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Skin Diseases in Dogs
July 25th, 2011
Author: Vancouver Vets
Healthy Pet Series: Vancouver Vets about Skin Diseases in Dogs
Skin disease is one of the most common reasons for which dog owners visit our Vancouver Animal Hospital. On average more than 20 per cent of all veterinary cases are dermatological and the majority of the patients are dogs.
Skin diseases are challenging yet frustrating for both dog owners and our Vancouver vets. The clinical manifestations of many different skin problems are very similar and may require a wide range of laboratory tests and trail therapy in order to reach a diagnosis. In some cases this may take several months. On rare occasions the underlying cause of an animal’s skin problems is never discovered and life-long symptomatic therapy is required. Dermatological therapy depends heavily on medicated shampoos and treatments applied directly to the skin itself and consequently involves considerable investment of time and effort by the owners of affected dogs.
Fleas are probably the most common cause of skin disease in dogs. The usual species of flea found on dogs is the ear flea. The life cycle of the flea varies between three weeks and two years depending on climatic conditions. The greater part of the life cycle (about 90 percent) is spent off the host animal in the environment, with adult fleas jumping on to the host to obtain a blood meal. They may also feed on humans. Typically skin disease is seasonal, coinciding with a peak in flea activity in late...
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