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Itching
When a dog itches, the best way to get rid of the itching is to remove
the cause. Sometimes the cause of the itching is very obvious and in
such cases the elimination of the condition will be a very easy
problem. Plain ordinary filth is probably the commonest cause. If the
animal is laden with fleas, ticks, or lice, it is very likely that when
the parasites are destroyed the itching will disappear. Of course the
situation is not always so simple. If the itching is caused by mange
mites or ringworm, the problem becomes more difficult because these
parasites cannot be seen with the naked eye and have to be identified
microscopically. Once the parasite is positively identified, the
special medication which can destroy the parasite can be applied. Then
treatment becomes a matter of routine and the only demand made upon the
owner is just a little patience. But the cause of the itching can be
much more obscure. It may be due to certain allergies, to infection, or
to certain chemical irritants and the like. In such instances the
veterinarian will have a more difficult problem on his hands. In any
case, the dog owner should understand that, as in human medicine skin
diseases can be so complex that they often demand painstaking treatment
by highly competent specialists, so skin diseases can be complex in our
canine patients. The following discussion will consider some of the
commonest types and causes of skin irritation and what to do about them.
Fleas
Anyone who has the least acquaintance
with household pets knows that
fleas are extremely common in the dog. Their significance is usually
underestimated. They are a source of considerable annoyance to the
animal and are not averse to biting humans, though their affiliation
with man is only temporary. Ordinary infestations are readily
controlled by simple hygienic measures, such as bathing with flea soaps
or dowsing with flea powder. But in heavy infestations the animal
should be placed under professional care in order to avoid more serious
conditions that may result from further neglect.
Fleas may be responsible for transmitting certain tapeworms not only
from dog to dog but also from dog to man. This is probably the main
reason why the kissing of dogs is emphatically ill advised. These
parasites may cause variable degrees of skin irritation; they may
complicate other skin conditions; and they have been mentioned as a
possible source of various allergic manifestations. Fleas may work
great havoc when they are present in enormous quantities. One
occasionally hears of a dog that has died as a consequence of the
depletion and exhaustion caused by these tireless workers of discomfort.
Fleas are rather small and darkish, about ten times the size of the
head of a pin. They can be seen quite readily by pushing the hair to
one side and noting them running for cover. They are seen much more
readily on the underside of the body, especially in the area of the
abdomen and the inner surface of the hind legs, where the hair is much
more sparse than in other parts of the body.
A thorough bath will eliminate large numbers of these pests. If oil of
tar is incorporated into the shampoo in a con¬centration of about one
tablespoonful per quart, it not only will assist in the eradication but
will also tend to operate as a mild flea repellent, besides giving the
dog a pleasant anti-septic odor. Denis flea powder is the commonest
household remedy and is
very effective if conscientiously applied. Five-per-cent D.D.T. powder
will do the job with satisfying completeness. Oil emulsions of D.D.T.
should not be used because they are often toxic to the animal. In
recent years a new chemical has been discovered which is completely
sensational. The name of the chemical is malathion, and it is readily
available in many commercial preparations. Since these preparations
vary in potency, there are slight variations in their use. The dog
owner should find out all the essential details about malathion from
his veterinarian.
It is almost needless to mention that in addition to ridding the dog of
fleas, simple hygienic measures should be used to rid the pet's bedding
and the rest of the household of fleas in order to avoid any
reinfestation.
It is hardly possible to keep the dog completely free of fleas under
ordinary circumstances. Sooner or later a dog will pick them up either
from another dog or by nosing around in an area that a flea-infested
dog has previously occupied. But if the above-mentioned treatments are
followed at the first sign of any infestation, it is very unlikely that
fleas will ever pose a significant problem.
Ticks
 
There are eight species of ticks that
affect dogs. These may cause
considerable annoyance to the animal and some of them act as vectors in
the transmission of human disease. Some of the species may also invade
the household and this is naturally a source of considerable distress
to the owner. They may hide in the folds of curtains, in baseboards,
and in other woodwork, and present an annoying sanitary problem. Where
there are marked seasonal variations in climate, ticks cause their
greatest havoc in the spring and summer. In warmer climates they thrive
abundantly throughout the year.
