A crust under a dog's fur. What are the symptoms and treatments for skin diseases in dogs?

Skin diseases in dogs are becoming more common today. The reason lies in many aspects: improper and inadequate nutrition, deterioration of the ecological atmosphere of the air, a sedentary lifestyle, crossing with infected individuals. Often skin diseases in animals manifest themselves as hereditary predispositions to skin diseases.

Types of skin diseases in dogs

If there is the slightest change in the dog’s hair, contact a veterinary clinic to carry out the necessary tests and make an accurate diagnosis of the disease. Here are some common skin diseases in dogs. Only a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis.

Symptoms of the disease

If skin diseases appear in dogs , symptoms are divided into 3 groups.

Excruciating itching, in which the dog scratches the body until there are abrasions and scratches.
The appearance of new growths on the skin: plaques of different sizes and colors, warts, blisters. On the damaged body of the dog, peeling and redness of the skin develops, which turns into baldness.
If the damaged areas of the skin get infected or get microbes, the dog’s skin becomes inflamed, swollen and festers.

Skin diseases in dogs are dangerous for animals and humans. It is important to provide timely medical care to your pet.

Treatment of skin diseases

Selected simple diseases of dogs and skin diseases can be cured at home.

The home flower, aloe, has healing properties. Aloe juice applied to the dog's damaged skin will relieve itching, discomfort and burning sensation. It’s easy to squeeze aloe juice yourself or buy a ready-made product at the pharmacy.

Herbal decoctions have similar effects: chamomile, calendula, echinacea. The drugs reduce pain in the dog, relieve inflammation and eliminate microbial suppuration on the skin.

These drugs are used exclusively in the initial stages of the disease. If complex skin diseases are observed in dogs, treatment is carried out in a veterinary clinic. Before prescribing medications, the doctor is obliged to conduct a full diagnosis of the suspected disease, take appropriate skin tests and blood tests, and remove scrapings from the dog’s skin. After determining the exact diagnosis of the disease, effective treatment is prescribed.

An accurate diagnosis of the disease cannot be made solely by visual examination. It will be necessary to conduct laboratory tests on the dog's hair.

If a doctor, after looking at a dog, immediately prescribes medications, the dog cannot be treated under the guidance of such a doctor. Remember, improper treatment can lead to the death of the animal.

Preventive measures

Dog diseases are often associated with improper maintenance and care. It is necessary to fulfill simple conditions so that the pet remains healthy and alert.

Don't let your four-legged friend suffer, remain a responsible owner.

Not as rare a phenomenon as we might imagine. Pets are a lot like people: they know how to be happy, play and even laugh. However, they are also susceptible to all kinds of diseases and disorders, one of which is an allergic reaction. The symptoms are quite individual, although among them, depending on the nature of the infectious agent, we can identify those that are most clearly manifested in dogs of all breeds, without taking into account individual characteristics.

Types of allergies

So, allergies happen:

A common symptom of all types of allergic reactions in dogs is itching, inflammation and redness of the skin.

It is not always possible to notice this, since the skin is hidden by fur. That is why it is necessary to regularly examine the animal.

Signs of food allergies
Hair loss – hair is lost not evenly throughout the body, but in patches. As a result, so-called bald spots are formed, which, without receiving proper treatment, begin to progress: to grow. However, hair loss does not always indicate an allergy; it can also be a symptom of more serious diseases. Such, for example, as: folliculitis and hypothyroidism.
Itching - the dog itches intensely and very often (as already mentioned, it is impossible to determine the presence of an allergy, much less its type, by this sign alone).
Redness – the skin underneath the fur has a distinct pink or red tint.
Dandruff is definitely an allergic sign. The skin is literally strewn with white particles (dandruff). Although this may also indicate dermatitis.
Excessive dryness and roughness of the skin.
Sweat – The chest and armpit areas sweat. Sweat, like the previous symptom, becomes more pronounced over time. In special cases, wet spots remain on the surface. Sweating is generally not typical for dogs; it is a sign of an unhealthy process in the body.
Often the dog begins to shake his ears and scratch them, the ears become filled with a dark substance and become inflamed. Erect ears droop. This is a sign of otitis, which in most cases is a consequence.
Tears - the dog’s eyes are constantly wet or white (sometimes brown or yellowish) lumps form in their corners (this may also indicate entropy).
The smell from the mouth is unpleasant, often putrefactive. In addition, the dog's lips and gums sometimes become covered with ulcers, boils, or are simply inflamed.
Symptoms found in small numbers indicate the chronic nature of the allergy. The animal must be shown to a veterinarian immediately.

