Introduction
Dermatitis is one of the more frustrating conditions that pet owners face. In many cases the cause of the dermatitis is never discovered, and in other cases it takes serious detective work over a long period of time to finally pin down the dermatitis causing culprit. In some cases the cause of dermatitis, such as pollen or grass, cannot always be eliminated from the dog’s environment. Dermatitis is often a chronic condition, or continual flair ups may occur during specific seasons of the year. While this condition can be frustrating for both the dog and the pet owner, there are treatments that can help to reduce the symptoms of dermatitis.
Treating Dermatitis
Envrionmental Causes
Before resorting to oral or injectable medications to treat the symptoms of dermatitis, pet owners can try to reduce some of the dermatitis causing factors in their pet’s environment. External parasites such as ear mites, fleas, and ticks can throw sensitive pets into a full blown dermatitis attack; using preventative measures to keep these annoying pests away can help to reduce dermatitis outbreaks. Internal parasites, such as tapeworms and hookworms, can reduce a dog’s ability to heal from a dermatitis attack; regular deworming will help to treat dermatitis from the inside out.
Diet and Grooming Changes
Additional treatments for dermatitis include feeding dogs a high quality balanced diet, and giving the dog daily supplements that contain omega-3. A quality diet, and omega-3 supplements, will help to keep the dog’s skin in good condition to treat current dermatitis problems and ward off future outbreaks. Medicated shampoos that contain natural ingredients such as sulfur, tea tree oil, comfrey, or aloe can also help to reduce itches, moisturize skin, and heal dermatitis wounds.
Medication
As a last resort, dogs with severe dermatitis may need to be placed on oral or injectable medications. Oral anti-inflammatory medications, anti-histamine medications, and steroid medications can be used to treat dermatitis. However these medications, especially steroid medications, can have serious and damaging side effects if they are given continuously over long periods of time.