Posts tagged "skin disease"

Worming – Dogs

What Types Of Worm Infections Are There?

Roundworms

These worms are spaghetti-like in appearance and non-segmented. Toxocara canis and Toxascaris leonina are both seen in the UK. A heavy infestation can cause a pot-bellied appearance, diarrhoea and result in a poor growth rate.
Toxacara canis can also affect humans, causing a variety of symptoms and in rare instances, blindness in children.

Tapeworms

These worms are segmented and can grow to several feet in length. The small head of the worm fastens to the lining of the small intestine and the main body of the worm trails downstream. The adult worm sheds segments, which are full of eggs and can often be seen around the anus or on the stools. They resemble grains of rice.

Hookworms

These worms suck blood from the lining of the gut and can cause serious anaemia and internal bleeding. Hookworms can also cause skin disease as infective larvae are able to burrow directly into the exposed skin.

Whipworms

Like hookworms, these worms are blood-suckers living in the lining of the small intestine. They can cause bloody diarrhoea and weight loss.

What Can We Do To Control Worm Infections?

Given that worm infections are so common in the UK, the prevention of infection is practically impossible. Control is based on a regular quarterly treatment with a drug that will kill worms. These may be given orally as powders, tablets or suspension as well as  by ‘spot-ons’, and even injections in some instances. It should be noted that not all worm groups are killed by all of the available drugs, so it is important to gain advice as to which products are suitable for your pets needs.

PANACUR GRANULES are tasteless, odourless granules that can be dissolved into the dogs’ food making medication easy. The granules contain the drug fenbendazole which is effective against all roundworm and most tapeworm infections.

PANACUR FAVOURITES are the same drug in tablet formulation that are given like a treat to the pet.

PANACUR PASTE is the same drug in paste formulation so that it can be given directly into the patient’s mouth.

PANACUR SUSPENSION is the same drug in a liquid suspension and can be added directly to the food.

DRONTAL PLUS and DRONTAL PLUS XL are tablets containing a combination of pyrantel embonate, febantel and praziquantel offering complete round- and tapeworm coverage.

DRONTAL PUPPY SUSPENSION is the same combination of drugs (a combination of pyrantel embonate, febantel and praziquantel) but in a suspension that can be mixed into the food.

‘Stronghold’ is a ‘spot-on’ preparation, currently available only through your veterinary surgeon, that treats roundworms, fleas and some types of mange. It DOES NOT treat tapeworm infections.

Sandy Scott
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/worming-dogs-698828.html

Skin and Coat Problems in Dogs and Cats

The skin, your pet’s largest organ, acts as a barrier against harmful invasions from the environment. As an organ of elimination, symptoms of disease often show up in the skin and the body rids itself of toxins

Skin problems are probably the most common ailments seen in dogs. Usually they are not a disease in themselves, but a symptom of another underlying problem.

The most common reason for skin problems in both dogs and cats is an allergy. Foods, pollens, dust or medications may cause signs of allergy. Problems can also show up due to dietary deficiency or poor diet in general. Symptoms include such as itching, redness, and poor coat quality.

If no other reason for the problem can be found, it is time to look for food allergies. Changing to a premium or home-made dog food can usually make a big difference in a short time. Often simply adding raw meat to the diet is enough to see an improvement.

If the problem persists, or the pet is already on a healthy diet, then you must look at the specific ingredients in the food. Beef, chicken, corn and soy are the most common allergens, but cats and dogs, like people, can be allergic to anything. Try eliminating the above four things first, if that doesn’t work a more drastic “elimination diet” may be necessary. This usually takes at least 6-8 weeks to get a good reading.

If no food allergy can be identified, or if eliminating an offending food has not solved the problem, then you must look to the environment – inside as well as outside. Once an allergic reaction has been allowed to continue for some time, the immune system is taxed and the body may become sensitive to other irritants.

Play detective! Ask yourself if anything has changed in the house recently; new carpeting, new cabinetry, fresh paint? These things can all give off chemicals which may cause illness. Are the symptoms seasonal? Pollens are a common allergen, and difficult to avoid, especially for a dog. Did the symptoms start suddenly? What happened just before they appeared – vaccinations? Other illness? Emotional upset? Finding and eliminating the cause can be a long and difficult process.

Essential Fatty Acids, also known as Omega-3 and Omega-6 are important nutrients for the skin and coat of dogs and cats. You might also consider certain herbs, such as Milk Thistle or Dandelion, which support the liver and help the body detoxify. There are many natural topical products that can be used to calm the symptoms.

