Do You Have a Dog that Is Licking and Scratching?

Is your dog licking and scratching constantly?  This can be annoying for both pet and owner.  Let’s take a look at some reasons why this annoying behavior could be happening.

Dogs can have a condition call Allergic Dermatitis.  This can be an allergic reaction to food, insect bites, fleas, pollen or grooming products.  This can make a dog scratch so much that it leads to a nasty rash.  Medication can be prescribed by a veterinarian but the best cure is to find the cause.

Dogs that seem to constantly scratching its ears or licking its toes may have a yeast infection.  Yeast infections can lead to irritated, itchy discolored skin.  It’s important to schedule an appointment with a veterinarian to be diagnosed and treated.  A topical cream or oral medication maybe prescribed for worse cases.

A dog that has sores, bump or scabs on the skin may have bacterial folliculitis.  This condition usually occurs with other skin problems such as allergies, injury or mange.  Most veterinarians would recommend oral antibiotics plus antibacterial shampoo or ointments.

Impetigo is a common skin condition in puppies.  Puss filled blisters mostly develop on hairless areas such as the stomach.  It’s important to get this checked because the blister can be painful and sometimes burst leaving a crusty film.  This condition is rarely serious and treated with a topical solution.  There are a small amount of cases that the infection spreads and becomes persistent.

Ringworm is caused by a fungus that forms ring shaped patches on the skin.  These patches can form anywhere but are mostly found on the legs, ears, paws or dogs head.  The patches are usually inflamed and scaly with hair loss.  This condition is very contagious and can spread quickly.  There are various anti-fungal treatments that a veterinarian can recommend.

The conditions above are very aggravating for dogs and its important to get proper treatment.  It’s important to schedule an appointment with a veterinarian if any of these conditions seem to be appearing.

Are You Brushing Your Dog's Teeth?

Do you ever wonder thinking about brushing your dogs teeth?  Its important to keep an eye on a dogs oral

Healthy Mouth, Happy Pet

health for long term healthy teeth and gums.  Most dogs start to show gum disease around age four if that properly taken care of.  It's important to give a dog regular home check-ups and here are some steps to follow...

1.   Start by smelling the dogs breath.  Yes, its not going to particularly fresh smelling but this is normal.  If it seems that the breath is really offensive then it is a good idea to schedule an appointment with a veterinarian.  Make sure to watch for any vomiting, excessive drinking and urinating or loss of appetite.

2.  Its ideal to lift the dogs lips once a week to check it teeth and gums.  Make sure the gums are pink and not swollen.  Red or white gums can be a sign of an infection that will need to be treat by a veterinarian. 

3.   Its important to look for certain signs of oral disease such as bad breath, inflamed gums, loose teeth, broken teeth, excessive drooling or a cyst under the tongue.  Its important to schedule an appointment as soon as possible if any of these signs occur.

4.   Its important to check around the dogs gum line.  Excess plaque and tartar build up can make gum recede resulting in possible tooth loss. If it seems there is a lot of build up around the gum line, then its time for a visit to the dentist for a professional cleaning.

5.  Chewing bones are a great purchase for a dogs oral health.  While dogs chew it massages the gums helping to remove any unwanted plaque or bacteria.

Its important to be proactive with a dogs oral health to keep a dog in great general health.  Infections in the mouth may eventually spread causing other unwanted problems.  Make sure to schedule an appointment with a veterinarian if anything seems suspicious.  Great oral health will keep a pup on a great path of general health. 

Marietta veterinarian +Julian Peckich DVM would be happy to examine your dog's mouth to check the health of the teeth and gums.  Dr. Peckich is a licensed veterinarian in Marietta, GA welcoming new patients.