Hives or skin rashes (urticaria) are localized patches of red, swollen, usually itchy, skin. They often develop and disappear suddenly. Hives are relatively uncommon in dogs. The most frequent causes are insect bites or stings, shampoos, and medications. Other causes include contact with toxic plants or chemicals. Friction, sunlight, heat, exercise, stress, and genetic abnormalities may cause or intensify the rash. Hives may develop after inhaling or consuming allerg
Alopecia is the partial or complete lack of hairs in areas where they are normally present. Hair loss is a sign and its underlying cause must be determined for the condition to be successfully treated. If a dog has hair loss and is also scratching the area excessively, the itching should be investigated first.
There are many causes of hair loss, which can be congenital (the animal is born with the condition)
Flies are winged insects that are usually just an annoyance, but they can transmit disease and cause problems in animals. They belong to a large, complex order of insects called Diptera. Flies vary greatly in size, food preference, development, and habits. As adults, flies may feed on blood, saliva, tears, or mucus. They also spread bacteria, viruses, and parasites. The order Diptera includes not only the common house fly and many other insects we commonly call flies
Fleas are small wingless insects that feed on animal blood. In addition to being a nuisance, they can also transmit diseases and cause allergies or anemia. There are more than 2,200 species of fleas recognized worldwide. In North America, only a few species commonly infest house pets. Two common species of flea are the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) and the dog flea (Ctenocephalides canis). However,
Eosinophilic granuloma complex is rare in dogs. It is recognized more commonly in cats and horses. When seen in the dog, this disorder is associated with unusual reactions to insect bites or other hypersensitivity reactions. They will often appear as bumps or nodules, in the mouth, on the lips, or anywhere on the body. Over time, these may become ulcerated or crusted. Any breed may be affected, but Siberian Huskies and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels may be at greater
This disease is seen worldwide but is more common in the tropics. It is known by a number of names, including “strawberry footrot.” Among companion animals, it is seen most frequently in horses. Dogs and cats rarely have this disease. The few reported human cases have usually been associated with handling diseased animals.
The disease is caused by Dermatophilus congolensis bacteria. It is possible that the bacteri
An abscess, or localized infection of the skin, between the toes is also called an interdigital furuncle. It is similar to a severely infected pimple or boil on the face. These painful, pus-filled blisters often occur in the webbing between a dog’s toes.
The most common cause of furuncles between the toes is a deep bacterial infection. Many dog breeds (for example, Chinese Shar-Peis, Labrador Retrievers, and English Bulldogs) are predisposed to t
Like people, dogs can be allergic to various substances, including plant particles and other substances in the air or substances in food. These substances are called allergens. Allergens are substances that, when inhaled or absorbed through the skin, respiratory tract, or gastrointestinal tract, stimulate the immune system and the release of histamine and other substances. This results in inflammation, signs of which include reddening of the skin (erythema), swelling
Dogs can be born with or may inherit any of several different kinds of skin abnormalities. Most of these conditions are uncommon to rare. Some occur with greater frequency in particular breeds of dogs, as noted below. Some hereditary conditions are present at birth, whereas others can take months to appear.
Congenital Skin Disorders
Epitheliogenesis imperfecta, also called
Successful treatment of skin disorders requires identification of the underlying cause. Not surprisingly, many treatments for skin diseases are applied directly to the skin surface (topically). It may be the preferred method of treatment for some diseases or beneficial in addition to systemic treatment (medications taken by mouth or injected and distributed throughout the body). Examples of products applied directly to the skin include antibiotic ointments, corticost