In this article, we will get to know what eczema in dogs is. It is important to know that eczema is not a disease but the consequence or symptom of a disease.

We will first look at the diseases that can cause eczema, their symptoms and their treatments. Then we will see that it is possible to avoid that our dog catches eczema and thus preserve his good health.

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What Is Eczema In Dogs?

Eczema is an inflammation of the skin caused by a disease. It is not in itself a disease but a symptom. There are several reasons for eczema. It should be noted that there are three types of eczema : eczema that is allergic or alimentary, chronic eczema and finally atopic eczema.

What Diseases Can Cause Eczema In Dogs?

Parasite infection

Flea infestation can cause dog eczema: the flea’s saliva is very irritating. Most dogs will not respond more than that to a flea bite but some are allergic to it.

In this case, the flea bite will cause what is called a D. A. P. P (flea allergy dermatitis). This dermatitis will cause severe itching.

The main symptoms will be: an important pruritus often found in the areas of the neck, dorsolombary, base of the tail or on the abdomen, it will be possible to find traces at the places of the sting (small red dots). The main purpose of the treatment is to remove fleas from your pet and its environment.

So it’s going to be very important that you deal with a product adapted to the places where your dog goes. Of course, you will also need to treat your companion with appropriate anti-parasitic drugs (necklaces, tablets, pipettes, sprays, shampoos, fumigants).

Tick infestation: tick bites can also cause pruritus dermatitis instead of biting. It is important to remove the tick with a tick hook as soon as possible and to disinfect the site with betadine.

The main treatment will also be to protect your pet with an adapted pest control. The goal is to kill the tick before it reaches your dog’s skin and stings it. This will require a suitable insecticide.

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Sarcoptic scab: this form of scab is caused by a mite. Animals can pass it on to each other by direct or indirect contact (blankets, niches, bowls…). The symptoms will mainly be a big hair fall that will spread more and more (the most affected areas are the head, the inside of the thighs and the belly), a very important pruritus aggravated by the heat.

Treatment will consist of isolating the animal because it is highly contagious and then treating the scab locally with acaricide products.

Other less common parasites may cause eczema such as canine demodecia. Dermatomycoses may also be responsible for eczema. These are skin problems caused by fungi such as ringworm or yeast.

Food allergies

Some dogs will be more sensitive than others to certain foods. It often happens that by changing the diet ( you didn’t have enough croquettes, or you wanted to take a new taste to please him), skin problems and especially eczema appear. In fact, too much fat or a lack of vitamins due to poor nutrition can accentuate eczema.

Chronic eczema

It is commonly found in older dogs that tend to stop exercising or are over nourished. The main symptom will be redness and intense itching.

Atopic Eczema

This type of eczema is usually genetic. It is important to know that some breeds of dogs are predisposed to atopic eczema. Here too the main symptom will be redness and itching.
How do you diagnose eczema ?

If you notice skin lesions, redness or itching, it is important to consult your veterinarian. Indeed, at first he will ask you a lot of questions in order to try to target the cause of eczema.

It is possible that he will have to do what is called “scratching”. In general, scraping is done with a blade of scalpel. The goal will be to collect some skin films for microscopic analysis or to have them analyzed in a specialized laboratory. This test is absolutely not painful for your pet.

dog that scratches a lot

What Are Dog Eczema Treatments?

It is important to find the cause of eczema so that the veterinarian can give you a proper treatment. Usually treatments are in the form of lotion, shampoo, ointments. A solution will be proposed for each cause.

It is therefore important not to self-medicate as you may make the problem worse if the product you are putting on is not suitable. If your dog is itching so much that it hurts itself, you can take the initiative to put a collar on it.

treatments anti chip

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Can All Dogs Heal From Eczema ?

A dog eczema that is due to an allergenic agent whether food or parasitic, it heals very well with an adapted treatment.

On the other hand, with regard to an eczema due to a genetic factor, it is impossible to solve the cause of eczema, it will not be completely curable.

The veterinarian may relieve your pet, but your companion may have skin problems all his life. However, there are simple ways to relieve it and avoid eczema flares : proper nutrition, good hygiene.

It is also possible to relieve your pet with natural products. The main purpose of natural products will be to minimize the side effects of the treatments. Indeed, some treatments can be heavy to bear at the level of the liver or kidneys.

The natural treatments will clean these organs and avoid an injury especially for dogs with a chronic eczema and who will therefore have to have treatments regularly.

deworming dog

Can The Dog’S Eczema Be Transmitted To Humans?

Most dermatoses are not transmissible to the man especially in cases of eczema due to a dog food allergy. The main risk is that your pet will bring home a parasite such as a flea or tick. These can cause skin lesions in humans if they are bitten.

So if your dog has an eczema problem and you start scratching yourself at the same time, go to your doctor, you may have been bitten by fleas.

In case of tick bites, it is even more important to consult a doctor because these can transmit serious diseases.

Some eczema, which may also be caused by fungi such as moths, may be transmissible to humans. If the veterinarian diagnoses a fungus in your dog and lesions appear on your body, also consult a doctor.

dog grooming

How To Prevent Eczema In Dogs ?

Hygiene will be an important point to fight against eczema especially when the cause is parasitic. It is essential to regularly clean the sleeping areas, the niches. Your pet should also be regularly protected against external parasites (fleas and ticks).

In case of infestation, treat your environment. In hot weather, or following a swim in a lake or sea, wash your dog with a suitable shampoo.

It is important to avoid using our shampoos on dogs because these have a PH too aggressive for the skin of our companions.

An adapted diet: as for us, a good diet is the basis of good health. Your dog is growing and aging, so it is important to adapt its food to each phase of its life. When it gets older, it is necessary to change the diet because your dog with age will move less and will therefore need a less oily diet.

Continue to be physically active: although your pet is getting older, this is no reason to stop it from doing any physical activity. You can reduce the Walking time as well as the difficulty but it is important to keep walking it regularly this will avoid the risks of obesity as well as possible skin problems due to a sedentary lifestyle.

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What Can We Learn From This Article ?

It is important to remember that eczema is a symptom of a disease. It is therefore essential to find out what disease your dog is suffering from. For this a consultation will be necessary. This will make it possible to identify the causes of eczema and to treat it effectively.

Finally, keep in mind that simple actions prevent your pet from being affected by this symptom : regular pest control, good hygiene, an adapted diet as well as daily walks.