Canine Seasonal Skin Problems

Canine seasonal skin problems are usually caused by allergies.

Canine seasonal skin problems, in the form of irritation, inflammation and hair loss, are typically caused by allergies. Allergies that are seasonal are often brought on by environmental allergens that come out at specific times of the year. Your veterinarian can typically diagnose the cause of skin problems and can treat them accordingly. To resolve the issues and bring a bit of relief to your pet, take the dog to a veterinarian as soon as symptoms of skin problems are detected.

The Facts

If your dog experiences skin problems only at certain times of the year, it is likely that they are caused by seasonal allergies. In addition, the problems can also be caused by parasites that typically only appear during certain months. Certain breeds are prone to experiencing allergies, such as Labrador and golden retrievers, Dalmatians and terriers, and each may exhibit its own symptoms.

Symptoms

A dog with seasonal skin problems due to allergies will typically present red, inflamed, thickened or irritated skin. The skin may be dry and flaky and sometimes discolored. A dog may also experience a "hot spot," in which the skin becomes moist and infected in one area. In addition, the dog may chew or lick excessively at its feet and rub its bottom against the floor, states K9Web.com. Dogs with skin problems due to allergies also often experience chronic ear infections.

Causes

There are a variety of factors that can cause seasonal skin problems. Fleas typically only come out in the warmer months. However, they can always be present in an environment in which the life cycle has never been eliminated, such as a home. But usually, fleas are only present during warmer months, and if a dog is allergic to their saliva, he may only experience skin issues during warmer seasons. In addition, dogs are often allergic to different types of pollen that are only present during the spring and summer seasons.

Diagnosis

To identify the cause of a seasonal skin problem, the veterinarian may recommend allergy testing. Blood or skin scrapings are taken and tested for their reaction to certain allergens. However, the vet may also determine the cause of the allergy based on the time of year the skin problems occur. For example, according to Dog-Health-Guide.org, if a dog experiences allergy symptoms in March and April, she is likely allergic to tree pollen. Similarly, if symptoms occur in May, June or July, they are probably caused by grass pollen, and if the dog suffers from the problems in late summer and fall, it is likely because of weed pollen.

Treatment

Treatment of seasonal skin problems depends on their cause and severity. According to Dog-Health-Guide.org, many vets will prescribe antihistamines, such as clemastine, diphenhydramine and hydroxyzine, to alleviate the symptoms. Steroids may be required if the irritation and inflammation are severe and antibiotics are prescribed in the instance of infection. If the problems are due to flea allergies, prevention is the best medicine. The dog should use a flea preventative year round and may require additional medication to resolve any problems the fleas may have caused, such as inflammation. In addition, a home may require flea treatment to completely alleviate the home of the pests.

References

• K9 Web: Skin and Allergy Problems in Dogs
• Dog Health Guide: Canine Skin Allergy