Recently, the lovely Lara came into our care at Jerry Green Dog Rescue! Lara was showing baldness around her face, chest and legs, accompanied by a thin, dull coat. Lara had been struggling with her skin and coat condition for many years with her previous owner and had been administered medication to try help, which gave her relief from her itching and discomfort.

Since being handed over to our East Yorkshire team her skin has been improving with medicinal baths and lots of TLC!

( Lara when she first came to the East Yorkshire Centre)

( Lara after one week of having regular medical baths) 

We are wishing Lara well as we continue to help her skin improve whilst she begins her rehoming journey. If you would like to help Lara’s journey, please consider donating here, which will help us to continue to fund her veterinary care and extra grooming requirements. Your donation can also help towards the continuing work we do to educate dog owners about dog health and welfare, such as our top tips for a healthy coat and skin detailed below!

 

Top tips for a healthy coat and skin!

1. Groom your dog
   Keep on top of grooming your dog to ensure their coat stays tangle-free, as a matted coat will cause skin problems and discomfort. How regularly you need to groom and bathe your dog will depend on breed, coat type and condition, whilst many breeds of dog may also need professional grooming. If in doubt hire an experienced groomer for advice to ensure your dog’s coat and skin is in tip-top condition!
2. Routine flea and worm treatments
   Parasites such as fleas and worms can cause skin problems, alongside a whole number of other painful effects. Ask your vet which flea and worm treatment is best for your dog and how often that particular treatment is needed to help prevent parasite infestations.
3. Nutrition and supplements
   Your dog’s diet can have a huge impact on their coat and skin condition. Feeding high-quality food suitable for your dog’s needs and lifestyle can help their skin stay in great condition, whilst benefitting your dog’s overall health. The pet food market can be confusing and some dogs may thrive on certain ingredients and supplements more than others, so consult your veterinarian and a qualified canine nutritionist for advice on diets and supplements if needed.

Common reasons for skin/coat issues

Skin problems can be incredibly uncomfortable for our dogs and will negatively affect their quality of life. If you spot any of the below signs your dog may have a skin problem, so seek help from a vet.

Signs of a skin problem may include:

• Excessive scratching
• Bald patches
• Dryness/flakey skin
• Dull coat
• Redness/soreness
• Inflamed areas or rashes
• Weeping, smelly skin
• Ulcers or lesions
• Saliva staining (coat may turn pink, brown or orange where the dog is excessively licking)

Causes of skin problems

A dog may experience skin issues for several reasons, such as:

• Allergies
• Fleas, worms and other parasites (such as mange and demodex mites)
• Bacterial and yeast infections
• Ringworm (a fungus causing circular patches- although this is rare, it can be passed to humans)
• Wounds
• Hormonal issues (such as Cushing’s disease, hyperthyroidism and imbalanced sex hormones)
• Inherited disorders

Diagnosis for skin problems can be complicated, with many signs and symptoms of potential causes being very similar. A vet will examine the dog and carry out the necessary tests to try to identify the cause, where they can then discuss treatment and management of the skin problem.

With this in mind, we always appreciate any donations towards caring for our dogs, which includes the purchasing of grooming equipment, preventative parasite control, and good quality nutrition, helping improve our dog’s skin and coat ready for their new home!

Additionally, the cost of diagnosing skin problems can be expensive, and some of our dogs need daily skin management medication to prevent pain and discomfort whilst we are diagnosing the root causes of their skin issues.

If you can spare a pound to donate towards the care of dogs like Lara and Dorothy, who need extra TLC and veterinary care on their rehoming journey, then please donate here.