Dermatitis in Dogs

Unhygienic surrounding is the most common reason for skin infections in dogs. Dermatitis can be caused by bacterial or fungal infection. It can also get triggered due to some dog allergies. Some dogs that suffer from dermatitis have been detected with endocrine and metabolic disorders as well as various nutritional deficiencies. Dermatitis can also be the result of reaction to some drugs or toxic substances. In some cases, excessive sunburn or dog cancer can also be the cause of tingling and itchy skin on dogs. Below given are some of the types of dermatitis in dogs.

Various types of Dermatitis

Atopic Dermatitis
It is also known as, canine atopy, that causes excessive itching in dogs. This is one of the most common dermatitis. Dogs below five years of age, generally tend to get atopic dermatitis. It is caused by the allergic reaction to various toxic substances present in the environment. Dermatitis in paws is also caused by atopic skin infection.

Contact Dermatitis
As the name suggests, it is caused when the dog comes in physical contact with certain substances, such as, different types of salts and acids, various substances that are made from strong chemicals like bleach, fertilizers, etc. These things cause itching, redness, and skin infection in dogs.

Seborrheic Dermatitis
Seborrheic dermatitis is one of the dog skin disorders, that occur on the face, neck, back side of the ears and scalp of the dogs. The affected part becomes greasy accompanied with redness, itching, swelling, and hair loss. It is essentially a yeast infection, that is caused by certain dog foods, to which the dog is allergic.

Acute Moist Dermatitis
It is characterized by red, moist, and painful spots on the skin of the dogs. It occurs when dogs indulge in excessive scratching due to dog fleas, bug bites, etc., and through these small wounds and cuts, bacteria enters the body. This bacterial infection causes acute moist dermatitis.

Apart from this, there are various other dog skin disorders, such as, flea allergy dermatitis, pyotraumatic dermatitis, and various types of dog mange, and fungal and hormonal skin diseases, etc.

Dermatitis Symptoms

Many dog owners have observed that their pet dog suffers from skin infections during summer days, as dogs are more vulnerable to skin problems in hot weather. Each type of dermatitis has different signs and symptoms, but few symptoms are common to all types of canine dermatitis. A dog affected with dermatitis, will scratch the back or affected part by rubbing it against the floor or the wall. This provides him relief from the tingling and itchy feeling. If you notice your dog scratching unusually and excessively, then immediately consult a veterinary doctor, who will detect the cause and prescribe medications accordingly. The other sign of dermatitis is redness and swelling. Almost all the types of dermatitis can be characterized by redness, swelling, and itching in dogs. So, if you notice, any red spots on any part of the dog's body, consult your vet. Sometimes, the dogs also lick the affected areas to ease the irritation caused by itching. Another symptom can be a foul odor. Many dog skin disorders are accompanied with certain smells, that are usually unpleasant. If your dog is very hairy, then it is difficult to notice the skin problem. In such cases, this odor helps you detect the skin problem. These were few of the very common dermatitis symptoms in dogs.

Treating canine dermatitis is easy when the underlying cause is eliminated and proper dog care methods are employed. You should discuss the routine, lifestyle, food habits of your dog with a veterinary doctor. This will help the doctor diagnose the particular disease so that he can prescribe certain drugs and injections accordingly to improve the dog health. On your part, you must always try to provide your pet with hygienic atmosphere and pay attention to all dog health problems. Monthly visit to the veterinary doctor helps in keeping the dermatitis at bay.