8 Of The Most Common Dog Skin Conditions

When they have dry skin, dogs usually have an underlying condition that can be treated. Do you see sores and red spots on your dog's skin? White flakes? Is your pet constantly licking, chewing, or scratching? If so, your furry friend likely has canine skin conditions. Rashes, lumps, bumps, and hair loss are other indicators of skin problems in dogs. Keep reading to learn about the most prevalent dog skin conditions and how you can soothe them naturally.

Hotspots (acute moist dermatitis) are among the most common and frustrating dog skin conditions because there is no cure. The inflamed red spots on dog skin can feel hot to the touch and are miserable for the affected animal. You can manage hot spots to help avoid infections in the skin that could lead to more serious issues.

Both environmental and food-related allergies can cause itching and other dog skin problems.

The idea of dogs with fleas is a stereotype, but that doesn’t make it less miserable for your dog. Dogs with ticks and fleas scratch and bite themselves constantly, and ticks and fleas can invade your home, too. Prevention is the best medicine, so stay up to date on your pet's flea and tick medications to help them avoid being affected by these pesky insects. Ignoring fleas and ticks can result in red spots on the dog's skin, and your dog’s fur may even fall out.

Mange is another dog skin condition caused by insects. There are two primary types of mange:

• Sarcoptic mange, also known as canine scabies, is an extremely itchy skin condition in dogs that is typically located on the ears. Dogs affected by sarcoptic mange may also experience loss of fur on the face and legs.
• Demodectic mange is like sarcoptic mange, but it normally affects only puppies and senior dogs with underlying health conditions.

Folliculitis is the term for inflamed hair follicles and is unlike the previously mentioned canine skin conditions because it usually results from other skin problems in dogs such as mange or allergies. When folliculitis occurs, the hair follicles become infected, which results in sores, itchy scabs, and bumps on the skin.

Dogs with ringworm aren't infected with worms. They are actually suffering from a highly contagious fungal infection that can be passed to humans. It manifests as red circular, crusty patches on the dog's ears, head, paws and front legs. The skin may also be irritated and broken from scratching. You must kill the fungus to prevent it from spreading.

Yeast thrives in warm, moist, hard-to-reach areas such as between the dog's toes, around the dog’s groin and perineum, and inside the ear canal. An overabundance of yeast can cause the skin to thicken, change color, and develop an unpleasant odor. A dog skin yeast infection will cause your pup to scratch and bite at the infected location. If the infection is in the ears, you may notice your dog pawing at or shaking its head.

If you notice discoloration or missing fur at the top of the nose along with dog skin problems on the face and paws, your pet may have lupus. This is an autoimmune disease that causes the body to fight itself. A visit to the vet right away is necessary because lupus is a severe illness.