How To Deal With German Shepherd Dry Itchy Skin
Did you know that German Shepherd Dogs visit their vets often because of skin problems? Excessive scratching, itching may lead to skin infections that may eventually deteriorate your GSDs health. Having knowledge on the basics of German Shepherd skin problems will help you treat and prevent them from happening.
Bone And Joint Problems
A number of different musculoskeletal problems have been reported in German Shepherd Dogs. While it may seem overwhelming, each condition can be diagnosed and treated to prevent undue pain and suffering. With diligent observation at home and knowledge about the diseases that may affect your friends bones, joints, or muscles you will be able to take great care of him throughout his life.
Intervertebral disc disease is a common condition in Shepherds. The disease is caused when the jelly-like cushion between one or more vertebrae slips or ruptures, causing the disc to press on the spinal cord. If your dog is suddenly unable or unwilling to jump up, go up stairs, is reluctant to move around, has a hunched back, cries out, or refuses to eat or go potty, he is likely in severe pain. He may even drag his back feet or be suddenly paralyzed and unable to get up or use his back legs. If you see symptoms, dont wait. Call us or an emergency clinic immediately! For less severe cases, rest and medication may resolve the problem. In many cases involving paralysis, well recommend surgical removal of the ruptured discs . As with so many other diseases, weight control helps to prevent this problem. You should also use ramps or steps from puppyhood on so that your dog doesnt spend a lifetime stressing his back by jumping on and off of the furniture.
Read Also: German Shepherd Whines A Lot
Dogs Dermatitis On Back: Causes And Treatment
The correlation between fleas and lumbar itchy dermatitis in dogs is one of the undisputed cornerstones of veterinary dermatology, although lumbar itchy dermatitis can also occur in case of atopic dermatitis .
However, the simple fact that a diet free of oxytetracycline regresses symptoms in a few days without tackling the flea problem, must make us think about changing this axiom.Each veterinarian has experienced several cases where pets owners denied the presence of parasites and they couldn’t be found during clinical visits either. Such cases were always explained by claiming that one hidden flea is enough to induce a reaction.
Even though the exact mechanism of action of this toxic – and how it relates to this precise array of symptoms – isn’t yet clear, I think I can solve the symptoms linked to this disorderbrilliantly and rapidly. The use of Forza10 Dermo Active – along with a stop in the use of every other food – allows a regression of all the wounds and of the itch within a very short time. Dogs such as German Shepherds and English Bulldogs – the latter being often affected by dermatitis, due to the many wrinkles of their skin in the neck area -will benefit rapidly and significantly from such a change in their diet. Should there be no signs of improvement in the first week, though, could be an indication that other origins need to be investigated.
Also Check: German Shepherd Color Palette
Why Is My Pet Scratching
There are many reasons why pets become itchy. Sometimes the cause can be fleas, even if you cant see them on your pet. Some pets experience seasonal allergies, just like people, but instead of having a runny nose and other symptoms we associate with hay fever, they actually get itchy skin. Food allergies may also be the source of constant scratching, licking and chewing. Skin infections can also be itchy or painful and require treatment. Diagnosing and choosing the right treatment for your pets itch will be easier if it is addressed early, as a simple parasite problem can develop into a complicated infection, which may require not only a longer treatment course, but multiple different medications.
Constant itching and scratching can affect your pets quality of life, so it is essential that they get relief from their discomfort. We often see dogs and cats who have scratched themselves to the point that the skin has been broken. This can lead to bleeding and infection which in turn leads to further self-trauma.
This level of skin damage requires a visit to your local Greencross Vets to ensure a diagnosis and correct treatment are commenced.
We are here to help!
Skin disorders can be difficult to diagnose. The expertise of a professional veterinarian is needed to ensure safe and effective treatment is started to get your dog back to full health. Some common causes include:
Managing Skin Problems With German Shepherds
Fatty acids, zinc and antioxidants may reduce the symptoms. Its a main reason we added them to our Skin & Coat Supplement. Avoid taking your German Shepherd to early morning or late afternoon walks if youre dealing with a pollen allergy. You may also regularly vacuum or wash the dog in hot water to remove the allergens. Keep them away from either the laundry or the basement, or other areas in the house where its humid.
You May Like: Golden Retreiver German Shepard Mix
How To Help Your German Shepherd With Allergies
Allergies are unfortunately just as common in dogs as they are in humans. Some breeds of dog are more susceptible to developing allergies, and the German Shepherd is one of these.
It is believed that one in ten dogs will have to develop some type of allergy in their lifetime, and this number rises with German Shepherds.
Allergies can also be genetic, meaning that a German Shepherd with allergies is more likely to produce offspring who also have allergies.
