How to Cure Dog Skin Disease at the Root

1 Common Causes

Fungal infection: poor environmental hygiene is a major factor, since fungal spores resist and thrive in damp surroundings; endogenous infection arises when a high-protein diet, excess sebum, poor nutrition, low immunity, or skin wounds let fungi multiply; secondary infection follows any skin break that lets fungi in. Mite infection spreads through contact with infested dogs or contaminated bedding and tools.

2 Symptoms

Local hair loss, widespread skin redness, many small red nodules oozing serous fluid, and heavy dandruff. The dog itches intensely, bites and rubs the skin, and gradually loses weight.

3 Treatment

Shave the whole body (with reassurance) and wash with warm water to clean the skin. Then a herbal medicated bath: 100 g spicy knotweed, 150 g climbing groundsel plus wattle vine, and 200 g chinaberry leaves in 5000 ml water, boiled about 10 minutes; once cooled to about 50°C, wipe the affected skin daily for 7 days.

After the bath and once the skin is fully dry, apply sulfur ointment over the whole body every 5 hours for 7 days. Systemic medication: griseofulvin 30 mg/kg by mouth (mixed into food) for half a month; antifungal injection 0.1 mg/kg subcutaneously every 3 days for 3 doses; ivermectin 0.1 mg/kg subcutaneously every 3 days for 3 doses; vitamin B as needed, once daily for a week.

4 Prevention

Feed a complete, balanced diet and avoid long-term excess protein to reduce sebum. Keep the living space healthy with ventilation and good light, and disinfect regularly with chlorhexidine. Bathe dogs about twice weekly in summer and once weekly in winter. Deworm routinely, injecting ivermectin preventively in spring and autumn. Prevent contact with sick dogs, and at the first sign of disease see a vet promptly — never self-medicate, which can worsen the condition.