For the pet owner, there is nothing more disheartening or stressful than seeing his dog fervently biting, scratching or chewing themselves. Grass allergens, pollen, hot spots, fleas and other bug bites are the underlying factors for itching in dogs during the summer. This article will go over the first indicators of skin disease, how they can be recognized and then how they can be done away with since they are so hard on a dog's health.

Fleas. Grass fungus. Grass seed and pollen. Ants. Mosquitoes. Bees. Scabies and mange mites. Ticks. Slivers and spiny things. Cuts and scratches. There are so many things that our furry friends can get into that we will never know about. For just one example, there are tiny pollen grains that are covered in sharp spikes. When these get into cracks in the pads of the foot, they can drive a dog insane with itching and stinging. Or they can be inhaled and create a different kind of allergic response. The list is endless.

In most cases you will never see what the true cause of all that itching, scratching and chewing is. However, it is important to know the warning signs that could alert you to a very serious skin condition at work in your pet.

You need to pay close attention whenever your canine companion scratches at himself. Give special attention to the areas that your dog scratches at. His problem could be something as severe as chronic allergies or perhaps just an uncomfortable collar. The dog's nails could make his skin raw or break open the top layer when he scratches, thus leading to infection. You need to tackle the problem when it starts, no matter what it is. Preventing the problem is the most effectual approach there is, so determining the problem early on is important. You could do some things from home.

You must first ensure that your dog is comfortable with you looking at his stomach. Turn the dog over onto its back and start looking over the area in which the back legs connect to the genital region. While it is largely contingent upon the breed of the dog in question, that part of it should have skin of a white complexion. The skin may have a slight pink hue that appears clean and soft. Be sure to look over the joints on your dog's legs to make sure that there are no hot spots or irritations taking shape. You should then turn the dog back around to examine the tail and rear while combing over the hair on its back to search for any signs of inflammation. The following are some of the first indicators of skin irritation:

* Watch out for black, red or rusty-colored dots on the skin. These dots would be flat against the skin, but might look like blackheads or tiny pinpricks. It could even just make the skin appear to be dirty. These dots will usually appear near the genital area in the groin. If you are seeing these spots, there might already be a problem.

- Any discolorations that resemble poppy seeds or pepper need to be looked for. Fleas are the culprit behind those spots. The "dirt" that is left behind by those fleas is really just the extra blood they ingested from the dog and excreted as waste. (You can take the "dirt" and set it onto a wet paper towel to do away with any doubts you may have. You will know that fleas are the cause of this if it comes out red.) If fleas are the underlying factor, you will need to act as soon as possible by having your car, home and dog flea-bombed.

- Is there a dandruff-like substance on your dog's skin? Any flaking or cracked skin along the rear is a sure sign of impending skin disease. Both humans and dogs alike will not have extra flaking of the skin if it is healthy. Additionally, healing this issue eliminates your chances of becoming allergic to the dog's dandruff.

* Watch out for raw patches, red spots or other types of rashes. These conditions will be very irritating for your pet and in most cases get much worse.

* Watch out for bare spots or a thinning of the hair. The back area of your dog, near the tail, you might see some crusty flakes and thinning of hair, which might not be obvious, particularly if your dog isn't groomed very often. If there are bare patches of skin present on the side of your dog, you should get him to the vet right away, as this could signal a very serious disease called bilateral alopecia.

* Watch out for scabs, scratches or other wounds. It is important to treat a potential infection as soon as possible to prevent it from becoming serious.

The following are several concepts to take into account when you want to prevent illness:

* There has been much discussion in the literature about how to keep fleas away. It's critical to keep fleas off your dog and out of your household, but it's also crucial to do this in a safe and natural way. Flea collars and sprays contain harsh toxins, and can give rise to other serious conditions. Even the most natural flea chasers can be harmful in some ways. There is much debate about pyrethrins, garlic, Brewers yeast, diatomaceous earth, and more, many of which have been used safely for years, but every dog is different. We recommend that you read everything you can and make your best decision. We use certified organic aloe vera gel (not juice) from Lily of the Desert (available at GNC stores), combined with Rosemary Essential Oil as a topical rub to get rid of fleas and keep them off. But there's no simple solution if you have a major infestation.