Ticks are very easy to identify. The adult females have a tan to
gray-greenish cast, eight legs, and may be as large as house
flies. The males also have eight legs, are dark-brown to black in
color, and are about one fifth to one tenth the size of the females and
sometimes even smaller. They appear most commonly on the head, neck,
ears, armpits, and between the toes, though they may be found on any
part of the body. They may cause varying degrees of skin irritation,
though often the itchiness caused by ticks is very slight or
negligible. Ticks do not run over the body like fleas. They usually
adhere directly to the skin, feel like small bumps on it, and sometimes
even present the illusion of being small growths. They adhere so
tightly to the skin that when they are pulled off with a tweezer, they
will almost invariably pull a small piece of skin with them, with the
result that a small blood spot will show up at the point where they are
removed.
Dog ticks are extremely hearty parasites and are very resistant to
ordinary parasitic medications. They depend on dog's blood for survival
and the blood sucked from a single bite is often sufficient to keep
them alive for from eight months to two years. Until recently the
routine medications have been only moderately effective against ticks.
But with the advent of malathion the problem is now quite simple to
handle. Your veterinarian will advise you in the use of this wonderful
chemical. It is often suggested that dogs with ticks should be clipped.
This assists the treatment by permitting better penetration of the
medication. Further, if new infesttions occur they can be seen more
readily on a clipped animal.
Ticks live mostly in grassy and wooded areas. It is therefore
advisable, when exercising the dog, to avoid such areas wherever
possible. This is, of course, more practicable in cities than in
country places. In any case, if the animal does happen to pick up an
infestation it should be attended to at the earliest possible moment.
Malathion may also be used to eliminate these pests from the household.
Details on its house¬hold use should be requested from an exterminator.
Lice
Two varieties of lice are very common in
the dog. One lives by sucking
the dog's blood, and the other gets its nourishment by feeding on the
scales on the superficial layers of the skin as well as on hair. The
blood-sucking variety is more troublesome, but for the most part all
louse infestations are highly amenable to treatment and are responsible
for serious complications only in cases of very extreme neglect.
Lice appear as dull, whitish, flake-like accumulations except when
they are engorged with blood. Then they have a dark, dirty-grayish
appearance. They are about the size of large flakes of dandruff. On
close observation they may be noted to move and are thus readily
identifiable with the naked eye. However, it is advisable to make a
positive diagnosis by microscopic examination in order to determine the
specific species and also to get an impressive idea of what the
parasite looks like. The eggs, or nits, adhere firmly to the hair, and
are seen as white specks about the size of the head of a pin. Lice seem
to have a special preference for the head, neck, and ears, though they
may be found on any part of the body. The blood-sucking variety is much
more dangerous than the other because if it is present in sufficient
numbers it can cause depletion and exhaustion of the animal much more
readily. In rare cases even death may ensue as a result. However, the
resistance of the animal is so great that this practically never occurs.
Lice give rise to symptoms of scratching wherever the parasites occur.
Since they appear so often on the ears, shaking of the head and
digging at the ears are fairly constant symptoms. Animals seem to
tolerate lice better than many other parasites and there is often less
scratching than with flea or mange infestations. Since scratching of
the skin may give rise to a dermatitis which may obscure complicating
invasions of other parasites, the animal with lice should also be
checked for other parasitic infestations.
Lice are very responsive to treatment. Creolin, derris powder, D.D.T.
powder, household vinegar, and—best of all— malathion are effective
against lice. It is best that treatment be administered under
professional supervision in order to avoid possible toxic reactions
with these medications. Clipping the hair will assist the treatment.
Many nits and lice will thus be removed with the hair, and the
medication applied will have a better chance to make contact with and
destroy the remaining parasites. Proper combing and grooming at all
times is always advisable because cleanliness discourages lice. Where
lice infestations have occurred, proper measures should be taken to
restore household cleanliness so that rein-festation may be prevented.
Ringworm
Ringworm in dogs is a fairly common parasitic disease caused by various
fungi. It may be spread from animal to animal by direct contact or by
exposure to contaminated quarters. It is also mildly transmissible to
man. If it is given prompt attention the disease is readily amenable to
treatment, but cautious measures must be taken because of its
contagious nature.
