One commonly-encountered health problem that dog owners frequently deal with involves a pet with itchy, flaky, dry skin. Diagnosing the problem can be difficult, but there are a few measures that owners can take to improve the condition of a dog with itchy, flaky skin.
The Effects of Itchy, Dry Skin in Dogs
There are several common ailments and illnesses affecting dogs that can lead to dry skin, itchy skin, flaky skin. The dog’s dry skin can often cause near-constant scratching that disrupts sleep and normal life. Fur loss and breakage is another common result of a dog’s itchy skin, and it results from frequently scratching at or biting the coat and skin.
In some severe cases, the itching will result in a dog with hot spots. Hot spots are hard-to-heal patches of skin infection commonly caused by bacteria that’s introduced when a dog suffers minor abrasions or scrapes from scratching or biting at the skin.
And when left untreated, infections on the skin’s surface can penetrate the underlying tissues, resulting in scarring, permanent hair loss, serious infection that can require surgery to remove the damaged tissue, thereby allowing healing to occur.
Skin infections that are associated with scratching, such as bacterial infections and fungal infections (which have the ability to cause an itchy, flaky skin condition), can also spread to other parts of the dog’s body and in some cases, the infection can even spread to other pets.
Causes of Dry, Itchy Skin in Dogs
There are a handful of common causes for frequent skin irritation in dogs; some causes are relatively minor and easy to remedy, while others are more serious and difficult to treat.
- Parasites. Parasites are among the most common cause for dry, itchy, flaky skin in dogs. Fleas are the most common and visible skin parasite, but there are other types of parasites that can cause problems for dogs. Some of these parasites live deep in the hair follicle and are not visible to the naked eye. Therefore, a quick and inexpensive skin scraping procedure may need to be performed at the veterinarian’s office to determine what, if any parasites are present. Common parasites in dogs include scabies (sarcoptic mange), cheyletiella mites (often called “walking dandruff”) and ear mites, which can spread to other parts of the body. Many of these mites require special prescription medication.
- Allergies. Allergies can take several forms, but the most common forms associated with itchy skin are contact dermatitis and food allergies. Contact dermatitis is skin irritation that can arise literally overnight, causing a dog to react to a substance or surface that he’s never had any problems tolerating in the past. Common triggers for contact dermatitis include household chemicals and cleaners, laundry detergent, shampoos and dog perfumes, and fabrics like wool. Food allergies are among the most difficult conditions to diagnose, and skin irritation can occur as part of a constellation of symptoms associated with the body’s intolerance of a food item or ingredient. Chronic skin problems can also result from an intolerance to a daily medication. Diagnosis often involves a great deal of trial and error to systematically rule out causes for the allergy. And treatment for allergies can include limiting contact with an irritant, and anti-histimine medications.
- Fungal Infections. Fungal infections, such as yeast infections, are another cause for dry, itchy, scaly skin in dogs. Ringworm is another example of a fungal infection that can affect the skin. Unfortunately, these micro-organisms can not only spread around the dog’s body, but they can also spread to other pets and even human family members. Fungal infections tend to be the source of constant irritation from the time the lesion forms. Redness, oozing, secondary infection, flaking and scaling are very common in cases of fungal infections.
Equally troublesome causes of dry, itchy, flaky skin in dogs include thyroid disorders, auto-immune disorders, internal intestinal parasites, dietary deficiencies and bathing or swimming too frequently.
The most common treatments for itchy skin include anti-histimine medication, limiting exposure to irritants, dietary supplementation, dietary change, anti-parasitic medication like ivermectin, antibiotic medication, steroid medication and anti-fungal medication or any combination thereof.
Related Reading
Learn about a dog's skin allergies and how to handle these ailments at home, and learn when to take a pet to the veterinarian's office for emergency treatment.
Also learn about the different forms of allergies in dogs , why allergic reactions occur, and learn about the different ways in which a dog's allergy can manifest.
Mia Carter - Mia Carter - Journalist, Producer/Editor & Web Writer. Carter's work has appeared on CBS and CNN.com.
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