Skin disease is one of the most common reasons a pet is taken to the vet. There are hundreds of diseases that affect the skin directly, but since the quality of the skin and coat reflect the general health of an animal, changes in the coat can indicate many other diseases.

What are the signs of skin disease?

These include:-

Itching or pruritus. This is one of the most frequently seen signs and can range from intermittent minor irritation to an intense and relentless urge to scratch that leads to

self-inflicted injuries.

Hair loss or alopecia. This is another very common sign of skin disease. It can be localized to a specific area, such as ringworm or moist eczema, or it can be generalized and affect most of the body. The distribution of hair loss can also help the vet reach a diagnosis.

· Inflammation of the skin, or erythema, is often seen and can range from a slight reddening of one area to a case where the whole animal is warm to the touch.

· Scaly skin or dandy coat – can be localized or general.

· Excessively oily or excessively dry coat conditions.

Foul-smelling skin can often be one of the most common presenting symptoms, as this affects the pet owner as well.

The presence or absence of these signs and their location can be very helpful for the vet in trying to diagnose which skin disease is present.

What can we use to treat skin diseases?

While many skin conditions can be easily cured if appropriate medications are used, others require long-term or possibly life-long medication and management to minimize the effect on the patient.

Antibiotics and Antifungals

The skin is naturally covered in a massive population of bacteria and yeast and if they can get through the surface layer of the skin, an infection will result.

Antibiotics and antifungal agents are available through your vet.

Antihistamines and Glucocorticoids (steroids)

Allergies involving the skin are very common and both classes of drugs are often used under close veterinary supervision to help regulate the allergic response of animals.

ectoparasiticides

Ectoparasiticides are drugs that control parasites that live on the skin of animals. Flea infestations are responsible for more cases of skin disease than anything else in the UK, so medications that SUCCESSFULLY control or eliminate fleas are vitally important. In addition to using flea products on the pet, it is also important to use products to treat the pet’s environment, ie. the home, since it is where a flea spends 95% of its life.

Scabies is a skin disease caused by mites that burrow under the skin. There are two types of scabies that are common in the UK and it is important to know which is present as the treatments may differ. Diagnosis involves taking scrapings of the skin and examining them under a microscope to identify which scabies mite is present. Your vet will be able to do this.

Lice are another common cause of skin diseases. Lice are barely visible to the naked eye, giving rise to the term “walking dander” which describes the slow, barely perceptible movement of these animals as they crawl through pet fur.

Ticks are also commonly seen in the UK and products are available to control them.

In dogs, some families of roundworms can also cause skin diseases, as the infective larvae can burrow directly into areas of exposed skin. Periodic deworming with products such as DRONTAL PLUS/XL, PANACUR PASTE or PANACUR GRANULES will prevent this.

Shampoo

A suitable shampoo would be valuable in most cases of skin disease, although the practicalities of its use in cats are limiting.

There is a range of products on the market including:

· Hypoallergenic shampoos (EPISOOTHE/DERMOCANIS). These will soothe inflamed areas of the skin and also moisturize the coat.

Anti-limescale agents (SEBOCALM /SEBOMILD) that work by lifting debris and damaged cells from the skin’s surface.

· Tar shampoos (TARLITE), used on oily skin.

Coat Conditioning Sprays

These products are applied directly to the animal’s coat and act as moisturizers. (HUMILACO).

Diet

Food allergy or dietary intolerance is seen quite commonly and can affect both dogs and cats. Many of today’s commercial pet diets combine several protein sources, some of which can trigger an allergy that manifests as a skin condition. Gluten intolerance can also be seen. Diagnosis depends on feeding the patient a “hypoallergenic” diet containing a unique or novel protein source for 4 to 6 weeks, at which time signs subside. By slowly adding more protein sources to the diet and watching the animal for signs of relapse, it is possible to discover which protein is causing the problem.

Diets such as HILLS D/D, HILLS C/D and ROYAL CANIN SENSITIVITY CONTROL are prepared diets that can be used for some of these cases.

Essential Fatty Acid (EFA) Supplements

Essential fatty acids are a group of chemical substances necessary to maintain a normal state of health. There are several ways in which they help the structure and function of the skin. Signs of dietary essential fatty acid deficiency include dull coat, flaking, and also itchiness and inflammation.

AGE supplements such as VIACUTAN or EFAVET REGULAR are often used in conjunction with other products to successfully manage the signs of skin diseases. They are often required long term.