{"id":3682,"date":"2020-06-28T09:59:19","date_gmt":"2020-06-28T08:59:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/topdoghub.com\/?p=3682"},"modified":"2022-08-06T21:29:24","modified_gmt":"2022-08-06T20:29:24","slug":"should-i-take-my-dog-to-a-dermatologist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/topdoghub.com\/should-i-take-my-dog-to-a-dermatologist\/","title":{"rendered":"Should I Take My Dog to a Dermatologist?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You are your pet&#8217;s best advocate, and your pet depends on you to keep them healthy and strong. You might be asking &#8220;Should I take my dog to a dermatologist? Well, that depends.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your pooch is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ourbeautifulplanet.org\/animals\/easiest-ways-to-care-for-your-sick-dog-during-quarantine\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"external\">sick<\/a>, that can be more evident to you than if they are suffering from a problem with their skin and need to see a dog dermatologist.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Those issues can be trickier to spot. That is where you must become a pet detective and look for clues to tell you how your pet is feeling.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are sure signs that your pet might be experiencing skin issues.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Several signs that your dog might be miserable and needs some specialized help from a dog dermatologist include:<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Excessive scratching<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Excessive licking on paws, legs, or body<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Biting or chewing on skin<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Flaky, dry skin<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hair loss<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"clear:both; margin-top:0em; margin-bottom:1em;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/topdoghub.com\/best-flea-shampoo-for-dogs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"u814d419af9f0e067727e2a9037db7e2a\"><style> .u814d419af9f0e067727e2a9037db7e2a { padding:0px; margin: 0; padding-top:1em!important; padding-bottom:1em!important; width:100%; display: block; font-weight:bold; background-color:#E67E22; border:0!important; border-left:4px solid #E67E22!important; text-decoration:none; } .u814d419af9f0e067727e2a9037db7e2a:active, .u814d419af9f0e067727e2a9037db7e2a:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; text-decoration:none; } .u814d419af9f0e067727e2a9037db7e2a { transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; } .u814d419af9f0e067727e2a9037db7e2a .ctaText { font-weight:bold; color:#FFFFFF; text-decoration:none; font-size: 16px; } .u814d419af9f0e067727e2a9037db7e2a .postTitle { color:#FFFFFF; text-decoration: underline!important; font-size: 16px; } .u814d419af9f0e067727e2a9037db7e2a:hover .postTitle { text-decoration: underline!important; } <\/style><div style=\"padding-left:1em; padding-right:1em;\"><span class=\"ctaText\">See also<\/span>&nbsp; <span class=\"postTitle\">6 Best Flea and Tick Shampoo For Dogs<\/span><\/div><\/a><\/div>\n<h2><b>Excessive Scratching<\/b><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/topdoghub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/shutterstock_455155240.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-3684 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/topdoghub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/shutterstock_455155240-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"dog dermatologist\" width=\"648\" height=\"432\" srcset=\"https:\/\/topdoghub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/shutterstock_455155240-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/topdoghub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/shutterstock_455155240-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/topdoghub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/shutterstock_455155240-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/topdoghub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/shutterstock_455155240.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 648px) 100vw, 648px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the first signs that your pooch might need a dog dermatologist is excessive scratching.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When scratching becomes more than the occasional itch, it could be a sign of allergies. Those allergies could be environmental, such as mold or pollen.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your pet may also develop an irritation on their skin when exposed to pesticides or certain soaps. This is called contact dermatitis.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Fleas<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another culprit that can trigger your <a href=\"https:\/\/topdoghub.com\/best-flea-treatments\/\">dog&#8217;s scratching is flea<\/a> saliva. A single bite from just one flea can cause flea allergy dermatitis.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Ticks<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the same way that fleas do, ticks seek out blood to survive. When a tick bites your dog, the point of entry creates inflammation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The longer a tick stays attached to your dog, the longer the tick&#8217;s saliva is released into the skin, and the more it itches.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bacterial infection can also occur at the tick bite site and result in even more irritation and itching.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Mange<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your poor pooch! As if fleas and ticks were not enough, a microscopic insect can burrow into the layers of a dog&#8217;s skin to feed and live.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mites like mange chew their way through a dog&#8217;s skin and create inflammation. This can also lead to secondary infections, just like with ticks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Skin-lesions from mange can be anywhere on the dog&#8217;s body but are most often found in the armpits, groin, ears, and other areas on your pet that have less hair.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Allergies<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just as with humans, dogs can suffer, too, from seasonal allergies that can cause itchy skin.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0Blooming flowers, grasses, weeds, and trees can contribute to these allergies.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While most allergies that affect a dog are environmental, your pooch could also have allergic reactions to food.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are those dogs that are allergic to various proteins like beef, dairy, or chicken.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wheat, corn, or rice can also cause skin inflammation and itching if the dog is allergic to these grains.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Excessive Licking<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When your pup is licking on their paws, it can sometimes just be normal behavior. Dogs will often lick their paws if the paws are dirty.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They may also lick their paws and clean their head and face, much like a cat. If, however, the licking is excessive, it is wise to see if there is a problem.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Try and ascertain how long this behavior has been going on.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you can remember this is a relatively new habit, then look at your dog&#8217;s paws to see if there is any other evidence of an issue.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There might be a burr, splinter or stone stuck between their pads. When checking your dog&#8217;s paw, look for redness, odor, swelling, or bleeding.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your dog is also limping and you can&#8217;t see the problem, it is time to head to the vet.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Excessive licking can cause your dog&#8217;s skin to become irritated when there are no underlying problems.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The licking can cause wounds to develop, and this needs to be avoided.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If there is a wound, your vet will probably take skin scrapings for a culture to see if your pooch has an infection.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Biting or chewing on skin<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/topdoghub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/scratching.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-3685 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/topdoghub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/scratching-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Dog Dermatologist\" width=\"648\" height=\"432\" srcset=\"https:\/\/topdoghub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/scratching-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/topdoghub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/scratching-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/topdoghub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/scratching-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/topdoghub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/scratching.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 648px) 100vw, 648px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many of the reasons a dog is showing excessive licking are the same reasons for biting or chewing on their skin.