Pet Meds: Dog Skin Care

The protective barrier created by the skin of dogs is under constant siege from all manner of influences. Any change or break in the integrity of the skin can allow for disease or infection to take hold.

Canine skin care and using correct pet medicaton is a critical part of maintaining the overall health of your pet.

Keeping the skin soft and supple and free of dry, flaky debris is one important area of skin care. Providing a complete and balanced diet and regular bathing and grooming help greatly in this area. The use of omega 3, omega 6 and vitamin E pet med supplements is of increasing popularity to help maintain healthy skin. Simple dietary supplementation of these in the form of powders, syrups and the like make this an easy addition to your pet's general pet med health care routine.

Pet Meds: Skin UV Exposure

Pet skin can also be exposed to high levels of UV radiation, especially in hot sunny climates. The regular use of animal approved sunscreen products is highly recommended in such climates. Whilst the pet's hair coat will cover most of the skin, any exposed or hairless areas should be protected with sunscreen. The unpigmented skin on the tips of the ears and the nose of many animals is at increased risk for the development of sun-related skin cancers and this risk can be reduced with the regular use of sunscreens.

Pet Meds: Skin Parasite Diseases

The skin is also the barrier through which parasite-borne diseases can infect pets. Ensuring the use of pet med products which protect the skin from the bite of mosquitoes, fleas, mites, ticks and irritating flies is a critical part of protecting your pet from these infections. Whilst many pet med products exist to help prevent infections developing if your pet is bitten by an infected parasite, using animal approved insect repellents helps reduce the risk of your pet being bitten and also prevents the irritation which would otherwise be caused by the bite.

Pet Meds: Skin Injuries

Whilst maintaining the health and integrity of the skin barrier is important, there may come times in your pet's life when small injuries occur. Protecting the wound from becoming infected then becomes a priority in order to maximise the repair and healing of the wound. Whilst larger wounds should be attended to by a veterinarian, the use of over-the-counter pet med antibacterial creams may be of benefit for smaller injuries. The use of ill-tasting bitterant sprays is also a helpful tactic to prevent the animal from causing further damage to the affected area by biting or licking at the wound.

Regular bathing and grooming is required to maintain the health of the skin and coat.

The correct skin care pet meds are an important component in ensuring the maximal ongoing health of dogs and cats.


Trixan - it's nice to know.