Dog skin problems can be caused by many different factors from parasites to cleaning products used on floors and carpets.
When your dog begins to itch and scratch constantly, you can suspect any one of a handful of imbalances that need attention.
You must begin an immediate process of elimination to find
the source and bring the imbalance back into harmony.
Dry Skin
Dry skin is the most common skin problem in otherwise healthy
dogs and cats. Indoor heating that dries out the skin of both humans and pets
can cause this condition.
Your dog’s diet can also be the cause of dry skin if it
contains an insufficient amount of amino acids and oils that promote healthy
skin cell replacement. Your dog may itch constantly, and examination of the
skin shows dry flakes or redness.
Parasites
Fleas are the most common cause of itching, scratching and skin
bites in dogs. Your dog may scratch an area so intensely that it opens up and
leads to secondary bacterial infections of the skin. Some animals can be highly
allergic to fleabites, which create an additional dog skin problem that can make your
pet quite ill.
You can protect your dog with regular application of commercial flea and tick repellents such as spot-on treatments, collars or flea-killer medications. But to avoid the poisons, holistic veterinarians recommend natural essential oils like cedar wood oil and peppermint oil for dogs.
Essential oils should not be used on cats, however. Search for the term “NEO”
(no essential oils) in “cat flea sprays” to assure your feline avoids possible
toxic overload.
For flea outbreaks, shampoo your dog with a flea-killing
shampoo and vacuum your home’s flooring frequently.
Mites are microscopic members of the arachnid family of insects. They imbed themselves in hair follicles or in the dog’s skin causing itching, oozing, hair loss and scabbing. This dog skin problem is often referred to as “mange.”
Your veterinarian can help
you determine whether mite infestation is the cause of your dog’s skin
problems. He or she will prescribe anti-parasite medications to eliminate the mange.
Or, here again, the natural remedy for mange is a high quality, natural cedar
wood oil and peppermint oil dog flea spray.
Allergic Dermatitis
Allergic dermatitis can cause severe and prolonged itching, biting and licking of the skin. Itching occurs when the animal comes into contact with an allergen. This contact triggers the release of a chemical compound in the body called “histamine.”
The reaction also causes a release of antigen/antibody
protein complexes within the body tissues. Blood vessels can expand and
constrict, breaking the cell structures and releasing toxic chemicals. These
physical changes cause the skin to itch intensely, a condition referred to as “hot-spots.”
You and your veterinarian must determine the source of this
allergic reaction.
Your veterinarian may have you reduce the dog’s diet to just
a few non-allergenic components and gradually introduce other ingredients over
time to determine which one is causing the allergic reaction. The vet may also
offer anti-histamine medications, steroid drugs and topical creams to help
soothe the dog’s skin. In time you will learn which factor causes your dog’s
reaction, and you will be able to avoid the component or administer medication
when the allergen is unavoidable.
Holistic veterinarians recommend an organic herbal remedy
for flea-allergic dermatitis or “hot-spots” in dogs and cats. It contains Calendula
flower and Burdock root extracts, Lauric acid, Tea Tree oil and Grapefruit Seed
Extract. It’s called SoothAway™ and offers 100% natural herbal relief for dog itching, pain and inflammation.
Ringworm
Ringworm in dogs is a skin condition caused by a fungus
called Microsporum canis. This
condition generally affects puppies and young adult dogs. It takes its name
from the familiar circular scaly patches created on the skin. The fungus spores can be spread on carpeting,
bedding, toys and other objects in house and yard.
Ringworm infection may occur along with bacterial infection
of the skin. Ringworm can easily spread to humans, with children being the most
susceptible to the condition.
Your veterinarian can prescribe anti-fungal shampoos, creams
and drugs to eliminate ringworm infection. Longhaired dogs may need to be
shaved in order to provide effective treatment for the condition. The holistic natural remedy,
here again, is the SoothAway™.
Staph Infection
Staph infections are caused by Staphylococcus bacteria. These bacteria are commonly present in the
environment but only cause problems when the skin is broken or the immune
system of the host is compromised. Staph infections can occur in combination
with other bacterial or fungal infections.
These infections can also occur at the site of a wound. Older
dogs may be particularly susceptible to staph infections because their immune systems
may be weakened. Puppies can also be susceptible because their immune systems
are not fully developed.
Staph infections do not always respond to treatment using
antibiotics because so many strains of staph bacteria have become resistant to conventional
drugs. Your veterinarian will prescribe treatment with special antibiotic
medications to bring the infection under control.
Holistic veterinarians recommend adding an immune modulator to treat the dog skin problem from the inside out. The herbal extract they prefer is called Primalix Immune.
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