posted by Tess on Jan 5
Question:
Our dog has an itching problem. We have taken him to the vet, tried many home remedies, changed his diet and tried over the counter remedies for him. I see the dry skin and feel it is eczema, psoriosys or something along those lines but the vet say no. Do you have a product that may help his itching? He is a very important part of our family and my heart is breaking that we cannot find something to help him. We will be playing and he will have to stop and scratch for minutes at a time…not just a casual “hold on I have an itch” kind of scratch.
Thank you for your time,
Jill
Answer:
Hi Jill
Thanks for your query. There are two things that we can recommend to help your dog.
Firstly, our Skin and Coat Dr will address any tendency to eczema as well as improve the condition of your dog’s coat and skin.
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posted by Tess on Dec 23
As in humans, skin is the largest organ in your pet’s body too. But unlike humans your pet’s skin is concealed by a coat that hides any changes that may be occurring beneath it. And though humans easily detect small changes that may occur on the skin, certain pet skin ailments can only be detected by understanding pet behavior.
Excessive itching and scratching is the first give-away symptom that can help you to understand that there is something wrong with your pet. Most of the times, it is this behavior that turns minor problems like cat dandruff and feline acne into serious skin problems like excessive feline hair loss and eczema.
Dogs run an increased risk and dog skin problems are among the most common health disorders that dog owners have to deal with.
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posted by Tess on Dec 17
A yeast infection is a typical example of a beneficial organism revolting and causing harm if other systems of the body are not functioning properly. Yeast, a single-celled fungus that reproduces asexually by budding or division is present in the body and intestinal tracts of a dog. In a healthy dog, yeast identifies and destroys harmful bacteria and is controlled by the immune system.
A weakened immune system drastically reduces the number of friendly bacteria in the body. Without the active support of these friendly bacteria, yeast undergoes a dramatic change from a non-invasive and sugar fermenting organism to an invasive and mucus damaging organism. This is the start of a primary yeast infection. Secondary yeast infection occurs when yeast penetrate skin that has already been damaged by scratching or injury.
Skin problems in dogs and other pets produce symptoms that can bring about significant changes to the look of your pet. Conditions like canine and feline acne, dog and cat dandruff, dog ear mites, pet intestinal parasites, imbalanced diet and eczema can cause an itchy skin. The resultant scratching can lead to skin damage and this increases the risk of penetration by yeast. Yeast infection mostly affects moist parts but can prevail in almost any part of the skin.
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posted by Tess on Jan 11
Body tissue is created by a continuous process of division and multiplication of cells. This process helps in the necessary growth and during the self-healing and maintenance of healthy cells. The cell division process changes over time and there comes a stage when it is restricted to the replacement of dead cells. This natural process tends to go awry due to certain factors that disturb the ability of cells to duplicate in a regulated manner. Rapid and unorganized growth of cells leads to formation of benign or malignant tumors.
Benign tumors are lumps of harmless growth that can be conveniently removed by surgery without risk of recurrence. Malignant tumors, on the other hand, are signs of cancer in dogs, which can spread to neighboring as well as distant organs and also threaten life.
Skin cancer, along with cancer of the mammary glands accounts for the majority of cancers in dogs. Ultraviolet rays play a significant role in causing skin cancer in humans as well as pets. Feline cancer is common in outdoor cats and excessive exposure to the sun can harm white or light colored skin more than dark skin.
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posted by Tess on Dec 19
Question:
My one year old Jack Russell has just overnight developed multiple bumps under her skin that are very itchy. They are all over her back and legs. They are making her hair raised and she is scraching and can’t seem to stop. They are all under the skin. Please help.
Chris
Answer:
Hi Chris,
Thank you for your query. You are to be commended for researching the use of natural alternatives.
It must be very distressing to see your pet so sick. Since we are unable to examine your pet, we cannot make a diagnosis. Thus we recommend that you take your pet to your vet, where a correct diagnosis can be made and any underlying conditions may be ruled out. Thereafter, we will be happy to help determine, if need be, which of our remedies would best suit your pet.
