Dog skin disorders
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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]]