Ignoring problems can lead to serious, so-called secondary consequences as a result of scratching and biting the skin.

Dermatitis (caused by fleas)

The most common allergy. Its manifestation is not distinguished by any special symptoms: the dog itches, its skin is inflamed and has a reddish tint, and subsequently so-called papules form. They are localized mainly in the groin and sacrum areas. After a long period of time, the skin becomes drier and “overgrown” with white dandruff. This reaction is caused by a special substance contained in the saliva of fleas.

Allergic contact dermatitis

Also one of the most common types of allergic reactions. The main difference between its symptoms and the signs of other diseases is the localization of inflammation, itching and pustules strictly in areas devoid of fur. Namely:

Stomach;
Groin area (scrotum);
Feet;
Chin.

Atopic dermatitis

According to veterinary statistics, it is the second most common disease in dogs. It has no characteristic features: it is also accompanied by itching, inflammation, redness, ulcers, hardened crusts, etc. However, a similar phenomenon is observed mainly in dogs aged from six months to three years.

The first area to be affected (again, only according to observations, not with 100% probability) is the ear area. After which inflammation begins on the face, paws, groin and axillary areas. A common sign is the dog’s constant and nervous licking of the listed places.

Staphylococcal dermatitis

An extremely rare form of allergy to bacteria produced by the body’s own body can be either an independent disease or a consequence of some form of dermatitis. It is accompanied by redness and quite severe itching, but over time, purulent wounds form on the skin in the area of the tail, groin and sub-pectoral area. The extreme stage is boils, ulcers, enlarged lymph nodes. Everyone is individual, so manifestations may vary slightly.

Urticaria – drug allergy or reaction to stings

An uncommon occurrence. Red swollen areas appear. Two main and very characteristic features are localization on the muzzle and smooth, precisely defined edges of redness. The rash disappears after literally a day, but after a while it returns and disappears again. Thus, urticaria permanently torments the animal, but the owner may simply not notice it.

Otitis in dogs

The following types of otitis media are distinguished:

Allergic;
Caused by untreated disease.

It affects the ear areas, both external and internal. Identifying a sore ear is quite simple: the dog often tilts its head in its direction. Otitis is accompanied by the following symptoms:

Warm or hot ears;
The dog constantly shakes its head or scratches the skin near its ears;
When pressure is applied to the base of the ear, the animal begins to worry and (in advanced forms) feels pain, whines and breaks out;
The inside of the ears is inflamed and has a bright red (sometimes pink) color;
If left untreated for a long time, mucus, white, clear or brown, begins to come out of the ears. Sometimes the discharge is purulent;
Decreased appetite;
Lack of activity;
High body temperature;
General lethargy.

According to research by experts, dogs with large and “droopy” ears are most often susceptible to otitis media. Those animals whose ears are small, standing or cropped do not have such reactions.

Other accompanying symptoms

Signs that do not clearly characterize any allergy, other than itching and redness, include diarrhea. It can be either a reaction to a food allergy or a consequence of an advanced state of another type of allergy.
Sometimes there is a frequency of stool, but it is not necessarily liquid.
The gums become bluish or gray.

However, to obtain an objective picture, these signs must be considered only in conjunction with others.

Consequences

If the manifestation of an allergic reaction in humans is limited, as a rule, to a runny nose, sneezing or small rashes on the skin, then in dogs this process occurs somewhat differently. The skin itching in animals is much stronger, it is almost impossible to notice it in time. A dog, scratching the affected areas, cannot control its own strength and sometimes causes itself not only damage to the outer covering, but also more serious injuries.

In the absence of at least a little treatment, the disease progresses rapidly, not only causing inconvenience and physical pain, but also affecting more and more new areas of the body, of which the groin area and muzzle are the most vulnerable.