How Do I Get My German Shepherd To Sleep Through The Night
The Good Night Command Method Set up your German Shepherds crate and introduce it to your puppy. It should have soft, warm bedding and a toy or two for your pup to chew on while falling asleep. Tell your puppy it is time to go to bed. You can give him a command such as go night-night or its time to go good night.
Also Check: Hot Spot German Shepherd
How Do You Treat Itchy Skin In Dogs
When combined with water and blended into a thick paste, baking soda can dry out rashes on the skin, alleviate itching, and reduce redness and inflammation. 6 All you have to do is combine 50 percent baking soda with 50 percent water and apply the paste to your dogs skin. After about 20 minutes, rinse completely.
Hair Loss Signs In Dogs
Even though there are many reasons for fur loss in dogs, they all have some common signs that you can keep an eye out for. Your dogs hair feeling brittle or dry can be the earliest sign that something is wrong. Usually, this means that the natural oils from your German Shepherds skin are not properly being distributed to their fur.
Shedding more than normal and the appearance of bald patches can further indicate a serious problem. This is especially true if these patches are accompanied by small, scaly red lesions or inflamed skins and rancid odor.
Look also at your German shepherds overall conditions and behaviors. Do they lose weight even though they have been eating the same amount as usual? Do you notice a drop in their energy levels? Do they whine or yelp out in pain?
Learn to identify these signs and get your German Shepherd checked by a vet as soon as possible if you notice any of them.
Also Check: Good Names For German Shepherds Female
Why Does Mygerman Shepherd Itch So Much
German Shepherds are prone to a variety of skin problems because of flea or insect allergies, food allergies, inhalant allergies, and skin contact allergies.
Some GSDs are also itchy because of medicine allergies .
These allergies may not go away over time, so its vital for you to make sure that your dog receives the right treatment.
Allergy symptoms can become severe depending on the exposure level and your dogs reaction. This leads to a lower quality of life and possible serious medical and health complications. If youve ever wondered why your German Shepherd itch so much, consider the multiple causes of allergies in GSDs.
Why Do German Shepherd Shed So Much
If you have been a German Shepherd owner you will know for a fact that this breed of dogs is heavy shedders. These specific dogs come with a double coating this type of coating includes a soft and woolly undercoat with the outer coat made of thin long protective hairs, this is to protect the dog from easily getting injured.
Its good to keep your German shepherd dog well-groomed and well shaved up that will reduce the shedding from occurring on a faster paste.
One of the main reasons why German Shepherd dogs shed so much is because they grew new hair throughout the entire year. Most dogs are seasonal the hair on their skin only sheds when the new ones are pushing out but for your GMS dog s its different because the hair on them grows right through the year.
In summer and in fall these dogs will shed the most, your German Shepherd dog will go through a phase name the coat blow in which the shedding is at its highest level., this rapped shedding can last for weeks before reducing to the normal stage.
Also Check: German Shepherd Feeding Guide
Assess Their Laying Spot
It seems that your German Shepherd doesnt trust the safety of his bed or lying spot. It will also circle the spot to ensure there are no vermin or harmful objects that will make your pets rest uncomfortable.
There is little scientific data to prove the above 3 examples except for the idea that dogs circle before lying down to make a nest. This small study of 62 dogs implied that dogs are more likely to circle before lying down when given a soft, uneven surface to make a temporary nest to sleep in.
How Often Should You Brush Your German Shepherd
The only way to reduce the amount of shedding is to brush your dog regularly. Every German Shepherd shed at different rates and in varying amounts as well. You need to figure out what brushing schedule works best for your dog.
Start by brushing your dog once a week and determine how much they shed after that. If you think there is too much fur everywhere, try brushing them twice a week. Keep doing this until you find out how often your German Shepherd needs to be brushed to keep things under control.
To maximize brushing efficiency, use the undercoat rake at least once a week. Be thorough about it and get rid of any loose fur that may have accumulated under the top layer.
You May Like: Housebreaking A German Shepherd
How Are Moles Different In Dogs And Humans
Although in some respects moles may appear similar, there are several vital differences that the condition will display between species that will affect both the diagnosis and the treatment of the condition.
-
While humans can often dislike moles for cosmetic reasons, dogs have no such compunctions regarding the growths presence on their bodies, meaning that treatment of benign moles is absolutely unnecessary.
-
Some moles in humans may end up producing hair follicles, which results in long hair growing out of patches of otherwise regular skin, which makes the growths much easier to detect. In dogs, it is very hard to tell if the follicles are abnormal due to the usual density of the animals coat. That said, differences in hair color can sometimes be of help in revealing the mole.
