Back
This information is provided by Provet for educational purposes only. You should seek the advice of your veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly advise on the diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for your pet. Healthy skin isn't just important for cosmetic reasons - it is also important for general good health The skin is an important organ which has several functions, including :
In addition healthy skin contains sensors to detect :
A hairy layer on top of the skin is important in insulating the animal against environmental temperatures - as well as providing an additional protective layer against damage. If the skin is diseased these functions may be compromised resulting in serious consequences for the animal. Skin cells are shed from the surface all the time, and the skin cells are continually being renewed. The key to a healthy skin and coat is good nutrition:
Looking after the coat and skin is also important to maintain health, so contamination with dirt and chemicals should be removed by regular washing (using a medicated shampoo recommended by your veterinarian) and by grooming. Regular grooming is important to remove dead hairs and debris that may accumulate in the coat. Finally, sometimes disorders of the skin are secondary to other internal diseases - for example many hormonal disorders (eg Cushings Disease, Hypothyroidism) affect the skin and hair causing signs of disease - including hairloss (alopecia). In these cases abnormalities of the skin act as important indicators of internal disease. So if your pet develops any signs of skin disease, including :
ask your veterinarian for his/her opinion on what the cause might be and how to manage the problem.
Updated October 2013 | |||