"Doc, my dog's got dry skin. Can you help him?"
It's a question that I am asked very often in the course of
practice, but as for an affliction, it’s actually a rare occurrence
indeed.
Most people are quite surprised to learn that the white flakes that
they see on their pets' coat are more likely to be associated with
excessive oiliness. Simply taking the opportunity to run your hand
through the coat will reveal the presence of oils on your
fingertips. Often you will detect an unpleasant odor that is
associated with this type of skin problem.
Skin grows from its underside; an area called the dermis. As new
cells are made in the dermis, they push their way upward. As they
rise, the cells flatten out, and, by the time they reach the
epidermis, they have been totally compressed. To make room for the
new cells, the cells that rest on the surface begin to peel off.
Because the cells are so small we can't see them, but when the
process is accelerated, groups of cells fall off. It is these groups
of cells that we see as flakes!! The process of flaking should
almost always be associated with an irritated skin.
At the same time, the oil glands in the skin respond to the same
irritation by producing more oil. Bacteria living on the skin
utilize this oil as food, and the resultant waste products that are
given off result in the all too familiar body odor. Bathing will
temporarily remove the bacteria and their odors, but if the
underlying cause of skin irritation is not addressed, the oil will
reappear, the bacteria will repopulate and the odor will return.
Due to the efforts of the manufacturers of dog and cat foods, fatty
acid deficiency is a thing of the past. Any of the major brands of
pet food found in the markets will provide more than adequate
nutrition.
An additional word about flea shampoos. These products are simply
shampoos that have had an insecticide added into the basic formula.
They are affective in both cleaning the coat and skin as well as
killing any fleas that might be on your pet. There is no residual
repellant effect because in the process of rinsing all the remnants
of the shampoo are flushed away. Excellent products now exist that
make flea control effective and convenient to do. The best products
are available through your veterinarian.
The causes of skin irritation can vary. Allergies, infections
(bacterial and fungal), hormonal disturbances as well as contact
with irritating substances can all cause the skin to react. Consult
with your local veterinarian for the advice that will benefit your
pet.
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