Dermatitis in dogs, symptoms, causes, diagnosis and treatment
Dermatitis in dogs can refer to myriad inflammatory skin disorders plaguing dogs.
Such diseases may be passing or chronic. Dermatitis can affect not only the sheen of your beloved dog's coat but also his general health. What is commonly observed is constant itching which is a nonspecific indication of dermatitis in dogs. There are different forms of this condition.
For instance it could be contact dermatitis, acute moist dermatitis, Acral lick dermatitis and allergic dermatitis in dogs. Other forms include allergic inhalant dermatitis and flea allergy dermatitis in dogs.
Symptoms
As mentioned earlier, if your pet persistently scratches and bites himself or herself, you might be seeing symptoms of dermatitis. Remember that with numerous types of skin diseases that could possibly affect your pet pooch, you need to coordinate with your dog's veterinarian to get to the bottom of the disorder.
For instance, with atopic dermatitis in dogs, the itching and scratching can lead to skin which is red, sore and damp. This particular form could hit the dog's face, legs or even ear. In some cases the dog's eyes or nose begins to run. Flea allergy dermatitis in dogs manifests itself in acute inflammatory response along with extreme itchiness. This problem could give rise to secondary bacterial infection.
Causes
As with symptoms, causes would ultimately depend on the particular dermatitis affecting the dog. Acute moist dermatitis in dogs can be attributed to allergies, certain infections in your dog's ear, improper dog care, certain kinds of arthritis and mites. A primary cause is some insect bites and in particular flea bites. As the name suggests, flea bite dermatitis in dogs is the result of an allergic reaction which your dog experiences to the flea's saliva after a bite. In this case, you dog's immune system reacts excessively to this saliva that is injected. Yeast dermatitis in dogs would basically be the result of a fungal infection.
Treatment
You should consult the vet for proper treatment, following a correct diagnosis of the dermatitis. In the case of acute moist dermatitis in dogs, one has to prevent the hot spot from increasing in area. On top of this, treatment has to take care of doing away with the cause. One starts by carefully shortening the dog's fur both over and near the lesion. The area is then cleansed and certain healing powders can be used. When it comes to flea allergy dermatitis in dogs, the primary culprit, fleas, must be attacked. Flea control has to cover both the dog and the immediate environment.
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