If your child develops a bad rash, he will understand the words “Don’t itch.” (If she listens, it’s a whole different story!) Unfortunately, that’s not the case with pets. They hurt, itch, groan, scratch, and before you know it, the situation is much worse.

Dogs can be affected by a wide range of skin problems, including:

1. Canine atopy: seasonal pollen allergies that occur in dogs ages 1 to 5, beginning in late summer and fall. Symptoms include itching around the face and feet, which can spread to the ears, armpits, elbows, and groin. Up to 75 percent of dogs diagnosed with atopy experience recurrent ear infections. Immunotherapy is the most effective treatment, sometimes in conjunction with antihistamine treatment or an essential fatty acid dietary supplement.

2. Chiggers (also known as Trombiculiasis): Common skin parasites found in the central United States that cause severe itching and irritation of the skin around the legs, head, and abdomen. Chiggers are usually found in large numbers during spring and fall in grassy areas. These moths appear reddish-orange in color, and although you often won’t be able to see them, you will notice a small welt. Treatment involves a couple of pyrethrin-based dips a couple of weeks apart or the application of a topical deworming medication.

3. Dermatitis: allergic inflammatory skin conditions, including: pyotraumatic dermatitis, which manifests as a red, moist, hairless sore; acral lick dermatitis, which produces a wound that your dog will likely lick all day; contact dermatitis, caused by direct contact with an irritant, such as fertilizer or bleach; and flea allergy dermatitis, caused by a sensitivity to saliva or fleas. Your vet may recommend an oral antibiotic or injection to treat the dermatitis.

4. Ear mites: tiny crab-like parasites that live in the ear canals of dogs. They are highly contagious and common in puppies. Although they live on the skin surface of the ear, they can spread to your dog’s back, neck and tail. If you notice your dog excessively shaking his head or scratching around his ears, or if you see dark debris in his ears or notice a bad odor, mites may be to blame. Several over-the-counter medications treat them effectively.

5. Flea allergies: Proteins in flea saliva cause severe itching. A single bite can cause a reaction for 5 to 7 days. Desensitizing injections are generally not effective because it is difficult to collect enough flea saliva to make a serum. Consult your veterinarian for a flea control program that will not further irritate your dog’s skin.

6. Impetigo: An inflammatory skin condition characterized by shallow blisters that break easily. In younger animals, you will notice swollen white pimples in the stomach. They will ooze pus, dry up, and then crust over. You can treat impetigo with daily applications of antiseptic powder, such as BFI.

7. Puppy Strangulations (Juvenile Cellulite): a skin irritation that affects the face, ears, and lymph nodes of puppies less than four months old. Pimples develop and break open, and then scabs and small ulcers form. Your pup may have difficulty eating or swallowing, and may become depressed or have a fever. Strangulations can be treated with antibiotics.

8. Ringworm: a skin disease that has the appearance of a round sore with scabs or scabs, caused by a fungus. As the disease progresses, you will notice more of these sores. Treatment consists of cleaning infected spots, applying a fungicide regularly, keeping lesions clean to prevent infection, and maintaining proper hygiene to prevent spread.

9. Scabies (sarcoptic eats): A condition caused by mites that results in hair loss, itching, and lesions. Mites burrow into the surface of dogs’ skin, often on the abdomen, chest, legs, and ears, and lay their eggs in a path behind them. You will only notice some scabbing and perhaps some hairless patches. The most effective treatment consists of the application of topical solutions, such as Salamectin.

10. Ticks: large parasites that attach to the skin. They are commonly found under the ear flap and where the hair is thin. Ticks can transmit a variety of diseases, including tick paralysis, Lyme disease, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Now that you know some common skin problems that affect dogs, you’ll be better equipped to identify them.