* Cause — The fungal skin infections of dogs are caused primarily be two species of fungi: Microsporum and Trichophyton. The skin diseases resulting from these fungi are commonly called ‘ringworm.’

* Signs — Ringworm is seen most commonly in young dogs. The fungi live in dead skin tissues, hairs and nails. Hair loss, usually in circular patches, may appear. If infected, the center of the patches may have a dry, crusty appearance. The head and legs are most commonly affected by ringworm, although the disease may spread over other parts of the dog’s body if not treated. Dogs may scratch the lesions.

* Diagnosis — The appearance of the lesions, the history of their development and the age of the dog are all helpful in diagnosing ringworm. A Wood’s Lamp Test (ultraviolet light) can be used to help diagnose the Microsporum species only. A definite diagnosis can be obtained through a fungal culture — grow the fungi found on the affected hairs.

* Treatment– The hair around the lesions is clipped, and special fungicidal shampoos or rinses are used for bathing the dog.  These may need to be left on for several minutes as instructed by your veterinarian.  Your Booster Bath dog tub includes a comfortable 3-point leash and collar restraint to make this easier for you.  Topical lime sulfur and mandatory systemics should be administered.

* Public Health Aspects of Ringworm — Ringworm is contagious to humans, particularly to children and to other household pets. Infected dogs should be kept away from children and other dogs and cats until the infection is cures — which can be as long as 2-3 months or more after the treatment begins. Adults should be careful to wash their hands thoroughly after handling an infected dog. If treated early, ringworm is readily controlled in humans. Other household pets should also be examined for ringworm.

Causes

Staphylococci (‘Staph bacteria’) are the most common organisms found in bacterial skin diseases (pyodermas) in dogs. Fortunately, these bacteria (S. intermedius) are not contagious to humans or other pets.

Signs

Commonly itchy, yellow pustules are often observed early in the disease, and the dog’s skin can be reddened and ulcerated. Dry, crusted areas appear as the condition advances, along with loss of hair in the affected areas (lesions) and an odor.

All areas of a dog’s body may be involved, but most cases are confined to the trunk. The chin is one area commonly affected. Called chin acne, this condition is actually a deep bacterial infection. Obese dogs and dogs of the pug-nosed breeds are frequently affected by pyoderma in the skin folds on their face, lips and vulva.

Other areas where pyoderma may occur include between the toes and on the calluses of the elbows that mostly affects the abdominal area in young puppies.

Diagnosis

This is usually made from the case history and appearance and location of the lesions. In some cases, it may be necessary to culture the skin (grow the bacteria) and conduct sensitivity tests to determine which antibiotic will be effective in treatment. Most bacterial skin infections in dogs are secondary to another disease such as parasitism, allergies, endocrine (hormonal) disorders or abnormalities in the immune system. Therefore, in recurrent cases, it is important to search for underlying causes. It may be necessary to do blood tests, allergy tests or skin biopsies to achieve a complete diagnosis.

Treatment

Initial treatments may entail removal of the hair in and around the lesions, washing of the whole dog with antibiotic shampoos such as benzoyl peroxide, careful drying and the application of an antibiotic ointment to local lesions, in most cases, antibiotics will also be administered orally for 3-4 weeks. Bandages or a protective collar which prevents the dog from mutilating the lesions may be applied.
Some pyoderma involving skin folds can require corrective surgery. In recurrent cases where testing reveals no definable underlying cause, special staphylococcal vaccines as an alternative to long-term antibiotic treatment can be tried.

It may be necessary to continue treatments such as antiseptic shampooing, antibiotic ointment applications and giving antibiotics orally at home. While most cases respond to treatment, recurrences of pyoderma are common, particularly if treatment recommendations and follow-up visits to your veterinarian are neglected. Glucocorticold steroids cannot be administered.

