Mary Allen
Almost every dog owner will at some point notice a lump, bump, stain, or other skin change on their pet. It is not easy to classify the matter.
Recently on the dog park: Labrador lady Jessy suddenly interrupts the game with her best friend, the mixed breed Henry. She turns around frantically and starts nibbling and biting the base of the tail. Her owner ponders: what is she doing there? Something is also wrong with Beagle Anton. His master found a hard knot behind his ear while stroking him. With a little more pressure, Anton howls, the unusual thickening obviously hurts him. “Strange,” thinks Anton’s owner. His previous dog also had a lump like that, but it was totally insensitive.
Hardly any other organ has as many different symptoms as the skin. Dandruff, hair loss, circular hair loss, itching, papules, pustules, fungi, plaques, nodules, wheals, mites, fleas, fissures, acne, eczema, cornification, seborrhea, pyoderma, growths, vesicles – the list of possible skin reactions could go on for a number of lines take advantage of. It is not surprising that the diagnosis is not always easy with so many different possible skin reactions. Skin scrapings that are examined under the microscope, tissue samples, or allergy tests have become indispensable in modern dermatology. Skin problems can be roughly divided into seven categories: allergies, bacteria, hormones, nutrition, the immune system, fungi, and bumps.
Allergies Cause Itching
Dogs are very similar to humans when it comes to allergies. Causes are often pollen, components in the lining, textile fibers from carpets, blankets, or sofas, household cleaning products, or flea bites. In the latter case, the dog reacts allergically to the flea saliva. All allergies are characterized by itching. Sometimes the dogs scratch until they bleed. In other cases, they begin to lick the itchy patches of skin almost compulsively. The more and more often a dog scratches, the worse things get for the owner. Many even see their quality of life restricted by the constant scratching. Pollen allergies occur seasonally, flea bite allergies decrease with flea control. But with allergies to food, house dust, or textile fibers, the definitive diagnosis can be difficult. But the therapy is always the same: ban the allergy-triggering factor from life. This is not always possible without problems.
Bacteria Cause Hotspots
Healthy skin is always populated with countless bacteria. However, if the skin environment is disturbed, it can happen that some types of bacteria get the upper hand. This often happens in skin folds, in the event of injuries, or while taking medication. Collectively, these bacterial skin infections come under the term pyoderma. Such a pyoderma can, among other things, result in the round, purulent, weeping, reddened, and very painful areas. Such superficial symptoms are called hotspots. Long-haired dogs are more commonly affected. Damp, warm weather favors the occurrence. There are pyodermas on every part of the body and in every age phase. Because they need to be treated with antibiotics, a trip to the vet is necessary if a red, weeping spot is found anywhere on the skin. Bacteria are also always involved in abscesses and purulent wounds.
Hormones Out of Balance
Skin, coat, and hormones are connected to each other in many ways. The thyroid gland, for example, can be to blame for a sparse, thin coat. And abdominal hair loss can be a sign of overactive adrenal glands. This condition is known as Cushing’s syndrome. In addition, the skin can become as thin as paper, so that the vessels shine through. Incrustations occur as well as sudden black spots. Because tumors that stimulate hormone production are often the reason for the disease, skin and coat changes of this kind should always be checked out by a veterinarian.
Nutrition Gets Under the Skin
What the dog eats and how well the food components are absorbed through the intestines affect the health of the skin. If a dog only gets dry food that contains too little fat, a dull, dry coat will develop. The lipid layer of the skin gets out of balance. This allows skin-damaging bacteria to settle easily. The connection between the supply of vitamins and trace elements and skin health has also been well researched. A zinc deficiency leads to redness, scaling, and hair loss around the eyes, mouth, and anus. A genetic disorder of zinc absorption can occur in malamutes, huskies, Dobermans, and Great Danes.
The Immune System Against Itself
When the immune system attacks its own tissues, it is referred to as an autoimmune disease. The most important canine diseases of this complex are called pemphigus and lupus. The crusts and scales on the head and ears are conspicuous in pemphigus. The pads of the paws are usually also affected. With lupus, it often happens that the bridge of the nose and the nose depigment turn white, along with small bumps. With both diseases, four-legged patients have to take medication for the rest of their lives.
Fungi Attack the Fur
Fungal infections are less itchy than dandruff. The most common fungi affect only the fur. The hair breaks off, dull or bald spots appear. That alone is usually not very bad for the dog. Fungal infections can even heal spontaneously. They should be treated primarily because they open the floodgates to bacteria.
Knubbel with a Diverse Background
Pain sensitive or not? Movable or not? Growing or otherwise changing? Anyone who discovers a lump in their dog can have completely different root causes: from an abscess to a fatty tumor, with benign or malignant tumors, or with papillomas and warts. Because all of these are dangerous in different ways, it is better to show each knot to the vet.
The owners of labrador lady Jessy and beagle Anton did that. Results: Jessy suffers from a flea bite allergy, Anton had a purulent abscess hidden under the skin. Both were treated successfully. Sometimes there are even psychological causes for itching and licking dermatitis. Then the patient is referred to a behavioral medicine professional.