You may have noticed your puppy licking and scratching any part of his body and it seems that it is becoming to be his habit. Can you imagine how terrible your pet feels like for wanting to lick and scratch continuously?
It is never fun for any pet owner when their dogs are going through some skin conditions brought by fleas. You cannot just watch him suffer. Hence, you need to know what is affecting your pet. Here are the 8 common skin conditions resulting from fleas.
What Are The 8 Common Skin Conditions In Dogs?
Skin problems among dogs may be triggered by a variety of issues. In particular, your pet may have fleas and develop allergies on medication. If your pet is displaying indications of a skin condition, one of these common skin diseases could be affecting him.
1. Flea Allergy Dermatitis
Flea Allergy Dermatitis or FAD is one of the most common roots of allergic reactions developed among dogs. Once your pet develops this allergic reaction, the immune system of the body loses nerves or become hypersensitive to the commonly harmless antigen.
FAD is the common reason why dogs suffer from itchiness. Adult fleas could have bitten your pet and received a blood meal to emulate. Normally, fleas will not stay in the body of your dog except for the time that they are feeding. This is the reason why some owners become confused because they never noticed fleas on their pets unless there is serious contagion on the environment. Once the fleas feed on your pet, they infuse a little quantity of saliva into its skin. It is the proteins or antigens in the saliva that create a vehemently itchy reaction to delicate dogs.
2. Alopecia Or Dog Hair Loss
Alopecia is another skin condition that is triggered by hormonal problems or skin allergies. Normally, your veterinarian will have to check for the root cause of alopecia in your pet. Since fleas are the common reason for itchiness among dogs which leads to hair loss, your veterinarian may suggest a flea treatment.
Furthermore, your veterinarian may also obtain specimens of hair to examine for parasites or ringworm.
3. Hot Spots Or Acute Moist Dermatitis
Hot spots are confined spots that look red, inflamed, and irritated. Most of the time, they are seen on your dog’s chest, hips, or head, and commonly feel hot when touched. Hot spots are triggered by various conditions such as flea allergies, infections, too much chewing or licking, or insect bites. Treatment is done by rinsing the hot spot and solving the lurking condition.
Simple hot spots can be cured by cautiously clipping the part to let the skin to take air in and out and cleaning the part with a thinned chlorhexidine solution. You can also avoid the development of hot spots on your dog by keeping him groomed and keeping him dry after being exposed to the rain or after swimming.
4. Dry Skin
Dry skin in dogs is triggered by several factors – from nutritional proportion and insufficiencies to different allergic skin problems like food allergies, atopy, and flea allergies. Some indications of dry skin problems include dandruff or goofy skin and hair loss. The use of pet conditioners and shampoo can help solve this condition.
5. Atopic Dermatitis
Dogs suffering from atopic dermatitis are likely susceptible to flea bites and food allergies. Dogs getting this kind of skin condition commonly extremely lick and itch at themselves. Common parts involved are the feet and ears, where bacterial infections or secondary yeast can occur, resulting to discharge, crusting, odor, and scabbing of these parts.
6. Rashes
Rashes, commonly irritation or redness, can develop on any part of the skin of the dog although it is dominantly noticed on the belly. Flea bite allergies are the common reason for belly rash. Other factors that could also lead to this condition are insect bites and contact dermatitis.
You can easily treat rashes on your pet dog by giving him a cool bath through a dog shampoo that has colloidal oatmeal. If the condition persists, you may want to contact your veterinarian already for proper medication.
7. Scabs
Scabs, also recognized as the smearing of the skin, can be the main concern, or it may develop after a brief pustule crack and verges over. Scabs on your pet dog can be triggered by fleas and mites, which are known as ectoparasites. Other causes of scabs are Pyoderma and Puppy Impetigo.
The treatment for this skin condition may differ, however, they may include ointments and treated shampoos, and possibly antiparasitic medication or oral antibiotics.
8. Large Red Bumps
If you notice your pet dog developing some bigger and flatter bumps with no crusting, the condition could be hives triggered by an allergic reaction. One possible contributor to these allergic reactions is flea bites. They are commonly cured with steroids or antihistamines. Although these bumps are not very alarming, the swelling developed because of the allergic reaction can impede the airway. Hence, it is imperative to talk to your vet immediately.
Invest in a Good Flea and Tick Collar for Maximum Protection
Itchiness, rashes, presence of bugs on your dogs can trigger discomfort and distress that can wholly be remedied by a simple solution: investing in a flea and tick collar for them to wear year round. It’s agonizing watching your pets itch and scratch until he draws blood. It shouldn’t be too expensive to prevent these skin conditions that result from pets.
