Skin problems, from painful sores to dry, itchy skin, can be a source of great discomfort to all species of animals. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), the condition of an animal's skin can indicate its overall health. Keeping pets in a clean and stress-free environment, in combination with a healthy and properly balanced diet, is the best way an owner can help prevent skin problems.
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Symptoms
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All types of pets, from hamsters to dogs, that are suffering from skin disorders or infections will exhibit similar symptoms. These can include excessive itching, dry and scaly skin, redness, scabs, lesions, rashes, general hair loss and balding in certain spots, discolored pigmentation in areas and the drainage of blood or pus from an open sore. Repeated scratching, licking or biting by the pet can make the skin even more irritated.
Diagnosis
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Veterinarians will test either the hair and skin or blood to diagnose skin problems based on particular symptoms. For example, a hamster that is losing hair around its rump area might be tested for mange mites via a skin biopsy that is taken by scraping the skin and examining the organisms under a microscope. However, an elderly dog that is losing a large amount of hair might be given blood tests to determine the presence of cancer or other internal imbalances. A malfunction of the adrenal glands, for example, causes increased production of the hormone cortisone, which thins the skin, leaving it more susceptible to scrapes, infection and the development of mineralized skin nodules, according to the 2ndChance website.
Treatments
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Veterinarians typically prescribe a change in diet if the skin problem is related to allergies. Oral antibiotics, corticosteroid creams and medicated shampoos are used to treat parasitic infestations. In the case of fleas, egg reproduction must be controlled in the environment, according to the Utah Veterinary Medicine Association website. The pet's bedding must be cleaned and flea misters or bombs can be used to treat the entire house.
Significance
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Skin problems in pets can be triggered by a variety of external stimulants, like having an allergic reaction to tree pollen. More dangerous, internal causes can include a malfunction of the thyroid or adrenal gland, cancer and diabetes. In some animals, particularly small prey animals like guinea pigs and hamsters, symptoms don't begin to show until the condition is advanced, and prompt veterinary care may be crucial for any treatment to be effective.
Considerations
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Parasitic and fungal skin disorders are highly contagious and are easily transmitted between pets. Any animal that is scratching frequently should be isolated from other pets until a veterinarian can diagnose the problem. And although transmission from pet to human is rare, owners should avoid coming into contact with the afflicted pet's saliva or feces prior to seeing the veterinarian.
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