On a number of sites devoted to this topic, you can read information about the relative safety of allergic reactions and how to eliminate them on your own. To think this way is to harm your own pet. Indeed, some are invisible to the owners and pass without a trace: the dog itches for some time, after which its body eliminates the causative agent of the infection. However, these are only positive cases.

Perhaps one of the most terrible consequences is allergic anaphylactic shock. The dog's breathing becomes difficult and can develop into suffocation, which often leads to death in the absence of emergency help.

As already mentioned, it is necessary to regularly carry out at least a superficial examination of the pet: part the fur, look at the ears, check the condition of the mucous membranes.

Such simple and painless measures will help identify allergies in its primary stages. However, it must be remembered that the manifestation of any general or single symptom cannot correctly and unambiguously indicate the type of allergy, on the definition of which further treatment will depend. In addition, dog allergy symptoms usually vary from person to person. Therefore, the owner’s first action after detecting a symptom is a trip to the veterinarian.

May your dog always be healthy!

dermatologist-allergist
What could it be? If your dog experiences sudden swelling of the face, especially the skin around the eyes, lips and ears, and the paws may also be affected, it is most likely that the dog has angioedema , or.

Quincke's edema If the skin becomes blistered, this is angioedema urticaria hives
. Lesions also occur very quickly. The fur sometimes makes it appear as if the fur is standing on end at the site of the blisters.

Why is this dangerous?
Both angioedema and urticaria can go away on their own within a period of several hours to several days, however, the animal’s condition may worsen.

Angioedema is more dangerous, as it can affect not only the skin, but also the upper respiratory tract, creating serious difficulty in breathing, and the animal can suffocate.
With urticaria, the prognosis is more favorable, since most often the general condition of the animal is not affected and the process is limited to the skin, but lesions can seriously disturb the animal if they are accompanied by itching or have spread to the entire body.

What can you do yourself?
The first thing to do if you know what the allergic reaction has occurred to is to eliminate the allergen. If unknown, then efforts should be directed toward eliminating the allergic reaction itself.
Diseases occur infrequently, so drugs that most effectively relieve such manifestations are not part of a regular home medicine cabinet. In addition, it is important not to confuse the fact that you are dealing with these diseases, and not with similar manifestations. Therefore, it is best if a problem arises, to come to the clinic as quickly as possible or call a doctor at home; if this is not possible, at least call a doctor who will instruct what medications need to be used.

What can a doctor do?
First of all, the doctor will determine that the animal actually has angioedema or urticaria, and not other diseases that may manifest similarly. A thorough examination of the lesions is usually sufficient to achieve this. Then, fast-acting drugs are administered to relieve allergic manifestations (adrenaline, glucocorticoids). Most often these are subcutaneous or intramuscular injections, but intravenous administration may also be required.
In cases where there is a serious threat to the life of the animal, urgent resuscitation measures are taken, as a rule, they are aimed at ensuring breathing and maintaining normal blood circulation.
A dog with angioedema often has a grotesque appearance, but we must remember that such an animal can at any moment turn out to be a patient in the intensive care unit and will no longer be a joke.
After the acute symptoms have subsided for a few days, the doctor may prescribe antihistamines, which are not very effective as an emergency treatment, but can prevent the recurrence of such problems.

A dog rash is a change in the color or shape of areas of the skin. According to the classification, there are several types of this pathology, which must be differentiated in order to correctly prescribe treatment. It is quite difficult for pet owners to do this on their own, so at the first sign of a rash it is worth contacting a veterinarian. However, it is necessary to know about the types and causes of rashes, as this can help prevent its occurrence.

There are several types of rashes in dogs, which indicate the presence of a certain pathology in the body. Among them are the following:

Main symptoms

Skin rashes on a dog are most easily noticed on the stomach due to the paucity of fur, although they can appear on any part of the body. The problem can be revealed by severe itching and general anxiety of the animal, since the rash is accompanied by an inflammatory reaction.

This pathology can develop within a few minutes, as a response to the penetration of an allergen or pathogenic microflora into the body. Therefore, you should pay attention to the following signs:

severe itching, which is often accompanied by scratching and scratching;
intense hair loss;
the appearance of red spots that are hot to the touch;
general restlessness or lethargy.

