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Almost half of our visits to the vet are because of dog skin problems. Skin problems are hard to diagnose in dogs so a visit to the vet is usually necessary. If your dog is older, it’s even more important to get any lumps on the skin checked out as they may turn out to be cancerous.

All dogs scratch, but if your dog scratches continuously there must be an underlying cause. It’s not enough to treat the itching alone because the problem will keep on recurring. Untreated skin problems can also lead to personality changes and aggression and will ultimately affect your dog’s general health.

Skin diseases in dogs can be of two types, autoimmune or immune mediated. Immune mediated skin diseases stem from a weak immune system, while autoimmine diseases are largely caused by allergies. The main symptoms of dog skin problems are inflammation, itching. Hair loss, lesions and lumps on the skin. Your dog will lick scratch and bite himself, or roll around on the ground to try and stop the discomfort.

To diagnose which skin disease is troubling your dog, your vet will examine the skin surface using a UV light and may take a skin scraping for greater accuracy. Where the problem is hard to diagnose, a sample of blood may be taken as well.

The type of skin disease affecting your dog will dictate which treatment is used. For allergic skin reactions, antihistamines are usually recommended. Anti funfal products, such as shampoo, are used for fungal skin diseases, for instance ringworm. Bacterial skin infections (pyoderma) will need antibiotics.

Dog skin problems can be partly prevented by a healthy diet and by washing and grooming your dog regularly. Here are a few natural treatments for mild skin problems…

·                    Mix some colloidal oatmeal with water and wash your dog in it.

·                    Add some garlic to your dog’s food to deter fleas

·                    Rub some aloe vera gel into your dog’s skin after grooming

·                    Dissolve Epsom salts in some cool water to soothe itchy feet

·                    Baking soda works well for all over itchiness and insect bites

I hope you find these suggestions helpful. Don’t forget if the problem continues or becomes worse it’s important to visit the vet. Dog skin problems can become serious and an infection may develop if not treated promptly.

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