Category: Animal Hospital

Folliculitis is a skin infection that is quite frequent in dogs. When a hair follicle is irritated, the region inflates, resulting in swelling, redness, itching, discomfort, and other skin problems. Although no dog breeds are genetically susceptible to folliculitis, dogs with allergies are more likely to get the disease. There are several reasons, all of which need veterinarian care. If you suspect your dog has folliculitis, bring them to animal medical center Virginia Beach VA.

What Is Folliculitis and How Does It Affect You?

Folliculitis is the medical term for the irritation of a hair follicle caused by a bacterial infection. Hair grows through microscopic pores in the skin called hair follicles. Folliculitis occurs when one or more follicles become inflamed or infected, producing inflammation in the surrounding region. 

Folliculitis Symptoms in Dogs Symptoms

• Discoloration
• Swelling 
• Oozing pus
• Psoriasis
• Collarettes for epidermis
• Hyperpigmentation

Folliculitis causes one or more skin blemishes on the body in dogs. It may begin as a tiny elevated region of skin that seems to be acne (called an abscess). It’s possible that the area will get more elevated and filled with pus (called a pustule). Folliculitis can result in itching, discomfort, and patchy hair loss (alopecia) on one or more parts of the dog’s body. Epidermal collarettes are crusty or flaky circular skin lesions that occur in some dogs. Hyperpigmentation (dark patches on the skin) may also develop in the afflicted areas.

Folliculitis Causes

Folliculitis occurs when one or more hair follicles are irritated by one of the following illnesses:

• Infection with bacteria (often Staphylococcus bacteria)
• Infections caused by viruses or fungi
• fleas, ticks, or mites
• Trauma
• Systemic ailments

Diagnosing Folliculitis in Dogs

Consult your veterinarian if you suspect your dog has folliculitis or any other skin issue. Your veterinarian at pet care Virginia Beach will do a checkup and may be able to identify folliculitis by visual examination after reviewing details about your dog’s symptoms and history. However, to pinpoint the particular reason, more testing is frequently required. The following are examples of possible testing:

• Under a lens, skin cytology examines cells.
• Scrape your skin to look for parasites like mites.
• Skin biopsy is a surgical procedure in which small skin samples are taken and submitted to a medical examiner for study.
• Cultures of fungi or bacteria
• Organ efficiency and blood cell levels are assessed using blood tests and urinalysis.

Treatment

The etiology of folliculitis in dogs determines the therapy. Systemic drugs and topical treatments such as sprays, lotions, ointments, and shampoos are commonly used in treatment.

The most common treatment for pain and inflammation is topical therapy. Your veterinarian may advise you to take regular baths using a medicated cleanser. In sprays, moisturizers, lotions, steroids, bactericidal, and antifungal medicines are commonly prescribed.

Oral antibiotics are frequently used to treat bacterial folliculitis. To remove the germs, a long course of therapy may be required. Antifungal drugs are required for fungal folliculitis. Certain fungal infections also need long-term therapy.

Parasitic infections require both parasite-killing drugs and supportive care to facilitate recovery. A subsequent infection may still require antibiotic treatment.

If a systemic condition is causing folliculitis, it must be addressed in conjunction with the skin infection. Long-term or lifetime therapy may be required, depending on the condition.…

We all know how important it is to be hydrated and water to human health, but what about our pets? How essential is water for your pet’s health, and how can you be sure they’re getting enough to keep hydrated?

Pet Health and Water

Pets require water for the same physical purposes as it is by their humans, including:

• Nutrients and trash are transported into and out of cells.
• Assisting in digestion and nutrient assimilation
• Keeping your body temperature in check
• Joint lubrication and cushioning
• Improving cognitive performance
• Muscle function and agility are improved.
• Increasing one’s senses, particularly one’s sense of smell
• Urine and feces are used to eliminate body waste.

Because so many vital activities are dependent on adequate hydration, doctors at Virginia Beach veterinary hospital recommend that dogs must drink enough water throughout the day. 

What Is the Minimum Water Requirement for Pets?

Various factors determine the quantity of water that various pets require daily. Varying animal species require different amounts of water. The total size of the animal also influences whether it requires more or less water — larger animals need more water than smaller animals. Animals that are very active and energetic and female animals who are breastfeeding to feed their young will require extra water. The amount of additional water an animal needs depends on its diet since animals that consume wet foods or plants with a significant water content may require less water.

Animals in dry or hot areas, on the other hand, require more water. The daily water requirements of an animal may fluctuate as it grows older.

On average, dogs need one-half to one ounce of water per kilogram of body weight per day. Cats require less water, with 5-10 ounces of potable water per day being plenty. Wet-food-eating cats and dogs will require less water daily than imagined.

Dehydration Symptoms

Dehydration can be subtle, and not all animals will exhibit the same signs of dehydration. The following are some of the most common symptoms of severe dehydration:

• Lack of energy and a general sense of drowsiness
• Appetite loss.
• Skin elasticity has deteriorated.
• Eyes that have sunk
• Nose and gums that are dry or sticky
• Saliva with a thick consistency
• Excessive panting is a condition in which a person pants excessively

When pets begin to exhibit signs of dehydration, it’s critical to get them to drink as soon as possible and consult veterinary hospital doctors. Slow but continuous rehydration is recommended, and the animal should be held calm and comfortable so it can recuperate. Heatstroke, shock, or physiological damage, particularly to the heart and kidneys, may occur if dehydration is not addressed. Dehydration can be lethal in extreme circumstances.

Maintaining Your Pet’s Hydration

There are a variety of inventive techniques to ensure that your pet receives adequate water. To keep your pet hydrated and healthy by providing sufficient water;

• Always have fresh, clean water on hand.
• Place many water dishes in various locations so that dogs have a choice.
• Consider a leaking faucet or a drinking fountain 
• Add canned food or mildly moistened dry food to your pet’s diet.
• Please choose your favorite water bowl styles 
• Train your pet to consume from a bottle to stay hydrated on the road.
• Wash water bowls daily to keep them fresh and clean.
• Provide ice pop snacks gently flavored with low sodium broth on hot days.

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