In dogs, the most common skin diseases are caused by mites, such as scabies, which can cause excessive itching, hairless patches in certain areas of the body and scabs, says veterinary allergist María de los Ángeles González, founder of the clinic. Alervet. For an accurate diagnosis, a deep scraping of the skin should be done to observe the presence of parasites that generate this condition.
There are also diseases caused by bacteria, fungi or yeasts.which manifest with redness, peeling, inflammation, bad odor, scabs, itching and, in some cases, abscess. “These bacterial or fungal conditions are secondary to something more complex such as environmental or food allergies,” explains González.
It must be taken into account that when the animal scratches it gets wounds.which are used by these microorganisms to enter the skin.
There are dermatological signs that can be confused with allergies, but they turn out to be infections caused by metabolic disorders such as hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, Cushing’s disease or Addison’s syndromewhich affect the thyroid and adrenal glands, generating systemic symptoms that affect the skin. It is important to rule out allergies through hematological tests.
The animals most likely to develop these metabolic diseases are those that have an inadequate diet, genetic predisposition, or have undergone treatments for chronic or poorly administered conditions. In the case of conditions caused by mites, these are usually suffered by immunocompromised animals -with low defenses- like puppies or older adults. Animals with allergies are more vulnerable to developing bacterial and fungal infections.
Cats can also suffer from the aforementioned conditions, but they also They are allergic to flea bites, so deworming with repellents, flea collars or pipettes is recommended.
Veterinary doctor Érick Rabanales, specialized in natural nutrition of minor species, from the Cadejo Diet, indicates that another Dermatological disease are neoplasms -cancer- that have a multifactorial origin that can be hereditary or due to contact with chemicals. in your environment. Also, he adds, there are dogs and cats that develop allergies to pollen, leaves, trees, grass, flowers or dust mites.
Rabanales asserts that the origin of many skin problems is not external, but internal, at the gastrointestinal level, where dysbiosis or imbalance of the gut microbiota, composed of countless microorganisms such as fungi, yeasts, viruses or parasites, which is triggered by stressful situations. The microorganisms, which can be pathogenic, increase in quantity and can cause the dermatological condition.
Treatments
If the skin disease is caused by bacteria, is treated with antibiotics; If it is due to fungi, with antifungals. Also, with anti-inflammatory, antipruritic and vitamins, to restore the normal state of the skin.
Therapies can be applied with medicated shampoos to eliminate peeling and redness of the skin.
In the case of allergic dogs, in addition to good nutrition and veterinary checks, hIt must be taken into account that allergic relapses are frequent, so the environment must be kept as hygienic as possible, to avoid infections of any kind, and prevent them from having contact with allergens.
Prevention
In addition to quality nutrition, which can be barf -raw diet-, the use of chemicals in the home should be limited, says Rabanales, who advises against the frequent use of dewormers, which remain in the body for prolonged periods, which keeps the body in constant intoxication.
González advises routine checkups of the pet with the veterinarian and carrying out hematological examinations at least once a year. TOhimself, that his vaccination and deworming schedule is up to date and that he properly administers the medications prescribed by the registered veterinarian.