Dog Grooming – Common Dog Skin Problems And What To Look Out For
Skin care during dog grooming is very important but being vigilant enough to identify common skin problems as and when they occur is also of the utmost importance.
In fact, it is essential because skin conditions should not be treated by you or a professional groomer. Instead, as soon as you notice a condition you should take your dog to see your vet in order to get the proper treatment and medication for your best friend.
There are numerous ways that a skin condition can manifest itself. The following represent just a few of those ways so you are able to get a good idea of what to look out for:
Dry Skin – Dry skin is a common problem for dogs of all breeds because there are a number of causes of it. Most are atmospheric causes, but there are one or two others that you should know about.
Firstly, the most common cause of dry skin in dogs is the temperature change during winter. Cold temperatures cause dog skin to flake just as ours does. As it is seasonal and largely down to low temperatures, you may find that using a humidifier works within the home and giving smooth coated dogs an extra coat on a walk.
If your dog’s skin does not improve when you are using a proper dog shampoo or a humidifier then you should take your dog to a vet to check whether or not there is some sort of underlying issue that needs to be addressed.
Allergies – Allergies are just as common in dogs as they are in humans today and have the same sources – foods, external environmental factors and substances that can be inhaled. All three can cause a allergic reactions in some dogs, which will manifest itself in one of several ways and almost always appear on the skin. Rashes, redness, hives, itching, baldness and irritability are all common reactions and any one or a combination of them can be observed as soon as your dog has had the reaction.
The most common of all dog allergies is a reaction to the saliva of fleas, which occurs after your dog has picked the little critters up and they have bitten through the skin. Dog grooming also comes in handy because it allows you to notice any fleas that are present in your dog’s coat and get rid of them all in one sweep.
Hot Spots – Hot spots are areas that have wounds that are moist and hot to the touch that have the ability to spread like wildfire and can make your dog’s life an absolute misery. They are effectively areas of moist dermatitis that are initially caused by any one of a number of triggers. It may be fleas, an allergic reaction, poor grooming, an irritant or an infection. Whichever trigger it is leaves a small wound, which is then licked and scratched by your dog until it gets infected and thus worse. – You need your Vet’s intervention here!
Diseases And Infection – There are so many different skin diseases and infections that dogs can pick up that it is difficult to know where to start. If your dog does have a skin disease or infection then you first stop should always be the Vet because they will be able to advise you about the course of action you can take. This includes advice about medication and grooming practices that should be employed until your dog is better.
Another element that you need to consider is the skin care you need to employ when your dog is in the sun. All dogs can get sunburned and it is just as uncomfortable for them as it is for us. Although making sure that they avoid this is not strictly an area involved in the dog grooming process it is still essential to do it. Always make sure that your dog has plenty of water and access to shade, as well as sunscreen on. This is especially important in cases of white and light colored dogs that have short to medium coats.
As you can see, skin care is of vital importance for your dog. However, you should also ensure that your dog’s coat also gets more than enough attention.
It’s good to know more about dog grooming. I like how you said that allergies are just as common in dogs as they are in humans. I wasn’t aware of that. We want to get our dog groomed, so I’ll remember to have the company we take her to look for fleas too, like you said.