Skin Disorders in Dogs

The appearance of a dog’s skin and coat can be a great indication of how healthy the pet actually is.  Dog skin problems and disorders are a common issue that dogs and owners alike have to deal with.  Rashes and skin break-outs occurring on dogs can last for weeks and may be hard to eradicate.  Here are some helpful tips to aid in the prevention of dog skin disorders and skin problems:

• Brush your dog daily – this will help you to recognize any changes in your dog’s skin and coat.  You will also be able to locate any parasites, tumors, and skin infections with daily inspections of your pet’s skin and coat.
• Rid your dog of any parasites – parasites (internal and external) are a common cause of rashes and skin out-breaks in dogs.  Fleas, lice, ticks, and mites cause your dog to itch and scratch its skin.  This can lead to skin infections and irritation.  Make sure your dog is de-wormed and that you use anti-flea and tick products on your pet.
• Pay attention to your dog’s play habits – does your dog itch after rolling in ivy or grass?  Your animal may be allergic to plant life in your backyard.  Understanding the things that irritate your dog’s skin will help you in the prevention process of dog skin disorders in your pet.
• Bathe your dog regularly – this will also help your dog remain free from fleas and wash any allergens your dog may have encountered away.  Using a moisturizing shampoo that doesn’t dry-out your dog’s skin is recommended.  When rising shampoo from your pet, makes sure to rise thoroughly, as shampoo residue can also can skin irritation. Remember, the Booster Bath Home Bathing System makes bathing dogs that require frequent baths simple, quick, and easy.

Today we’d like to take a look at some helpful general guidelines to follow when washing your dog at home.

• If your dog has tangled hair, makes sure you comb it out first as washing will only make mats worse.
• Placing cotton balls into your dog’s ear will help protect them from water entering and getting trapped in the ear canal.
• Test the temperature of your water source before wetting your pet thoroughly.
• When first applying water, start by spraying low volume on their paws. This allows them to feel that warm water is coming. And of course we recommend not using cold water.
• Once your dog is completely saturated with water, apply dog shampoo in small amounts.
• Begin lathering dog shampoo at the back of the neck and work toward the tail.  Make sure you lather the dog’s belly, legs, tail, between its toes, behind its ears, and under its chin.
• Wash short-haired dogs with a fast circular motion
  Wash medium-length hair dogs with a back and forth motion
  Wash longer-haired dogs rubbing in the direction of the hair growth
  These wash techniques will help pull dirt from your dog’s coat.
• It is always a good idea to save washing your dog’s head for last, as this will reduce shaking.
• When it’s time to rinse out the shampoo, rinse it out thoroughly. Residual shampoo left on your pet can potentially cause skin irritation.  If your dog has a heavy coat, you can scrape the lather off with a comb or brush before rinsing.  To check for soap residue you can look for bubbles as you squeeze your dogs hair.  Keep rinsing until the water runs clean.
• Never spray water into your pets ears as this can potentially cause ear infections. To avoid this when rinsing, cup your hand over the ear or simply pinch ears shut with your hand.

 **Note**

If you need to clean your dog’s ears, take a cotton ball and wet it with mineral oil. Gently clean the ear, but only as far in as the cotton ball will go easily. Mineral oil helps prevent certain types of parasites in the ear.

• Adding a small amount of vinegar or lemon juice as you rinse your pet is a good way to help wash away strong odors.  You can also use baking soda which will leave your pet’s coat shiner and softer.
• Always dry your pet thoroughly. In most cases medium to large dogs will require two towels, so it’s a good idea to have them with you when you begin.  If your dog has long hair, you can squeeze a lot of the water out of its fur with your hands before towel drying.

Of course, there are several options when it comes to washing the dog at home.  You can use your bathroom indoors, but as most dog owners know, the resulting mess and wet-dog smell can be an added challenge to the often less-than-pleasant experience of dog bathtime.  Water all over the place, hair clogging the drain, and a sore back from leaning over for long periods of time… no thanks!

Using your outdoor hose is another solution, but typically, restraining the dog in one place while trying to grapple with an unwieldy hose can be quite the hassle! 

But there is a solution!  Paws for Thought’s signature product, the Booster Bath portable home dog bathing bath tub, conquers the three most difficult aspects of home grooming:  elevation, containment, and drainage.  The Booster Bath lets owners enjoy 360° access to their dog while grooming him or her at waist-level.  A built in leash and collar restraint as well as a drainage system and convenient shampoo caddy complete this revolutionary home bathing tub.