Dog skin problems can be complex. The more general term for diagnosis of dog skin problems is eczema – a broad term used for inflamed skin. But pinpointing the root cause of a dog skin problem is quite difficult and sometimes impossible.

The common pattern of dog skin problems is inflammation or dermatitis which causes itching and irritation. This discomfort tends to make the dog scratch using his claws and teeth, which results in hair loss, more itching, and more inflammation. This dog skin problem is termed as the itch-scratch-itch cycle. The cycle also causes broken skin and gives way for bacteria to invade.

The following are major signs of dog skin problems and skin disease: scratching; rashes; reddening of the skin; loss of hair; wet areas from licking – on white dogs, distinguished as stained brown by their saliva; black and gritty material in the coat; insects attracting the coat; dry coat; infected spots; dandruff; and mats.

The most important way of preventing dog skin problems from happening is to keep your dog clean and well groomed. Bathing on a regular basis is essential in maintaining a clean skin and coat. Grooming is also a very important part of his overall skin care. Contrary to what many people believe that grooming is solely for cosmetic reasons, grooming your dog gives you a great opportunity to check for fleas, ticks, and other signs of abnormalities that can cause dog skin problems.

But how often do you have to bathe your dog? Obviously, if your dog gets into something really dirty or is always playing outside in a grassy field, then of course you will need to give him a bath almost immediately. Otherwise, it all depends on his type of coat. If your dog has a smooth coat similar to the coat of a Dalmatian or a Whippet, then he only needs to be bathe two times each year. The same rule of thumb applies if your dog is medium coated like a Golden Retriever or a Saint Bernard.

If your dog is long coated similar to a Bearded Collie or a Maltese, he has a greater risk for developing tangles and other dog skin problems. He would need a monthly bath as well as conditioning and blow out to prevent from catching various types of dog skin problems. A wirehaired or broken coated dog like the Schnauzer or a Norfolk Terrier needs a bath every three to four months. Lastly, if your dog is curly coated similar to a Poodle or a Curly-Coated Retriever, then he is more likely to develop mats and knots that gives way for dog skin problems to occur. Long coated dogs ideally needs a bath every six to eight weeks.

All dogs are susceptible to both internal and external parasitic infestations. One common dog health problem is worm infestation. The two common worms that cause dog health problems are the tapeworm and the roundworm.

The tapeworm is a dog health problem that affects dogs at any age, but they are less common in young puppies than in older dogs. Tapeworms have a life cycle that depends on two different types of host species, in the case of the most often seen worm, the dog and the dog’s fleas. But in another species, they are transmitted through sheep.

Tapeworms are usually recognized as very similar to rice grains in the feces. Your dog may show a symptom of this common dog health problem by frequently licking and cleaning his anal region.

Controlling this dog health problem of tapeworm is simple. Modern veterinarian treatments are trouble free and do not require fasting before the treatment. They are very effective in curing this dog health problem with very little side effects, of occasional vomiting.

Roundworm is another dog health problem that occurs mostly in puppies. They are usually transmitted directly form dog to dog by fecal contamination which is very difficult to avoid. Many puppies are actually born infected with this type of dog health problem which is transmitted through the uterus of the mother. Worms that are inactive in the mother’s tissues are activated by the pregnancy hormones and then circulate in the mother’s bloodstreams, passing into the unborn puppies.

There are ways to control this dog health problem using a safe anthelmintic early on pregnancy to destroy the mother’s worm load. Another way of treating this dog health problem is treating the litter at three or four weeks of age, and then repeating the treatment before leaving the kennels. Once your puppy arrives home, he should be treated on a regular basis. Treatment of this dog health problem should be done every three to four weeks until your puppy is six months old.

Adult dogs usually build up immunity to the effects of the dog health problem of roundworm infestations and do not require regular treatment after six months of age. However, you need to keep an eye of this dog health problem, because roundworms are not always easy to detect in your dog’s feces.

There are effective drug treatments against these dog health problems that are
applied in one dose. You may also give your older dog this type of treatment
once every six months.

What is the foundation for your dog to have exceptional dog health? Are there certain steps that you need to take to ensure that you are taking good care of your dog?

For millions of years, dogs have evolved natural ways of maintaining their health. As long as condition permits, a dog’s natural defense works on cells, organs, and even molecules to repair and heal themselves. Over the course of time, we have developed countless ways and methods of caring for our dog’s health. However, natural dog health care should always lean towards harnessing these evolutionary natural defenses rather than depressing them.

Natural dog health healing can be observed at a visible level. For instance, when a dog suffers a skin puncture in a fight with another dog, you can see the skin naturally repairing itself over the next two weeks. You can watch and be amazed to see as the damage gradually disappears. What visibly takes place is the inflammation that occurs around the puncture, the formation of the scab, and the growth of the new skin under the scab to fill the defect.

Proper dog health begins with the knowledge and understanding on the natural healing that takes place in their bodies. Every second of every day of your dog’s life, its body is defending and repairing itself. Cells, organs, and molecules are capable of self diagnosis. When all other body functions are working well, your dog’s body recognizes damage and then immediately starts to repair, remove, or replace that damage. This is the basis of a good dog health.

Dogs are very efficient is healing themselves. But is our job to create and maintain the right conditions in which their bodies are able to self-repair and heal naturally. This can be accomplished by giving our dogs a good dog health diet. Regular exercise is also vital for their mental and physical health.

A consultation with your vet is necessary in regards to prescribing medications that would help their bodies overcome attack or organ failure. A vet consultation is also needed in maintaining good dog health should surgical intervention become necessary, such as setting a broken bone for example.

Our responsibility as dog owners as well as our vet is to provide the best dog health care possible and to give our dogs the proper circumstances so that they can maintain and live long with exceptional dog health.