As the weather warms up, many dogs start itching, scratching and shaking. Massage and some simple lifestyle changes may bring these dogs summertime relief.

As the largest organ in the dogs’ body, it is little wonder that that when a dog is unwell, symptoms such as itching, dry or oily coat, and odour are manifested through the skin,

The dogs’ skin is made up of two main layers: epidermis and dermis.

The upper layer is the epidermis. It is made up of overlapping cells that continue down into the dermis, forming into hair follicles. At the end of each hair follicle is a “bulb” which connects with a nutrient rich cell matrix that forms new hair.

The dermis is a connective tissue “layer” below the epidermis. The dermis contains blood vessels, nerves, white blood cells and other cells of the immune system. It also contains two types of glands: sebaceous glands and sweat (apocrine) glands which secrete sebum (oily secretion) and sweat through the dog’s hair. These secretions waterproof and lubricate the skin. Lymph capillaries that transport metabolic waste for excretion away from the skin, originate around hair follicles and skin glands.

Why is dog’s skin so important?

Dogs’ skin performs many functions which makes it such an important organ. A dog’s skin:

• Perceives touch, pressure, vibrations, tension, temperature, noxious stimuli and harmful chemicals through the nerves in the dermis.

• Protects the body from invasion from microscopic organisms, parasites and viruses.

• Regulates the dog’s temperature

• Synthesizes Vitamin D

• Stores fat, electrolytes, water, carbohydrates, and proteins
   .

How can massage improve a dog’s skin condition?

Relieve muscle strain from itching

When dogs are itching and scratching for a prolonged period, they can strain their own muscles. Consider a dog that is continually scratching at their right shoulder with the hind leg. The dog is overloading the muscles on the left side of their body by shifting their weight to that side and twisting their torso to scratch. This type of muscle strain can affect the dog’s mobility.

Nourish the skin

If the dog is not moving normally due to muscle tension, injury, age or another condition, then the skin may not receive sufficient nourishment due to “sluggish” circulation from reduced mobility. Insufficient nourishment to the skin leads to poor coat and skin condition and irritation. Massage reduces muscle tension and skin adhesions, so the dog can move normally. When dogs are active their circulation increases and delivers nourishment to the skin.

Massage also increases blood flow to the skin. Increased blood flow delivers nutrients, water, and oxygen so the dog’s skin functions properly. Increased arterial circulation also stimulates the lymphatic system to remove waste products from the skin.

Improve coat condition

Massage aids natural drainage of the glands in the skin. The secretions from these glands lubricate and nourish the skin. Massage also removes dead, dry hair and invigorates the dog’s coat.

Other lifestyle changes to reduce dog’s itchy skin

Massage provides the most benefit to dogs with itchy skin when combined with a varied diet of good quality sources of protein (see http://www.fullstride.com.au/blog/what-is-the-best-source-of-protein-for-dogs ), vitamins, fats and minerals accompanied by plenty of clean, fresh water.

See also (http://www.fullstride.com.au/blog/natural-remedy-for-itchy-skin-in-dogs) for specific nutrients to support your dog’s skin.

Contraindications

While massage benefits dogs’ skin health, it is contraindicated for dogs with open lesions and diagnosed skin infections.

For more information about how massage and a nutritious diet may benefit your dog’s skin health, please feel free to contact me at jlconlon@fullstride.com.au for a chat.

Until next time, enjoy your dogs.

Sources:

Evans, H & de Lahunta, A, 2013, Miller’s Anatomy of the Dog (4th ed), Elsevier Saunders, Missouri.

Kainer, Robert A & McCracken, Thomas O 2003, Dog Anatomy: A Coloring Atlas, Telon New Media, Wyoming USA.

Robertson, Julia 2010, The complete dog massage manual, Veloce Publishing Limited, Dorset UK