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Biting their skin is a common reaction to irritation. As with licking, biting is one response your dog might have to flea bites.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The flea bite will look like a small, raised red bump on your dog&#8217;s skin. If scratched or bitten at, the bump can become inflamed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Always treat flea infestations. If left untreated, an infestation can lead to tapeworms in your dog if they ingest flea larvae while biting their skin.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Allergens in the environment can also be a cause of dermatitis and itchy, flaking skin on your dog.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are breeds of dogs that are more sensitive to allergens. Those breeds include terriers, setters, beagles, and retrievers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When your dog continues to bite themselves, it is important to get them checked out before additional problems surface.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Excessive biting can result in bacterial infections and open wounds. Be sure to have your pet looked at before it gets to this point.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your dog may also be biting at their skin if they have something lodged in their fur, like a burr, stick, or pickers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check their fur for any foreign objects that might be causing discomfort.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a dog gets older, or have had a previous injury, they can develop arthritis. This pain in their joints can also cause them to bite at themselves.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are unable to determine a cause and a remedy, make an appointment with a dog dermatologist to get advice on a course of action.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Dry Flaky Skin<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you notice that your dog has dry, flaky skin, it could be as simple as the shampoo you are using.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It could be drying out your pet&#8217;s skin, causing it to be dry and flaky.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you have tried the most apparent remedy of switching to a moisturizing shampoo and see no results, then the dry skin might have other underlying causes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dry skin may seem like just a normal condition, like in us humans, but in dogs, this condition should not be ignored.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are a variety of conditions associated with dry skin, so if your pet is one of those who have this condition, it is worth finding out and getting a remedy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As mentioned, it could be an easy fix, like switching shampoos. It could be an allergy to either things in the environment like dust, grass, or pollen.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Food allergies to grain or certain proteins might also be the culprit.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As yucky as it sounds, parasites can be a cause of dry skin on dogs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Demodex mites, canine scabies, and cheyletiellosis (walking dandruff) are indications that your poor pooch has lice.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whatever the cause, it is vital to find out the source. If left untreated, your pooch could develop a skin condition called atopic dermatitis.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This condition can lead to secondary skin infections, so it is best to address it as soon as possible.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are times when dry skin is the sign of a more significant issue. Cushing&#8217;s disease and hypothyroidism carry the symptoms of dry skin.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is better to have your pet checked out by a vet dermatologist if you notice dry skin, rather than waiting to see if it will clear up.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your pet will get relief, and you will have peace of mind.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Hair Loss<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/topdoghub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/skin.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3686 size-large aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/topdoghub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/skin-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"Dog Dermatologist\" width=\"648\" height=\"432\" srcset=\"https:\/\/topdoghub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/skin-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/topdoghub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/skin-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/topdoghub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/skin-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/topdoghub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/skin.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 648px) 100vw, 648px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As with other skin conditions, there are some similar reasons why your pooch might experience hair loss.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This hair loss (called alopecia) can be caused by infection, allergies, or irritation caused by parasites.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And this is not the normal shedding that all dogs do on a regular basis.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you start to see noticeable bald spots on your dog, you know it is time to see a vet dermatologist.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are some breeds of dogs that tend to baldness more than others.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Greyhounds, whippets, Chihuahuas, dachshunds, and Italian greyhounds are prone to bald spots on the outer ears, chest, belly, and thighs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They are genetically disposed to these spots of hair loss. It is essential to know the cause of hair loss, as there are other reasons for this other than genetics.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ringworm fungus, mites, and bacteria can lead to infections that can cause bald spots. Oily skin and thickened skin can also indicate mites.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If ringworm is the culprit, you may see circular or irregular hair loss along with infected crusts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is especially important to diagnose and treat, as ringworm is contagious.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Older dogs can be prone to pressure sores where their elbows or other bony parts are in contact with hard surfaces.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The constant pressure tends to thicken the skin, making the hair fall out, and calluses are formed in that area.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Insect bites and bee stings can cause an allergic rash or hives, resulting in bald spots.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>In Conclusion<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is an old saying: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. This has never been more true than in the case of your beloved pet.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You are the one they rely on to watch out for them and to render aid whenever needed. That aid might be in the form of a vet or a dog dermatologist.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If during your Sherlock Holmes type of detection, you see a condition that is out of the ordinary and persists for a few days, it is best to get it checked.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Early intervention can prevent issues from becoming more involved and distressing for you and your pet.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You are your pet&#8217;s best advocate, and your pet depends on you to keep them healthy and strong. You might be asking &#8220;Should I take my dog to a dermatologist? Well, that depends. If your pooch is sick, that can be more evident to you than if they are suffering from a problem with their &#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/topdoghub.com\/should-i-take-my-dog-to-a-dermatologist\/\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Should I Take My Dog to a Dermatologist?&#8221;<\/span> &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":3683,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/topdoghub.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3682"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/topdoghub.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/topdoghub.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/topdoghub.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/topdoghub.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3682"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/topdoghub.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3682\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5020,"href":"https:\/\/topdoghub.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3682\/revisions\/5020"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/topdoghub.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3683"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/topdoghub.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3682"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/topdoghub.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3682"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/topdoghub.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3682"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}