By: The Pet Times
Thanks to www.ThePetTimes.com for todays article!
I believe that dog lovers around the world will agree that next
to barking, the most annoying habit our canine cuties have is
the incessant scratching and licking that are usually associated
with that loose term "allergies". It is estimated that around 20
percent of the pooch population in the USA suffer from allergies
at any given time. There are more than 160 different skin
disorders that are associated with dogs, however we tend to jump
to that allergy conclusion right away. During the summer months
fleas are a major culprit, but not always in the way you might
think. Dogs are allergic to the flea saliva, but the first thing
we think of is flea infestation. (That is a whole other story,
and usually is not a very fun subject.)
People tend to lose patience with their veterinarian when
different approaches are tried, but don't provide the relief for
the dog that they, the owner, had hoped. Given the number of
skin disorders, it is easy to see why our vet might not get the
correct diagnosis the first, second or even third time. Chronic
dermatitis is the name given to long-term skin disorders and
there are not many challenges in veterinary medicine that are
more intimidating. An important thing to remember though, is
that you can help your dog by teaming up with your veterinarian
and taking note of anything that may assist the doctor in
getting to the bottom of the itchiness. There are times when it
is extremely difficult to distinguish allergic itching from
itching caused by skin infections.
Dogs may be our "best friends", however when you are trying to
catch a few extra minutes of sleep, that "thump, thump, thump"
on the floor does not make our pups very endearing, does it? You
tolerate it for a bit, and then if you are anything like I am,
you scream at the poor animal. By realizing that they can't
control themselves anymore than we can when a mosquito takes a
bite out of our leg, should make it somewhat easier to tolerate
that ceaseless noise.
Make sure that you let your veterinarian do the diagnosing,
even though you may be on the right track, they are the experts.
There could be serious underlying conditions and a vet should be
the one to determine whether that is the case.
About The Author: Joann Henry operates "Doggie Health Care"
http://www.DoggieHe althCare. com a blog all about our pooches
health. Sign up to receive her newsletter, & not only will you
get some free tips to keep your dog healthier, but FOR A LIMITED
TIME, she'll give you a FREE ebook.
http://www.DoggieHe althCare. com
