beagle skin health
Beagles are happy, energetic, compassionate, and loving dogs, and most families would love to have a beagle as a pet. And like other breeds of dogs, beagles also have health problems, they are predisposed to certain diseases. One of the health problems with beagles is that they are prone to infections/skin problems.
What are the common skin diseases of beagles?
As with other dog breeds, skin problems in beagles can be caused by numerous agents, including infectious agents (bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites), external irritants, allergens, and trauma (burns, radiation). .
Bacterial dermatitis (pyoderma)
Bacteria that can cause skin infections include intermediate staphylococcus (most common causative agent), normal resident skin bacteria (Staphylococcus sp., Streptococcus sp.), pseudomonas sp., and E. coli.
Areas such as lip folds, facial folds, neck folds, axillary areas, dorsal or plantar interdigital areas, vulvar areas, and tail folds are especially prone to bacterial pyoderma because hot, humid conditions Moisture in these areas allows bacteria to overgrow and colonize the skin’s surface.
Dermatophytosis
Dermatophytes (Microsporum canis, M. gypseum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes) are the common fungal agents that cause skin problems in dogs. In dogs with dermatophytosis, the affected areas are alopecic, scaly patches with broken hairs. Papules and pustules may also form on the affected area.
Eats and external parasites (fleas and ticks)
moth eater (demodex sp. and Sarcoptes scabei) can also cause hair loss and dermatitis. Fleas and ticks can also trigger dermatitis. A condition called flea allergy dermatitis is common in dogs and flea bites cause severe irritation and dogs may develop hypersensitivity to flea saliva (injected during feeding/bite).
Allergy (atopic dermatitis)
Allergens in the environment can trigger an allergic reaction that is seen primarily on the skin (allergic inhalation dermatitis or atopy). Allergic inhalation dermatitis is a very common allergy in dogs with approximately 10% of the canine population suffering from this condition. The most frequently affected areas include the feet, face, ears, armpits, and abdomen.
Food allergy is also a common type of atopy in dogs. The foods that most often cause allergies to dogs include beef, chicken, corn, wheat, soy, and milk.
Other causes of skin problems
Nutritional deficiencies, hypothyroidism, hyperadrenocorticism, excessive estrogen production or administration can also lead to skin problems (often seen as hair loss).
How do I know my beagle has a skin disease?
Generally, skin problems manifest as:
- itching and scratching
- Inflammation of the skin (dermatitis) – seen as redness of the skin (erythema), scaling, pustules
- scratch
- Hair loss
- Beating
How are skin diseases diagnosed?
With skin problems, the veterinarian should perform a complete examination of the dog (type of lesions, location/area(s) affected) and take a dermatological history. The vet may also need to perform tests to help with the diagnosis, such as Wood’s lamp examination (dermatophytosis), fungal culture, allergy investigations (dietary tests, patch tests, and intradermal tests), skin scrapings, combing of the fur to detect fleas or lies and biopsy. In some cases, the skin infection or itching may be idiopathic after all diagnostic tests have been performed. In cases of idiopathic skin diseases, corticosteroids or antihistamines and essential fatty acids can be administered.
What is the treatment for skin problems?
To effectively treat skin infections it is necessary to determine the underlying cause. Bacterial pyoderma is treated with oral antibiotics (given for 21 to 30 days; longer duration of treatment for chronic cases). Insecticides can be given if there are fleas and ticks.
Until the underlying cause is determined, topical and systemic therapy can be administered. Cleansing and anti-parasitic shampoos are available and can be used for routine cleaning (removing dirt, excess oil from the coat). Medicated shampoos containing chlorhexidine and benzoyl peroxide are widely used for their antibacterial properties. Antiseborrheic shampoos contain tar, sulfur, and salicylic acid and can be used for seborrheic dermatitis. In the case of antifungal shampoos, they have not been shown to shorten the course of the infection and are best avoided.
What can I do to help keep my beagle’s skin healthy?
Feed your dog a complete and balanced diet that meets its nutritional needs.
Whether your beagle is a puppy or an adult, make sure he’s getting adequate amounts of protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. Dogs also need linoleic acid, an essential unsaturated fatty acid that is important for coat and skin health, found in corn, safflower, sunflower, and soybean oil.
regular toilet
Brush your dog’s coat at least once a week and bathe him 1-2 times a week. Brushing the coat will not only provide the bond you need with your pet, it will also help massage the skin and release the skin’s natural oils. Regular brushing will also give you time to check for ticks, fleas, or other skin and coat problems.
regular checkup
Take your dog to the vet regularly to be checked for skin parasites or early signs of skin and coat problems. Skin problems can be caused by an underlying disease and it will help your dog a lot if the disease is diagnosed and treated early.