Nizoral for Cocker Spaniels With Dry Skin

Cocker spaniels are generally sweet-natured, happy dogs that can be very friendly with strangers and other animals. As much as this sounds like good news, the bad news is that this breed can be predisposed to several skin conditions, which may require a great deal of brushing, combing and clipping to keep the coat in top shape. If your cocker spaniel is suffering from dry skin, there are several helpful products on the market. Ketoconazole, marketed as Nizoral, is helpful in some cases.

  1. Nizoral

    • Nizoral is an antifungal medication mostly used to treat fungal infections in cats and dogs. The drug is available in tablet form, but can also be found in the form of a shampoo that is often mixed with Chlorhexidine to treat fungal and bacterial skin infections. While Nizoral is not the primary drug of choice to specifically treat dry skin in cocker spaniels, it can be prescribed to treat underlying skin or metabolic disorders known to ultimately lead to dry skin.

    Cushing's Disease

    • Cushing's disease, the excessive production of cortisone by the adrenal glands, often manifests with hyperkeratosis or "dry skin." Often, skin problems are the main clinical presentation of this disease and the extent of dry skin problems can range from a fine peeling of the skin to severe scaling, explains veterinarian Alice M. Jeromin. Should your cocker spaniel be diagnosed with Cushing's disease, Nizoral can be used since this drug interferes with the production of hormones, ultimately going to the root of the dry skin problem.

    Yeast Infections

    • Skin yeast infections are another known cause for dry, itchy and scaly skin on dogs, explains the Humane Society of Utah. Because Nizoral is effective against yeast organisms such as Malassezia, it can be prescribed topically or for more severe cases, orally, to treat yeast skin infections in dogs. Cocker spaniels in particular are among the breeds known to have an increased susceptibility to developing Malassezia infections, explains veterinarian Scott Alan McKay.

    Fungal Infections

    • Some of the most common fungal infections are caused by microsporum and trichophyton, two species of fungi responsible for ringworm. Cocker spaniels affected by ringworm generally develop circular hairless patches that, upon becoming infected, develop a dry, crusty appearance in their center. Nizoral is one of the most valuable shampoos that can be employed for the treatment of ringworm, explains veterinarian Jeff Vidt.