A recent survey has claimed that there is a link between dogs who wear clothes and the rising number of dogs who suffer from skin conditions.
The findings, which have been released by Direct Line Pet Insurance say that a third of vets tell them the main reasons for this are clothing rubbing against the skin, while others claimed the clothes could cause stress and dogs may overheat as a result of the extra layer.
Despite owners worrying that their dogs may be cold in the winter, advice from veterinary professionals is that they typically don’t need to wear clothes. Their skin is well protected with hair and, although they may get wet, they dry off quickly and rain is unlikely to do them any harm.
Commenting on the findings Dr Andrew Francis RCVS, Chief Operations Officer at Pawsquad, said: “Owners should be mindful that sometimes putting their dogs in clothing can cause skin damage, as the added materials can irritate a dog’s skin. Skin disease is the most common reason for people seeking an online veterinary consultation and, while easily treated, can cause problems if left for a long period of time. If any owner is concerned their dog may be suffering from skin disease they should speak to a vet.”
5 Most Common Breeds Susceptible to Skin Conditions
To help dog owners who are concerned but aren’t sure if they should visit their vet yet, Direct Line Pet Insurance has partnered with Pawsquad to offers its customers access to live chat and video calls with qualified, experienced vets to discuss their pet’s needs 24/7.
Prit Powar, head of Pet Insurance at Direct Line said: “We are delighted to announce our partnership with Pawsquad, as it means our customers are able to speak to a qualified vet any time, night or day, for additional peace of mind and without affecting the cost of their premium. We would always urge customers to see a vet in person if it is an emergency but for those cases, like skin disease, which may not need a face to face meeting the service will be invaluable.”
Clothes Might Not Be the Only Reason a Dog’s Skin Is Irritated
While clothes undoubtedly don’t help some dogs, there are other common reasons a dog’s skin might be irritated.
Common reasons include seasonal allergies (even grass), to household laundry products, so consider if you have recently switched fabric conditioners if your dog is having problems.
Hot spots on a dog’s skin can also be caused by allergies to parasites, such as fleas.
According to Dogadvice.co.uk, “Quite a few dogs are so sensitive to fleas, the bite of one flea is sufficient to trigger the dog to itch all over. Any sort of injury can begin the process which the dog then exacerbates by relentless chewing and licking which in turn results in a vicious cycle and will cause the hot spot to spread.”
Make sure you keep your dog flea free using a suitable flea treatment for dogs for safety and speak with your vet to make sure the underlying cause of the skin problem is resolved so that your dog doesn’t experience on an ongoing basis.