In its most typical form, ringworm is characterized by small, denuded,
raised, circular areas, varying in size from about a dime to a nickel.
The areas may be pinkish to dirty-gray in color, or covered with
brownish-yellow crusts or scabs. The condition most commonly starts on
the head, neck, or limbs, but may appear on any part of the body. As
the disease progresses, the small lesions increase in size and small
patches may fuse to form larger ones. Scratching or rubbing may cause
the lesions to have an irritated or bloody appearance. In many cases,
however, there is little or no scratching. In certain cases, the
patches of affected skin may not have the typical circular shape, being
of variable size and of every conceivable shape.
Neglect of the condition may result in its spread over the entire body
of the animal. The ensuing discomfort may lead to lack of appetite,
gradual emaciation, exhaustion, and death. However, since the ordinary
case is treated within a reasonable time, such drastic end results are
exceedingly rare.
Though ringworm is so characteristic that the veterinarian usually
makes his diagnosis directly from the symptoms, positive diagnosis can
be established only by microscopic identification. Ringworm is treated
by the application of various fungicides prescribed by the
veterinarian. Though the treatment itself is relatively simple, it may
take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months to destroy all the
parasites. This depends on the severity of the infestation and the
amount of resistance of the particular organism to treatment. New drugs
are constantly making their appearance and the prospects of quick
recoveries are rapidly improving. One of these is an oral medication
called griseofulvin. Preliminary research has yielded sensational
results. Because of the contagious and transmissible nature of the
disease, animals, with severe cases of ringworm are occasionally put to
sleep.
Mange
  
Mange of dogs is a parasitic skin
disease caused by certain mange
mites. There are three species of mites that commonly affect dogs, and
these give rise to the sarcoptic, demodectic, and otodectic (ear)
varieties of the disease. Ear mange is the most amenable to treatment
because the mites do not burrow beneath the skin as in the other
forms, and remains localized in the ear. Sarcoptic and demodectic
mange usually demand a long course of treatments, and if the matter is
not given prompt attention a valuable animal may be rendered worthless.
All these varieties of mange are contagious to other dogs and the
sarcoptic form is transmissible to man. The disease affects dogs of all
ages, though the demodectic form seems to occur more commonly in the
young of short-haired breeds.
Diagnosis is established by microscopic indentifica-tion of the
parasite.
Ear mange gives rise to an inflammation of the lining membrane of the
ear, with its accompanying symptoms of shaking of the head and
scratching of the ears, and the accumulation of ear wax and other
exudations incident to the inflammation. The condition is treated with
appropriate insecticides that destroy the mites, and antiseptics that
soothe and heal the irritated membranes. The disease process is readily
eliminated.
Sarcoptic mange usually starts around the eyes, bridge of the nose, and
base of the ears, but sometimes it is first noted on the abdomen,
chest, under the front legs, or on the inner surface of the thighs. Red
points develop into small blisters that rupture and eliminate a
discharge that forms scabs. The animal emits a mousy odor. The itching
is very intense, the irritation soon becomes generalized, and the
distinguishing characteristics of the disease become obscured. In
treating sarcoptic mange, it is advisable first to clip long-haired
animals and to remove the scabby accumulations. Sulphur preparations
are most often recommended, though sensationally effective results have
been reported with benzyl benzoate. The latter preparation must be used
with caution because it may give rise to toxic reactions. Chlordane and
malathion are very useful in the treatment of sarcoptic mange.
Demodectic mange usually starts around the eyes, elbows, hocks, and
toes, though it may appear anywhere on the body. It is characterized by
patches of denuded hair which gradually become reddened and
copper-colored. There is very little itching at this stage, but soon
the irritation becomes complicated by invading germs, and the
resultant irritation becomes intensely itchy, though rarely as severe
as the sarcoptic form. Treatment of demodectic mange is often very
discouraging because of the care, time, and expense involved. The most
effective remedies are usually built on a rotenone basis. Chlordane is
also very helpful.
Eczema
Eczema is a common skin disease of dogs
characterized by a variable
degree of redness or an accumulation of watery or pus-like discharges
with subsequent formation of crusts and scabs. There is intense
itching, frequent loss of hair, and the accumulation of a considerable
amount of scurf. If the skin has a weeping appearance as a result of
the inflammation, it is referred to as moist eczema. If it is dry and
scaly, it is called dry eczema. Eczema exhibits a marked tendency to
become chronic.
