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Canine Dry Skin - A Complete Guide
Canine
dry skin...
Whether its due to a skin yeast infection on your dog or something
else, treating skin infections early is important...
Consequently,
we have provided a complete guide to the causes, symptoms,
canine medications & treatment for this condition, including
some skin rash photos for you to look at...
So
lets gets started...
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Canine Dry Skin - A Complete Guide
| Cause |
Symptoms
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| Bacterial
Infection |
Often
due to a parasitic, allergic or hormonal condition. |
| Canine
Distemper |
Impetigo,
thickening of the end of the nose & foot pads. |
| Cushings
Disease |
Hair
loss, black heads, lethargy. |
| Demodectic
Mange |
Scaling, hair loss,
ulcers, itching, skin darkness. |
| Flea
Allergy |
Redness,
frantic itching, hair loss, crusty scaly skin. |
| Impetigo |
Crusty
skin, circular areas of scaling, pustules. |
| Cheyletiella |
Itching,
hair loss, scaly skin. |
| Ringworm |
Hair
loss, pustules, itching, crusty scaly skin. |
| Sarcoptic
Mange/Scabies |
Frantic itching,
listlessness, hair loss, crusty scaly skin. |
| Malassezia |
Redness
of the skin, scales that are greasy, hyper pigmentation. |
| Leishmaniasis |
Scaly
skin, hair loss, ulcers appearing on the nose & ears. |
| Lupus
Erythematosus |
Skin
will have lesions including ulcers on the foot pads, scaly skin and
bacteria infections that are recurring. |
| Black
hair follicular dysplasia/dystrophy/alopecia |
This
condition affects only black hair which falls out. Scaly skin may also
occur. Symptoms normally occur and appear between the ages of 3-6 weeks. |
| Pelodera
dermatitis |
This
affects areas of the skin that touches the ground causing itching, hair
loss, redness and crusty scaly skin. |
Canine Dry Skin - Diagnosis
There
are a variety of methods used to diagnose any specific dry skin
issues and it's causes - methods
may include...
- Blood tests
- A woods light may be
used to determine certain fungal infections including ringworm.
- A biopsy may also be
taken which will involve a skin scrape or a needle being inserted into
a lump to remove any cells which will then be examined.
- Clinical signs will be
used to determine what condition is present whether it is a dry skin
condition, yeast infection or something else.
- Your vet may also be
able to diagnose any canine dry skin condition your pooch has by simply
looking at the history of the breed.
- Physical examination
will also be used by your dog's vet as any canine dry skin health
issues will be quite apparent to a trained professional.
- Microscopic
examination may be used.
- If your dog is
suffering from a flea allergy - then the first thing that your dog's
vet will look for is the presence of fleas.
- Urine samples may be
taken or adrenal glands function tests to check for cushings disease.
- Tests for hormonal
levels may also be taken to diagnose a canine dry skin condition and
exactly what is causing the issue.
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Canine Dry Skin - Treatment
Treatment for a dry skin condition may include the following...
- Topical shampoos
including Hydrogen Peroxide, Chlorhexidine or Benzoyl Peroxide may be
used.
- Antibiotics.
- Treatment of any
underlying disease including oral Ketoconazole for Lupus Erythematosus.
- Steroids might be
prescribed to ease the itching.
- Mild antibacterial
shampoos may also be used.
- If you are dealing
with Ringworm the treatments may include a lime sulfur dip, Miconazole
or oral Griseofulvin.
- For conditions like
Scabies, Amitraz (Mitaban) may be prescribed.
- For a condition like
Lupus Erythematosus your dog may be prescribed Predisone and possible
other immunosuppressive drugs.
- Vitamin E or fatty
acids might be used when dealing with a dry skin condition like
Dermatomyositis.
- Permethrin or
Pyrethrin might be prescribed for a condition like
Cheyletiella.
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Treating Yeast Infections in Dogs
Treating
Yeast Infections in Dogs...
- Feed your dog a good
diet as one cause of yeast infections in dogs - Candida Albicans or
Malessezia is not only from chemicals and poisons but also from grain
based dog food. Other causes include weaknesses in your dog's skin's
immune system this might be through
a bacterial infection or allergy.
- Probiotics may help to
re-build healthy bacteria.
- Avoid dog food with
preservatives and carbohydrates.
- Oral anti-fungal drugs
may also be prescribed.
- Medicated shampoos
and/or wipes if the yeast infection is localized.
- For the yeast
infection called Malessezia treatment may include miconazole cream or
if the yeast infection is resistant to topical treatments your vet may
prescribe oral ketoconazole
- Selsun Blue shampoo
which is used for humans is also quite good when used with Malessezia
yeast infection in dogs.
When dealing with any canine dry skin condition including a yeast
infection always get advice from your vet and don't use any treatments
until you have. |
Go from
canine dry skin back to free vet advice
or back to
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