Another way to identify flea dirt is to give your pet a bath and if the water turns red from the dry blood, you know it is flea dirt. You can also find the fleas themselves but not always… sometimes you have flea dirt without any presence of fleas.
The water has this red tinge to it because when a dog has a bad flea infestation, the flea dirt mixes with the water and it goes this colour and smells like blood! Why? Because flea dirt or in fact flea poo is blood!
"It's quite common for light-haired canines to have color changes in the fur around the muzzle or face." Why Are These Areas a Different Color? Saliva and tears contain substances called porphyrins, which stain light fur pink, red or brown.
DID YOU KNOW you should wash your pup in water that is approximately 37°C... We tend to assume that the optimum temperature to bath our pooches in is what feels warm enough on our own skin. However water that feels warm to our touch is over 38°C, and is in fact too warm for your dog's bath.
Discharge that is yellow or sticky and pink and comes from a pocket within the skin most commonly indicates an abscess. Abscesses are a collection of pus that can occur anywhere on your dog's body. They often occur because of a scratch, bite, or wound caused by another animal or some unknown oopsie.
How Serratia Marcescens Causes Red Stains. As we mentioned above, Serratia marcescens bacteria occur naturally and travel through the air to high-moisture environments. The standing water in a toilet bowl or leftover puddles in a tub after bathing are particularly vulnerable to Serratia marcescens infiltration.
Many experts agree that the bacteria that causes these pink stains is most likely Serratia marcescens, a bacteria which is found naturally in soil, food, and in animals. Serratia, which produce a characteristic red pigment, thrive on moisture, dust, and phosphates and need almost nothing to survive.
It's best not to use cold water when bathing your dog. You'll have a more compliant and happier pet if you use warm water, even when washing big dogs. In addition, cold water simply doesn't work as well for cleaning. (Don't use hot water!
A dog burn is serious
It is really painful and likely to blister. Full thickness burns are often not as painful as the nerves have been very severely damaged too. This is the most severe sort of burn, the skin may appear pale, white or charred it will require extensive treatment and skin grafts.
“Whether it's a hose or shower head, make sure water pressure is low and the water is lukewarm,” Freeman says. Water should be warm enough for your dog to be comfortable, and also to get the job done; colder water doesn't clean as well.
Mix one part hydrogen peroxide with 10 parts water. Boil one tablespoon of boric acid powder in one cup of distilled water (keep refrigerated). Contact lens solution includes boric acid that oxidizes the iron in porphyrins and could help to lighten stains (but DO NOT use in the eyes).
Milk of Magnesia: In a bowl, mix equal parts milk of magnesia and hydrogen peroxide, and then add a bit of cornstarch to make a paste. Rub the paste into the stained area and let it set for four hours before thoroughly washing it out. You may need the "cone of shame" to keep your dog from rubbing it off with his paws.
Itchy skin caused by dryness is one of the most popular reasons why your dog may keep licking his/her paw. Skin irritation often is rooted in environmentally caused allergies. Specific weeds, woods and dust may trigger a reaction in dogs. Additional symptoms like swollen eyes or runny nose are telling tackle signs.
Babesia sp. are tick-borne protozoal parasites which infect red blood cells of mammals and can cause in some cases severe anaemia. Babesia canis specifically infects dogs. Other species of Babesia are host-specific and may infect livestock in which it is commonly known as piroplasmosis or red water fever.
Serratia Marcescens has been known to cause infection and even pneumonia. And even if you don't see the dreaded pink stuff, it doesn't mean your dog's water bowl is safe from ick.
Iron tends to add a rusty, reddish-brown (or sometimes yellow) color to water. If the color is more black than red, your water might contain a combination of iron and manganese. Both of these metals can cause staining of plumbing fixtures or laundry, but they are not known to cause health problems.
Overheated dogs can suffer heat exhaustion, heat stroke or sudden death from cardiac arrhythmias. Panting, followed by disorientation and fast, noisy breathing could signal overheating. Other possible signs: Collapsing or convulsing, bright red or blue gums, vomiting and diarrhea.
One of the common causes of diarrhea in dogs worldwide is giardia, a parasite that dogs get from drinking from puddles, lakes, streams, or other sources of stagnant water. While it's a year-round risk, giardia cases peak in the summer because people and pets spend more time outdoors and traveling.
Dogs can be affected by the chemicals
Obviously, hot tubs require a balance of chemicals to keep the water clean and safe. While they are fine for us, a dog's eyes, skin, and ears are much more sensitive than ours and they can be irritated by the water. This can cause itching, redness, swelling, and infections.
In fact, most dogs do feel better overall after having a bath. Keep reading to learn more about common behaviors for dogs after being bathed and what they mean as well as how to help your dog feel better after you give them a bath.
According to BeChewy, medium and long coat dogs should bathe every four to six weeks, and owners of dogs with short coats should bathe their pets somewhere between every month and every three months. Dog owners should be warned not to wash their pup's coats too much, though.
If you're seeing pink stains in your bathroom, the problem is not usually water quality. Pink stains in bathtubs, toilets, and showers are caused by a bacteria called Serratia marcescens, which is found naturally in the environment. This bacteria is airborne and finds a home on moist surfaces.