Common Skin Rashes on Dogs & How to Fix Them

Dogs commonly suffer from skin conditions which cause them to break out and have skin rashes. There are a variety of reasons for a canine to come down with an irritating rash, including parasite infestation, allergies and diseases. Treating the rashes and skin problems in a timely manner is the best method of fixing or alleviating the problem.

  1. Food Allergies

    • There is no clear cause as to why a dog might develop a food allergy, but it is a common problem. Canines who eat foods that contain beef products, corn, milk, soy and wheat may develop symptoms which include skin rash, paw licking and diarrhea. One way to treat the problem is to provide the animal with foods that contain none of the products that their normal food contains. Purchase foods that have duck or fish instead of beef and chicken. Another solution is to make the canine's food at home as a way of controlling what is going in the food.

    Parasites

    • Skin rashes on dogs are often caused by parasites like fleas and mites. This is especially true for dogs that are allergic to fleas, which is the most common infestation in canines. An effective treatment for fleas is an herbal flea dip which should be followed by spot treatments. Mites are another common parasite that burrows under the pets skin and releases toxins into the animal's blood stream. The most common treatment for a mite problem in dogs is Dermisil, which is prescribed by a veterinarian.

    Hot Spots

    • Hot spots, or superficial pyoderma, is an infection of the skin that results in hot spots on the surface of a canine's skin. The problem generally causes loss of hair, inflammation, pus and itchy skin. Dog's with hot spots will scratch, lick and bite their skin often mutilating the regions of infection. Dog's who are most susceptible to hot spots are those who have a past of allergies, ear infections, flea problems and grooming issues. Treatment for the animal includes washing with a mild soap or antiseptic and use of antibiotics and cortisone creams put on the sores and infected regions.