Reviewd by Dr. Terry White, DVM
You might feel frustrated and helpless when your beloved dog experiences constant scratching and red, irritated skin. It’s heartbreaking to see your fur baby in discomfort. What's more, you might feel stressed with all the information that exists. In this blog, our goal is to provide you with clear and comprehensive expert guidance on how to bring relief to your dog's itching skin.
Types of Skin Infections in Dogs
Before treating your dog's skin infections, it's crucial to understand the underlying causes.
Primary Skin Infections in Dogs
These occur as the initial condition, without any underlying disease. They are typically caused by pathogens like bacteria, fungi, or parasites that directly infect the skin.
Secondary Skin Infections in Dogs
These occur as a result of an underlying issue that compromises the skin's integrity or immune response. Common underlying issues include allergies, hormonal imbalances, or chronic diseases. The weakened skin barrier or immune system allows pathogens to infect the skin more easily.
Symptoms of Your Dog's Itchy Skin
Symptoms of skin infections in dogs can vary depending on the type of infection (bacterial, fungal, or viral) and the area affected. Here are some common signs that a dog might be suffering from a skin infection:
Increased Itching and Scratching: An increase in skin itching in dogs beyond the usual due to the primary condition, often intense enough to cause skin damage.
Redness and Inflammation: Areas of the skin may appear red, swollen, and warm to the touch.
Unpleasant Odor: Infected areas, especially with yeast or certain bacteria, can emit a strong, foul odor.
Discharge: Pus or a clear fluid may ooze from the affected areas, indicating an infection.
Crusting and Scaling: The skin may develop crusty patches or scales, particularly if a yeast infection is present.
Hair Loss: Patches of hair loss around the infected area due to excessive licking, scratching, or the damage caused by the infection itself.
Lethargy and Depression: Dogs may show less interest in activities they normally enjoy and may seem unusually tired.
Changes in Appetite: Affected dogs may eat less due to discomfort or systemic impact of the infection.
Fever: Some infections may cause an elevated body temperature as the immune system tries to fight off the infection.
How to Diagnose Your Dog's Itching skin
After a thorough initial consultation with a veterinarian, there may be one or multiple diagnostic tests that help diagnosing secondary infections. Consult a veterinarian for the appropriate tests for your fur baby.
Skin Scraping
For skin infections, a skin scraping might be done to collect cells from the skin's surface. This sample is examined under a microscope to detect the presence of bacteria, fungi, or parasites.
Culture and Sensitivity Tests
A sample from the infected area may be cultured to grow the organism in the lab. This helps in identifying the specific type of bacteria or fungus causing the infection and can also help in determining which antibiotics or antifungals are most effective against it.
Blood Tests
Blood tests can help assess the overall health of the dog and may indicate an underlying disease that could predispose the dog to secondary infections, such as a weakened immune system.
How to Treat Your Dog's Itchy Skin
Treating skin infections in dogs typically involves addressing both the infection itself and the underlying condition that led to the infection. Below are some of the general treatment options. Each pet’s conditions and needs are different, and we recommend consulting a veterinarian before engaging in any of the treatment options.
Use shampoos, ointments, or creams with antimicrobial and antifungal agents to soothe inflamed skin and treat surface infections.
Depending on whether the infection is bacterial or fungal, appropriate medications such as antibiotics or antifungal drugs will be prescribed. These can be administered orally, topically, or injectably.
If parasites are the cause of the infection, antiparasitic treatments will be necessary to eliminate them.
In cases where inflammation is severe, steroids may be prescribed to reduce swelling and inflammation. However, their use must be carefully managed due to potential side effects.
Clean the infected area thoroughly but gently to reduce the load of infectious agents. Regular cleaning and disinfecting of the environment may also be recommended to prevent reinfection.
Provide a balanced diet, plenty of water, and a comfortable resting area to help boost your dog's immune system and promote recovery.
Is Your Dog Itching and Scratching? We Can Help!
If your beloved fur baby is feeling itchy or scratching the skin nonstop, Dr. Terry White at EverPal can provide expert guidance, available after regular clinic hours. We can help provide the care your fur baby needs when you need most.
Schedule a same-day virtual visit with Dr. Terry White at EverPal.
Consultations are currently available only for residents and pets living in California. Diagnostic testing available for residents and pets living in San Francisco, Daly City, South San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley areas.
Comentarios