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posted by Tess on Nov 2
A healthy skin and a lustrous coat is a matter of great owner pride. It also reflects the internal good health of a pet. Two things are extremely necessary for a good, shiny dog coat - Internal health and external care.
Internal Health
Beauty, as you know, is only skin deep. A strong and healthy body can ensure a healthy skin and, in turn, a shiny coat. Whatever the color or type of coat, proper nutrition is instrumental in improving the appearance of a dog’s coat. There are many branded dog food brands that claim to have adequate nutrients that can help in obtaining a good coat for your pet. You can also choose to give your dog a nutritional coat supplement. These supplements can provide all the specific nutrients that are necessary for a good skin and coat.
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posted by Tess on Oct 26
After having given you a lifetime of love, loyalty and companionship, a senior dog needs a reason to live in its older days. Even though it remains debatable whether dogs experience emotions like humans or not, they definitely deserve the same compassion as any other senior member of your family.
With advanced age, senior dogs become more vulnerable to the same dog skin problems that they had to face while young. The skin is the first line of defense against the attacks of external pathogens. And senior dogs are prone to have a dry skin and loose some of the shine of their coats as oil secreting glands slow down. Graying hair and a dry skin are the key indicators of advancing age.
An itchy skin is common in all dogs but it occurs more frequently in senior dogs. As senior dogs are more vulnerable to environmental irritants and external parasites, fleas and ticks, an itchy skin in seniors require immediate attention lest they cause secondary infections.
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posted by Tess on Oct 18
An expert can ascertain the general health of a pet simply by keenly observing the skin and coat. Dry skin tends to spoil the glossy coat and often leads to excessive itching and scratching in pets.
Before you do anything about it, it is advisable that you ensure that the dry skin and the resultant itching is not a result of parasitic infection, immune mediated diseases, allergy or bacterial and fungal infection. Such disorders require immediate attention of a veterinarian and are better treated systematically.
Conditions like dog or cat dandruff, flaking dry skin and canine or feline acne can be addressed with diet supplements, healthy nutritional diet and medication.
Winter dries human skin, especially hands and feet and we need to keep the skin moist by applying different sorts of crèmes and lotions. Just like humans, dogs too face skin problems during winters. To ensure that your dog’s coat and skin remains in good condition you need to remember certain basic aspects of dog skin and coat care.
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posted by Tess on Oct 17
Being the largest and the most exposed organ of the body, pet skin is likely to be affected with mild to severe conditions. One of the major dog skin problems arise from allergies. Allergies can cause canine or feline acne. Allergies may arise from contact with an allergen or from food that does not suit your pet.
Before starting treatment for any type of allergy it is of paramount importance that you establish the cause of allergy. It is erroneous to assume that only new foods cause allergies and consequent itching. The truth is that any food can cause an allergic reaction in dogs - new or old. The commonly known skin condition of ‘hot spots’ can develop if your dog becomes allergic to his routine diet that he is no longer able to digest.
Food allergy often forms a typical distribution pattern and your veterinarian is the best guide in this matter. You can suspect food allergy in your dog in conditions where:
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posted by Tess on Oct 9
Dog skin problems seldom give rise to emergent situations. If you are regular in pet care and look for changes in skin and coat for dog or cat dandruff, canine or feline acnel, skin lumps and lesions there is every reason to believe that you will have enough time at hand to consult your veterinarian about it.
Emergency situations like noisy breathing, panting or gasping for breath, excessive bleeding, a blue tongue, ingesting poison, cessation of urination and labor contractions for a long period without actual delivery of puppies are not associated with skin problems. They are also almost never caused by skin related issues.
But that does not mean that caring for your pet’s skin is not a requirement. On the contrary, the skin and coat of a pet is the best indicator of any underlying menace that may be brewing inside. And given that your dog cannot communicate minor discomfort to you, the skin proves to be the best indicator and an early warning for things to come.
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