5 Common Dog Skin Problems

Updated: February 21, 2024

Dog skin problems, sounds familiar? These skin problems in canines are probably one of the most common and the most stressful challenges a pet parent can go through.

We've come up with a list of the 5 most common dog skin problems and what you can do to keep your fur baby's skin healthy.

Dry, dull coat. Incessant scratching and chewing. Sound familiar? Dog skin problems are often the most common presenting complaints at the veterinarian, Skin issues account for almost a quarter of the office visits a clinician sees in a typical day. So what are some of the most common dog skin problems, and what can owners do to keep a dog’s skin healthy?

"Dog skin problems are often the most common presenting complaints at the veterinarian, accounting for almost a quarter of the office visits a clinician sees in a typical day."

Itchy skin

Itchy skin in dogs is a common thing. Skin itching problems make up almost 40% of vet visits. Itchy skin is such a dilemma as this can fully take over your dog's life and will keep both you and your pet up all night, as the sight of your dog suffering from all the itchiness and scratching won't give you peace. Aside from that, excessive and constant itching can eventually cause secondary skin lesions, wounds, hair loss on the affected area and infections.

According to VCA Hospitals, dog itchy skin is a common clinical sign of almost all skin disorders. It is often accompanied by red, inflamed areas of the skin. Some causes for a dog with itchy skin may be flea allergy dermatitis, seasonal allergies, and contact dermatitis.

Allergies

Allergies are a very common reason for why dogs itch. Dog allergies can be acquired from the environment, from food and from fleas.

Environmental allergy is when your fur-baby inhales an allergen (e.g. pollen, dust) or your fur-baby's skin gets in contact with a harmful substance (e.g. bleach, acid, lawn grass).

Food allergy also results in dog skin problems as some dog foods contain allergens (e.g. chicken, dairy, lamb, too much protein content) that can trigger skin irritation and itchiness.

Flea allergy happens every time fleas bite your dog's skin and these bites trigger your fur-baby to chew on, lick, scratch, rub the affected area.

Hot spots

Another one of the five common dog skin problems are sores and hot spots. Hot spots are red, inflamed, burnt-like areas on the skin of your fur-baby usually caused by extreme weather conditions (too hot in the summer, too cold in the winter) and are primarily bacterial infections due to parasites' bites.

The affected area of dog hot spots often appears as a moist, oozing, reddened area. It may be painful and extremely itchy. You may also notice hair loss. Excessive licking and chewing of the affected area may worsen the condition dramatically. 

Hair loss

What a miserable sight to see your fur-baby balding, losing his hair. Canine hair loss is the effect of an array of possible problems like thyroid disease to Demodex mites, etc.

It may appear in a single spot, in patches, or all over your furbaby's body. 

Flaky skin, dull coat

A flaky skin and a dull coat is another of the common dog skin problems you and your dog have to go through. A flaky skin can lead to skin lesions and infections, while a dull coat can eventually lead to hair loss.

What can you do to keep your dog's skin healthy?

Provide Pet Parents Skin and Coat SoftSupps®. There are a lot of skin and coat supplements available in the market but the best skin and coat supplements contain:

  • Alaskan Salmon Oil that's 100% from Wild Alaska Pollock & highly concentrated in EPA & DHA. This helps to condition skin, reduce scratching & hot spots, give a shiny coat, & promote joint, heart, and cognitive health.
  • Vitamin C, an antioxidant that increases white blood cell activity and improves immune function. It works as a natural antihistamine and helps minimize allergies.
  • Epax®, a world leader in Omega-3 and a pure form of fish oil, rich in EPA & DHA. These are essential fatty acids for a healthy coat. It may also help support normal moisture content of skin.
  • Biotin, which helps support proper digestion and absorption, promoting overall intestinal health. 

Pet Parents Skin and Coat SoftSupps® help keep dog's skin and coat healthy and shiny! It will reduce their dog's shedding, will help prevent any itching & irritation and can even aid in hair regrowth in bald areas!

You may also want to consider Allergy SoftSupps®. These allergy supplements for dogs contain:

  • Bio-Mos® helps fight seasonal allergies in dogs and promotes a healthy immune system.
  • Apple Cider Vinegar supports antioxidant function and fights off damaging free radicals in the body.
  • Colostrum, a milk substance that enhances immune response and may help promote overall digestive health.

Check with your vet. Effective management of dog skin problems in your dog is a joint effort between your veterinarian and you. If your dog shows a lot of itching and symptoms of a skin problem, you have to contact your vet. With the correct diagnosis and a comprehensive management, the proper treatment plan will be given.

The 5 common dog skin problems above may have similar clinical signs. A veterinary dermatologist can properly diagnose skin conditions and determine a treatment plan.

Nobody wants to see their dog's skin & coat dry and flaky, don’t you think? That’s why you offer them Pet Parents® Skin and Coat SoftSupps® that can help keep dog's skin and coat healthy and shiny!

"Effective management of dog skin problems in your dog is a joint effort between your veterinarian and you."

The author

MICKA V.

Author Bio

Micka Virtudazo is a full-time content creator at Pet Parents® who lives with thirteen adorable American Bullies and a Shih Tzu-Maltese mix named Gretel. She especially enjoys writing how-to articles as she feels through this she can connect to other pet parents on a more personal level.

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