For long-coated dogs, finding problems on your dog’s skin might be a hard thing to do since you might not spot it right away. Through careful observation, you might have spotted these crusty scabs on your dog’s skin and wondered about the causes and solutions to this skin problem.
In this post, we will be going over each general cause of this skin condition, and as you can see down below, the pictures are not pretty but very disgusting to look at up close. Take a look at our list down below, and the solutions are listed right underneath, so try to match your dog’s symptoms with one of the causes listed right here.
Causes of Crusty Scabs on Dog Skin
There might be several causes related to this skin problem, and in the list down below, I have tried to cover the general causes of crusty scabs. Overall, there are six different categories, and in those sections, I have added specific reasons that you need to watch out for.
1. Allergies
Skin problems related to allergies can lead to sores, rashes, and scabs on your dog’s skin. If your dog has allergies to pollen or some other factors, the affected skin will lead to excessive itching and licking, which in turn leads to bloody sores and crusty scabs.
Allergic reactions almost always target the skin in some sort of fashion since we see that in people all the time. For friends or family that are struggling with allergies such as pollen, they will frequently sneeze, have runny noses, and red rashes that itch like crazy. Due to their allergies, they have to take meds that combat their allergy symptoms.
The same condition applies to dogs as well since domestic pets are very prone to allergies due to frequent human interaction. The same condition also implies a similar type of treatment, and for dogs, the best way to combat allergies is through an allergy immune supplement that you can implement into your dog’s diet.
To stop the itching, scratching, and licking, Zesty Paws has formulated a supplement exclusively for dog’s health. Made with natural ingredients, fish oil, prebiotic, and probiotic complexes, these grain-free soft chews are one of the best at solving allergy-related problems.
2. Parasitic Insects
Similar to humans, parasitic insects can find refuge in your dog’s skin through outside contact. External parasites (Ticks, Fleas, Mites) can cause crusty scabs on your dog’s skin through their bites. After finishing their meal, the leftover spots will lead to sores that can lead to blood scabs.
The best way to determine if your dog is infested with parasites or not is to check your dog’s skin up close. Try to ruffle through your dog’s hair for tightly attached bugs, and if you can’t find them, try to examine your dog’s bedding or his favorite spot for signs of parasitic infestation (eggs, larvae, outside shedding).
The best way to treat a parasitic infestation is through parasitic medication that comes in a form of topical treatments and even oral treatment. I have listed both choices down below, but I will leave the decision-making process up to you. Visit the product link, try to evaluate their worth, and see if that med is effective or not.
The product posted above is topical treatment (medication to apply on the skin) for parasitic insects such as ticks, fleas, and mosquitoes. Products by K9 Advantix have been thoroughly reviewed by a variety of customers, and it has proven itself to be effective in many households over the years.
Being a related product in parasitic treatment, Capstar Tablet is an oral treatment for flea infestation. This product is especially great at removing parasitic eggs and larvae, and if you do see signs of parasitic infestation in your dog’s sleeping spot, please throw away the bedding since you can’t be too sure.
After applying these parasitic meds, the steps that you take from there are the most important. You need to clean your dog’s surrounding environment to prevent a second infestation, and you might need to throw away his beddings and toys that might contain any more parasites.
3. Skin Infections
Skin infections caused by bacteria and yeast can result in crusty scabs if you leave this skin condition untreated for quite some time. The most common method that bacterial infection can spread is through untreated wounds. If your dog gets scratched in the skin due to sharp branches, his outdoor excavation might suddenly come to a halt.
He will try to lick his wounds clean and probably try to bite the wound to remove the sting, but all in all, he will forget about the wound unless you intervene. As time passes, the wound will fester as the bacteria sets in, and your dog will scratch and lick his skin even more. As you can see, this process will repeat itself over and over again.
Similar to bacterial infection, fungal infection can set in through humid environments and dry weather. To treat these two conditions at the same time, you need a medicated product that contains antibiotics (fights against bacteria and fungus) and some sort of anti-inflammatory ingredient (relieves itching).
To further prevent fungal and bacterial growth, Curaseb has perfected a spray that can treat skin infections and hot spots. Made in the USA, this spray serves both purposes of being antifungal and antibacterial, and it is even formulated with aloe and Vitamin E.
Since we have provided two methods of treatment for the previous cause, I thought it would be a good idea to introduce a new type of topical treatment for bacterial and fungal infections. This is a medicated shampoo, and the specific details regarding this product are listed down below.
For fungal and bacterial infections, you can try out the specialized shampoo by Veterinary Formula Clinical Care, which can treat parasitic infections and even fungal & bacterial infections. Formulated for dogs, the ingredients are pH balanced to accommodate your dog’s sensitive skin.
4. Skin Tumors
In its beginning stage, cancerous tumors can bleed out, which can look like blood scabs. Due to the repeated process, tumors can look like wounds to an untrained eye. After the wound had healed up, the tumors are again disguised as crusty scabs, which can reopen time and time again.
If you are seeing crusty scabs on your dog’s skin, you need to first suspect the causes listed in numbers one to three instead of freaking out for the possibility of skin tumors. If you are seeing the scabs bleed out time and time again, only then should you suspect the possibility of skin tumors.
You can’t treat skin tumors with medicated products since surgical removal is required for malignant tumors. If that lump on your dog’s skin is growing in size, you need to take your dog to a vet for further medical treatment, and you should consider the possibility of surgical operations as well.
5. External Factors
Due to stress, poor nutrition, and illness, inflamed skin patches can occur, which can turn for worse, resulting in sores and crusty scabs. Even though poor nutrition and illness can be determined by the veterinarian, stress is somewhat a difficult factor to diagnose since you can’t really tell from the outside.
However, your dog might be stressed if your pet believes that he is living in an unsafe environment or being mistreated through unwarranted punishment. Even though this is quite rare, you should still consider this section for further reference.
6. Genetic Disorders
Sometimes, crusty scabs can be caused by genetic problems such as hereditary skin diseases, hormonal disorders, and immune disorders. Several symptoms of genetic disorders are red rashes or spots that can look like crusty scabs on the outside, and as I have said before, this type of condition needs professional assistance from a vet.
Conclusion: Need Vet’s Advice?
Especially for the last three sections, you need professional help from a nearby veterinarian. If you are worried about the medical bills that might occur at your pet’s expense, you might need to financially prepare a long time beforehand. If that is you, please continue reading on through our last few sections.
Petplan plays a similar role to your life insurance, and it is basically an insurance plan designated for domestic pets such as your dog. For a monthly plan, your pet will receive medical coverage for any of his vet’s visits, and if your dog needs a regular check-up, Petplan will be able to financially cover for you.
Even for unexpected accidents that might require medical assistance, you will receive financial assistance all along the way, so if you think that this is a good idea, please visit the Petplan homepage through the link that I have posted above.
Make sure to visit our homepage for regular updates, and thanks again for reading our post called How to Fix Crusty Scabs on Dog Skin. Hope all of you have good luck, and I’ll see you again soon! Have a great day, and don’t forget to smile.
