Skin and Coat Problems in Dogs and Cats
The skin, your pet's largest organ, acts as a barrier against harmful invasions from the environment. As an organ of elimination, symptoms of disease often show up in the skin and the body rids itself of toxins
Skin problems are probably the most common ailments seen in dogs. Usually they are not a disease in themselves, but a symptom of another underlying problem.
The most common reason for skin problems in both dogs and cats is an allergy. Foods, pollens, dust or medications may cause signs of allergy. Problems can also show up due to dietary deficiency or poor diet in general. Symptoms include such as itching, redness, and poor coat quality.
If no other reason for the problem can be found, it is time to look for food allergies. Changing to a premium or home-made dog food can usually make a big difference in a short time. Often simply adding raw meat to the diet is enough to see an improvement.
If the problem persists, or the pet is already on a healthy diet, then you must look at the specific ingredients in the food. Beef, chicken, corn and soy are the most common allergens, but cats and dogs, like people, can be allergic to anything. Try eliminating the above four things first, if that doesn't work a more drastic "elimination diet" may be necessary. This usually takes at least 6-8 weeks to get a good reading.
If no food allergy can be identified, or if eliminating an offending food has not solved the problem, then you must look to the environment - inside as well as outside. Once an allergic reaction has been allowed to continue for some time, the immune system is taxed and the body may become sensitive to other irritants.
Play detective! Ask yourself if anything has changed in the house recently; new carpeting, new cabinetry, fresh paint? These things can all give off chemicals which may cause illness. Are the symptoms seasonal? Pollens are a common allergen, and difficult to avoid, especially for a dog. Did the symptoms start suddenly? What happened just before they appeared - vaccinations? Other illness? Emotional upset? Finding and eliminating the cause can be a long and difficult process.
Essential Fatty Acids, also known as Omega-3 and Omega-6 are important nutrients for the skin and coat of dogs and cats. You might also consider certain herbs, such as Milk Thistle or Dandelion, which support the liver and help the body detoxify. There are many natural topical products that can be used to calm the symptoms.
Bathing is not always the answer. If the dog's coat is dry, bathing may just make matters worse. If you must bathe, use a gentle shampoo. For dogs or cats with itchy skin, look for oatmeal as one of the ingredients in a pet shampoo.
Another common cause of itching and redness for dogs and cats is flea bite dermatitis. Not all animals are allergic, but fleas will at least cause scratching or biting in all pets simply because they are annoying! Flea allergies however, cause the pests to be more than just an annoyance. Symptoms of flea allergy include hair loss, redness, and sometimes sores kown as "hot spots".
If you suspect your pet has fleas but you haven't actually seen any, look for the tell-tale black "specks" at the base of the hairs. Fleas particularly love the areas at the base of the tail, ears and hind legs (where they meet the belly). To determine if the specks are flea dirt (dried blood) and not just dirt, put some on a white paper or cloth and wet them. If they turn red, you've got fleas.
Some diseases cause symptoms of the skin and coat. Thyroid imbalances may cause dull, flaky or greasy coat and sometimes hair loss. Skin and ear infections are common with Cushing's Disease.
There are some specific skin diseases as well. Mange is caused by a mite and causes lesions and hair loss, usually around the mouth and eyes. This most often clears up on its own, but some dogs and cats cannot rid themselves of the mites and have a more severe case. Ringworm is a highly contagious fungus affecting cats, dogs and people (especially children). It shows up as circular lesions that are raw, hairless and scaly. The disease spreads rapidly.
Boredom or anxiety can cause a dog to lick its paws repeatedly and constantly, resulting in "lick granulomas". These are raised nodules, often rough and scaly. There is also a group of autoimmune diseases called Pemphigus which cause scaly skin, scabs and pustules. Some breeds are particularly susceptible to the disease.
Frequently Asked Questions
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QUESTION:
What is the most affordable grain free dog food?
I am trying to get to the bottom of my dogs allergy without having to pay for expensive allergy testing. At the moment I am trying to rule out a food allergy by changing her food to a grain free hypoallergenic variety. I got her some Orijen, which she loves!!! But it is soooo expensive, and made in Canada. Ideally I am looking for a uk alternative that I can use for a while to see if it helps stop her itching/biting her inflamed skin.-
ANSWER:
I don't know if you'll be successful in finding a cheap grain-free dog food. You could try going to your local pet food store and ask for some samples of different kinds, just to see which ones your dog likes. Then run with that brand and see if the allergy symptoms improve. In the long run a more expensive dog food tends to cost not much more than cheaper brands (imo) because they do tend to keep your dog healthier (less costly vet visits for problems) and most dogs tend to eat a bit less in volume of the better grade dog food.My border collie pup had been on Blue Buffalo - which is a higher-end food - but was having chronic diarrhea issues (my older dog too, also on Blue Buffalo, was displaying similar symptoms, though less in degree). So I switched both of them to Taste of the Wild, which is completely grain-free, and within less than a week my puppy's diarrhea disappeared - as did my older dog's - and both have been much healthier ever since.
