Our lovely dogs are beautiful aren't they? When we look at them we admire their gorgeous coat of hair, all groomed, shampooed and looking better than many people who will walk out of hair salons. Unfortunately, this fabulous coat of hair can be the cause of us not noticing when things go wrong with our dog's skin.
This is a crucial part of dog care. Because we don't see it, doesn't mean it's not there. We, as dog owners, must be aware of the various problems that can lie hidden underneath that bunch of hair.
Skin Problems
Skin problems can be very uncomfortable, itchy and even painful for our dogs. They can also point to more serious ailments and conditions, some of which could even threaten the life of our loved ones.
Some skin conditions are more common than others.You've probably come across at some point a dry skin type condition with your pooch. You normally notice this by the "dandruff" style of flaking.
Other types include, fungal infections, mites, mange, shedding more than normal and rashes. Even worse, lurking under the hair there could be melanomas, sores and even tumors, to name but a few.
Good News
It sounds like I'm trying to frighten you here, but that couldn't be more off the mark. I'm merely making an effort to point out the fact that these conditions are possible and that we should all be diligent in checking for them regularly.
The good news is that most of these conditions are not only treatable, but can be prevented in the first place. As with all things regarding to health, prevention is better than cure and we must prevent unnecessary suffering in our pet by taking appropriate action and identifying the cause.
Allergies
A skin problem could be caused by an allergy. Allergies come from many different sources. It could be the time of year and the weather conditions, if you've moved home to a new area, your dog may be allergic to the environmental conditions in that area, and of course, food allergies.
The surprising thing about food allergies is that your dog can become allergic to a food which they have enjoyed for years. Like the seasons, your dog is ever changing.
Cures
There are many cures for your dog's skin problems. For instance, if the problem is because of food allergies, then a simple enzyme additive can sometimes do the trick all on it's own. Ask for these at your local pet store.
Allergies can also be caused by all the additives and unnatural preservatives that can be added to so much dog food today. If you can, it would be a great idea to feed your dog natural, home cooked food. This is becoming more and more popular nowadays, with many people having great success in sustaining there dog's health and eliminating many allergies and skin problems.
So, to sum up, we should always check our dog's skin regularly. This can easily be added to our grooming schedule. We can also help things along greatly by taking great care in what we feed our pooches and choosing natural meals over mass produced dog foods.
Tina Blackwell is the publisher of the free weekly Happy Dog Report.You can sign up and receive your free gift on natural dog food by going to http://www.happydogreport.info
Source: www.articlesbase.com