- Hot Spots: These are very difficult to prevent. These lesions, which can be caused by a vast array of problems, virtually develop overnight. Treating this condition right away is important if you want to avoid infection. Keep the infected region dry by ensuring that your dog is not able to lick at it. The DERMagic cream for hot spots is what we use to treat this problem, and it works in just under two days; this product is infused with vitamin E, aloe vera gel, sulfur and rosemary essential oil. This cream's constituents are what bring an end to the itching and lead to a fast healing process; this is all while reducing chances of infection and killing the bacteria. It is important to avoid using prednisone or cortisone since these steroids inflict damage by inhibiting the immune system's functionality.

* Mange, scabies, mites: There are several varieties of mange, all caused by various types of mites. This condition can be difficult to diagnose, more difficult to treat, and can become terminal. The typical allopathic veterinary treatment is steroids to reduce inflammation, usually in the form of prednisone. If your dog has a mite infestation, any steroid will make this worse. To prevent mites or mange, it's important to make sure your dog's immune system is functioning well, and that requires a healthy diet, a happy home, and an active lifestyle. Anything that causes a compromised immune system will allow all those critters that are already on the dog to now dig in and make a home under the skin.

- Allergens: Do not forget that allergens are what lead to allergic reactions. The culprit behind an allergic reaction has to be targeted at its source, which means taking the problem out of the dog's home altogether. When the dog's immune system is unable to prevent fungal, yeast or bacterial infection, it is because of its allergic reaction; a topical cream needs to be used on the skin to kill the bacteria. Bear in mind that steroids like cortisone just tackle the symptoms of the condition without going straight to the source and treating it.

If your dog has a skin problem you need to make sure that it gets treated right away to prevent it from becoming much worse. Even when choosing a product that is labeled as being "all natural", you still need to be careful. Products that have "natural" on the label are not regulated by the FDA, so really anything could be in that product. Make sure you choose products that are labeled as "certified organic", and never purchase products that have harsh chemicals listed in their ingredients. Always read the labels. If you aren't sure about the ingredients, go online and find out more about them and consider all the potential side effects before you use them.

Jennifer is a pet health specialist focusing on dog skin problems. She suggests DERMagic all-natural solutions for dog allergy medicine

Written by Jennifer Gretson using tags: animals, dog allergies, dog skin allergies, Dogs, Home, Pets

If you are a dog owner, then you have heard of dog allergies. It is a fact that dogs have a lot of allergens that can affect them, whether through the air, water, food, or environment. This makes it difficult for a dog owner to find the perfect dog allergy treatment for his pet, since canines are very adventurous animals and it is inevitable for them to completely keep away from any allergen.

Dog allergies come in many forms. There are allergies which can be triggered by the simple skin contact of a dog to an allergen, by ingestion, and even by inhalation. A lot of everyday objects found in the environment can cause allergies to dogs, and dog owners need to be careful about exposing their pets to these possible allergens.

Contact allergies are acquired by a dog when its skin comes in contact with a possible allergen like grass, plants, and toxic chemicals. Food allergies can be developed when a dog ingests food that contains soy, wheat, yeast, beef, and other foods that are not designed for canine consumption. Inhalant allergies are caused by pollution, smoke, and even scents from air fresheners.

Flea allergy is actually a form of contact allergy, but because it is the most prevalent type of allergy, it has become a major classification. Fleas are little parasitic insects that live by sucking blood out of bigger animals. When fleas bite, they leave saliva on the skin, and the saliva is what causes the allergic reaction and not the bite itself.

Whatever type of allergy a dog may acquire, when a dog is afflicted by it, the skin is always affected. Itchiness and inflammation develop on certain areas of the dog's skin, and like any living thing, its instinct is to scratch the itchy area. After regularly gnawing, chewing, scratching, and licking on the itchy part, the tendency of the skin is to develop allergic dermatitis.

