Why do we see scabs on our dog's skin?

Una scab on the skin of our furry friend usually occurs in a specific area, it may be a wound that has been caused because the dog scratched too much, by a blow or some bite that another animal has given, although on the contrary, a certain amount of scabs may be a sign that the cause of them is a problem of greater concern.

So we will have the possibility to make a scab appearance analysis, the size and how close they are to each other, is one of the main steps we have to do so that we can have the knowledge of why our dog has scabs on his skin.

Causes of scabs

As well as we also have to be very attentive to the behavior that our dog may have, if we see that there are signs that indicate that it presents pain, if its character has changed or if, on the contrary, it stops eating. For this reason and in this article we bring you some of the causes of scabs, the symptoms and what the solutions may be.

Dermatitis

One of the diseases that can mainly cause scabs on our dog's skin is dermatitis. There are different types of dermatitis, but there are only two that stand out since they produce this problem in the dog's skin and these two types are the following:

Atopic dermatitis

This is a skin disease that not simply can affect humans, but can also affect the skin of animals. The causes of this disease are not yet fully understood.

Experts say it is an intermittent skin disease, which appears when certain agents are present that irritate the skin and that usually the first symptoms appear at 3 and 6 months of age.

Generally, one of the symptoms of the disease is severe itching, something that is very frequently scratched, wounds and of course the much mentioned scabs on the skin.

In this same way, we can see redness in certain areas of the dog's skin and it may also be that it suffers from fur loss. This is a disease that has no cure, but it can be controlled if the dog receives all the indicated care that will be of great help to alleviate the symptoms.

Seborrheic dermatitis

It is also known by the name of canine seborrhea, this is another disease that affects the skin and occurs very frequently in dogs, which It mainly affects those areas of the face, the legs and also the torso.

This type of disease is caused because excess bait is created by what are the sebaceous glands, so we can see that yellow or white scales appear that are attached to the hair, in small crusts on the skin due to that the animal scratches excessively and added to that we can perceive an odor on the dog's body that is not pleasant.

Scabies

La scabies It is a skin disease that is caused by mites, which seek as a place to live the dog's skin to be able to feed on the keratin and also the sebum that it has, so they reproduce very quickly and spread throughout the skin of the animal's body.

In the two types of scabies there are, the dog is intensely itchy in the early stage of the disease. As this disease progresses, we can see that the skin hardens until it cracks and the scabs stand out much more. In the same way, hair loss and bad body odor occur.

Canine leishmania

Also known as the leishmaniasis, It consists of a chronic pathology without a cure, so the treatment of the disease is only to mitigate the symptoms and provide the dog with a better quality of life. After infection there is an incubation stage that can last a minimum of 3 to a maximum of 18 months, after which the symptoms will begin to manifest themselves.

The changes in the skin will be progressive and it will become thickerIn it, scabs and wounds will appear, it will also be noted loss in the weight of the animal and localized hair loss, especially on the legs, tail and head.

The dog, despite this disease without cure, can have a good quality of life as long as the treatment indicated by the veterinarian is followed and is reinforced with healthy and adequate food for these cases.

Fungal infection

Topical yeast infection can have its origin in several causesOne of them, very frequent baths, also continued exposure to high humidity environments, contact with sick animals, hypersensitivity to allergens in the environment and immunosuppressive diseases.

The dog affected by skin fungus will present specific symptoms, such as localized hair loss, intense itching and scratching, inflammation, redness, scabs and dandruff. In the case of scabs, they usually have a rounded shape.

Canine pyoderma

It is a bacterial skin disease caused by an invasion of fleas in the dog, which is considered a simple infection or it can originate from a health disorder or other pathology and turn into a complex infection. Among the disorders that can give rise to complex infection we have: leishmaniasis, skin hypersensitivity and others.

The spread of the pyoderma It is very fast and affects any area of ​​the animal's skin, although the torso, head and legs are more common. The symptoms are swelling, redness, excessive itching, presence of scabs and wounds, the latter should be attended to so that the condition is not aggravated by infections, presence of scabs, bleeding and pus.

Poor diet or improper hygiene

The answer to the scabs on the dog's skin may be in the diet, hygiene habits and in general the care it receives. When the canine is given a balanced and quality diet, in some way, it is guaranteed a healthy life that helps to strengthen its immune system.

It can be noticed when the diet is deficient in nutrients and proteins, in the coat and the skin since both will look dulldry, lifeless, cracked, hard, crusted and scaly skin.

If you do not know what type of food to give, ask your veterinarian for advice, who will surely recommend one that is capable of covering all its needs.

