Common Dog Skin Diseases & Treatments: A Comprehensive

Dog Skin Diseases: Types and Characteristics

1. Fungal Infections

Fungal infections are quite common, often affecting the head, mouth, limbs, and paws of dogs. They usually arise when dogs are not properly dried after a bath or when they venture out during rainy days. If the dog's fur remains wet, it can trigger a fungal infection. Prolonged exposure to damp environments can also lead to infections.

When a dog has a fungal infection, the affected areas typically present as circular or elliptical spots with clear boundaries from the surrounding healthy skin. The scabs formed are easy to peel off, and the skin does not thicken. This can lead to the development of honeycomblike ringworm patches. If the infection occurs on the dog's paws, it will be quite noticeable with redness, swelling, and hair loss. This is often due to the dog walking on wet or muddy paths. If the dog is not cleaned promptly upon returning home, fungal infections can easily occur.

2. Skin Diseases Caused by Mites

Mites are often found in a dog's eyes, ears, nose, and chest. If left untreated, they can spread throughout the body. Skin diseases caused by mites can be easily identified by the presence of numerous small bumps on the affected skin, which are not clearly demarcated from the healthy skin. The infected area is usually larger. These issues are often caused by damp and unsanitary environments, as well as inadequate cleaning by the owner. For instance, ear mites in dogs can be a result of insufficient cleaning. Mites are also contagious, and if you come into contact with a dog suffering from miterelated skin diseases, you can also become infected. Mites have a strong reproductive capacity, so even after killing them, eggs can still be found in the fur. Therefore, veterinarians often recommend shaving the dog's hair. However, there are pros and cons to this approach. If a medicated bath is an option, it can also be chosen to see if all the eggs can be cleaned up.

3. Follicular MiteInduced Pyoderma

Dogs with pyoderma may also have fungal or mite infections. Pyoderma is characterized by small pustules and purulent secretions on the skin, leading to severe hair loss in dogs. When pressed, a smelly, thick fluid may be released. Most cases of pyoderma are secondary infections following fungal or mite infections, so identifying and treating the cause is crucial.

4. Skin Diseases Caused by Ticks and Fleas

Nonfeeding ticks resemble small cockroaches, are dry and flat, with long legs, and have a conical head, making them easy to pierce the skin for blood. Feeding ticks look like a person's finger, with a pinkish color resembling flesh. You can determine if a dog has fleas by looking for black and white spots on the skin, which are the fleas' feces and eggs. Preventing these parasitic skin diseases is key to treatment. After a dog has been in the wild or thickets, it should be combed with a brush before entering the home, and regular external deworming should be performed.

5. Seborrheic Dermatitis

Seborrheic dermatitis has distinct features, often presenting with grayishwhite dry scales in the fur, greasy and yellowbrown oil spots at the base of the tail, and large areas of hair loss. Dogs with this condition often scratch excessively due to itching. Endocrine disorders or nutritional deficiencies are common causes of this skin disease. Endocrine disorders can be caused by various factors, such as excessive estrogen secretion, which may occur during a dog's pregnancy or in the days leading up to or following childbirth. Most cases do not require treatment. However, if a dog's endocrine disorder is due to hypothyroidism or hyperadrenocorticism, professional veterinary care is necessary for diagnosis. Therefore, it is important to take your dog to the vet for immediate examination.

6. Eczema

Eczema can have various causes, including longterm lack of bathing, skin dirt, mosquito bites, or damp living environments, which may lead to skin allergies. Eczema in dogs can be categorized into acute and chronic forms. Acute eczema is characterized by numerous pinpoint or differently sized red spots on the skin. Chronic eczema usually develops from acute eczema, with thickened skin, scaling, and hyperpigmentation.

Tip: Click on "How to Identify Dog Skin Diseases" to learn more about identifying and treating dog skin diseases.