot be staved off with an alternative method.

❀ᵔᴥᵔ❀

Related Articles

For related and additional articles on dog and cat, care, health, training, nutrition and animal advocacy go to thispage.

Feel free to leave a comment below – if your comment is polite, informative etc. I will publish it. If your comment is a quick question, I will answer it if time permits…

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