Certain skin conditions should not be ignored if home treatment is not working. For example, if a dog is so sensitive and allergic to fleas that his coat and skin are literally destroyed by chewing, it is time to seek help.
Cortisone can help relieve the itching and stop the dog from destroying himself, but it has side effects, too. It is best to get your vet's advice. Mange is caused by tiny mites that live on the dog's skin.
The most common types are sarcoptic and demodetic mange. Diagnosis must be made by a veterinarian, since the mites are too small to be seen. Sarcoptic mange first occurs as small red bumps on the dog's skin and causes intense itching.
If allowed to continue there is hair loss from chewing, and the affected skin become crusty, especially around the muzzle, elbows and hocks. The mite that causes demodetic mange lives in the pores of the skin of most dogs.
Certain conditions cause the dog's natural immunity to this mite to break down, and the result is patches of hair loss, usually around the nose or eyes. There is no itching associated with this condition and it primarily occurs in dogs under 1 year of age.
If treated properly the hair returns to normal. In the generalized form of the disease, hair loss occurs in large patches all over the body. Obviously this is a much more serious condition. Hot spots are one of the most baffling skin problems.
They can be caused by a number of things, including flea bites and allergies. A warm, moist, infected area on the skin appears out of nowhere and can be several inches large. At home one should clip the hair around it, then clean it with an antiseptic and dilute (3 percent hydrogen peroxide).
Spraying with a topical anaesthetic immediately relieves itching. Topical ointments can also help. If the spot is not healing and appears to be getting larger or infected, veterinary help should be sought.
A similar type of skin condition is the lick sore. These sores are almost always on the lower part of the front legs or tops of the feet. A dog will lick a spot and out of boredom continue licking it until the hair is gone and the skin is hard, red and shiny.
The sore will heal on its own if kept clean and the dog is prevented access to it by an anti chewing spray or by wearing an Elizabethan collar.
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