Labrador Retriever Dogs Blog

Copyright (c) 2008 JK MacDonald

From my experiences of dealing with my dog for skin problems. I have a lot of research time and suggestions to assist other canine owners in learning how to treat a dog for skin disorders. In my experience the most common disorder found is itching, and chewing and on one certain area on the dog. If your dog has an allergic reaction to something, it will cause red patches, bald spots or irritate the skin. If open wounds or scabbing appears, the next thing that can happen is a bacterial infection.

Allergies are a very common occurance in canines. Skin infections much like ear infections are a couple, of the most common issues affecting a dogs health. Skin problems normally present themselves in “hot spots”, sush areas as eyes, mouth, stomach, anis, and armpits.

How To Treat Dog For Skin Problems;

You could apply a solution made of Oxy-Drops to the area. Mix this solution by mixing 1 teaspoon of oxy-drops to a cup of purified water. Now you should get blood testing done to pin point the exact cause on the problem. As said before itchy skin is the most common irritation for dogs to deal with.

On the flip side, a dog that is allergic to fleas may have a severe reaction that can cause very itchy skin. Under these circumstances your dog may bite at or scratch the itchy spot, and could later lead to a bacterial infection. If your dog is always chewing and digging at their skin causing open wounds and sores, try the following.

The use of a shampoo that contains eucalyptus and aloe vera can greatly reduce itchy areas on your dog’s skin, and help to heal the irritated areas. Diets with vitamins, minerals and fatty acids can help keep your canines skin clear, clean and healthy. Dogs have a different reaction to allergies than we do as humans, we have nasal problems, where as dogs have skin irritations.

An allergy to food can also be a cause for skin problems in dogs, and can cause sickness in dogs aswell. Thankfuly food allergies can be stopped by simply changing your dogs diet, so it is an easy fix. Hypoallergenic dog food would help resolve this problem.

Here are the 5 most likely causes of dog allergies, fleas, food allergies, atopy, bacteria, and contact allergies.

Sometimes flea medications can cause more problems then the fleas themselves. These problems may include skin infections, irritations, even seizures. As you can see there are a number of causes of skin problems in dogs, and many ways to treat a dog for skin problems so you should always consult your vet.

One of the most commonly over looked causes of skin problems in dogs, is an allergic reaction to something in the food they are eating. Some commercialy made dog foods contain minerals and dyes, that can cause an allergic reaction, or even be very harmful to your dog’s body system.

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One of the most painful sights for us as dog owners is seeing our lovable pets suffer. After all, they are a part of the family aren’t they? And what is worse, is seeing them suffer knowing that they depend on us completely for their well being. I know because my wife and I have a spoiled little dog.

Our dog is a rambunctious little wire haired terrier, all of 12 pounds when she is soaking wet. Her name is Cassie and we love her dearly. So when she came down with a yeast infection in her ear we were really upset because she was scratching her ear until it bled. We had no idea that dogs could get yeast infections in their ears, so we took her to the vet to get her checked out. 

The diagnosis was indeed a yeast infection of the ear. The vet wrote a prescription for some drops and after about 2 weeks they worked to clear up the infection, but the vet bill was a bit pricey. Wow, the total bill came to almost $200, just for a diagnosis and some ear drops!

Unfortunately, a year later little Cassie was showing signs of a yeast infection in her ear again. So I started to do some research about yeast infections in dogs. Maybe I could find an effective treatment for Cassie that was a little less expensive than $200 a pop.

What I immediately found out was that yeast infections are quite common in dogs, especially in the ears because they are warm and moist which is an ideal environment for yeast to grow. A lot of different things can lead to a yeast infection in your dog’s ear, but it mainly boils down to an imbalance in your pet internally.

Yeast is naturally occurring in dogs and it will usually not bother the animal. But when there is an imbalance in your pet’s internal system then yeast can overgrow and cause problems, i.e., a yeast infection of the ear.

Many different circumstances can lead to your dog’s internal system being out of equilibrium, antibiotics can kill beneficial bacteria that keep yeast in check, a weak immune system due to an illness can allow yeast to flourish, a scratch or wound in the ear could allow yeast to infect the wound.

It is important to examine your dog’s ears periodically to check for anything irregular. Catching a yeast infection early before it gets out of control is key to being able to treat it quickly, effectively and save your doggie some suffering.

When checking your dog’s ears for a yeast infection you will want to specifically look for cuts, abrasions, reddish rash, swelling, crusty scabs, oozing, and a bad smell. Also, your dog will probably be scratching the ear excessively, or possibly rubbing the ear against an object (the floor) or with its paw, shaking its head, and whining.

Very importantly, many bacterial infections have almost the same symptoms as yeast infections but require a completely different treatment. So if you are not absolutely sure, it is always best to have a vet check it out. But if your dog is prone to yeast infections and you know the signs then you could save yourself a reoccurring vet bill by using some home treatments that are very effective for clearing yeast infections. These home remedies are just as effective as some medications the vet would prescribe, but far less expensive. Here is one you can try:

Once you have a confirmed case of yeast infection the first course of action is to clean the ear with a mild ear cleansing solution that can be found at most any drug store. Or you can use a diluted solution of white vinegar and water. Gently squirt the solution into the ear canal massaging it as you do so. Use a cotton ball to wipe away excess fluid and debris. Allow the ear to dry or pat the ear dry as much as possible. Now use the herb pau d’arco which can be found in most natural herbal stores and is known to kill yeast. Mix the pau d’arco with mineral oil and again squirt the mixture into the ear canal and massage the ear as before. Do this twice daily for about a week. Keep your dog’s ears clean and dry to avoid further yeast infections. Do not hesitate to take your pet to the vet if the infection worsens or gets out of control.

