Siberian Huskies are naturally soft and lovable. Their extreme loyalty, eagerness to please and alertness will easily make you want to adopt them. A Siberian Husky can be a great companion for your family & kids if you provide the proper training and build a friendly behavior with it. When you take the responsibility of raising a Siberian husky, you are also taking on duties such as caring for your dog and understanding when problems arise. Although your Siberian Husky might have a thick, double coat that is his crowning glory, this breed is prone to certain ailments that cause balding and skin infections. Here are some common skin diseases of the Siberian Husky you should definitely know about. Look out for their symptoms, effects on the body and the proper treatments to fight them.
Zinc Deficiency
Siberian Huskies are genetically prone to zinc deficiency, as they might lack certain enzymes for proper zinc absorption. The main symptoms of zinc deficiency are lesions on the face, itching, hair loss, footpads, and genitals. Zinc deficiency can be diagnosed by a veterinarian and is cured through veterinary formulation only, therefore don’t give over-the-counter zinc products to your Husky when noticing the symptoms of skin zinc deficiency. Whenever you see the symptoms, immediately take your Husky to the vet. They will perform a skin biopsy to diagnose the cause of the symptoms and will prescribe antibiotics or a veterinary formulation of zinc methionine to be given to your Husky regularly.
Itchiness
Scratching and itching are natural behavior for a Husky. Problems start when the dog starts scratching and itching with extreme frequency. Allergies, bacterial infection and skin parasites are the main reason of itching. If this problem occurs, the dog is seen to rub its nose and body on the rug, mud, snow or on the furniture. Rubbing on the mud or snow causes dirt to enter the wound, and further inflame the condition of its skin. The environment might also be another factor causing your Husky to madly scratch itself. Excessive itching and scratching might lead to noticeable hair loss on your Husky. In order to stop Husky scratching, you should take your dog to the veterinarian for consultation on how to get rid of skin parasites, as well as recover the disease.You should also take precaution and keep your Husky away from plants, as they may be the cause of allergies to your dog.
Nasal Dermatitis
Nasal Dermatitis is a common skin problem for Huskies. The disease is commonly known as “collie nose”. Naturally, zinc deficiency causes nasal dermatitis, in this breed. The main symptoms of Nasal Dermatitis are pigment loss, hair loss on the nose, redness and nasal lesions. Sometimes, nasal dermatitis is seen as the primary sign of zinc deficiency. If you see the symptoms on your Husky, immediately take it to the vet. Consult a veterinarian and make sure your Husky is not suffering from a fungal infection, bacterial infection or skin cancer. Get the prescriptions your vet wrote and provide proper treatment for your dog to save it from nasal dermatitis.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is very common to the northern Huskies. Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid glands become unable to produce sufficient thyroid hormone. As the thyroid glands regulate metabolism, various parts of the body can be easily affected. When hypothyroidism occurs, your Husky’s skin becomes thick and it starts losing its hair, especially around the tail. It’s beautiful, the full tail starts to look like a “rat’s tail” that looks odd. Aside from that, skin infections and crusty lesions might develop if your Husky suffers from Hypothyroidism. Only the vet can diagnose the disease by testing the thyroid level in your dog’s.
Shaving
A lot of people make the terrible mistake of shaving their Huskies in the summer. Despite being a northern breed, a Husky can cope in a warmer climate. Shaving a Husky opens a pathway for various skin disorders that probably wouldn’t occur in an unshaved Husky. This includes sunburn, allergies, and parasitic infections. You can keep your dog in an air-conditioned or cool area in your home during heat waves instead of shaving them.
Follicular Dysplasia
Generally, follicular dysplasia can occur in Husky puppies with 3-4 months of age. If puppies get his skin problem, it stays with them for life. Follicular Dysplasia causes baldness in the huskies. The disease is thought to be caused by a malformation of the hairs themselves, particularly on the dog’s hindquarters. If you notice your Husky losing its hair, immediately consult a vet and treat your puppy according to his consultation.
Canine Eosinophilic Granuloma
Canine Eosinophilic Granuloma causes yellowish bumps alongside the inner thighs and the mouth of the husky. Its skin becomes very itchy when the problem occurs. Don’t hesitate to take it to the vet and provide proper treatments.
It’s very important to understand how these disorders happen to your Husky to avoid further complications. Proper knowledge is the key to successfully prevent these disorders from unnecessarily spreading. A keen eye and routine checkups can be the barrier between life and death for your pooch.
