Our first blog starts at the very beginning, what actually is a skin disorder?….. expertly written by Dr Claire Miller BVetMed CertAVP MRCVS.
Your skin is often referred to as the largest organ of the human body and the same is true for our furry friends. With a myriad of functions, the skin is always working hard to protect our pets from wear and tear, to help regulate body temperature and to prevent invasion by micro-organisms.
Skin has a fairly complex structure consisting of three main layers:
1. The epidermis: the outermost layer of skin, provides a waterproof barrier and creates our skin tone. It is continuously renewed by cells in deeper layers dividing and migrating to the surface. It can be further divided into 5 sub-layers of strata:
- Stratum corneum
- Stratum lucidum
- Stratum granulosum
- Stratum spinosum
- Stratum germinativum (also known as stratum basale)
2. The dermis: beneath the epidermis, contains tough connective tissue, hair follicles and sweat glands.
3. The hypodermis (deeper subcutaneous tissue) is made of fat and connective tissue. Its purpose is to connect the skin to underlying bone and muscle as well as supplying it with blood vessels and nerves.
Skin supports its own ecosystem of micro-organisms which help keep one another in check. In the event of a disturbance of this balance, an overgrowth can occur leading to clinical signs as described below. The skin covering different areas of the body often hosts a different population of micro-organisms due to the differing environmental conditions. For example, the skin lining the ear canal will differ to that between the toes or under the chin or even on the foot pads. Similarly dogs with skin folds can experience problems as the folds can create a different environment which can disrupt the normal balance of micro-organisms. Therefore, skin conditions may be isolated to specific regions of the body depending on the cause.
Commonly seen symptoms related to skin issues:
- Itching/scratching/nibbling/licking
- Ear infections – discharge, redness, odorous
- Hair loss/alopecia
- Redness and inflammation
- Sores and ulcers
- Yeasty smell
- Lumps and bumps
- Dry or flaky skin
- Pimples and pustules
- Rashes
- Poor coat condition
- Staining of coat – such as tear staining
- Skin gland problems – such as anal sacs
- Nail problems
Unfortunately, there is never a quick fix and dermatology demands both logical and thorough investigations, as well as a great deal of patience. Even once a diagnosis has been made, consideration must be given as to whether this is the primary problem if you are going to achieve success in long-term management. For example an ear infection could be just secondary to an underlying food intolerance or even a polyp.
To illustrate the complexity of diagnosing skin conditions, here are some possible causes with examples (in no particular order):
- Allergic causes – food intolerances, pollens, parasites
- Nutritional causes – incorrectly balanced diets, obesity leasing to skin folds
- Parasitic causes – fleas, mange (sarcoptic and demodectic),
- Infectious causes – bacterial, fungal and yeast infections
- Environmental causes – contact dermatitis, chemical irritants, burns, insect sting/bite
- Endocrine causes – thyroid disease, cushings disease
- Cancerous causes – carcinoma, sarcoma, mast cell tumour
- Autoimmune causes (rare) – lupus, pemphigus
What can be done to combat skin issues?
Unsurprisingly, surveys suggest skin disorders are the most common reason for patients to visit their vet and as much as 25% of activity in a small animal veterinary practice is taken up with diagnosing and treating skin and hair disorders.
Certainly a trip to the vet should be the first step in managing any skin condition so a history can be taken and a full physical examination can be performed, along with any necessary diagnostic tests such as those shown below:
- Skin scrapes
- Hair plucks
- Biopsies
- Cultures
- Blood tests
- Urine tests
- Review of current parasite prevention
- Exclusion diet / diet trial
This article was written by Natures Menu vet Dr Claire Millar BVetMed CertAVP MRCVS.
The next few articles will focus on our 4 Step Plan for managing a skin disorder, this covers from looking at your dog’s environment through to nutrition and grooming and all written by experts in the field! Don’t let your dog become #hotunderthecollar
10 thoughts on "So what actually is a ‘Skin Disorder’?"
What would be best for a cat who is removing fur from stomach and inside back legs. He is flead/wormed regular and brushed when he let's me. No sign of anything on his skin.
Over grooming can sometimes be caused by stress/anxiety, so we would recommend the Scullcap & Valerian Tablets. Or we have the new homoeopathic remedies, of which Sulphur 30c can help with skin!
For further advice, please do email [email protected]
Hi, we have a cockapoo aged 10 with allergies to soy, egg and the yeast her body produces, now Diagnosed with cancer, she was on apoquel for years but has come off it now as It reduces the immune system response, what can we try to manage her skin issues to stop nibbling her paws and making then sore, she is taking seaweed in her food and quercetin, bromelain and vit c supplement.
Hi Mel – I'm sorry to hear that! We would recommend our Garlic & Fenugreek Tablets as these provide soothing and cleansing effects as well as help to maintain the body's defences. For the initial 3 weeks, he will need 2 tablets per 10kg bodyweight. This can then be lowered to the maintenance dose of 1 tablet per 10kgs daily.
Hi
My 13 yr old poodle has Cushings. We're not treating her with the standard meds as she had a bad reaction to it, but we want to try the holistic route.
Her fur is thinning a little, she's susceptible to UTIs, has a distended tum, drinks and pees loads – all of the standard symptoms
Is there anything in particular you would suggest to help her?
Hi Nichola – Unfortunately we do not have anything specifically for Cushings. You could try the Keeper's Mix to help support her general health whilst also promoting coat condition. The Green Releaf Tablets may help to support a normal urinary flow and pH balance. We would recommend consulting your vet prior to use of any supplements so that they are aware when monitoring your dog's condition
Do you have products that help treat mange?
Unfortunately we do not have anything specifically for mange. The Garlic and Fenugreek Tablets may be of some benefit as they help to support the immune system as well as having natural anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, antiviral and antiseptic properties. These may help with some of the symptoms of mange.
Please help! Hello, I have an Irish Setter who has had a series of health issues, not least, she has a portosystemic shunt which means her live sometimes struggles to process certain things. She has a recurring problem with her skin which has been investigated by our vet. Thyroid problem has been ruled out by blood tests, a skin biopsy has found that some surface bacteria seem to be getting just under the skin causing an infection. She finished that latest course of antibiotics just a week ago and the infection has broken out again! I desperately want to try to avoid yet another course of them. Please advise on something to help her immune system? Thank you so much. Pauline & little Reba.
Hi Pauline,
Thanks for your comment. We do have products which can help support the liver and help with the skin condition which will also support her immune system. It would be best to give us a call on 01308 897277 to talk to one of our advisors who can discuss these in more detail.
Hope this helps, thanks.