Your pet’s skin can tell a lot about its health. Skin is the largest organ in your pet and its main job is to protect the body. Since the skin can come in contact with many different insects and irritants, there are literally dozens upon dozens of skin problems that your pet can develop.
Common Types of Cat and Dog Skin Problems
While there are many different types of skin problems in pets and an array of things that can cause them, the most common cat and dog skin problems include parasite allergies, mange, allergic dermatitis and poor nutrition. Because there are so many things that can cause skin problems, it is best for you to get a diagnosis from your veterinarian.
Fleas and ticks are common parasites found on both cats and dogs, and they can cause some serious health conditions as well. Learn how to remove a tick from your pet. Not only can they make your pet severely anemic, but they can also carry various diseases and cause a multitude of skin problems. Mange is a skin problem that is caused by tiny mites that burrow under the surface of your pet’s skin. Allergic dermatitis occurs when your pet comes in contact with or is exposed to something that it happens to be allergic to. It can also occur if your dog or cat is exposed to an irritant. Ringworm is caused by a type of fungus that can create skin problems. Finally, in some cases, poor diets or food allergies can lead to skin problems in pets.
Signs of Dog and Cat Skin Problems
Since there are so many different skin problems that can occur in pets, the signs your pet will exhibit may vary from the symptoms another pet develops. However, symptoms of skin problems are typically very easy to spot, and the most common of them are listed below.
- Inflamed Areas on the Skin
- Intense Itching and Scratching
- Constant Biting/Chewing at the Skin
- Dull, Lifeless Coat
- Dry Coat
- Oily, Foul-Smelling Patches of Skin
- Thickened, Dark-Pigmented Patches or Areas of Skin
- Flaky or Crusty Areas on the Skin
- Excessive Hair Loss
- Pimple-Like Rashes
- Ring-Like Rashes
- Excessive Licking at the Skin
- Bald Patches or Areas on the Body
Cat and Dog Skin Problems: What You Can Do
If your pet has fleas or ticks, there are many different treatment methods you can choose from. There is a vast array of products available to help rid your dog or cat of these annoying parasites. Furthermore, you can purchase prescriptions from your vet that will help keep your pet flea and tick-free for several months at a time. If it is determined that your pet ‘s diet is creating the skin problem, you may wish to switch to a hypo-allergenic food. Most of the other cat and dog skin problems require veterinary attention. However, as the symptoms are so easy to recognize, your dog or cat ‘s prognosis is good depending on its unique problem.