The disease is most common during the warmer seasons of the year, and
for this reason the popular term of summer eczema has been applied to
it. This is a misnomer. Eczema is more prevalent in the summer time
because the predisposing and causative factors of the disease are more
plentiful then than during the other seasons. Eczema may be caused by
an allergic reaction to foods of high protein content, or it may be
due to a hypersensitivity to certain chemicals or drugs. Such external
parasites as fleas, ticks, lice, fungi, and chiggers, as well as
internal parasites, may be direct or predisposing causative agents.
Dietary imbalance or improper hygiene may also be responsible for it.
Anal-gland infections, discussed below, will often start eczematous
manifestations.
Eczema usually starts at the base of the tail or in the hip region, and
then spreads over the rest of the body. Clinically, this would appear
to be due, most often, to the discomfort caused by anal-gland
involvements. Recent reports indicate that it might also be due to
derangements of sweat glands at the base of the tail. In any case,
eczema may start on any part of the body. The animal scratches
intensely, and the severity of the condition depends upon the amount of
damage that the animal does to itself. In long-standing cases, or
chronic eczema as it is properly called, the skin becomes thickened,
the irritation less intense, and the condition more
resistant to treatment.
Occasionally there are spontaneous recoveries from eczema. But the
average case is treated by eliminating the cause and applying soothing
and healing lotions or ointments (usually made with a sulphur base) to
the irritated parts. It is always advisable to evacuate the contents of
the anal glands, and to administer supportive treatment in the form of
blood, digestive, or general body tonics. These may be given by
injection or orally in tablet or liquid forms. Often the injection of
various protein substances, as an auxiliary measure, exercises
salutary effects in alleviating severe eczemas. Cortisone preparations
have also been very effective in treating eczemas.
The Anal Glands
Derangements of the anal glands in dogs
are among the commonest causes
of numerous other involvements, and their importance in the maintenance
of pet health is too often overlooked. These structures are small
outpouchings near the end of the rectum and are analogous to the scent
glands of lower animals which in dogs, in the course of their
evolution to higher forms, have become modified and have lost their
function.
These glands occasionally become filled with secretions and excretions
of the gland membranes. The filling of these glands makes the rectal
passage narrower, and when the animal is ready to move its bowels the
pressure of the stool against these full pouches causes considerable
pain and annoyance. As a consequence, the animal will rub on its
bottom, bite at its back end or at its hip region, and sometimes will
even bite its
feet, apparently as a compensatory reaction. This combination of
symptoms makes the average owner think of worms, and he is often quite
startled when the actual condition is demonstrated.
When the animal finds that passage of its stool is painful it will
withhold it as long as possible. The liquid portion of the stool will
gradually be absorbed and the stool itself will get hard and dry, thus
making passage still more difficult and painful. This may lead to
constipation. Constipation may lead to vomiting, because it is logical
that if the back end of an animal's digestive tube is plugged up, what
is taken in at the front end cannot readily be retained. A severe
gastroenteritis, characterized by vomiting and diarrhea, may ensue.
Another condition that may result from occluded anal glands is a severe
irritation of the skin. The difficulty starts with the biting at the
back end, which sets up a local skin irritation. In time the animal
feels itchy all over, scratches over its whole body, and the irritation
becomes generalized.
In cases of prolonged neglect the anal glands may abscess and break
through the skin on either side of the anal opening, thus forming a
pathway of pus (fistula) between the glands and the outside.
Occluded anal glands are quickly relieved by applying pressure on these
pouches by placing the thumb on one side of the anal opening and the
forefinger on the other, and then squeezing out the contents. To soothe
the inflamed glands and to prevent a recurrence of the condition, a
rectal ointment of the type used for human hemorrhoids should be
applied. These preparations should be applied before the dog goes to
bed because, if it is done during the day, the ointment will pass out
with the animal's stool and will not be able to exercise its beneficial
effects. If the glands prove to be excessively troublesome, they may
be removed surgically.
How
to Clean Out the Anal Glands
 
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