Superficial bacterial folliculitis is an infection that causes sores, bumps, and scabs on the skin. These skin abnormalities are easier to see in short coated dogs. In longhaired dogs, the most obvious symptoms may be a dull coat, and shedding with scaly skin underneath. Folliculitis often occurs in conjunction with other skin problems such as mange, allergies, or injury. Treatment may include oral antibiotics and antibacterial ointments.

Another type of bacterial infection, impetigo is most common in puppies. It causes pus-filled blisters that may break and crust over. The blisters usually develop on the hairless portion of the abdomen. Impetigo is rarely serious and can be treated with a topical solution. In a small number of cases, the infection may spread or persist.

Seborrhea causes a dog’s skin to become greasy and develop scales. In some cases, it is a genetic disease that begins when a dog is young and lasts a lifetime. But most dogs with sebborhea develop the scaling as a complication of another medical problem such as allergies or hormonal abnormalities. In some cases, it is vital to treat the underlying cause so symptoms do not recur.

There are times when stress, poor nutrition, or an illness can cause a dog to lose more hair than usual known as alopecia. Anyone who shares their home with dogs knows that they shed. But if abnormal or excessive shedding persists for more than a week, or you notice patches of missing fur, have the dog skin checked by your veterinarian to find out what is causing the alopecia.

Sometimes dry, flaky skin can be a red flag for a number of problems like allergies, mange of other skin diseases. But most often, dry or flaky skin is nothing serious. Some dogs simply get dry skin in the winter, or like people, develop dandruff. If this is the case, a change to milder dog products or supplements to promote healthier skin may be necessary. If the condition seems to cause discomfort to your dog, consult your vet.

One of the frustrating skin conditions caused by compulsive, relentless licking of a single area – most often on the front of the lower leg – in some dogs is called acral lick granuloma or acral lick dermatitis. The area is unable to heal, and the resulting pain and itching can lead the dog to keep licking the same spot. Treatment includes discouraging the dog from licking, either by using a bad-tasting topical solution or an Elizabethan collar.

Occasionally, cancerous tumors develop in dog skin. The only way to confirm a diagnosis of cancer is to biopsy the tumor. If the lump is small enough, your vet may recommend removing it entirely. This can yield a diagnosis and treatment with a single procedure. For tumors that have not spread, this may be the only treatment needed. If you notice a hard lump on your dog’s skin, point it out to your vet as soon as possible. As with humans, early detection can save your dog’s life.

A dog’s dermal skin layer has two types of glands that produce fluids. The apocrine glands, which produce sweat in humans, have two other functions in dogs. They help seal the outer layer of the epidermis, and they secrete pheromones that give a dog’s distinctive body odor. The eccrine glands in the pads of a dog’s paws do produce a watery secretion similar to human perspiration. This secretion leaves damp pawprints behind nervous or stressed dogs and may also improve traction. Dog skin regulates a dog’s body temperature through the blood vessels under the skin. The blood flow to the skin increases to release the heat to the environment when a dog builds up body heat from running and playing. To help regulate body temperature in cold weather, blood flow to the skin dwindles to keep the heat where it will do the most good. Muscular action fluffs the coat and traps heated air right next to the body.

Dog skin, even when it appears to be healthy, needs to be monitored.

Anything around us can be an allergen – carpeting, blankets, dust mites, mold spores in the air, plastic food dishes, furniture stuffing, and even ornamental plants all have the potential to trigger an allergic reaction in your dog. The most common type of environmental allergy is atopic dermatitis. Dogs with Atopy lick and chew at their paws and scratch their face, eyelids and ears. A peek at the skin often reveals an ugly rash. There is a new product to treat Atopic Dermatitis in dogs called Atopica, which works wonders.
Oral antihistamines can help neutralize some of the destructive effects of internally released histamines but there is often no cure for environmental allergies. The most effective treatment is to identify and avoid exposure to the allergens. This can be determined through a blood test and skin test. Treatment of allergic dermatitis includes topical medicated soothing baths, ointments, and sprays.
Regularly bathing your dog with an oatmeal shampoo or wiping him down each time he comes in from outside can ease symptoms on dog skin.

The two most common symptoms of dog skin problems are scratching and reddening of the skin. Below is a more detailed description of each symptom of dog skin problems, its possible causes, treatments, and when it is necessary to call your vet.

Scratching – This is a very common symptom of various types of dog skin problems. Once you noticed your dog experiencing frequent scratching on a particular area of his body, figure out what is causing that area to itch. Things to look for are parasites which could be fleas, mites, or lice. Also look to see if you can find bacterial sores. Bacterial sores are small infected spots that are scaly red inflamed areas.

