Dog Skin

The skin covering the body is composed of several layers, each made up of innumerable cells. Two main layers are recognized: the outer layer, epidermis, the lower layer or true skin, the derails. Sometimes we hear the epidermis called the cuticle or the scarfskin and, colloquially, the scurf skin. The true skin, in turn, consists of two layers. The skin is constantly shedding and renewing itself, a fact that has an important bearing on the treatment of skin diseases.

Under the skin we find subcutaneous connective tissue, an interesting part of the body made up of very elastic cells. Through it runner ves, lymph vessels, and blood vessels; fat is often deposited in it. Out of the skin grow hairs in mammals, feathers in birds, scales in fish. Hair grows out of the skin from follicles (sacs or sheaths). In the follicles are little muscles which at times cause a dog's hair to stand on end.

Sweat glands are found in certain places on the bodies of dogs and everywhere in the skin there are sebaceous glands that usually discharge their waxy secretion into the follicles. As the hair grows, it comes out coated with this sebum, an acrid-smelling substance in dogs that partly accounts for the doggy odor. This is the substance that gums dogs' collars brown, over time, wills so heavy a coating that it can actually be scraped off with a knife. Other glands secrete oil that helps the dog to shed water.

These protective coats, plus its natural resistance to water, make the skin waterproof. It is not, however, resistant to all oils, some of which can soak through it. In fact, the skin can absorb a good many drugs and substances that can be toxic (poisonous) to the dog.

The skin heals by growing outward from the lower layers if it is not wholly destroyed by a gash, scald, or other injury. (Blisters usually are pockets of fluid between layers of skin.) When all the layers are destroyed, growth occurs from the sides. In ease of injury to your pet, it is for this reason that your veterinarian will want to bring the sides of the destroyed area as close together as possible, so that the space to be covered over will be as narrow as possible. Moreover, if the injury is left open, the newly generated skin will be devoid of glands and hair. Great scalded areas become covered with skin, but not skin with the usual accessories.

The following are the ways that you can take up to keep your dog free from skin diseases.

• Keep the external and internal body parts of your cats free from parasites. The parasites like ticks, fleas, lice, intestinal worms, mites develop itching and rashes on the skin surface of the dogs.
• You are advised to groom your dog on a regular basis. This would help to keep the skin and the fur of the dog to be neat and clean.
• You are also recommended not to take your dog for a shampoo bath as too much application of shampoo causes the drying of the natural oils of the skin and also alters the ph level.