If the rash affects the ears, the dog hits them with its paws, constantly shakes its head or tilts it to the side where the affected organ is located, when the inflammation spreads to the middle and inner ear. Puppies may whine, squeal and refuse food.

Reasons for appearance

Experts identify several main causes of rashes in dogs. The most common ones are:

Diseases manifested by skin rashes

In addition to the factors listed above, there are diseases that cause rashes in puppies and adult dogs. These include the following.

Sarcoptic mange and demodicosis

Trichophytosis and microsporia

These diseases are caused by pathogenic fungi. In this case, hair loss occurs, a rash, red spots, an unpleasant odor and severe itching appear.

Staphylococcal infection

It manifests itself as an inflammatory reaction on the skin, in which pustules form. Staphylococcus aureus can also affect internal organs, the ears, and sometimes even leads to facial paralysis. During the active phase of pathogen reproduction, staphylococcal pyoderma (23) can be observed, in which a rash is noted on the dog’s stomach, crusts form, and the skin becomes red and inflamed. The pathology is accompanied by severe itching.

Carnivore plague

The skin form of the disease is characterized by the formation of small red spots covering the belly, ears, area near the nose and mouth. Gradually, in place of the spots, pustules appear, filled with pus or serous exudate, which, bursting, form dried brown crusts.

Leptospirosis

A dangerous disease manifests itself as hemorrhagic rashes on the skin.

Tuberculosis

It is marked by the formation of red spots on the face, which over time turn into non-healing ulcers.

Eczema

At the initial stage, it looks like a cluster of small weeping spots on the belly, limbs and other areas of the skin. Subsequently, they merge into one spot, and constantly bursting bubbles form on their surface, from which serous exudate flows. When drying, it forms grey-yellow crusts.

Therapeutic tactics for rashes

Since the rashes have a different nature, it is necessary to accurately establish the diagnosis before starting treatment. To do this, you should contact a veterinary medicine clinic, where a qualified specialist will conduct an examination and prescribe laboratory tests, the results of which will establish an accurate diagnosis.

When a rash occurs, therapy is aimed at eliminating the cause, getting rid of symptoms and preventing the development of purulent inflammation.

For this purpose:

Steroid medications are effective against allergic itching and rashes. But do not forget that they have a detrimental effect on the function of the liver and endocrine glands. Therefore, the advisability of their use should only be determined by a veterinarian.

Purulent skin lesions in dogs, or pyoderma, are ubiquitous. Animals of all breeds are susceptible. However, the following dog breeds are most prone to pyoderma: Shar Pei, Mastino Neapolitan, Bullmastiff, Chow Chow Boxer, Pug, Chihuahua, English Bulldog, French Bulldog. Pyoderma in dogs is a skin disease in the form of an accumulation of pus. In the superficial form, the outer layers and hair follicles are affected. The deep form of pyoderma is characterized by damage to the skin throughout its entire thickness. Sometimes the subcutaneous tissue and muscles are affected.

Pyoderma in dogs - causes and development

Pyoderma is caused by several reasons. The main reason is a decrease in immunity. A decrease in the body's defenses occurs as a result of a change in living conditions, feeding or movement. For example, a dog has been constantly kept indoors (apartment or house) and is sent to live outside. Or a dog that constantly lived in the courtyard of a private house is taken to live in an apartment. Changing feeding affects the immune system not only when reducing calories. The dog gets its main source of antibodies, protein, from meat. To save money, meat is often replaced with offal and entrails. Such a replacement, even while maintaining the energy value of the food, reduces the nutritional value and cannot meet the dog’s needs. You should adhere to the recommended ratio of meat, offal and slaughterhouse waste, and cereals for the breed.

Switching adult dogs to dry or canned food exacerbates a number of chronic diseases that reduce immunity. After about one and a half to two months, these processes return to normal. Immunity is completely restored 4 months after switching to dry food.

It is necessary to take into account the relationship between movement and feeding. So, during training, a dog requires about 15 - 20% more food. During intensive work, the needs increase up to 40%.

Lack of exercise is just as harmful for dogs as too much. If there is a lack of movement, the skin does not cleanse itself. Dust, dead pieces of skin, and various secretions accumulate in the wool, serving as food for microbes.