If you notice your dog has been shaking his head a bit too often and scratching its ears with its paws or even trying to rub its ears on the ground, your dog may have some form of ear infections. In some severe cases, they may even not walk properly if the ear infection has gone into its ear canals and affected its sense of balance.

This is likely to happen for dogs with long drooping ears as the inside of the ears is not well ventilated or aired. Another possibility is that water could have gone inside the ears when you were bathing your dog and the dampness provided an ideal environment for ear infection to happen.

Firstly, try to have a look at the ears of the dog and use a cotton bud to clean the ears but do not push the cotton bud too far in the ear. You may see some ear wax and they may be dark brown or black in color. In worse case, this wax may have already appeared on the outside of the ears and you can see it immediately.

However, you should not attempt to use water to clean it unless it is on the exterior or easily accessible part of the ear. You should also not pour or drip water into the ear as it may make it worse. Just use wet cotton wool to wipe it.

After having confirmed that there is an unusual presence of ear wax or if the dog continues to show irritation by shaking its head or scratching its ears, despite your having done some minimal exterior cleansing of the ear, please take your dog to the vet for consultation.

My beagle has quite a bad ear infection and the ear wax can be easily seen on the exterior of its ear. I suppose it was due to the shaking of its head and flapping of its long and drooping ears. I took it to the vet and he cleaned its ears by using a pair of long forceps wrapped round with cotton wool after applying some ear cleansing solution. The vet also took a sample of the ear wax for analysis and gave my beagle an injection. I was also taught to clean the ears of the beagle daily for a week and subsequently, on a weekly basis.

To prevent future occurrence of the ear infection, I was also advised to be careful not to let any water dripping into the ears when I bathe him. I also took the effort to clean and dry his ears after his bathe since then. Importantly, you must be observant and watch out for any unusual behavior displayed by your dog. Catch the problem as early as possible and get it treated immediately.

Say you have an itch that just won’t stop. What you will most likely do (after almost scratching your skin off!) is go directly to the nearest pharmacy and ask the pharmacist for the most potent cortisone or antihistamine that their store has. Then you lather or drink that drug up like there is no tomorrow.

Having an excruciating back ache or a smashing headache is a nuisance but if you have a skin rash you feel very, very itchy and it’s like you’re in living hell and your nails aren’t doing justice to what you feel.

Now imagine the same unbearable skin rash, only this time, you cannot go to your favorite pharmacy and you cannot just tell a doctor to treat you up because you cannot speak. Sounds like a horrible scenario? Well, this is how your four-legged bundle of joy actually feels when he or she has a dog skin rash!

Causes

Dog skin rashes are very difficult to treat because you never know what causes them. So, really the best thing you can do for your beloved dog is to prevent the skin rashes from occurring. Here are ways you can prevent this from occuring:

1. The number one cause of dog skin rashes are external dog parasites such as ticks, fleas, lice and mites. To avoid these external parasites, do not let your dog play with strangers’ pets unless you are sure they are not infected. Always keep your furry friend’s house parasite free by cleaning it well and in case that parasites do attack, treat your dog with a tick and flea shampoo or cream.

2. Internal parasites can also cause dog skin rashes so to avoid intestinal parasites, make sure that both the water and food that your loyal dog takes in are clean.

3. Comb or brush the coat of your dog regularly especially if your pup has thick and long hair. Tangled hair can cause the skin to become irritated which can lead to scratching.

4. Find a shampoo that does not dry out your dog’s skin if you like to bathe your doggie regularly.

5. Make sure you buy good quality dog chow to boost your dog’s immune system. Commercial grade dog food is usually just filled with extenders that have no additional nutritional value unlike good dog food.

Solution

But a dog cannot avoid skin rashes forever. Even if you are the most attentive, cleanest and most caring dog parent, he or she will still get skin rashes at one point in his or her doggie life. So what do you do in times when your furry friend is scratching and gnawing at his or her skin like crazy?

1. First of all, give your dog a bath. Find an anti-tick, anti-fleas medicinal shampoo.

2. Have a look at your dog’s food. If you’ve just changed your dog’s food brand, and he or she seems to have acquired the habit of scratching, then you may need to buy your old brand back because the new one is making your poor pooch itch. Better yet, consider some of the natural diets. Type in “BARF diet” on the Internet and you’ll find a lot of great resources. Also remember that certain dog breeds are naturally pre-disposed to specific allergies (I.e. Shih Tzus tend to be allergic to chicken). If, in any doubt, talk to a holistic minded veterinarian or nutritionist who can show you the proper meal plan.

3. Some dogs are itching because they are restless. Giving your dog enough exercise might just do the trick.

4. You may also consider purchasing products that specialize in treating dog skin rashes. There are a variety out there but one of the most effective ones I’ve ever seen contains the Mayan traditional herb Tepezcohuite. (In fact, I was so impressed with its natural abilities that I created an all-natural dog balm called K9 KlearUp around this compound – www.k9klearup.com. It’s guaranteed to help clear up the 17 most common canine skin and coat problems).

So there you have it, some simple solutions to help get rid of a severe dog skin problem: skin rashes. Your dog should be wagging his tail again in no time!