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QUESTION:
Opinions on Canidae grain free dog food?
We bought a Japanese Chin puppy and before doing so, did some research on dog foods. Canidae was the only affordable high quality food we came across. (Our former dog always ate Iams but apparently no longer produce a high quality food.) Our question is concerning the grain-free formula - it doesn't cost much more than regular so what benefits will it give our puppy? Do dogs need grain in their diet. Please - no emotional replies: we are just trying to make an intelligent and informed decision.-
ANSWER:
Canidae makes very good products, and you're right that they are one of the most affordable in their class. I use the regular Canidae All Life Stages and have been very happy with it.There is a great deal of debate about grains in dog food, although grains in dog foods are not inherently harmful unless your dog has shown a sensitivity . The main benefit to a grain-free food is that more of the protein in the food is coming from meat or fish sources than in a food that contains grains.
Canidae is still independently owned (although most of the foods are manufactured by Diamond); guarantees hormone and antibiotic free meats and sources all of its ingredients in the USA. Excellent products.
If you are going to go with one of their grain-free versions, please be aware that the labels and the names of those products are changing from Grain-Free to "Pure"--Pure Elements, Pure Sea, Pure Land and Pure Sky.http://www.canidae.com/dogs/grain-free-als/dry-morePURE2.html
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QUESTION:
Affordable dry dog food?
Okay, my granny has 3 dogs. She's feed's them this cheap junk from the grocery store called "Nunn Better". I would love for her to switch to a higher quality or at least decent food. At first she said she would look into it but then she saw the price of them & said no. I asked her how much she could afford a month & told her I would try to find a decent food within her budget. She said is her max. But she needs like 30 lbs.I've tried looking but I can't find a decent quality food for a mere /pound. The cheapest I can find is Taste of the Wild. Problem is, in her area it's for a 30 lb. bag. I told her that's only more but she said that's too much. I spend on average 0 a month for 30 lbs. (Nature's Variety Instinct)
I'm tempted to just buy them a decent quality food myself but I don't think I can come up with an extra every month. What should I do? Can anyone list a decent food that is at least grain free for that's only like /lb?
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ANSWER:
Okay, truth is with food both pet & human you get what you pay for. TOTW is about the cheapest that you will find that is still of decent quality. That's just how it is. Since she's your grandmother I'm going to assume she draws SSI so maybe anything else will break her. If is truly her max. can you possibly pay the extra ? Then she won't have any excuse not to buy it instead of the other junk & yes it is junk they have it around here also it's a little of for 30 pounds & it's basically just fillers. About as bad as Ol' Roy, Purina, Science Diet, etc. Anyway, I really can't think of anything else. As far as I know TOTW is the cheapest of it's quality.
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QUESTION:
by Nature Bright Life or Buffalo Blue dog food?
I was searchin for grain-free food but my primary concern was the lack of meat content in Blue Buffalo Chicken Adult which I currently feed my 3 year old doberman. Then I found by Nature BrightLife Canine Food which was a five star rated on dog food analysis. Then again, the analysis was done on Review Date: Thu January 5, 2006.Haven't really heard anyone using this brand and the product is seldom reviewed by customers, but I find it be very affordable.
What do you guys think?
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ANSWER:
I would go with buffalo blue.
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QUESTION:
How do I know if my dog is allergic to grains?
I have always fed my four year old shepherd/lab cross dog foods with grains in it. He sometimes gets pink, irritated ears and itchy skin, but I don't know if they are caused by the grains in his food. I've been feeding him Innova large bites for the past year, and I'm thinking about switching to TOTW Pacific Stream, because it is grain free, contains salmon (which is suppose to be good for dogs) and it is affordable. Any insight or advice? Thanks!-
ANSWER:
He could be allergic to the grains, or possibly one of the meats, or a blanket he lays on, the laundry detergent you use, something in the air, etc.All you can do is try a grain free diet and see if the symptoms resolve. If so, your problem is fixed. Allergies can sometimes be very hard to diagnose.
EVO (a partner brand of INNOVA) makes grain free foods, and I higly recommend it.
As for TOTW- haven't heard of it, but make sure that there is fiber in the foods- fiber (grains provide a lot) helps keep the colon happy.
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