Spotting Animal Health Issues Early

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Steps To Take If Your Pet Has A Dermatology Issue

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If you are the owner of a dog or cat, and you have noticed they are suffering from a skin problem, you likely want to take proactive steps to remedy the situation so they do not need to deal with itchiness or discomfort. Here are some steps to take to aid in the reversal of a skin problem in pets.

Check For The Presence Of Fleas

A dog or cat that has contracted fleas will likely display signs of distress. This includes scratching or biting at the skin in an attempt to stop itching or pain. You may notice that when you pet your dog or cat, there are raised bumps felt underneath their fur. This is usually caused by flea bites, especially in pets that are allergic to these parasites. Treating the flea problem will in turn cause the skin to heal. Part your pet's fur and check for these crawling insects. If they are noticed, obtain prescription flea treatment from animal health services. This is usually administered topically and will not only kill existing fleas but keep them from reinfesting your pet's fur as well.

Consider Changing Your Pet's Food 

If your dog or cat has a food allergy, skin problems can arise after they have eaten a meal. If your pet suffers from a skin issue regularly, try changing the brand and flavor of the food that you present to them the most. Eliminating foods from the diet and replacing them with other choices can clear the skin problem. Keep notes about which foods seem to cause your pet to display symptoms and take them out of the diet completely. It is best to give your pet one type of food flavor and brand for several days so you can monitor them for signs of a problem. If there is a skin issue with this food, replace it completely with another flavor and brand and repeat the process. After you have found a food that does not cause problems, slowly add another choice to see if the issues arise.

Avoid Bathing Your Pet Too Often

When you bathe your pet, natural oils emitted from their skin pores will wash away. The depletion of these oils causes dry skin in many pets. If your pet has flakes of skin noticed throughout their coat, hold off on providing them with a bath if possible. If dry skin continues even with fewer bathing sessions, contact a facility that provides animal health services to obtain an evaluation from a veterinarian. 

Contact an animal health service for more information. 


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