Four possible causes of this dog skin problem are: ear disease, parasite infestation, contact dermatitis which is indicated by redness on the stomach, and impacted anal sacs which is indicated by dog licking sores at the base of his tail.

The way to treat this type of dog skin problem is to direct the type of treatment to the specific cause. If the dog skin problem is due to parasite infestation, use an antiparasitic bath. With bacterial sores, wash the infected area with an antibacterial wash. For a more widespread bacterial sores, ear problems or impacted anal sacs, you need to see your vet for a more serious treatment.

If the dog skin problem is due to contact dermatitis, cut off access to possible causes such as nylon carpet, floor disinfectants, or car seat covers. Consult your vet is home treatment fails to work. If the skin is broken, chewed, or feels sticky, consult your vet as soon as convenient.

Reddened skin – This symptom of dog skin problem may be noticeable even before the dog skin problem becomes fully established. Four possible causes of this issue are: allergic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, fleas, and anything that causes itching such as lice, ringworm, or bacterial sores.

When treating this symptom of dog skin problem, apply calamine lotion if the redness is only in a particular area. If the problem is more widespread, use a lanolin baby shampoo to wash out any potential irritants and to cool the skin. Apply flea spray once the dog is dry. If the problem persists after 24 hours, consult the vet.

Under the loving care of man dogs now have virtually no coat (the Chinese crested dog and the Mexican hairless), weird corded coats that the dogs develop naturally at about the age of two (the puli and the komondor), thick double coats like all of the northern spitz types – the sled dogs – and hard, fine, single coats like the pointer and the greyhound. They can have hard wiry coats like most of the terriers, or soft, woolly coats like the soft-coated wheaten terrier. One breed, the dachshund, can come in three coat types: short, long and wire. The fox terriers, the chihuahua, affenpinscher and collie, also come in two, and so it goes.

Poodles have no natural maximum coat length. Their hair will grow as long as they live. They are potential hippies. The only thing that spares them that fate is our ego-inspired attentiveness. Read any book of standards. Coat types vary enormously.

When thinking about variations that have been brought about in dogs keep in mind that we generally encounter relatively few breeds in the United States. The American Kennel Club currently recognizes 135 breeds for show purposes. There are at least three hundred more breeds that the AKC has yet to acknowledge. It is not that the dogs are being kept out of the hallowed halls by some arcane exclusionary plot, but rather that there has been too little interest in them to establish studbooks and successful breeding programs here. Potentially all could be given AKC recognition in the future. All three hundred or so "exotic" breeds are recognized by kennel clubs in other countries, some as close by as Mexico and Canada.

Skin often undergoes changes in the process of domestication. Lots of flaps and folds are juvenile characteristics in wolves that many dogs retain throughout life. Again, our sense of aesthetics and our need for eternal babies in our pets can be seen at work. Since pet keeping undoubtedly had a great deal to do with our ever taking wolves into our lives and turning them into dogs in the first place, that is all fine and natural.

Below some suggestions on how to alleviate your dog’s pain and irritation that is caused by insect bites and stings:

• Apply baking soda – An effective way to help soothe the discomfort is by gently rubbing on a paste of baking soda with water onto the bite or sting several times a day, says Larry Thompson, D.V.M., clinical veterinary toxicologist in New York. He stated that “the alkalinity helps relieve the itch.”

• Try some meat tenderizer – Dr. Thompson stated that meat tenderizers have enzymes that aid in breaking down the poison in insects stings and reduces the irritation. Create a paste by mixing the tenderizer with water, applying immediately to the sting. Repeat as necessary.

• Break an aloe vera leaf – Aloe vera is great for minor skin irritation. Applying a thin coat of gel from the plant soothes discomfort and relieves irritation. You can also buy aloe vera gel from pharmacies and health food stores.

• Find the culprit – If your dog was stung by a bee, chances are the stinger is still somewhere in his coat. To remove it, get a good view by parting his hair. Remove the stinger using your fingers or tweezers. If the stinger is in a visible area and can be easily removed, scrape it out with your fingernail. Doing this will prevent any added venom from entering the wound.

• Aim for some ammonia – E. Murl Bailey, Jr., D.V.M., PhD, a professor of toxicology at the Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology at Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine stated that ammonia helps relieve the pain from insect bites and stings. He suggests dabbing ammonia right on the area with cotton.

• Relieve with some milk of magnesia – A medication that contains magnesium hydroxide which eases irritation and itchiness. Apply a thin coat a few times per day to your dog.

• Cool it off – Just like a person, your dog can be helped by applying cold compress reduces the swelling and eases the pain. Hold it in the area for about five minutes or longer, making sure that your pet is comfortable.

• Try some over the counter – Applying a thin coat of hydrocortisone cream is recommended for sore spots.