Showing posts with label scratching. Show all posts
Showing posts with label scratching. Show all posts

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Itchy Pug - Itching Scratching Series


Dog Skin Allergies


The itchy Pug may suffer from allergic skin disease. Allergic skin disease in the Pug may be caused by an adverse food reaction to a food allergy. Allergic skin disease in the Pug may be caused by canine atopic dermatitis.


Dog Skin Allergies




Flea allergy dermatitis is common and easy to treat. Flea allergy dermatitis usually involves the dog scratching or rubbing its back and the base of the tail. Flea dirt which looks like black specks will be seen against the skin deep in the dogs‘ hair coat.





Dog Skin Allergies



Food allergy the Pug may start very early in life. If your Pug had skin and ear problems from the day you brought it home as a puppy, your Pug may well have a food allergy. Food allergy causes chronic ear infection, itchy rashes and an itchy bottom which causes scooting (rubbing the anus along the floor).





Dog Skin Allergies



The itchy Pug may have canine atopic dermatitis. Canine atopic dermatitis is an allergy to pollen, dust mites and household spores. The allergens can be inhaled or breathed in, ingested by licking the skin or can pass transdermally. Until recently, it was thought that canine atopic dermatitis was caused by inhaled allergens. This is still partly true but the vast majority of allergen passes transdermally across the skin. This is because the dog with canine atopic dermatitis has a faulty skin barrier. The protective skin barrier is deficient in a protein called sphingosine. The skin loses moisture and dries out and pollens come in causing an allergic reaction which manifests as an itchy rash.


There are some natural treatments that really work. It is best to seek a qualified opinion on natural treatment. There is a lot of uninformed opinion that is promoting treatments that are unsatisfactory.




Itchy Pug – Itching Scratching Series





Dog Skin Allergies




Sunday, September 22, 2013

Dog Skin Problem - Six Main Reasons Your Dog Can"t Stop Scratching


Your dog skin problem is driving you nuts! Your dog won’t stop scratching, gnawing, licking, and biting. However, stop and think for a moment. If his behavior is driving you nuts, how must your poor dog be feeling?

By identifying the reason for your dog’s itching and scratching, you are one step closer to getting relief for him. Here are the six main reasons for your dog skin problem:




  1. Infectious - bacterial, fungal, and yeast are skin and coat pathogens. Fungi cause circular patches of hair loss that usually do not itch. Yeast infections cause greasy, and odor causing sores.


  2. Neurogenic - no medical reason for the dog skin problem. Incessant licking characterizes this dog skin problem which is basically, a nervous habit of licking and chewing. This is often brought on by dogs that arent getting the proper exercise or attention they need and they bite, chew, and lick themselves as a nervous energy outlet.


  3. Allergenic - an allergic reaction to numerous things; food ingredients, synthetic and natural fibers, medications and pharmaceutical products, plant material and even dust. All other causes must be ruled out before this diagnosis is used.


  4. Environmental - itching brought on by what the dog is exposed to in his environment; swimming, digging, romping through fields. If the dog is sensitive to grasses or gets scrapes and cut, the wound often stays moist, bacteria sets in and causes an infection. This is most often referred to as a “hot spot.”


  5. Nutritional - due to imbalanced diet without proper nutrition. This dog skin problem is often caused by the owner feeding the dog an inferior dog food. Just because a brand of dog food states, “Complete and Balanced” doesn’t mean it is a good source of nutrition for your dog. Owners will often opt for cheaper dog food and feel secure that they are feeding their dog a good diet because they fall for false advertising. Remember, false advertising is just as prevalent when it comes to pet products as it is in human products.


  6. Parasitic - fleas, ticks, chiggers, deer flies, and gnats are the most common parasites that cause your dog’s skin problem. Repeated exposure to these parasites can cause sensitivity and eventually infection. Cheyletiella mites, often referred to as “walking dandruff” and Sarcoptic mites which are called scabies or red mange, are much more serious. These mites cause very intense itching and scratching, hair loss and inflamed skin.






Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Dog skin problems - irritation and itching and scratching dog Hot Spot


Dog Skin Allergies


There are many different opinions on the causes of dog skin problems: itching, scratching and chewing, often referred to as “hot spots”. These dogs eruptions are largely self-inflicted and generally called “hot spots” because they are often associated with heat. “Hot spots” are often diagnosed as eczema, pyoderma, seborrhea, flea allergies, allergies to food, grass, mold or other allergens, alopecia, pemphigus; Acral lick dermatitis, autoimmune diseases, thyroid disorders, staph, yeast infections and stress.


Dog Skin Allergies




It does not seem to be any skin problems at a consensus on the cause of these dogs, but they have a number of symptoms. It seems that dogs suffer from “hot spots” of itching so severe that dogs chew and scratch and develop their own trauma. This process results in open wounds, infections, hair loss and sometimes rawLeather> (elephant skin). These symptoms seem to be more common in warm, moist and sweet as the Sun Belt in the United States, although cases are as far north as Newfoundland and Alaska have been reported. “Hot Spot” conditions are global and affect millions of dogs. Statistically, no breed of dog more or less likely to develop this problem and the hybrids are just as likely to develop a “Hot Spot” show dog was bred. Agedoes not seem to be important that puppies can develop skin problems a couple of months. geriatric dogs may suddenly show signs of this condition if they had problems in his life.





Dog Skin Allergies



Because of different opinions on the cause of this problem there are many different treatments prescribed by the municipal veterinarian. The first choice of treatment is to relieve short-term usually prednisone or perhaps an antihistamine, in an attempt toThe itching and inflammation. The use of steroids is a serious treatment and can cause adverse side effects. The order of treatment is usually antibiotics or others to fight infections because of the dog’s skin to the point where you have an open wound is irritated. These treatments are only designed to treat the symptoms not the cause of the itching. Treatments such as special diets, allergy tests and home remedies such as shampoo, coal tarall basically a shotgun approach, hoping that something works. At this stage there is no statistical evidence that none of these treatments actually work.





Dog Skin Allergies



More than 25 years, Cornell University Veterinary School in New York, a study of the dog’s skin problems and found that the results of a treatment is not used in their tests were inconclusive. In fact, once again, about 30% of dogs with this problem with no treatment.


These 30%Recovery rates with or without treatment led to an important sector, questionable treatments for this disease produces painful skin of dogs. They are not statistical or scientific research methods and in accordance with the “products” with little or no evidence, scientific allegations.


Recent research has argued with some treatments with new scientific evidence and actual statistics for the effectiveness of these therapies are a new hopeabout 100 million or more dogs in the world who suffer from this painful disease of the skin.
This research is readily available on the Internet.




Dog skin problems – irritation and itching and scratching dog Hot Spot





Dog Skin Allergies




Monday, September 16, 2013

Dog Itching, Scratching and Hot Spots Can Be Due to Food Allergies



Wanted to provide more information about dog itching, scratching and hot spots. Many times, people go from veterinarian to veterinarian, searching for the answer as to why their dog continues to scratch constantly, chewing, licking on paws. If the owner is using flea treatment and has ruled out parasites and other infections, chances are it is allergies. Pets can have both food and environmental allergies as well as difficulties digesting the foods they eat. Many commercial diets are loaded with carbohydrates and fillers such as corn, wheat gluten, etc and many people shower their pets with allergy provoking wheat-filled dog biscuits!!! More and more, there are alternate choices but the bulk of all dog treats are loaded with wheat–which for many is a recipe for allergic reactions. We urge you to discontinue these potentially itchy treat and use hypoallergenic treats such as Wildside Salmon Treats which contain good healthy fats to actually help your pets skin and coats. Other alternatives are venison jerky, carrots or sliced apples.. If your dog has chronic skin and coat problems, itching, scratching, hair loss, most likely it is due to the food you are feeding and poor digestion. Take a look at the brand you are using—does it contain corn and other grains???? Even hypoallergenic diets that are full of potatoes can be potentially problematic because of the high carbohydrate count and the propensity this can cause in creating yeast. A list of potential foods to be avoided can be seen below. There is no “one” allergy diet that works for everyone. Each pet is different. You will need to try a few diets and/or learn how to prepare a homemade diet. We offer Holistic Pet Health Telephone Consultations and also in-person office visits at VCA Arroyo in Lake Forest, CA to assist you with this.




Common Allergens in Pet Food:


Corn


Soy


Gluten (found in wheat, barley, spelt and other grains)


Milk Products


Casein (found in cheese)


Beef (problem for some dogs)


Chicken (problem for some cats and dogs)


Fish (cats can often be allergic)


Peanut Butter (big allergen!)



Ask Ariel offers supplements to help with environmental allergies:


Amazing Omegas— potent formula for lustrous skin and coat
Proaller— homeopathic remedy that reduces a itching, red, itchy eyes and all allergy symptoms
Notatum— works great with Proaller and helps fights infection and inflammation
Syallgen— very helpful for itching and environmental allergies
AllerEaze— excellent for environmental allergies