Dog
ear infections, however are widely varied and there
are a number of different causes.
Allergies:
Some dogs are more prone to allergies than others,
and therefore they get more ear infections. In these
cases it is important to remember that you need to
treat the cause of the symptom (the allergy) along
with the actual symptom (the ear infection). This
means diagnosing your dog’s allergy along with
treating and preventing future ear infections.
Foreign
Particles: Foreign particles in the ear can
cause an infection and, if untreated, a serious trauma
to the ear canal.
Heredity:
Dogs with hairy inner ear flaps, like schnauzers and
miniature poodles, are prone to heavy wax build up
and infections. Research your particular breed to
determine what the likely health problems may be so
that you can be on the look out for any potential
problems.
Hormonal
Imbalances: Dog ear problems can be caused
by certain deficiencies or imbalances of various hormones
in a dog’s body.
Microorganisms:
The dog ear yeast infection is one of the most common
causes of ear infection, but there are numerous types
of bacteria which can be responsible.
Parasites:
Ear mites can cause a crumbly, dark brown substance
to form in the ear, which you may be able to diagnose
on your own. Place ear wax from your dog under a bright
light and look for small white specks. The ears need
to be cleaned daily during treatment along with a
prescribed treatment to kill the existing ear mites.
Trauma:
Dogs ears are very sensitive and certain accidents
can cause trauma. If your dog has suffered any physical
trauma, ensure that you check the whole body including
the ears as wounds can lead to serious infection if
left untreated.
2.
Skin Conditions
Skin
conditions are common dog health problems. Your dog’s
skin is their body’s largest organ and is reflective
of your dog’s overall health, both mental and
physical, and can be affected by inside as well as
outside sources. Because of this it can be difficult
to determine what the exact cause of the problem might
be, however we’ll take a look at some common
causes of dog skin complaints.
Dog
skin conditions and dog skin disorders may show one
or more of the following symptoms:
• Anal gland problems
• Brown, black or grey discoloration
• Chronic inflammation of the inner ear canal
• Foul odor to the skin
• Greasy coat
• Hair loss
• Itching- mild to severe, meaning blood is
drawn
• Large brown flakes
• Pimples and blisters that may discharge blood
or pus
• Redness and irritation
• Scabs or crusts
• Skin flaking, resembling dandruff
• Very dry skin
• Dog Warts
Common
Causes of Dog Skin Conditions
A dog’s physical or mental imbalance, together
with unhealthy environmental factors can become apparent
by manifesting as a skin condition, however there
are some common causes.
Parasites - Fleas, ticks, lice, mange,
ringworm
Poor Quality Food
Toxic Environmental Pollutants
Vaccinations
Atopic Dermatitis
Psychological Factors
Dog Food allergies
While
the exact cause will need to be diagnosed and treated,
there are a number of things you can do to make your
dog more comfortable:
•
Aloe Vera cream or gel applied directly to the irritated
skin
• Milk of Magnesia has been found to help itchy,
irritated and dry skin. Pour onto a cotton ball and
apply to the skin of your dog.
• Oatmeal Shampoo with Aloe is great for dogs
prone to skin rashes. The oatmeal keeps their coat
healthy while the aloe heals the skin as explained
above.
• Mixing baking soda with water and applying
it to the skin of your dog can be help give relief
from itching.
Keep
your dog from intense scratching, licking or biting
of the skin spot, as prolonged scratching can cause
bleeding and possibly infection.
3. Pyoderma/Hot
Spots
Hot
Spots, are a dog health problem known as Moist Eczema
or Acute Moist Pyoderma and are commonly called summer
sores. These suddenly appearing, wet, circular patches
of infection on the skin create intense itching and
irritation. They can be very painful, often discharging
pus and can spread very quickly. Hot Spots can spread
very rapidly across the skin surface and beneath the
fur so they may be difficult to see, although common
symptoms will be your pet scratching, licking and
biting. Hotspots can get much worse within a matter
of hours, in some cases leading to an extremely painful
situation.
Treatment
for hotspots involves drying the area, which may mean
shaving the area of hair, to allow air space and healing.
Daily cleaning of the Hot Spot with hydrogen peroxide,
sterile saline or an astringent (preferably one with
an antibiotic), every two-four hours for the first
few days, will speed up the healing. Keep the area
clean for at least a week, by which time you should
see a clear improvement. Once they are no longer oozing,
simply keeping the Hot Spot area clean will be all
that's needed.
Some dogs never have hotspots while others can’t
get rid of them, and they are often linked to allergies
to diet or shampoo. Other factors commonly include
flea or tick bites, matted hair and warm weather.
4.
Gastritis/Vomiting
Many
animals occasionally vomit (especially if they like
eating grass) as it is a natural way of discarding
upsetting foods or foreign objects. This is usually
not a cause for serious concern. A sudden change of
food or mild stomach upset can also cause vomiting.
In most of these cases, withholding food for 24 hours
cures the problem. However, if your pet is vomiting
repeatedly or seems listless or in pain, seek veterinary
help immediately.
Your judgement concerning vomiting is critical, any
vomit containing blood is an emergency and the animal
requires urgent veterinary attention. If your pet
seems alert, active and seems unconcerned about the
vomiting, then you may try cautious observation at
home.
The
first thing to do is to put your dog on a fast. Withhold
food for 12-24 hours, but ensure they have access
to plenty of water. Be aware that many small breeds
of dogs can suffer severe consequences from hypoglycemia
(low blood sugar) if food is unavailable for longer
than 18 to 24 hours. If vomiting has not resumed,
slowly increase the amount of food again over the
next 24 hours, usually a bland food like plain white
rice, feeding equivalent cups of rice as their normal
diet. If the animal is not interested in food, vomits
repeatedly, or seems cramped or in pain, call the
veterinarian
5.
Enteritis/Diarrhea
The
definition of diarrhea is more than an occasional
loose stool, and is the frequent and repetitive passage
of loose stool. You will need to use your judgment
on the seriousness of diarrhea.
Occasional
diarrhea (with no other serious symptoms) is usually
no cause for concern - as with vomiting, this is usually
due to a sudden change in diet or a mild stomach upset
and can be treated by a 24-hour fast (make sure water
is available) followed by bland food like plain white
rice. However, bloody diarrhea with severe straining
may require an emergency trip to the veterinarian
and diarrhea along with vomiting can be a sign of
serious intestinal obstruction that may even need
surgery. Weakness, pain, vomiting, or agitation are
serious signs that the pet needs medical attention.
It is worth getting a fecal sample checked in case
worms or other internal parasite are a factor. Chronic
or frequent episodes of loose stool may be a sign
of Inflammatory Bowel Disease which often requires
veterinary attention.
It
is important that you are able to recognize the symtoms
of the most common dog health problems as your dog
can't tell you if something is wrong. It is up to
you to be vigilant of your dog's behavior and to react
appropriately if needed.