Pet Skin Disorders

by Jules Stark

Overview

Dogs and cats are susceptible to a number of skin disorders, including mange, ringworm, dermatitis, scabies, allergies and eczema. If your pet suffers from one of these conditions, it is important to understand the causes of and treatments for skin problems to improve his health and happiness.
Symptoms

Skin rashes, bald patches, scabs and dry skin can all indicate that a skin disorder is affecting your pet.

Immune System-Related Causes

Many animal skin disorders are related to the immune system, often caused or worsened by poor diet. Improving your pet's diet by feeding him high-quality pet food can be a big help in resolving many skin issues. You may also need to experiment with different types of pet food that will alleviate allergy problems.
Parasitic Causes

Parasites like ticks and fleas can irritate the skin of a pet and cause skin rashes. It is helpful to groom your pet often and to use a flea and tick medication, available at your vet's office, to treat these problems.
Environmental Causes

Certain chemicals or other irritants can give your pet skin disorders like eczema and dermatitis. To resolve environmental issues, simply remove the irritant--usually something like a pesticide, plant, or fragrance--from the animal's environment.
Natural Remedies

Bitter-tasting tea tree oil lightly sprayed around affected areas will discourage your pet from scratching or biting a rash and thus prevent it from getting worse. You can also incorporate supplements like fish oil into your pet's diet to help with nutritional problems.
Seek Veterinary Advice

Always take your pet to your veterinarian when he has a health issue, even if it's only a skin issue. A veterinarian will be able to properly diagnose and treat him.