| The skin, your pet's largest organ, acts as a | | | | Omega-6 are important nutrients for the skin and |
| barrier against harmful invasions from the | | | | coat of dogs and cats. You might also consider |
| environment. As an organ of elimination, | | | | certain herbs, such as Milk Thistle or Dandelion, |
| symptoms of disease often show up in the skin | | | | which support the liver and help the body |
| and the body rids itself of toxins | | | | detoxify. There are many natural topical products |
| Skin problems are probably the most common | | | | that can be used to calm the symptoms. |
| ailments seen in dogs. Usually they are not a | | | | Bathing is not always the answer. If the dog's |
| disease in themselves, but a symptom of another | | | | coat is dry, bathing may just make matters |
| underlying problem. | | | | worse. If you must bathe, use a gentle shampoo. |
| The most common reason for skin problems in | | | | For dogs or cats with itchy skin, look for oatmeal |
| both dogs and cats is an allergy. Foods, pollens, | | | | as one of the ingredients in a pet shampoo. |
| dust or medications may cause signs of allergy. | | | | Another common cause of itching and redness |
| Problems can also show up due to dietary | | | | for dogs and cats is flea bite dermatitis. Not all |
| deficiency or poor diet in general. Symptoms | | | | animals are allergic, but fleas will at least cause |
| include such as itching, redness, and poor coat | | | | scratching or biting in all pets simply because they |
| quality. | | | | are annoying! Flea allergies however, cause the |
| If no other reason for the problem can be found, | | | | pests to be more than just an annoyance. |
| it is time to look for food allergies. Changing to a | | | | Symptoms of flea allergy include hair loss, |
| premium or home-made dog food can usually | | | | redness, and sometimes sores kown as "hot |
| make a big difference in a short time. Often | | | | spots". |
| simply adding raw meat to the diet is enough to | | | | If you suspect your pet has fleas but you haven't |
| see an improvement. | | | | actually seen any, look for the tell-tale black |
| If the problem persists, or the pet is already on a | | | | "specks" at the base of the hairs. Fleas particularly |
| healthy diet, then you must look at the specific | | | | love the areas at the base of the tail, ears and |
| ingredients in the food. Beef, chicken, corn and | | | | hind legs (where they meet the belly). To |
| soy are the most common allergens, but cats and | | | | determine if the specks are flea dirt (dried blood) |
| dogs, like people, can be allergic to anything. Try | | | | and not just dirt, put some on a white paper or |
| eliminating the above four things first, if that | | | | cloth and wet them. If they turn red, you've got |
| doesn't work a more drastic "elimination diet" may | | | | fleas. |
| be necessary. This usually takes at least 6-8 | | | | Some diseases cause symptoms of the skin and |
| weeks to get a good reading. | | | | coat. Thyroid imbalances may cause dull, flaky or |
| If no food allergy can be identified, or if eliminating | | | | greasy coat and sometimes hair loss. Skin and ear |
| an offending food has not solved the problem, | | | | infections are common with Cushing's Disease. |
| then you must look to the environment - inside as | | | | There are some specific skin diseases as well. |
| well as outside. Once an allergic reaction has been | | | | Mange is caused by a mite and causes lesions and |
| allowed to continue for some time, the immune | | | | hair loss, usually around the mouth and eyes. This |
| system is taxed and the body may become | | | | most often clears up on its own, but some dogs |
| sensitive to other irritants. | | | | and cats cannot rid themselves of the mites and |
| Play detective! Ask yourself if anything has | | | | have a more severe case. Ringworm is a highly |
| changed in the house recently; new carpeting, | | | | contagious fungus affecting cats, dogs and people |
| new cabinetry, fresh paint? These things can all | | | | (especially children). It shows up as circular lesions |
| give off chemicals which may cause illness. Are | | | | that are raw, hairless and scaly. The disease |
| the symptoms seasonal? Pollens are a common | | | | spreads rapidly. |
| allergen, and difficult to avoid, especially for a dog. | | | | Boredom or anxiety can cause a dog to lick its |
| Did the symptoms start suddenly? What | | | | paws repeatedly and constantly, resulting in "lick |
| happened just before they appeared - | | | | granulomas". These are raised nodules, often |
| vaccinations? Other illness? Emotional upset? | | | | rough and scaly. There is also a group of |
| Finding and eliminating the cause can be a long and | | | | autoimmune diseases called Pemphigus which |
| difficult process. | | | | cause scaly skin, scabs and pustules. Some |
| Essential Fatty Acids, also known as Omega-3 and | | | | breeds are particularly susceptible to the disease. |