Skin Care - More To It Than You Think

*I am not a dermatologist. Information is general in nature only and is not designed as a one size fits all approach. Consider if the information is right for you.

The skin is the body’s largest organ. It is incredibly complex with many different layers filled with oil glands, nerve endings, blood vessels, immune cells, bacteria, and fungi! The skin’s health is dependent on the entire body and mind functioning efficiently.

A lot of pet owners think that a skin problem is due to one factor for example dryness, itchiness or infection. This is often far from the truth. These are symptoms of the problem, not the cause in itself. Other owners may take this a step further and claim that allergy or bacteria are the root cause. These are only partly to blame.

The best answer would be that skin issues are mostly due to an imbalance within the body. Furthermore, this imbalance can be due to a variety of factors. Nutrition, grooming, bathing, (mental health - socialization/exercise/play) to name a few.

Sometimes a dog will scratch incessantly out of habit or nervousness. If the skin is truly affected it is important to consider whether the scratching is actually creating a true health problem. If the scratching/biting is making the skin red, but not breaking the surface of the skin it may not necessarily be a major overall health problem ie. the dogs quality of life is not affected drastically. If left, desensitisation may occur over time, the problem will not go away ie. it is not cured but it remains manageable. Often medication can actually cause the skin to thin, dry out and break which actually makes the problem worse. A natural approach is always best, medication is never ideal although in some cases unavoidable.

Mental health - Stress, Frustration And The Need To Play/Socialize

Dogs are social animals. Their need for company is as important as food, water or shelter. If a dog is left alone it feels more vulnerable. It feels fear, frustration, emotional stress and boredom. It’s mind needs to focus and interact with another pack member - almost constantly.

All isolation will manifest as stress on the dog’s health whether it is visible to us as humans or not. Some dogs will lick, bite and scratch themselves more when left alone. This can often create a skin problem such as infection when the skin surface is broken.

Mental health - Stress, Frustration And The Need To Play/Socialize

Dogs are social animals. Their need for company is as important as food, water or shelter. If a dog is left alone it feels more vulnerable. It feels fear, frustration, emotional stress and boredom. It’s mind needs to focus and interact with another pack member - almost constantly.

All isolation will manifest as stress on the dog’s health whether it is visible to us as humans or not. Some dogs will lick, bite and scratch themselves more when left alone. This can often create a skin problem such as infection when the skin surface is broken.

Nutritional Causes - Food Allergies

The intestinal tract has a developmental origin very similar to that of the skin. This means that if we ingest chemicals including food that irritate the intestinal lining, likely the skin will also be irritated. Many people are intolerant to nuts, eggs, bee pollen, crustaceans or red meat for example. There are chemicals in these foods that “do not agree with them”. This means that the immune system centres that line their intestinal tracts react or flare up, sometimes dangerously when these foods are eaten.

Many dogs share our food intolerances. Not specifically to nuts or seafood but to foods such as wholegrains, some meats, fruits and vegetables, additives and preservatives. It is important to identify which foods your dog is best suited to. Often commercial dog food has a high mix of ingredients making the offending food/allergen difficult to detect.

Different Breeds - Different Skin Conditions

Every breed of dog has slightly different skin in terms of pigmentation, thickness, density of oil glands, immune centres and so on. Some dogs have “sensitive skin” or “sensitive ears” which is a very non-specific term. Often floppy eared dogs will have recurring yeasty infections in their ears or anal glands - all skin issues related to the organisms which live there.

Staffordshire/Bulldog/Bullterrier or Mastiff breeds often chew and scratch themselves constantly due to itchiness of the skin, the cause being either dryness or infection of any kind. Luckily, bullterrier breeds and mastiffs have a naturally oilier skin. The natural oil acts as a protective barrier to irritants coming from the external environment. It is important that these natural oils not be disturbed or removed.

Of course owners will often use shampoo on their dogs which strips away the natural oil leaving the coat more vulnerable to allergens or infectious agents. Clients often bathe their dog far too often which dries the skin out further. Personally, my dog Mossy’s bathing regimen consists of swimming in the ocean daily. The saltwater provides antibacterial properties, cleans dirt away but preserves the skins natural oil. When Mossy becomes noticeably smelly then she will get a thorough shampoo bath. This will only occur every 4 weeks. Keeping her coat short also assists in her overall cleanliness.

My dog “Mossy” has quite low pigmentation and her skin is quite thin and likely to dry out. Genetically, this is her skin type and many Shepherd breeds have similar qualities to their skin. Mossy would be more at risk to the harmful effects of UV radiation such as skin cancer. Her direct sun exposure needs to be monitored and restricted especially during summer. Dog friendly zinc should be applied to her nose in the summer months and the hottest part of the day should be avoided. Luckily, Mossy does not sunbake on her back like many dogs do, especially Staffordshire and Bullterrier breeds. This should be discouraged in these breeds as skin cancer can develop.