Canines are affected by a wide variety of skin problems, which lead to itching, discomfort and further irritation. In order to properly maintain your dog's skin, it is important to understand canine skin issues.
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Symptoms
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Symptoms aside from scratching, licking and chewing that indicate skin problems in dogs include: redness, swelling, scaly areas, scabs, rashes, hives, lesions, fluid drainage, discoloration and bald spots.
Common Problems
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Excessive scratching in dogs often is caused by parasites such as sarcoptic mange mites, fleas and ear mites. Additional causes include: fungal infection such as ringworm, allergies, changes in hormone levels, anxiety and boredom.
Diagnosis
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Skin problems in canines are diagnosed by veterinarians by performing any combination of the following tests: physical examination, blood analysis, microscopic skin examination and allergy analysis.
Treatment
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Treatment for skin problems and itching in dogs varies based upon the underlying condition causing the symptoms and may include: topical parasitic treatments, dietary changes, antihistamines, antibiotics and corticosteroids.
Warning
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In order to properly treat the underlying condition and prevent possible complications, it is important to seek veterinary help as soon as a dog begins displaying any symptoms of skin problems.
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