This condition is feared by many dog owners because allergic dermatitis is very hard to cure. It may even infect a dog its entire lifetime. However, there are some treatment options that veterinarians prescribe to dog owners to use on their dogs. These options include topical creams, soothing baths, ointments, sprays, oral antihistamines, and steroids.

When using these prescribed medications, dog owners should be wary that steroids may not help, but even worsen the condition of their dogs. This is because the persistence of allergies may mean the presence of secondary infection caused by bacteria. Steroids contain the substance cortisone which inhibits the production of lymphocytes, therefore preventing dogs' bodies to naturally fight against the bacterial infection. Instead of curing the allergy, steroids will only worsen it and even cause the infection of a dog's entire body.

There is really no cure for allergies, but there are treatments to help soothe the itching and swelling of a dog's skin. DERMagic Natural Skin Care products are good examples of treatments that can eliminate the itching and swelling of dogs' skin, effectively fight off bacteria, and promote the healing process of the infected area. It is important for every dog owner to be educated about the needs and sensitivities of their dog in order to prevent the occurrence of any allergy problems.

Jennifer is a dog and cat health specialist focusing on dog hot spots. She highly suggests DERMagic all-natural products and solutions for dog allergy medication

Written by Jennifer Gretson using tags: animals, dog allergies, dog skin allergies, Dogs, Home, is-excel-hydrocortisone-spray-for-dogs-effective-treatment-for-itching, Pets

Dogs are fantastic pets. They are lovable, energetic, and very sociable. Most kids and women love tiny, furry dogs, while dads and men like playing with big, brawny canines. As members of the family, dogs also appreciate receiving care and attention from their owners. A dog most especially needs love and concern when it has dog skin problems.

Even if you care for your dog and provide it with all its needs, sometimes it is unavoidable for them to develop skin problems and allergies. These are very prevalent especially on dogs that are always active and adventurous. The main causes of these skin ailments include grass, air particulates, dust mites, mold spores, carpets, blankets, food, and other plants.

Although there are a lot of skin problems that may occur on a canine, one of the most evident symptoms of every one of them is itching. A dog that itches constantly may be experiencing a skin allergy or a developing rash that may progress into a worse skin condition. There are several forms of skin problems for canines, and some of them will be discussed further.

The most common skin disorders that may affect dogs are allergies. The flea bite is the most prevalent cause of these. Fleas are very small parasitic creatures that feed on the blood of bigger animals. When they bite, they leave saliva on the area of the skin that they bit. Allergies develop not from the bite of the flea but from the saliva irritation. The allergy may appear shortly and the dog will respond by repeatedly scratching the affected area and this is what causes worse skin disorders.

Other forms of allergies include contact allergy which develops from coming in contact with objects like plants, grass, and toxic chemicals; food allergies which can be caused by eating dog food or treats with soy, wheat, yeast, or beef; inhalant allergies which are airborne and can be caused by pollen, smoke, and air fresheners; and the result of the itching and scratching of these allergies which is allergic dermatitis.

Allergic dermatitis is the result of the constant scratching, licking, chewing, and gnawing on the itchy area of the skin. This skin disorder is very bothersome for a dog because it is painful, itchy, and can last an entire lifetime. Sometimes allergic dermatitis can be accompanied by seborrhea, a bad odor that develops when the sebaceous gland and hair follicles become over-productive.

Another skin problem in canines are the so-called "hot spots", also known as acute moist dermatitis. Hot spots can be caused by practically anything, but the actual condition is characterized by infection that develops on the skin of the dog. Scratching and gnawing on the skin can develop allergic dermatitis, but once the skin is infected by bacteria or fungi, it becomes a hot spot.

These are the most common forms of skin problems for canines. Sometimes, diagnosing these problems may be difficult, so as owners, we should always look out for our dogs' skin health. Treating these skin problems is a tedious task, but natural products like those offered by DERMagic Skin Care for Animals can be very helpful in relieving dog skin problems.

Jennifer is a family dog health pro focusing on dog hot spots. She recommends DERMagic all-natural products for dog allergies treatment

Written by Jennifer Gretson using tags: animals, dog allergies, dog skin allergies, Dogs, Home, Pets