Introduction
Any breed of dogs irrespective of their age can be susceptible to dry skin conditions at any point of time. Such skin conditions can turn out to be itchy and can also be very hurtful. Animals especially the domesticated do share the same concerns as us regarding dry skin. Like us, they do not like living with an exasperating condition of this kind.
Although dry skin may not seem much big of a deal for humans, you cannot say this in case of canines. They may point out to more severe problems ranging from allergies and parasites to medical disorders such as Cushing’s disease. Although finding out the exact cause of any skin condition can turn out to be tricky enough and we will explore more about it as we proceed further with this article.
Causes of dry skin in dogs
Therefore we are going to look at the six different causes of dry skin in dogs. Also, we may go through some of the treatment and also some preventive measures that can be taken in order to avoid it in the future.
1. ATTACK BY PARASITES
Parasitic infection is among the most common causes of dry skin in canines. Fleas, mites, and lice are the most common parasites that attack them. The bite from parasites such as flea can cause dermatitis. You can try out this Dog Supplements For Dry Skin that come in the form of delicious sweet tablet pellets. You can feed the tablets along with their food so that they receive long-lasting relief from itchy skin and have healthy thick fur.
2. ALLERGIES
Just like humans, dogs do suffer from allergies from various sources. Such as food or environmental i.e.; pollen dust, feathers, grass, etc. These allergies can lead to the dogs suffering from various symptoms including the dry skin. Some of the ways you can understand whether or not your dog is suffering from any allergy or not are by looking for its behavioral changes such as chewing, itching or licking more than usual. This is because they do react to allergies in the same way as humans do. If left untreated then this can lead to severe skin conditions such as itching, redness, inflammation, dermatitis, etc.
A very likely source of allergy in dogs is the dust mites. The dust mites can be avoided by practicing good hygiene and also dusting off the bed in the best way possible. Another source of allergy can be food. They can react to certain types of foods just like we humans do. A good way of identifying the foods causing the allergic reactions in them is via a blood test.
3. BACTERIAL AND/OR FUNGAL INFECTIONS
Infections due to bacteria and fungi also can show up symptoms of various different skin oriented diseases. Generally, skin infection is diagnosed using skin scrapes. The infections due to bacteria or fungus can lead to bigger problems in the future. Therefore it is necessary to take such symptoms seriously and proceed with the necessary medications to cure it.
4. BREED CHARACTERISTICS
Some breeds are more prone to skin diseases than the other species of dogs. Breeds such as Chinese Crested who do not have much fur on their skin are more likely to suffer from various skin-oriented diseases. Species like Siberian Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes who have a lot of fur on their bodies can suffer from zinc responsive dermatosis, which is also a type of severe skin disease.
5. INAPPROPRIATE GROOMING
Grooming is very important to keep their fur Hygienic and healthy. If the dog is not groomed properly then this may lead to the accumulation of dandruff and/or flakes on their skin. Do not groom too much as well as that may have a reverse effect as well this includes stripping off the fog’s skin of its natural oils. The natural oils act as the natural barrier for them against different types of germs and microbes. It is important to groom them once in a while. This will be very useful for breeds with long hair such as Patter dale Terrier and others, as they will often have the top layer of hair removed in the process.
6. POOR EATING HABITS
Dietary insufficiency can also turn out to be a critical reason for skin infection in dogs. If they have foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids to keep both their skin and fur healthy. To ensure they have a good supplement of omega-3, serve them with tuna or an oily fish once in a while. Some of the breeds thrive well if they fed specifically feed designated for them. For example; some dog food companies such as Royal Canine make food specifically designed for a particular breed of dogs such as the West Highland Terrier with the nutrients appropriate enough to provide them with sufficient protection against any type of common diseases such as skin infections. Make it a point to feed the dog the food with an appropriate amount of nutrients according to its age, size, species, and weight.
Conclusion
While we have seen above there can be various reasons why dogs may suffer from dry skin conditions, it is also safe enough to say that they are easily preventable by adopting some healthier and hygienic measures. If you are still unable to identify the cause do not waste time. Consult a vet immediately to look out for the possible causes and also find out the possible treatment for the ailment. The more you delay the situation may become even more miserable than before. Hence, you may be forced to take more drastic and costlier measures to get rid of the problem.