Sunday, October 26, 2008

Canine Dermatitis - Four Types of Dog Dermatitis

By D Swain

Canine dermatitis is a general term for various inflammatory skin diseases. Some of these diseases only affect the shine of the dog's coat, while others can damage his overall health. Some of the most common types of dog dermatitis include flea, atopic, contact, and moist dermatitis. Let's take a look at some of them.

Flea

This form of dermatitis is caused by flea allergies. The dog will experience an allergic reaction if he is bitten by just a single flea. In addition to constant, severe itching, the dog may also lose his hair in the affected spots. It is also possible to develop hot spots, or areas of infection, in these areas.

Atopic

One of the next common types of canine dermatitis is atopic. This condition is brought on by an allergic reaction to various things in the dog's environment. Most dogs suffer from atopic dermatitis because of an allergy to grass. The most common symptom is red, irritated skin due to your dog's constant itching and scratching. Some dog's also experience runny eyes and noses.

Contact

The next type of dog dermatitis is the contact variety, which dogs develop over time. As its name suggests, this condition is brought on by contact with various materials that the dog is allergic to. This includes substances such as fertilizer, bleach, acids, and carpet cleaner. Some dogs are even allergic to flea collars. The main symptom is red skin that itches constantly. The only part of the skin that's affected is the part that came into contact with the offending material.

Moist

One of the final types of canine dermatitis is moist. This condition is characterized by the sudden development of raw, moist areas of skin. This type of dermatitis is most common in hot, humid weather. The raw areas of skin are caused by your dog scratching and licking constantly. This enables bacteria to invade the spot and worsen the infection.


These are some of the different types of canine dermatitis. There are many other dog illnesses that can affect your beloved pet. So, stop by dog-illnesses.com to learn about some of these conditions such as canine bladder stones.

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