Signs that your pet is healthy inside and out include a shiny coat and itch-free skin. But what if your furry friend is constantly scratching or licking? Skin problems in pets can be more than just a nuisance; they might signal underlying health issues.
Key Takeaways
- Healthy skin and coat reflect a healthy pet
- Pet skin conditions can be indicative of systemic health issues
- Pets with chronic skin symptoms should be examined by a veterinarian
Let’s explore some of the common signs that your pet’s skin condition needs a veterinarian’s attention.
The Importance of Healthy Skin in Pets
The skin is the largest organ of a pet’s body. A healthy coat and skin can be a reflection of a pet’s health status, signaling good nutrition and a strong immune system. Some basic functions of the skin include:
- Protection from environment or external objects
- Immunity
- Heat regulation
- Hydration
- Nutrient storage
Skin Symptoms That Should be Checked by a Veterinarian
Chronic skin issues or changes in your dog or cat’s coat can be a sign of an underlying condition that may negatively impact your pet.
If your pet is displaying any of the other symptoms below, it’s best to consult with your veterinarian promptly to make a plan.
- Excessive licking
- Biting or chewing of paws
- Excessive scratching
- Rolling, scooting, or rubbing more than usual
- Hair loss
- Foul odor
- Reoccurring ear, paw, and skin infections
- Head shaking
- Changes in the skin, like pimples, sores or darkened color
- Redness of the skin
- Frequent problems with their anal glands
- Hives or raised lesions
Not only do some of them indicate a potential health issue for your pet, but they also cause ongoing stress and discomfort.
Common Dermatological Conditions in Pets
Some of the more common reasons a veterinarian may become involved in treating your pet’s skin issues include:
Allergic Dermatitis
Triggered by allergies, dermatitis in dogs and cats can lead to excessive itching and scratching and can also result in:
- Discomfort
- Hair loss
- Secondary skin infections
Cushing’s Disease
Also known as hyperadrenocorticism, Cushing’s disease can affects multiple organs in a pet’s body as well as the skin in the following ways:
- Chronic skin infections
- Hyperpigmentation (dark colored spots)
- Calcinosis cutis (skin mineralization0)
- Poor skin healing & hair regrowth
- Thin skin
- Alopecia (hair loss)
Hypothyroidism
This is a condition caused by inadequate thyroid hormone levels that can impact a pet’s skin and coat. Complications include:
- Alopecia (hair loss)
- Poor coat quality
- Seborrhea (excessive amounts of sebum – scaly, flakey, itchy, red skin)
- Hyperpigmentation
- Hyperkeratosis (thickening or hardening of skin)
- Recurring or chronic skin infections
- Comedones (blackheads)
Ringworm
A condition caused by a fungus and not a worm, causing skin issues like:
- Hair loss – usually in patches with crusty lesions
- Rash can be circular in appearance
- Affected hair shafts are fragile and easily broken
Scabies
Also known as sarcoptic mange, is caused by the parasite Sarcoptes Scabiei, a mite that buries into the skin causing intense itching as well as:
- Hair loss – especially on legs and belly
- Crusts on ears & legs
- Thickened and darkened skin
- Secondary infections
Bacterial Infections
Skin infection can be a primary or secondary (triggered by another underlying cause). Staphylococcus bacteria one of the more common bacteria to lead to a skin infection, manifesting as:
- Rashes
- Pimples
- Pustules
- Lesions
- Sores
- Circular crusts
- Dry/flaky skin
- Hair loss
- Odor
Demodex (Mange)
Also known as demodectic mange, this condition is caused by a mite that lives in the hair follicles. Symptoms to watch for include:
- Itching
- Hair loss – usually starts on the face around the eyes but does spread to other areas of the skin
Fleas
Fleas are the most common parasite to cause skin problems in dogs and cats and lead to classic signs such as:
- Itchiness and discomfort
- Secondary infections
- Hair loss
- Hyperpigmentation
- Allergic reaction (some pets can have an allergy to the flea saliva resulting in severe itching even with one flea bite)
Dandruff
Flaky dry skin can be the result of an underlying health condition such as Cushings, hypothyroidism, diabetes, or allergies.
Yeast Infections
Most commonly caused by the fungus normally found on the skin but an abnormal overgrowth results in infection, inflammation, and discomfort. Symptoms can include:
- Itchiness
- Scales, crusts, flakes
- Redness or hyperpigmentation
- Recurring or chronic ear, paw, skin infections
- Odor
- Thickened skin
How Long Should I Wait Before Scheduling a Veterinary Visit?
If you see your pet showing signs of skin irritation or changes in their skin and coat quality it is best to have your pet seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible to understand the cause, prevent it from getting worse, and alleviate discomfort.
What Questions Will My Veterinarian Ask?
To prepare for your pet’s dermatology exam, it’s a good idea to have any current and former prescriptions and over-the-counter medications on hand to share with your veterinarian.
Depending on your pet’s symptoms, your veterinarian may ask one or more of the following questions before diagnosing them:
- Describe the itching and skin problem – where on the body do they itch or lick most?
- How did the problem start and how long has it been going on?
- Does your pet itch more during certain seasons of the year or is it the same all year long?
- Are they currently on a flea and tick preventative – all year long or only during warm weather?
- What foods and treats are they currently eating? Bring photos of labels and ingredients.
- Do they itch or lick more after going outside? After sleeping on the bed? After eating?
- What treatments have been tried in the past and what do you think helped most?
Conclusion
A healthy hair coat and skin is a sign of your pets health and vitality. Itching, scratching, flakiness, and hair loss are a few signs that can indicate an underlying health condition.
It is best to act fast if you see skin issues develop as addressing the issue early on often results in the fastest recovery preventing discomfort and stress.
Frequently Asked Questions
If your dog is itching, licking excessively, has lesions or sores, showing abnormal hair loss, or skin color changes then it is best to seek veterinary care immediately.
Like dogs, itching in cats is not cause for concern unless it becomes excessive and is accompanied by some of the symptoms listed above that require veterinary attention.
Excessive itching, licking or changes to your dogs hair coat or skin can indicate an underlying condition that can rapidly progress. It is best to take action fast. Many causes are relatively easy to treat with a rapid recovery.
Bacterial infections can have a wide array of symptoms but common symptoms include redness, pimples or pustules, crusts/flakes, odor, purulent discharge, raised areas on the skin, and itchiness.
There are a number of reasons why you may have an itchy dog. While some itching in dogs is normal, persistent itching is an indicator that your dog may have dermatitis or another skin condition.
- Written by Dr. Joshua Montgomery
- Medically reviewed by Laura Fontana, DVM
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