Bathing is not always the answer. If the dog’s coat is dry, bathing may just make matters worse. If you must bathe, use a gentle shampoo. For dogs or cats with itchy skin, look for oatmeal as one of the ingredients in a pet shampoo.

Another common cause of itching and redness for dogs and cats is flea bite dermatitis. Not all animals are allergic, but fleas will at least cause scratching or biting in all pets simply because they are annoying! Flea allergies however, cause the pests to be more than just an annoyance. Symptoms of flea allergy include hair loss, redness, and sometimes sores kown as “hot spots”.

If you suspect your pet has fleas but you haven’t actually seen any, look for the tell-tale black “specks” at the base of the hairs. Fleas particularly love the areas at the base of the tail, ears and hind legs (where they meet the belly). To determine if the specks are flea dirt (dried blood) and not just dirt, put some on a white paper or cloth and wet them. If they turn red, you’ve got fleas.

Some diseases cause symptoms of the skin and coat. Thyroid imbalances may cause dull, flaky or greasy coat and sometimes hair loss. Skin and ear infections are common with Cushing’s Disease.

There are some specific skin diseases as well. Mange is caused by a mite and causes lesions and hair loss, usually around the mouth and eyes. This most often clears up on its own, but some dogs and cats cannot rid themselves of the mites and have a more severe case. Ringworm is a highly contagious fungus affecting cats, dogs and people (especially children). It shows up as circular lesions that are raw, hairless and scaly. The disease spreads rapidly.

Boredom or anxiety can cause a dog to lick its paws repeatedly and constantly, resulting in “lick granulomas”. These are raised nodules, often rough and scaly. There is also a group of autoimmune diseases called Pemphigus which cause scaly skin, scabs and pustules. Some breeds are particularly susceptible to the disease.

Elyse Grau
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/skin-and-coat-problems-in-dogs-and-cats-250087.html

Home Remedies For Dog Mange

Home Remedies For Dog Mange

Dog mange is one of the most miserable afflictions that can strike your dog. It’s a contagious and persistently itchy skin disease brought on by parasitic mites burrowing under the skin. It must be treated as soon as you detect the symptoms. Otherwise the dog mange only gets worse.

Symptoms Of Dog Mange

The symptoms of dog mange include continuous itching, hair loss, dry and thickened skin with crusty scales, dry and wrinkled skin, unpleasantly strong skin odor, and blisters and sores. It’s difficult to spot dog mange from the itching alone because dogs generally itch and scratch quite a bit. However, if you see them scratching too hard and more than usual, check them for dog mange. Keep an eye on the hair loss because this is a very common symptom. In addition to the thin hair, if your dog’s skin is covered in sores and red blisters, he might have dog mange.

There are different home remedies that you can use to give your dog some relief from these dog mange symptoms. First of all, bathe your dog. Even though he may have dog mange already, you can help prevent secondary infections just through keeping your dog clean. When you bathe him, it removes the dead and flaky skin. Give him some herbal supplements such as Echinacea, araginogalactans, and astragalus to strengthen the immune system of your dog.

You can also apply topical remedies. Such things as aloe vera, vitamin E, or tea tree oil can be applied directly to the affected areas. These will provide symptomatic relief. Be careful to only choose remedies approved for topical application as some remedies can be toxic.

As it’s the mites living under the dog’s skin that causes dog mange, killing the mites is the best way to treat this disease. This can be done by applying petroleum jelly several times a day to the affected areas. The mites will be suffocated by this.

Be sure to treat all of your pets because if your dog has dog mange and hangs out with your other pets, chances are, they’ve developed it as well. Dog mange can be serious and even deadly in extreme cases. Taking immediate action is the best thing you can do as soon as you notice your dog having symptoms.

Summary

Dog mange is a very serious condition caused by mites living under the skin and can be successfully treated with the use of home remedies.

Find More Dog Mange Symptoms Articles

Best Recommended Product For Dog Mange Treatment

Demodectic Mange Treatment – Kennel Combo For Dog Mange!
Demodectic Mange Kennel Combo – MOST POPULAR for dog mange! This is your Veterinary Strength Demodectic Mange treatment or for larger breeds (over 10 lbs). Contains products to PUSH deep into the hair follicles, treating the Demodectic mange on contact, relieves the itch and repairs the skin. Consists of no oils to stain your furniture or smell up your home! The humane way to treat your pet with Demodectic Mange.

Home Remedies For Dog Mange.