www.Dog-Guides.Us

Posts Tagged ‘skin’

Dog Food Allergies

Dog food allergies are rather difficult to distinguish from other allergies like atopy, etc., because the symptoms of food allergies tend to be similar to the symptoms of the other allergies.

SYMPTOMS

Despite there not being one outstanding symptom that would point us in the direction of food allergy, which makes diagnosis very difficult, there are some symptoms that have been identified as being related to a dog’s food allergy.

Symptoms tend to vary from case to case but I have listed some that have been identified as symptoms displayed by a dog with a food allergy:

• Dry, flaky skin
• Hair loss
• Itchy skin, feet and paws
• Persistent skin infections/ hot spots
• Persistent ear infections especially yeast infections
• Constant vomiting
• Frequent bowel movements
• Skin rashes and hives

Other symptoms like flatulence, sneezing, changes in behavior patterns and asthma can also indicate food allergies.

CAUSES

Research has shown that some dog food ingredients could be the cause of a dog’s food allergies, such as corn, dairy products, beef, eggs, wheat, chicken and soy; all common dog food ingredients by themselves.

Dog allergies are most often caused by the consumption of the same food for several years. These allergies tend to manifest themselves quite suddenly, irrespective of the fact that the dog has been eating the same thing for years. Detecting the actual cause of the dog’s food allergy can be both a frustrating and time consuming exercise, but here’s what you can do…

SOLUTION

Exclusion diet: this is probably the most effective way to find out the cause of a food allergy.

One source of protein is used for up to 12 weeks to see if the dog’s condition improves. After that, new ingredients are added (every seven days) one at a time until the problem returns so you can identify the ingredient that was causing the food allergy. This is a very slow and painstaking method but it is effective.

Make sure that you use a protein source that your dog has not been previously been given, such as tofu, venison, fish, lamb or rabbit, making sure that the digestibility percentage is at least 85%. Try to avoid additives as much as possible. Combine the protein source with a carbohydrate; one example would be lamb and rice.

A vet can give medication to help cope with the allergy and can administer a blood test to try and figure out the ingredient causing the allergy. However, such tests are not very accurate as a diagnostic tool and an exclusion diet is usually the best way to go about it.

To help relieve exterior symptoms, I suggest you consider using an all-natural product.

Tip: using distilled water or boiled tap water that has been refrigerated will help to avoid the chlorine content in the water, which is a possible factor.

PREVENTION

There is no quick fix for dog food allergies. It is up to you to find out the ingredient that is causing the allergy and eliminate it from your dog’s food. Once you have identified the food ingredient(s) to which your dog is allergic and removed them from your dog’s diet, the allergy should clear up quickly enough. Don’t forget to keep a diary to record the elimination process – this is crucial to helping your dog get rid of its food allergy.

Brandon Roe is the developer of K9 , the world’s only all-natural dog balm that helps clear up the 17 most common canine skin and coat problems… Guaranteed or your money back.

Signup today for Brandon’s weekly K9Kourier newsletter and get all the best from the canine world sent right to your inbox – . Signup today and receive a special free gift.

Incoming search terms for the article:

Dog Skin Problems

Have you found some red, moist, sores or lesions on your dog? What does it mean?

SYMPTOMS

These are hot spots, which can best be described as an area of skin inflammation and infection that can be superficial or very deep. The spot or lesion on the dog’s skin will be red, moist painful sores, sometimes with matted fur, that occur due to biting, licking or scratching. These hot spots only get worse as the dog continues to lick and bite the lesion. Hair loss soon follows due to all the scratching and biting.

CAUSES

There are several underlying causes for the appearance of spots on your dog that include but are not limited to mites, fleas, bacteria, allergies, harsh shampoo, severe fatty acid deficiency, external parasites, any skin wound or scrape, hot and humid temperatures and matted fur. In some rare cases the dog may start the hotspot out of boredom or stress!

SOLUTION

Once you discover the spot don’t waste any time treating it, as it can become a deep wound in a very short time due to the constant biting and scratching.

The first thing you do is put an Elizabethan collar around the dog because it is quite likely to snap at you as hot spots are very painful and also to prevent further damage to the lesion.
Next you take the two fold approach: treat the lesion and remove the underlying cause.

To treat the hot spot, trim the fur in the area around the hot spot or shave it, which leaves the hot spot exposed to the air and healing will be quicker. Clean the area with a non-irritating solution such as dilute Nolvasan solution, then rinse gently with cold water and pat completely dry. You can apply any desiccating powder that your Vet recommends.

Medication is usually Benadryl tablets but do check with your Vet. In the more severe cases oral antibiotics and pain killers may be needed.

Hot spots under a dog’s ear could be an indication of an ear infection and hot spots on the flanks could be an indication of an anal gland problem.

Tip: It is always advisable to take the dog to the Vet for a professional exam and treatment.

PREVENTION

A few tips on the preventive measures you can adopt to avoid your dog getting spots:

If your dog has a thick fur coat – make sure it is always well groomed and trimmed in summers to avoid matting of the fur. Never bathe your dog with matted fur, always comb out the tangles first. Matted fur tends to trap moisture inside it giving rise to the hot spot.

Dogs like human beings are prone to allergies – make sure your home and the surrounding areas are dust free and clean. Bathe your dog in skin soothing herbal shampoos containing Aloe Vera.

If the cause isn’t fleas, which usually are the most common cause, then maybe your dog is bored or lonely or stressed – start exercising and playing with your dog a little bit more than usual.

A word of advice, pets are like children – they need constant monitoring. Moreover your pet cannot speak for himself, so you need to be extra vigilant to ensure that Fido stays healthy and well groomed all the time.

Brandon Roe is the developer of K9 KlearUp, the world’s only all-natural dog balm that helps clear up the 17 most common canine skin and coat problems… Guaranteed or your money back.

Incoming search terms for the article:

Dog skin sympton

Check your dog’s skin regularly – yellow skin can indicate jaundice and blue skin can indicate heart problems.

Here are other signs a dog’s skin can tell us:

• Dry skin and fur can indicate illness.
• Rashes can mean allergies.

If you notice anything unusual with your dog’s skin, be sure to have your dog checked out by your veterinatian, who can make a proper diagnosis and suggest an appropriate treatment.

That’s it for today!

Dog hair Care

Trim the hair around the pads to reduce the amount of debris that gets lodged between the pads to help avoid injuries.

After walks or exercise run your fingers over and between your dog’s pads checking for stuck materials such as rocks, 
gum, thorns, glass, impacted snow/ice, etc.

Do this and you’ll help save on vet bills down the line!

Dog Skin sunburn

Dogs can get sunburned too!
Yes, pets that have exposed skin are subject to sunburn.
Prevention is the best cure – you can use children’s nontoxic sunscreen to help avoid burns.
In the case of sunburn, consult your veterinarian for topical ointment and make sure your pet is not also suffering from heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Provide plenty of fluids for your dog to drink.