You
may have heard that the skin is the largest organ of the body, but did
you know that, depending on the breed, the skin of a dog may make up 12
to 24% of its total body weight? Many conditions can affect your pet’s
skin, and several of these problems become more common as your pet ages.
For example, cancer of the skin is a common disorder in both cats and dogs and the chances of it occurring increase with age. Watch for raised, wart-like bumps on the head, legs, back or sides, and soft, movable masses under the skin surface. Talk to your veterinarian if you notice something different about your pet’s skin. Many skin tumors can be surgically removed if they are found early enough.
Click
here to see expert pet health care information in The
Merck/Merial Manual for Pet Health:
page 269, "Tumors of the Skin"
Like all pets, older dogs and cats are subject to other problems that affect the skin, including common skin parasites like fleas and ticks. Many pets are allergic to fleas, which compounds the problem. For an allergic animal, even a few fleas can mean a great amount of skin irritation and itching. Fortunately, your veterinarian can offer several effective treatments for fleas, which have the extra benefit of reducing the signs of flea allergy.
Click
here to see expert pet health care information in The
Merck/Merial Manual for Pet Health:
page 250, "Flea Allergy Dermatitis"
Visit
the Other Common Conditions in Aging: