Pet ownership is no small feat, especially with so many skin conditions in dogs, and despite their small feet, we take on the responsibility of ensuring they have the best possible quality of life. This has become more important in recent years, with animal rights being more recognized than ever before. One reality with many modern dog breeds is that they suffer from health conditions which need to be managed carefully.

One such problem that several different dog breeds face is skin conditions, which can be comparable to our own. If you’ve ever experienced eczema or dermatitis, you will know that it is both uncomfortable and painful. These conditions can be treated in a number of ways, and as a distributor of raw pet food PA, we know that their diet can play a serious role in it.

Here is how you can identify some of the more common skin conditions in your dog, and how to go about preventative measures.

Skin Conditions in Dogs and the Breeds that Are Susceptible

Due to our selective breeding processes which has resulted in the veritable cornucopia of breeds today, some breeds are prone to certain health conditions. This could be due to a variety of reasons, and in some cases only occurs when the parent suffers from the condition too. This is why it’s important to research breeds beforehand, and to meet or learn about the parent dogs before buying a pup.

The following breeds are more prone to suffering from skin conditions:

 

  • American Bulldog – highly prone to allergies both food and environmental, they can also suffer from canine ichthyosiform dermatoses which causes skin to not grow properly

 

  • Chinese Shar-Pei – dogs with short coats are prone to skin irritation, especially when allergies are present

 

  • Doberman Pinschers – prone to hypothyroidism which can cause alopecia on the flanks, this can also make them prone to secondary skin infections

 

  • English Bulldog – prone to skin irritation caused by the folds in their skin, the English Bulldog is also prone to histiocytomas (skin tumors)

 

  • Labrador Retrievers – prone to food and environmental allergies, especially when genetic predisposition is present

 

  • Spaniels – prone to infections in the folds of their ears and lips

 

  • Standard Poodles – prone to a hereditary condition known as granulomatous sebaceous adenitis which affects the oil glands

 

Beyond these breeds it’s also thought that “blue” coated dogs, those with light-colored coats, are highly prone to skin and hair conditions. This is caused by a recessive genotype, and can be seen in Chow Chow, German Shepherds, West Highland Terriers, and Yorkshire Terriers.

Allergies

Despite our best efforts, dogs can still develop allergies even without any hereditary predisposition. This is why it’s so important to be able to check your dog, and to take them to the vet if you have any concerns about their skin.

Skin Conditions in Dogs – Identifying Skin Conditions

Knowing which skin condition your dog might be suffering from can give you an idea of what might have caused it, or what might have triggered it.

Atopic Dermatitis

Probably the most common skin condition in dogs, this is a genetically predisposed condition usually caused by environmental allergens such as pollen or mold.

Symptoms can include:

  • Red, sore, or flakey skin on their face, ears, underarms, lower legs, and paws
  • Excessive itching or scratching
  • Rubbing against furniture or trees to scratch
  • Excessively licking the affected area

Pyotraumatic Dermatitis

What can be compared with heat rash on our own skin, these hot spots or summer sores are caused by the dog’s skin bacteria getting under the skin. Usually through excessive licking or gnawing which breaks the skin, this can result in oozing sores which are uncomfortable for them.

The symptoms will generally appear as a raised spot or oozing bump on your dog’s skin.

Other Skin Conditions

There are several much more severe skin conditions which can appear on dogs, all of which will require immediate treatment.

  • Pemphigus – a group of four autoimmune disorders which cause scabs, crusting, and fluid-filled cysts on your dogs skin
  • Sarcoptic Mange – caused by sarcoptic mites which causes typical symptoms of skin conditions as well as a raised rash and areas of bleeding
  • Demodectic Mange – similar to Sarcoptic Mange instead caused by demodectic mites and a weakened immune system, often causing typical skin conditions symptoms as well as hair loss

If you notice signs of any of these, treating them immediately is a must.

Diet is Key

When it comes to preventing skin conditions in dogs, it seems that their diet is key. When it comes to allergies, you may want to cut back on store-bought products which contain fillers and start feeding them homemade dog food and raw pet food. Otherwise ensuring your dog has a diet which includes omega-3 fatty acids is a must, which can be sourced from raw pet food.

Happy Critters Raw Pet Food PA

If you’re looking for a supplier of raw pet food PA or any of the neighboring states, look no further than Happy Critters. We’ve helped countless dog owners start treating their problems from the source, which is often caused by diet. If raw food isn’t suitable for your dog then cooking our raw pet food is easy enough, and gives you the chance to add some other healthy vegetables to the mix.