Dog skin disorders

Dog skin disorders are among the most common health problems in dogs. Skin disorders in dogs have many causes, and many of the common skin disorders that afflict people have a counterpart in dogs. The condition of dog's skin and coat can also be an important indicator of its general health. Skin disorders of dogs vary from acute, self-limiting problems to chronic or long-lasting problems requiring life-time treatment. Dog skin disorders may be grouped into categories according to the causes.

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Types of disorder

Immune-mediated skin disorders

Skin disease may result from deficiencies in immune system function. Some examples include increased susceptibility to demodectic mange, recurrent skin infections, such as Malassezia infection or bacterial infections. This category also includes hypersensitivity disorders such as atopic dermatitis, and skin diseases caused by autoimmunity, such as pemphigus and discoid lupus erythematosus.

Canine Atopic Dermatitis

Canine atopy is a hereditary and chronic allergic skin disease. It usually begins by 10 months of age up to 2 years of age. Dogs with AD are itchy, especially around the eyes, muzzle and on the feet.  Frequent ear infections are also a problem in canine AD. Some of the allergens associated with canine AD include pollens of trees, grasses and weeds, as well as molds and House dust mite.

Hot Spots

A Hot Spot, or acute moist dermatitis, is an acutely inflamed and infected area of skin irritation created and made worse by a dog licking and biting at itself. A hot spot can manifest and spread rapidly in a matter of hours as secondary Staphylococcus infection causes the top layers of the skin to break down and as pus becomes trapped in the hair. Hot spots can be treated with corticosteroid medications and oral as well as topical antibiotic application, as well as clipping hair from around the lesion. Underlying inciting causes include flea allergy dermatitis, ear disease or other allergic skin diseases. Dogs with thick undercoat are most subject to getting hot spots.

Infectious skin diseases

  Infectious skin diseases of dogs include contagious and non-contagious infections or infestations. Contagious infections include parasitic, bacterial, fungal and viral skin diseases.be careful with this.

One of the most common contagious parasitic skin diseases is Sarcoptic canine scabies. Another is mange caused by Demodex (Demodicosis), though this form of mange is not contagious. Another contagious infestation is caused by a mite, Cheyletiella. Dogs can be infested with contagious lice. Other ectoparasites, including flea and tick infestations are not considered directly contagious but are acquired from an environment where other infested hosts have established the parasite's life cycle.

Ringworm is a fungal skin infection and is more common in puppies than in adult dogs.  Non-contagious skin infections can result when normal bacterial or fungal skin flora is allowed to proliferate and cause skin disease. Common examples in dogs include Staphylococcus intermedius pyoderma, and Malassezia dermatitis caused by overgrowth of Malassezia pachydermatis.

Flea allery dermatitis

See Flea allergy dermatitis

Hereditary and developmental skin diseases

Some diseases are inherent abnormalities of skin structure or function. These include seborrheic dermatitis, ichthyosis, skin fragility syndrome (Ehlers-Danlos), hereditary canine follicular dysplasia and hypotrichosis, such as color dilution alopecia.

Cutaneous manifestations of internal diseases

Some systemic diseases can become symptomatic as a skin disorder. These include many endocrine (hormonal) abnormalities, such as hypothyroidism, Cushing's Syndrome (hyperadrenalcorticism), and tumors of the ovaries or testicles.

References

• Medleau, Linda; Keith A Hnilica (2006). Small Animal Dermatology A Color Atlas and Therapeutic Guide. St. Louis, Missouri: Saunders Elsevier. ISBN 0-7216-2825-7. 
• Scott, Danny W.; William H. Miller, Jr; Craig E Griffin (2001). Muller & Kirk's Small Animal Dermatology 6th Edition. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders Company. ISBN 0-7216-7618-9.