What is dog eczema? A detailed explanation of a common surgical disease in dogs

[Causes]

First, it is frequently irritated by various factors, such as moisture, insect stings, and irritants in dirt.

Second, feeding and management conditions are also closely related to the occurrence of the disease, especially the unsaturated fatty acids in fish, which have a strong relationship with the occurrence of eczema. Excessive intake of carbohydrates makes eczema more likely to occur. The disease also occurs more often in seasons with higher temperatures and greater humidity. In China, it occurs most in summer and autumn, especially from May to September.

[Key points for diagnosis]

The sites where eczema is most likely to occur are the neck, back, abdomen, base of the tail, around the scrotum, and between the toes. Its main symptom is inflammation of the surface layer of the skin. At the beginning of the disease, small papules from the size of a millet grain to the size of a millet seed can be seen in the affected area, and they quickly spread to the surrounding area. The coat is rough and messy, the affected area is itchy, and the affected dog appears restless, constantly licking, scratching, biting, or rubbing the affected area, thereby worsening local damage and infection. The surface of the eczema has a yellow-red exudate, which forms a scab after drying. In severe cases, it can lead to large-area skin necrosis and full-thickness peeling. The affected dog is depressed, has reduced or absent appetite, and may die from increased body temperature or septicemia. Eczema between the toes often recurs and does not heal.

[Treatment]

1. Eliminate the causes: including treating the original disease, eliminating external parasites, removing foreign matter, improving feeding and management conditions, doing a good job of environmental hygiene, and adjusting the nutritional ratio in the feed.

2. Reduce or stop self-trauma and relieve itching: sedatives may be given, or the affected dog may be fitted with an Elizabethan collar to prevent continued biting of the affected area.

3. Actively carry out drug treatment: after using antibiotics together with steroids for 24 hours, the wound surface can become dry, and after several days a scab will form. Alternatively, clip the hair locally, clean it, remove the scab, apply antibiotic ointment, and bandage it with sterile gauze. At the same time, use one of the following drugs for systemic treatment. Dexamethasone 0.125-1 mg/kg body weight, subcutaneous injection; prednisone 0.1-0.4 mg/kg body weight, intramuscular injection, 2-3 times a day; triamcinolone, 1-3 mg/time when injected intra-articularly, 0.11-0.22 mg/kg body weight when injected intramuscularly or subcutaneously, and it can also be taken orally at a dose of 0.25-2 mg/time, 1-2 times daily, for 7 consecutive days. For recurrent cases, attention should be paid to dietary therapy and changing certain feeds.