Dog skin disorders 1554770 212642128 2008-05-15T17:17:28Z Ohnoitsjamie 507787 Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/Woofy1978|Woofy1978]] ([[User talk:Woofy1978|talk]]) to last version by 208.177.22.2 '''Dog skin disorders''' are among the most common health problems in [[dog]]s. Skin disorders in dogs have many causes, and many of the common skin disorders that afflict people have a counterpart in dogs. The condition of dog's skin and coat can also be an important indicator of its general health. Skin disorders of dogs vary from acute, self-limiting problems to chronic or long-lasting problems requiring life-time treatment. Dog skin disorders may be grouped into categories according to the causes. ==Types of disorder== ===Immune-mediated skin disorders=== Skin disease may result from deficiencies in immune system function. Some examples include increased susceptibility to [[demodectic mange]], recurrent skin infections, such as [[Malassezia]] infection or bacterial infections. This category also includes hypersensitivity disorders such as [[atopic dermatitis]], and skin diseases caused by [[autoimmunity]], such as [[pemphigus]] and [[canine discoid lupus erythematosus|discoid lupus erythematosus]]. '''Canine Atopic Dermatitis''' Canine [[atopy]] is a hereditary and chronic allergic skin disease. It usually begins by 10 months of age up to 2 years of age. Dogs with AD are itchy, especially around the eyes, muzzle and on the feet. [[Image:Canine_Atopy.jpg|thumb|Canine Atopy with dermatitis around the eye created by rubbing]]Frequent ear infections are also a problem in canine AD. Some of the [[allergens]] associated with canine AD include [[pollens]] of trees, grasses and weeds, as well as molds and [[House dust mite]]. '''Hot Spots''' A Hot Spot, or ''acute moist dermatitis'', is an acutely inflamed and infected area of skin irritation created and made worse by a dog licking and biting at itself. A hot spot can manifest and spread rapidly in a matter of hours as secondary [[Staphylococcus]] infection causes the top layers of the skin to break down and as pus becomes trapped in the hair. Hot spots can be treated with [[corticosteroid]] medications and oral as well as topical [[antibiotic]] application, as well as clipping hair from around the lesion. Underlying inciting causes include [[flea allergy dermatitis]], ear disease or other allergic skin diseases. Dogs with thick undercoat are most subject to getting hot spots. ===Infectious skin diseases=== [[Image:Dogmangeeee.jpg|thumb|250px|right|A dog with skin irritation and hair loss on its leg caused by demodectic [[mange]]]] Infectious skin diseases of dogs include contagious and non-contagious infections or infestations. Contagious infections include parasitic, bacterial, fungal and viral skin diseases.be careful with this. One of the most common contagious parasitic skin diseases is Sarcoptic [[Mange|canine scabies]]. Another is mange caused by Demodex ([[Demodicosis]]), though this form of mange is not contagious. Another contagious infestation is caused by a [[mite]], ''[[Cheyletiella]]''. Dogs can be infested with contagious [[lice]]. Other ectoparasites, including [[flea]] and [[tick]] infestations are not considered directly contagious but are acquired from an environment where other infested hosts have established the parasite's life cycle. [[Ringworm]] is a fungal skin infection and is more common in puppies than in adult dogs. [[Image:Malassezia_dermatitis.JPG|thumb|Dog with dermatitis caused by Malassezia (yeast)]]Non-contagious skin infections can result when normal bacterial or fungal [[skin flora]] is allowed to proliferate and cause skin disease. Common examples in dogs include ''[[Staphylococcus|Staphylococcus intermedius]] [[pyoderma]]'', and ''Malassezia dermatitis'' caused by overgrowth of ''[[Malassezia]] pachydermatis''. === Flea allergy dermatitis === See [[Flea allergy dermatitis]] ===Hereditary and developmental skin diseases=== Some diseases are inherent abnormalities of skin structure or function. These include [[seborrheic dermatitis]], [[ichthyosis]], [[Ehlers-Danlos syndrome|skin fragility syndrome]] (Ehlers-Danlos), hereditary [[canine follicular dysplasia]] and [[hypotrichosis]], such as [[color dilution alopecia]]. ===Cutaneous manifestations of internal diseases=== Some systemic diseases can become symptomatic as a skin disorder. These include many [[endocrine]] (hormonal) abnormalities, such as [[hypothyroidism]], [[Cushing's Syndrome]] (hyperadrenalcorticism), and [[tumor]]s of the [[ovaries]] or [[testicles]]. == References == *{{cite book | last = Medleau | first = Linda | coauthors = Keith A Hnilica | title = Small Animal Dermatology A Color Atlas and Therapeutic Guide | publisher = Saunders Elsevier | date = 2006 | location = St. Louis, Missouri | id = ISBN 0-7216-2825-7 }} *{{cite book | last = Scott | first = Danny W. | coauthors = William H. Miller, Jr; Craig E Griffin | title = Muller & Kirk's Small Animal Dermatology 6th Edition | publisher = WB Saunders Company | date = 2001 | location = Philadelphia, PA | id = ISBN 0-7216-7618-9 }} {{Dog nav}} [[Category:Dog diseases]]