The other important point is the dog's hygiene, since if it is incorrect, a series of pathologies will arise that will give rise to scabs, dandruff, injuries, etc. These are the bad hygiene habits that you should avoid:

Use any shampoo

Ideally a product designed for pet skin, especially when you have sensitive skin or have dermatitis since the product must be specific for that pathology.

Bathing him excessively

The dog should bathe every month or month and a half, and only when noticeably dirty. If you bathe more often, the protective layer of your skin breaks down, causing scabs.

Related article:

How to bathe my dog ​​at home

Comb it with the wrong brush

There is a suitable brush for each type of coat. When the wrong one is used there is a risk of generating skin wounds. In addition, they can also appear if you comb your hair too often.

My dog ​​has scabs on his head

If your dog has scabs on his head, he may are the product of any of the skin diseases, Such as Leishmaniasis, skin hypersensitivity, scabies, among others, which in all cases generate excessive itching that makes the dog scratch desperately to the point of breaking the skin, causing wounds, ulcers and scabs.

The first thing is to go to the vet for a complete evaluation, diagnostic tests that are very simple which will allow to rule out the possible causes and find the origin of the problem.

Why do black spots appear on the dog's skin?

These black spots can appear in dogs of any age or breed and are mostly a problem of hyperpigmentation, which occurs when the color of the skin increases excessively due to the high production of melanin.

These black spots should not generate alarm if they are not accompanied by other abnormal symptoms, however and for greater peace of mind, if they appear you should visit the veterinarian to rule out that it is another health problem.

These are some of the causes of black spots on the dog's skin:

• Exposure to the sun: they are as sensitive as we are to the sun and when these spots are the product of exposure, they must be located on the head and back.
• By age: as they age these spots may appear, which are totally harmless.
• By friction: caused by friction when moving and usually occur under the legs and armpits.
• Hypothyroidism: The Hypothyroidism produces these spots along with other symptoms in dogs of any breed.
• Cushing's syndrome: caused by excess hormones due to tumors in the adrenal or pituitary gland, also by excessive intake of steroids. This generates black spots on the skin among other symptoms.
• Elephant skin in dogs: It is also known as Malassezia, because it is in a fungus that is present in certain areas of the dog's skin. The disease occurs when these fungi become infected and generate an intense itch, it is when the affected skin changes its appearance and resembles that of the elephant. Yeast is activated and expands uncontrollably for various reasons, increased secretion of fat in the skin, excess humidity, flea saliva, food allergies, low defenses, seborrhea, etc.
• Itching and black skin in dogs: If the dog scratches a lot and also has black skin, pay attention, since we may be in the presence of a chronic dermis disease. In fact, the skin will change not only the color but also the thickness, a product of so much scratching and thus eroding it.
• Antibiotic dog skin infection: in cases of skin infections, the veterinarian is the one authorized to prescribe very specific antibiotics, only if he considers it necessary. Those containing amoxicillin and clavulanate are generally used, ideal for treating infections caused by bacteria, especially in the skin and soft tissues of the animal.

Why does my dog ​​have a scab on his ear?

These are the product of dermatoses derived from scabies mainly, although they can also have their origin in other pathologies such as hypothyroidism, seborrhea, alopecia with mild sensitivity, ear edge vasculitis, seborrhea, atopy or myiasis, among others.

They are accompanied by other symptoms such as alopecia, ulceration, necrosis or seborrhea.

Why do scabs appear on the dog's muzzle?

When the dog's muzzle changes and if the skin becomes thicker, discolored and crusted, giving a general appearance of roughness and dryness, we may be facing a picture of hyperkeratosis lesions. It is best to see a veterinarian.

Treatment for scabs in dogs

The treatment of these diseases will depend on how severe the dog's condition is, generally it is a combination of oral drugs and topical products.

The topics

Like the shampoos to eradicate excess fat Together with an anti fungal one, the frequency and time of use must be determined by the specialist. These will be recommended by the vet.

Oral

Oral antifungal medications and they also usually include some antibiotics to combat the bacterial infection that accompanies this type of illness.

The objective of the treatment is to focus the attention and eradication of the primary skin condition, and at the same time treat the secondary bacterial infection that generates the scabs.

This second treatment can span several weeks when the infections are deep and chronic. It is advisable to strictly administer the antibiotic daily and at the time indicated by the specialist, without skipping a dose.

The treatment must be carried out from beginning to end, even when it is observed that the scabs and lesions have healed, while the skin gradually recovers its healthy appearance; This is because if the treatment is interrupted and bacteria still remain, the disease can be reactivated.