Skin Irritation May Result From Grooming and Bathing
My-Dog.info > Dog Health
Grooming and bathing can result in skin irritation. The
clippers rarely cause a rash if properly sharpened, cleaned, and
set to groom the hair to a short coat length. A rash may occur if
the clippers are dull, if they are run for long periods and
overheat, thus lightly burning the skin, or if the angle of
clippers is such that the tips nick the skin. The latter
situation often occurs in areas where the skin is loose such as
in the axilla, or armpit. Irritation is also more likely in areas
where the skin is very thin and delicate such as on the abdomen,
armpits and groin area. If a pet sits in moist bedding in a warm
environment, minor scrapes can become irritated.
Another potential cause of irritation of the skin on the
underside of dogs is soap residue. During rinsing, soap tends to
run down and pool on the underside and if not fully rinsed away
may lead to soap irritation.
Less commonly, a dog may have a contact hypersensitivity
reaction to a shampoo resulting in an irritant contact
dermatitis. True skin allergy, or allergic contact dermatitis can
develop after repeated exposure to a chemical and produces
similar signs, but is quite rare.
Any general skin irritation will benefit from the application
of a soothing bland cream. A cream is a water-soluble compound,
while ointments are oil soluble preparations. Topical creams are
particularly helpful because unlike ointments, they allow oxygen
into the wound to help keep it dry. The cream may be gently
massaged into the irritated skin, though a really sore area may
be too sensitive, so a quick "wipe on" of the cream may
be all that the dog will tolerate initially. Your veterinarian
may recommend a cream with small amounts of cortisone (a steroid)
to help sooth the inflammation. If they identify signs of early
infection in the rash, they may suggest an antibiotic cream, with
or without the steroid component. If the rash contains dirt
particles, hair or other foreign material, a brief cleansing with
a gentle hypoallergenic soap (and thorough rinse to remove soap
residue) may be done first. If the rash is hot, a gentle trickle
of cold water can help to sooth and cleanse an irritated area.
After a bath or cold water rinse, the area should be thoroughly
dried by patting it gently before applying any cream. It is not
recommended to use talc or talcum powder on irritated skin
because the small mineral crystals will further irritate it.
More extensive rashes may benefit from restrictive collars or
a T-shirt to prevent a dog licking and chewing at the area.
Sometimes antihistamines are prescribed to help reduce
inflammation, or omega fatty acid supplements are administered as
a nutritional supplement during healing if the lesions are more
extensive.
Reprinted with permission from www.animalhealthcare.ca
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