Arava Dead Sea Pet Spa - Guidance Booklet | Page 15

What Are the Common Diseases of the Skin and Hair Coat?
Many skin diseases are lifelong problems requiring continual or frequent
treatments by owners and veterinarians. Common diseases that affect the skin
are:
Dermatitis or inflammation of the skin is caused by numerous agents like
irritants, allergens, and bacterial, viral, parasitic and fungal infections. These
diseases include contact dermatitis, flea allergy dermatitis, acute moist
dermatitis, atopy, and pyoderma.
Parasitic diseases are also common. They include red mange or demodicosis,
sarcoptic mange, the migration of parasite larvae, and flea, tick, and lice
infestation.
Numerous degenerative diseases of the skin and hair coat may occur. These
include various forms of alopecia, such as pattern alopecia, flank alopecia,
color mutant alopecia, and excessive shedding.
Some skin diseases arise from abnormal immune reactions, and form areas
of persistent, sterile inflammation. Examples include sterile pyogranulomas,
sebaceous adenitis, puppy strangles, eosinophilic dermatopathies, and
injection reactions.
Immune-mediated skin diseases may also develop, such as the pemphigus
complex, systemic lupus erythematosus, discoid lupus, atopy (inhalant allergy),
and vasculitis.
Skin and hair coat changes are a common manifestation of hormonal
(endocrine diseases), such as hypothyroidism, hyperadrenocorticism (
Cushing's disease), and sex hormone abnormalities.
Nutritional deficiencies, such as protein deficiency, fatty acid deficiency,
vitamin A deficiency, and zinc deficiency, often cause skin and hair coat
changes.
Numerous forms of skin cancer also occur in the dog. While many skin
tumors are generally benign, a variety of malignant tumors may also occur.