No one wants to see their beloved pup feeling under the weather. A dog skin infection may seem like a common health concern, but it’s something all dog owners and pet caregivers should take seriously. Infections are not only harmful to your dog’s health, but they can be dangerous for yours, too.
If you’re not careful, you may find yourself with the same skin infection diagnosis as your pup. Here are five infections to watch for:
- MRSA
If your dog is diagnosed with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) — a sometimes life-threateningly serious, resistant infection, according to the Mayo Clinic — you can contract it if she bites you or if you touch the infection site. While it’s not common for dogs, MRSA can be very dangerous for your dog’s health and yours as well.Symptoms may include, “widespread inflammation” and “expanding red-to-black patches of skin with rings of scale and crust,” says Dr. Jon Plant, a board-certified veterinary dermatologist and founder of SkinVet Clinic in Lake Oswego, Oregon. He also mentions that if your dog has an ear infection that doesn’t respond to antibiotic therapy, that may be an indication that MRSA is present. Dr. Plant says you can help avoid catching it with “frequent hand washing after handling dogs.”
- Scabies
If your dog is diagnosed with scabies, close contact may put you at risk of catching the same itch-causing mites. The most prominent symptom of scabies is itching in specific areas. “Typical affected sites are the ear margins, elbows, hocks and underside,” says Dr. Plant.He cautions that some dogs won’t scratch much, so it’s important to check your pal’s fur for the mites if you believe he’s come into contact with a pet or person who has them. While using a vet-recommended medication for scabies, Dr. Plant advises owners to also “clean up flooring, bedding and furniture while the dog is under therapy to prevent re-infestation.”
- Ringworm
Ringworm, too, can easily be passed to you from your dog and presents itself as “circular lesions,” though your dog may also have “widespread redness, hair loss and [a] crusted area just behind the nose,” says Dr. Plant. You can contact ringworm from your dog by touching their skin or fur, but frequently washing your hands can help prevent the spread.To learn more, check out Ringworm in Dogs: What To Do?
- Hookworm
Hookworms “are rarely seen in the northern United States,” according to Dr. Deborah W. Fegan, chief medical officer at Big Creek Pet Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. A dog who has hookworms might show signs of swollen feet, have a poor appetite and just look unwell. The parasite’s eggs are shed in feces, so you’re at risk of contracting infection when picking up after your dog’s gone to the bathroom, says the Centers for Disease Control. Dr. Plant says to keep safe, you should “pick up feces quickly, follow your veterinarian’s parasite prevention program and avoid walking barefoot in areas [where] dogs may have defecated.” Taking these steps should lower your risk of the inflammatory skin disease cutaneous larva migrans, which is spread by the hookworm larvae.
- Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Symptoms of Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) may include a change in your dog’s energy level and appetite, but Dr. Fegan says that when infection progresses, you may also notice “swelling of the limbs and ear flaps, or bruising.” You can catch RMSF from your dog if the tick that bit him bites you, too, and Dr. Plant suggests that you “protect [your] dogs with a tick control product recommended by your veterinarian” to prevent spread of this potentially organ-damaging bacterial infection.
“It’s important to be honest with anyone that will be handling your dog [if] they have a potentially contagious disease,” says Dr. Carol Osborne, an integrative veterinarian and founder of Chagrin Falls Veterinary Center and Pet Clinic in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. She adds that owners should always ask their dog walker or sitter to follow spread-prevention techniques such as wearing gloves and being diligent about hand washing.
“When it comes to your pet’s health, an ounce of prevention is worth far more than a pound of cure,” says Dr. Osborne. To prevent a dog skin infection, or at least to catch one early, she suggests that you check your dog regularly. “Carefully look at your dog’s skin and hair coat daily, note any change in your dog’s behavior and call your vet should anything appear abnormal,” she adds.
Devan McGuinness is a Toronto-based freelance writer who specializes in parenting and lifestyle topics. Keep up to date with this mom of four on Twitter .
* This article is for general informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be providing medical advice and is not a substitute for such advice. The reader should always consult a health care provider concerning any medical condition or treatment plan. Neither Care.com nor the author assumes any responsibility or liability with respect to use of any information contained herein.
