The skin is the largest organ in mammals, and dogs are no exception. For this reason, and because of its direct contact with the external environment, skin diseases in your pet are one of the most common reasons people turn to the vet.
The good news is that the vast majority of the causes and consequences behind these diseases are treatable and curable, leaving your companion as good as new. However, it is very important to watch out for the symptoms and to see a vet if any of them appear.
What should a dog's healthy skin look like?
First, let's talk about what a dog's healthy skin looks like. To begin with, its colour is one of the most noticeable traits of healthy skin, as it has a light pinkish tone or sometimes black (depending on the breed).
Another of the most obvious factors is the coat. While coats are very characteristic of each breed, and even of each animal, the coat generally has a distinctive shine, more or less intense depending on the dog. And what is common to any healthy dog is that the fur is distributed evenly, with no gaps or bare patches lacking hair.
Both your dog's skin and coat act as protectors against pathogens from the outside. While bacteria are a necessary part of your animal's skin (since they create a protective barrier), diseases can cause an imbalance in them and make the dog prone to certain consequences, such as an infection.
Symptoms that indicate skin problems
The symptoms that indicate problems with your dog's skin are varied, but also very obvious, so it won't be hard to notice if any of them appear and to take your dog to the vet as soon as possible. Among them you will find:
- Itching: also called canine pruritus, this is the most common symptom for detecting a skin condition. You will notice it if you see your dog scratching constantly, all over the body or in a specific area. The dog may also lick or bite itself, and sometimes the itching is so intense that it can cause injuries.
- Dry, flaky, greasy or irritated skin: any of these variations in your dog's skin can indicate a problem with this organ. To notice it you need to observe carefully and feel the skin; if you notice any change from how it usually looks, take your dog to a vet and point it out.
- Redness, inflammation and hot spots: Unlike the previous point, these conditions are usually localised in a certain area of your dog's skin. It is important to check them, paying special attention to the hairless areas (such as the abdomen and the armpits), as these are the most sensitive areas of the skin.
- Hair loss: also called alopecia, this is another symptom very characteristic of skin problems in your dog. While a dog can lose hair throughout the year, the seasons when it is most prone to shedding its coat are autumn and summer, so if it sheds excessively outside these seasons it may be a symptom of a dermatological problem.
It is also possible that the hair loss is localised as "patches" where the coat is missing. This is an even clearer symptom of a condition and needs to be treated. - Scabs or rashes: Scabs on your dog's skin can be caused by a self-inflicted wound or by a skin condition, so it is important to pay attention if your dog has any particular discomfort in the area.
As for rashes, these can be localised or appear on different parts of the skin of your pet. They feel like a bump and usually look reddened around them. - Unpleasant odour and pus: both symptoms are characteristic of a possible infection of your dog's skin. That is why it is essential that, if you notice either of them, you take your dog to the vet immediately so it can be examined and properly treated.
“The skin warns early when something is wrong. Watching for changes in the coat or scratching helps us act in time.”
Types of diseases and possible causes
Determining the causes of these diseases can be a really difficult task, since many of them share symptoms in common. However, we can group some of the most common diseases into these four categories:
- Infectious: these generally occur due to bacteria entering the body. In most cases it is caused by a wound through which they gain access to the internal organism.
- Parasitic: fleas, mites and ticks are three of the most common parasites on a dog's skin, and they can cause itching, redness and other more serious symptoms.
- Allergic: allergic diseases can be divided into categories, such as those caused by insect bites (like fleas), food-related ones (from the food your pet eats) and those caused by external agents (such as pollen).
- Fungal: fungi are especially contagious, sometimes even to humans (such as ringworm). The effects and causes are varied, but they are among those mentioned above, so it is important that, if you notice any of them, you visit a vet immediately so they can diagnose your furry friend.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common symptom of a skin problem in dogs?
The most common symptom is itching, or canine pruritus: the dog scratches constantly, all over the body or in a specific area, and may even lick or bite itself until it causes injuries. It is best to see the vet to identify the cause.
What does a dog's healthy skin look like?
Healthy skin has a light pinkish tone, or sometimes black depending on the breed, and the coat has a distinctive shine distributed evenly, with no gaps or bare patches. Any change from this usual appearance is worth mentioning to the vet.
What types of skin diseases are there in dogs?
They are usually grouped into four categories: infectious (from bacteria entering, usually through a wound), parasitic (fleas, mites and ticks), allergic (from bites, food or external agents such as pollen) and fungal, which can be contagious even to people.
Clínica Veterinaria Somo, your trusted vets in Cantabria
If you have any questions about your pet's skin problems, do not hesitate to contact us.
