Does your dog have suspicious little spots and irritated skin? Do not worry. Dogs have very sensitive skin and are more prone to suffering some skin disease due to adverse reactions to some type of food or to an environmental element, to parasites such as fleas or ticks, or to skin infections. You have surely noticed because it has not stopped scratching and licking itself. This is one of the most important symptoms, along with skin irritation. But sometimes the infection is greater and can even affect their mood and appetite. There are diseases that even cause a bad smell on the skin, scabs or significant hair loss. Among the most common skin ailments in dogs are some such as: ringworm, fungal infections, pyoderma, folliculitis, fungi, mange, flea or tick bites and dermatitis. Faced with such a wide variety, it is also important that you bear in mind the importance of prevention.
Basic tips to tackle any skin disease of your dog
We already know that seeing our pet with a rash is a very worrying situation. But do not despair and follow these simple tips. You will get it to recover quickly and become a happy dog again:
Make an appointment with your usual vet. Your regular vet will identify the causes of the problem and put it on a treatment that, in addition to the medication to fight the infection (if necessary), will include a specific diet and even the supply of some vitamin supplement to strengthen its immune system.
Inform the whole family or members of the household about the situation. This way they will take the necessary hygiene precautions and will not give it food outside its diet that could cause the disease to worsen.
Do not skip its daily walks. Walks will keep it entertained and prevent it from scratching constantly.
Prevent it from hurting itself when it scratches. A very common trick is to put socks on its little paws. You will prevent it from irritating itself even more with its nails.
Keep it away from your other pets. By keeping your dog away from other pets you will avoid unnecessary contagion and prevent it from being hurt in the affected area.
Use creams and damp cloths to relieve the itching. The vet will probably prescribe a cream to minimise the itching, but you can also dampen a clean cloth with water and carefully place it over the rash. It will refresh it and relieve its stinging.
Take care of the cleanliness of its belongings. Wash its bed and other belongings frequently. This way you will prevent the irritated area from getting infected due to dust and dirt.
All of these are simple steps that will help you tackle any skin disease of your dog. The most important thing is to go to the vet immediately so they can identify the type of disease and establish the most appropriate treatment. Alongside that, the best thing you can do is to try to follow a healthy routine with your dog, and to try to prevent any kind of skin disease through regular baths and brushing, the application of antiparasitics and a healthy diet.