You May Like: Is A German Shepherd A Wolf
Taking Care Of Your German Shepherd Dog At Home
Much of what you can do to keep your dog happy and healthy is common sense, just like it is for people. Watch her diet, make sure she gets plenty of exercise, regularly brush her teeth and coat, and call us or a pet emergency hospital when something seems unusual . Be sure to adhere to the schedule of examinations and vaccinations that we recommend for her. This is when well give her the necessary check-ups and test for diseases and conditions that are common in Shepherds. Another very important step in caring for your pet is signing up for pet health insurance. There will certainly be medical tests and procedures she will need throughout her life and pet health insurance will help you cover those costs.
Don’t Miss: Colors Of Gsd
Diagnosis Of Allergies In German Shepherds
If you suspect that your German Shepherd may have an allergy you must seek veterinary advice promptly. The severity of symptoms of an K9 allergic response may only be mild at first but they can become more severe over time. The symptoms displayed during an allergic response can also be very uncomfortable for your German Shepherd and may lead to long term problems such as weight loss, hair thinning or skin thickening.
Your veterinarian may advise diagnostic tests such as blood tests, saliva tests or skin allergen testing. They may also recommend elimination trials, particularly when a food allergy is suspected.
Elimination trials involve feeding your German Shepherd a single type of food for 8 to 12 weeks, such as a hypoallergenic dog food like Jiminys Good Grub or Cricket Crave.
If your dogs symptoms resolve after this time then you may wish to continue feeding just this diet, or you could start to reintroduce different food types to identify which one triggers an allergic response.
Sometimes it can be very difficult or even impossible to pinpoint the exact cause of the allergic response, even with extensive testing in these cases the allergic response will need to be treated symptomatically.
They Need Or Want Something
Typically, if dogs whine because they want or need something, theyll make an effort to let you know exactly what that is.
For example, if they need to go out to potty, they might take their leash, stand by your front door, and whine until you let them out. If their toy is stuck somewhere and they cant get it out themselves, they could take you there and keep whining until you realize the problem and help them out.
Cases like this are normal dog behavior. It is simply a means for your dog to communicate with you. Nothing is wrong with this behavior, but you can also teach your dog alternative behaviors if you prefer.
For example, you can teach your dog to use a potty bell instead of whining whenever they want to be taken out.
Also Check: German Shepherd Akc Names
Why Do German Shepherds Shed So Much Hair
Here are some of the reasons why your German Shepherd might be shedding so much hair
- Double Coat: Like other breeds such as the huskies, German Shepherds have a double coat. This is a soft wooly undercoat, and thin long protective hairs. Also, the coat serves as a defense against disease, injury, and infection. So, if youre thinking of shaving your dog because you cant keep up, just dont do it.
- Regular shedding: There are two phases of shedding you need to be aware of as a German Shepherd owner. The first is called regular shedding. GSDs do this throughout most of the year, and they could shed a lot of hair. The new hair grows out to replace the old one. For a person, it may seem like the dog is shedding a lot, but it basically has the same amount of hair.
- Seasonal Shedding: The second, the seasonal shedding, is the one most people observe easily, but it doesnt last long. This happens when the dog molts his undercoat as it gets ready for the season change. This typically occurs in spring and fall for 2-4 weeks and is a massive shedding.
- Health issues: while shedding is a natural occurrence, factors like stress, dehydration, poor diet, irritation, or skin allergy affect the rate of shedding. If you notice or think your dog is shedding unnaturally, contact your vet as soon as possible.
Whichever kind of shedding your dog is experiencing, you are sure to notice loose fur all-around your home if you bring the dog inside.
You May Like: How Cold Can German Shepherds Handle
But Doesnt Scratching Mean Your German Shepherd Has Fleas
Greencross Vets explains that a flea infestation is only one possible reason why your German Shepherd might be scratching.
It is true that fleas can irritate the skin to the point where other opportunistic bacteria, fungi, or parasites can get in and cause further irritation and itching.
But often a dog that is itching doesnt have fleas at all. The itching is caused by something completely different.
However, if your dog does have even a minor issue with fleas and has an allergy to the bugs, this can cause more intense itching. When this happens, it is called flea allergy dermatitis.
Flea allergy dermatitis is a specific type of allergy to flea bites.
While getting bitten by fleas will cause itching for any pet , in affected dogs the itching becomes severe and is often concentrated around the tail area.
For dogs with severe flea allergy dermatitis, all it can take is a single flea bite to set off the itching.
Don’t Miss: German Shepherd Vaccine Schedule
What Does An Allergy Mean For German Shepherd
An allergy is when the bodys immune system responds inappropriately to a substance, causing a reaction to something which normally would not pose a threat to the body.
The substances which trigger an allergic reaction in dogs include things such as different types of food, insect bites, medications, or environmental triggers such as dust or pollen.
The allergic reaction to this substance can cause a wide range of symptoms which may affect different body systems including the skin, eyes, ears and digestive system.