Signs and symptoms of sensitive skin in dogs

Written by Dr Andrew Miller MRCVSDr Andrew Miller MRCVS is an expert veterinary working in the field for over 10 years after graduating from Bristol University. Andy fact checks and writes for Pure Pet Food while also working as a full time veterinarian. Pure Pet FoodPure Pet Food are the experts in healthy dog food and healthy dogs featured in media outlets such as BBC, Good Housekeeping and The Telegraph. Working with high profile veterinary professionals and nutritionists, Pure Pet Food are changing dog food for the better. - Our editorial process

Your dog’s skin is vital to their health and wellbeing. It works as one of the first parts of the immune system, creating a barrier between the vital workings of your dog’s body and the germs that can be present in the outside world. This means you want to make sure your canine friends are free from any nasty dog skin conditions, so they can be as happy and healthy as possible.

There is nothing better than stroking a beautiful healthy dog, with a glossy, full, thick coat that shines in the light and feels soft and smooth under your hand. A dog with dandruff and itchy skin and a dry, dull, thinning coat is not going to look or feel at his best, so we are going to look at information concerning some common dog skin problems.

One of the easiest to spot symptoms of a skin problem or sensitive skin is an itchy dog. A dog that is spending much more time than usual scratching and biting at themselves is not a comfortable dog. If you are looking for advice on dealing with dog itchy skin have a look at our article on itchy skin in dogs.

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Among other signs that all is not well on the skin of your dog, itchy ears can indicate a problem. Although most of our canine friends regularly shed hair, a large amount of hair loss, possibly resulting in bald patches is a sign of potential trouble. Dry, flaky skin is also a sign that there could be an issue with your dog’s skin, resulting in either from scratching and biting irritating the skin or as a symptom of another cause. Some skin problems will give off an odour, particularly a musty, unpleasant kind of smell.