It is said that more than 160 skin diseases are infected with dogs. There is a vivid saying that among the medical records of pet doctors, 10% of cases related to chronic skin diseases account for. And these cases are usually the thickest, because they cover dog medical history, laboratory test results, biopsy reports, drug and supplement use records, etc. This statement reflects two characteristics of skin diseases: multiple and complex.
Why is the probability of skin disease in dogs higher than other animals?
The skin thickness of dogs is 0.5-5 mm. The reason why data fluctuates up and down is because the skin thicknesses of different parts of the body are also different. Generally speaking, the hairy back and body sides are the thickest, and the skin on the abdomen is the thinnest. The thickness of the outermost layer of the skin, that is, the first layer that protects the body from various external factors, is only about 0.2-0.5 mm. Although the epidermis can provide the body with necessary protection through cooperation with hairs, keratinocytes and various glands, if the food selected by the owner and the living habits arranged by the owner are unreasonable, it is easy to destroy the health of the skin and form various annoying lesions.
The truth about skin diseases in dogs, I must tell you that the quality of diet affects skin health
In the premise of ensuring skin health for dogs, the quality and total amount of protein are very important. In addition, the important role of certain special amino acids cannot be ignored. For example, cysteine and methionine are high in hair; cysteine, tyrosine and tryptophan are necessary for skin and hair pigmentation. If we lack these nutrients, we will see the dog's hair being dull, rough, sparse, slow growth or fall off, and increased skin dander. There is also an impact that we cannot observe, that is, the skin's protective ability decreases, which in turn affects the dog's overall health. In addition to proteins and special amino acids, fat is also an important nutrient for ensuring skin health, especially the Omega fatty acids contained in certain special fats. Omega fatty acids include two major categories. One is Omega3 fatty acids, which are mainly derived from deep-sea fish products, which helps to allergize the skin inflammatory reactions related to food allergies, thereby maintaining the health of the skin by cats; the other is Omega6 fatty acids, which are derived from animal fat and some vegetable oils, help enhance the immune system's immune function in dealing with skin infections and damage, and preventing dry skin.
Certain specific minerals are also key to ensuring the health of pet skin, the most important of which are zinc and copper. Zinc is essential to the skin because it is involved in the formation of skin keratin, the healing of skin trauma, the metabolism of vitamin A, the synthesis of fatty acids, and immune regulation and response. It also plays an extremely important role in the coloring of skin and hair. It can convert the anterior keratin on the skin's epidermis into keratin, making the skin have a better barrier effect.
Correct care helps the coat to be more beautiful
In addition to internal nutritional conditioning, maintenance directly on the body surface is also very important. Proper care can help your dog's skin and hair stay healthy. On this issue, the owner should do the following:
1. Help the dog to comb the hair regularly. Using the right comb can help the dog effectively remove dead hair on the body surface, promote blood circulation on the body surface, and ensure the healthy skin state;
2. Bathe your dog correctly. We already know that dogs have different skin than humans, so when bathing dogs, you must follow rules that meet their physiological needs. With the help of professional beauticians, use a shower gel for pets and set a reasonable bathing frequency. After each bath, be sure to blow dry the body surface thoroughly, otherwise the moisture remaining on the body surface will not be able to evaporate due to the obstruction of the hair, making the body surface wet, which can easily form a livable environment for various fungi, bacteria and parasites;
3. Regularly expel ectoparasiosis. The appearance of parasites itself is a sign of poor skin condition. In addition, parasites may also spread other serious diseases and even form cross-infection of human pets, so you must deworm them regularly.
4. Appropriately increase exercise time and appropriately increase sun exposure time. This is also beneficial for healthy skin and beautiful hair.