Skin Problems

Dandruff: Some dogs are more affected to this dry skin condition than others. Daily brushing of the dog's coat, correct feeding, or a change of diet, and bathing can help, but excessive dandruff may be due to a lack of thyroid secretion. Veterinary advice should be sought in such cases, and in fact for any cases that do not respond to treatment of brushing and diet improvement.

Eczema: This condition is sometimes mistaken for mange and occasionally for ring worm. It usually develops at the base of the tail or on the back of the shoulders. It may be confused with a food allergy condition when it is encountered on the lower part of the back, but the hair is lost in patches in this condition, and the coat does not have the oily texture nor the distinctive odour encountered with the allergy to food condition. Sometimes a flea infestation may cause the dog to scratch and rub giving rise to a eczema-like condition. In this latter case, dipping the dog in a flea wash will greatly relieve the dog's discomfort. However, where the itching is due to a condition like prickly heat rash in children, keeping the dog in a cool environment throughout the summer, and liberal applications of zinc ointment rubbed into the bare patches can be most beneficial.