The Treatment of Dog Skin Disorders

Skin disorders are serious conditions in dogs.

Skin disorders in canines can be caused by a number of things with a range of severity levels associated with each one. According to Doggie's Paradise, skin disorders are probably the most crucial disorder dog owners have to deal with. Canine skin disorder symptoms consist of itchy scalp, dry skin, hair loss and rashes. If an allergic reaction is causing the skin disorder, there are treatments that can help alleviate the condition at home.

Time Frame

Skin disorders can take over a month to fully eradicate, however, the condition should improve with the first or second treatment. Treat the skin disorder daily unless otherwise recommended by your veterinarian. Frequent treatment speeds the recovery process and helps soothe the canine's discomfort.

Direct Treatment

Bathing helps remove chemicals and plant residue that irritate your dog's skin and cause rashes, hair loss and dry skin. To remove chemicals and plant residue, bathe the dog with a mild dish detergent. The dish detergent will break up and remove oils and films left on the dog's skin and coat, alleviating the problem. Anti-histamine cream applied to the irritated area of the skin will help ease swelling, redness and itchiness. To keep the dog from licking off any cream applied, spray the area with tea-tree oil. Tea-tree oil is a harmless, bitter tasting oil that will discourage your dog from licking or chewing the area.

Indirect Treatment

Benadryl, an oral medication, helps ease any reaction the dog has. A dose of 1 mg per pound of body weight, administered every eight hours will help alleviate the problem. According to Pet Care, Benadryl is the safest anti-histamine medication that can be given to canines at home without side effects. Proper nutrition and hydration will allow your dog's body to perform at optimum level, helping the immune system fight the skin disorder.

Prevention

It is important to prevent the skin disorder from flaring up again during treatment. If the irritant is not known, keep the dog in a clean environment where exposure to potential irritants is limited. If the irritant has been identified, take precautions to ensure that the dog does not come into contact with it, preventing further inflammation.

Warning

Talk with your veterinarian before trying to self treat any skin condition. Your dog have a serious skin disease that is treatable only by a trained professional. Quarantine could be necessary in serious cases; you are endangering yourself and any surrounding animals by not consulting your veterinarian.

References

• Pet Care: Dog Skin Allergy Treatment
• Doggie's Paradise: Dog Skin Disorders