A secondary cause of pyoderma is considered to be a violation of the integrity of the skin. So, running through the meadows in the fall, puppies often injure the skin of their abdomen on dry grass. The short hair of Bulldogs, Bullmastiffs and Shar-Peis scratches the skin in the folds.

Microbes that normally live in the dog’s body instantly rush to the site of damage. When paws are damaged, fungi from the soil also enter the wound. 3 - 5 days after entering the wound, microorganisms begin to multiply rapidly and acquire pathogenic properties, the skin becomes inflamed. Severe itching occurs. By combing the affected areas, the dog rubs microorganisms into the hair follicles. Claws scratch the skin, and microbes settle in the scratches.

Severe itching occurs. By combing the affected areas, the dog rubs microorganisms into the hair follicles.

A few days after severe itching appears, red and yellowish blisters are visible on the skin. When pierced, they release liquid with an unpleasant odor. Over time, the dog's hair falls out. The affected areas become bald, and the blisters merge into shapeless areas. When animals scratch, the blisters can burst, spreading an unpleasant odor and germs. This is how the superficial form of pyoderma manifests itself.

After a few days, the pus eats away at the layers of skin underneath the hair follicles. Along with the flow of pus, microbes settle in the lower layers of the skin.

The body of a sick dog tries to respond to the development of microbes. The production of antibodies increases, macrophages are sent to the sites of microbial development. But the dog’s body cannot cope with the infection in the skin. Microbes spread throughout the body and can cause inflammation in various organs. Over time, the pustules merge into large boils that can open at any point on the dog’s skin. Purulent fistulas appear, up to 7 cm deep in large dogs. This is how the deep form of pyoderma manifests itself.

The disease can last for years; Without qualified help, the ulcers unite into large cavities, slowly poisoning the dog with the contents.

Pyoderma in dogs - treatment

It is carried out only in a veterinary clinic. Symptoms similar to pyoderma appear in completely different diseases. For example, distemper, ingestion of extraintestinal heartworms. Purulent skin lesions are complicated by attacks by microscopic mites, such as demodicosis.

Effective treatment of pyoderma is carried out in several areas:

fight against microorganisms that have developed pathogenic properties;
increasing immunity;
removing pus from the dog’s body;
Elimination of itching and healing of skin lesions.

The fight against microorganisms begins after a special analysis, bacterial culture. The type of microbe that has developed pathogenic properties and its sensitivity to antibiotics are determined. Animals do not like the procedure for selecting material for analysis, and the result will have to wait 3-5 days. Therefore, sometimes in the early stages of development of pyoderma, bacterial culture can be excluded. But in the later stages of the disease, analysis is required.

A few days after the onset of severe itching, red and yellowish blisters are visible on the skin

Antibiotics are prescribed to fight germs. Basically, the choice depends on the type of microorganism that caused the disease and its sensitivity to drugs. When prescribing antibiotics, the doctor takes into account the sensitivity of microorganisms, the condition of the animal and, if any, other diseases.

Increasing immunity begins with optimizing the dog’s feeding and exercise. During treatment and recovery, quiet walks and a minimum of training are recommended.

Immunity-boosting drugs are usually prescribed 2-4 days after optimizing feeding and exercise. Depending on the complexity of the disease, preparations from the human placenta, vitreous body, catozal and others can be used.

The removal of pus is usually combined with the healing of skin lesions. But surgery may also be necessary.

Healing of skin lesions comes down to special treatment of ulcers and adjacent areas. Aluspray and similar aerosols are widely used to neutralize microbes on the surface of wounds, including purulent ones. For deep pyoderma, absorbable agents are used. They contain chlorophyllipt, iodine, and other antimicrobial drugs.

In severe cases of pyoderma, medications may be required to alleviate the dog's condition. So, with large accumulations of pus, many toxins enter the body. To effectively neutralize toxins in the liver, karsil is prescribed. Increased elimination of poisons through the kidneys and maintenance of heart function may be required. Then you will need to put the dog on a drip and administer riboxin or cocarboxylase.

After treatment, pyoderma leaves a deep mark on the body and greatly undermines the dog’s health. To avoid serious illness, contact your veterinarian the first time your dog becomes itchy or restless.