Skin infections are one of the most common health problems to afflict dogs and it a disease that can cause the animal a great deal of pain and distress.
It is estimated that in the US alone, more than 50,000 canines are treated for skin infections every year and despite advances being made in treating skin infections, many a time the damage done proves to be irreversible.
Therefore as pet owners, it is essential to know the reasons leading to skin infections and take adequate measures so that your pet is protected from such peril.
A dog's outer body is naturally covered with hair and this makes it a great hiding place for bugs and other pests.
In this regard, fleas cause the greatest damage as they are one of the few insects that feed on the animal's blood and leave behind bite marks.
Few people notice these bugs because they hide themselves cleverly in areas which aren't easily visible such as behind the ears of the animal and in the posterior part of the body.
Not only do they weaken the animal day by day but some of these are also carriers of dangerous, life threatening diseases such as Lyme.
The dog's inquisitive nature is often the reason why it becomes vulnerable to such outside attacks.
Dogs tend to examine every nook, corner and crevice and if you leave them to their devices, they would recess all places that they can find.
Unfortunately many of these may be dormant, filthy, unhygienic places where germs and insect larvae thrive.
Once the insect latches onto the body, there is very little that the animal can do to remove it.
These then develop into serious wounds if they go unnoticed over a period of time.
Heredity also has a part to play in infection in dogs.
Canine atopy is one such hereditary disorder wherein the creature feels especially itchy around the eyes, muzzle, ears and feet.
Seasonal changes can also have a detrimental effect and a classic case of this is dust mite allergy that is especially prevalent in winters.
Infectious skin diseases include parasitic, bacterial, fungal and viral skin diseases and these may be either contagious or non contagious in nature.
Ignorance of pet owners in maintaining good pet hygiene is often the cause that leads to such diseases.
Also food plays a key role in preventing skin infections and if a dog is on a poor nutrition, it is more likely to develop skin disorders.
Dry skin syndrome is a disease that is caused due to the deficiency of nutrients and minerals in diet.
If ignored for long, these may worsen and cause your beloved pet a tremendous amount of suffering.
To spare them the trouble, these are some of the steps that you should undertake - Maintain good pet hygiene, give the animal nutrient rich food, make use of the medications available in the market that can help to prevent such disorders, check your pet's body thoroughly for pests and fleas as soon as they return from somewhere and lastly perform a routine body check of the animal at a trusted vet's clinic to ensure that they aren't carrying any infections that aren't visible to the human eye.