Health: Skin

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You can tell a lot about your dog by taking a good look at her skin. Clear and clean skin is a good indication your dog is pretty healthy.

Signs of healthy skin

Here's what healthy dog skin looks like:

• Color is consistent and it springs back when touched.
• No scales, crustiness, or roughness, no eruptions or scabs.
• Free of fleas and ticks. Infected or irritated bites from parasites mark the beginning of many potentially serious skin conditions.

What causes skin problems

The most common culprits include:

• Allergies to substances such as food, pollen, cleaners, or even flea saliva. Keep your dog away from caustic products such as carpet cleaners or lawn treatments. A vet can help pinpoint the cause and prescribe medicines to relieve the itching.
• Infections from cuts or flea bites, or bacterial or fungal infections. These sorts of problems all require professional diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible.
• Too-frequent baths, regular or prolonged swimming in dirty water or highly chlorinated pools, and exposure to environmental hazards.
• Flea and tick bites, which can quickly turn into infections and bigger problems. Be sure to practice good flea and tick control.

Hot spots

One of the most common skin problems requiring a vet's help is the "hot spot"--a bacterial infection officially called pyrotraumatic dermatitis, or moist eczema. Hot spots begin as infected bites or scratches, and as the infection spreads--very rapidly--hair falls out, pus forms, and the area begins to smell awful. The spot even feels warm.

Hot spots are most common in breeds with  [Continued]