Skin problems are common in both pet cats and dogs. But this may be a sign of a more severe underlying health issue. Itching isn’t just a nuisance when it occurs to your pet; it can be a very stressful and even unpleasant situation for them.
Scratching irritates the skin and raises the risk of infection by creating minor cuts. The health of your pet in its entirety depends on how you take care of its skin. So, keep reading to learn about common pet skin issues and find out when to seek aid from a veterinarian.
Medical Conditions Which Typically Cause Itching
Similar to humans, our pets will experience itchy skin at one point or another. Since the skin is the largest organ in both humans and animals, any issues with it can trigger considerable distress. That being said, skin problems need to be checked out by a veterinary dermatology expert and may require treatment so they do not end up being worse.
Fleas
One of the most frequent causes of itching in cats and dogs is the bite of one of these tiny bloodsucking, disease-transmitting parasites. When a pet develops an allergy to the flea’s saliva, a condition known as flea allergy dermatitis can set in, resulting in intense itching and even infection, specifically on the animal’s back. Your veterinarian can prescribe medicines to help with the parasite problem.
On top of that, you can prevent fleas by offering your pet preventative medicine, or visit your vet’s website and check out their vaccinations page, which will provide you with essential information on how to protect your pet against fleas and other parasites.
Allergies
Many different types of allergies exist. Numerous things in your pet’s environment can set off an allergic reaction, including fleas, their food or treats, dust mites, pollens, grasses and other plants, wool, and a lot more. Allergies in dogs and cats can manifest as a rash, redness, and sometimes even ear and skin infections. So it is vital to work with your veterinarian to get an accurate prognosis of your pet’s allergies.
Bacterial and Yeast Infections
Small amounts of bacteria or yeast on your pet’s skin are normal, but when these microbes increase their numbers and an infection sets in, the itching gets out of hand. Allergies and parasites are common sources of secondary illnesses in canines and cats.
Hot Spots
Too much licking, biting, or scratching of one area of the body results in hot spots, usually a symptom of another problem. These spots, most typically seen on dogs, are red and swollen and can overgrow in size, sometimes from the size of a quarter, in just a couple of hours. The discharge from hot spots could be pus or watery, which generates a foul odor. If you notice your dog is itching excessively and unable to stop, you must take it to a vet hospital to find the cause and treat it.
What Can the Vet Do to Help Your Pet’s Skin Problem?
Your veterinarian can provide you with a number of highly effective and risk-free treatment options, like oral medications and injectable serum, to alleviate your pet’s itching and infection. First, your veterinarian will look at your pet’s background of symptoms and run diagnostics like skin scrapings, allergy screening, and microscopic evaluation to determine the probable nature of your pet’s skin problem.
After making a prognosis, the veterinarian will choose a treatment plan. To ensure that your pet gets the necessary medication without an issue, you may consider visiting a pet pharmacy in Dallas, GA, which stocks a wide range of veterinary medicines for skin problems in dogs and cats.
Final Thoughts
It’s frustrating when your pet has skin issues, and you can’t help them stop scratching. The good news is that you can properly treat your pet’s condition with the help of your vet and get them feeling better swiftly so they can do all their favorite activities once more without suffering from irritating itching.
