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Skin Problems in Canines:
Parasitic Skin Conditions: Cheyletiella Cheyletiella, is a mite that can live on the skin of dogs. It particularly likes the dorsal surfaces and will cause intense irritation and heavy dandruff in limited areas, especially on the dorsum (upper surfaces) of the back. Weekly washing with "Defencare Dog Shampoo" or another similar product, over six weeks will usually eliminate the problem. Ear mites Also known as Otodectes. Common parasites of the ear canal of the dog which may cause intense irritation, excessive wax production and irritation. They often cause secondary irritation round the ear flaps. Consult your veterinarian for advice and treatment. Ringworm Ringworm, contrary to it's name, is not caused by
a worm, it is a fungus. The fungus lives in the outer layers of skin, hair
shafts, and toe nails. It invades the hair follicles damaging the actual hair
itself. The hairs become fragile and break easily. As the infection progresses,
more and more hair may be lost.
Dogs become infected with the fungus by contact with
other infected animals such as cats, or contaminated soil. Diagnosis is made by
specific tests including microscopic examination of hair shafts, ultraviolet
light observation, fungal cultures, and sometimes skin biopsy. Sarcoptic Mange is caused by "Scabies". Unlike Demodex, scabies is highly contagious from pet to pet and from pet to owner.. This mite and its larva burrow and wander in tunnels in the skin. This burrowing causes extreme pruritus, (itchiness) red skin, and secondary scab and crust lesions from the dog traumatizing the area. Treatment involves either weekly paramite dips or biweekly injections with ivermectin until no mites are detected on skin scrapings for 2 consecutive scrapings. Demodex (Red Mange) The Demodex mite, is a "bug" that lives in the hair follicles of 96 percent to 98 percent of all people and canines, it feeds on oils, hormones and fluids around the follicle. For the most part, the itty-bitty bugs are harmless and live in balance with their host. Most people and animals have a tolerance for the mites without developing any skin conditions, but high populations can cause problems. When something causes the mites to reproduce at a higher rate, they can break out of the hair follicle and may cause acne, hair loss and other skin conditions, in severe cases, the interaction with mites causes skin to actually slough off. It is believed that problems arise in the host when their immune system or hormones are in a compromised state such as in the case of illness, extreme stress, etc. If you suspect Demodex is the culprit, your vet can test for them with a simple skin scraping. Several treatments are available for treating Demodex. However some dogs do not show good results on some of the treatments, so you must try another treatment option, if the first one does not show the desired results. Demodex mites can transfer from one pet to another, however, this does not mean the dog would get infected with red mange. As has already been stated, nearly all humans, and canines have this mite already. It is when their numbers grow out of control due to their hosts poor immune system, or hormonal problem, that they become a problem for their host. Under normal conditions, the mites produce an antigen when they feed in a hair follicle, and then the human body makes antibodies against the bugs, thereby keeping their reproduction low and in balance. When the bodies natural defenses are low, such as when they are fighting an illness, poor nutrition, etc, they don't produce enough antibody to control the population of the mites, resulting in a population explosion for the mite, and a skin condition for the host.
Other Skin Conditions: Pyotraumatic Dermatitis "Hot Spots" Hot spots occur as single, intensely pruitic (itchy) lesions resulting from self-inflicted trauma to the skin. These lesions can appear within minutes and predominantly occur when allergic reactions within the skin cause a sensation of itchiness or pain. The dog attempts to alleviate the symptom by licking, chewing, or scratching which leads to trauma and further inflammation to the skin. There are several topical treatments for this condition available at your vets office as well as most quality pet stores.
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