Issue link: https://cp.revolio.com/i/1028360
Page 42 | Abby's Magazine - www.AbbysMag.com Unlike the other organs of excre on, (kidney, colon, liver, lungs and lympha cs), the skin is fully visible making it easy to see abnormali es. Depending on the species and age, the skin may be 12 to 24% of a dog's body weight. The skin forms a barrier to protect the pet's body from infec ons, parasites, and the elements of the environment. It also maintains the body's internal environment, preven ng loss of moisture and other body cons tuents. Most dogs and cats have fur. Fur helps to regulate body temperature and protects the skin. The hair follicles have oil glands that help waterproof the fur and skin. Fur grows in seasonal cycles. When it reaches a gene cally determined length, it stops growing and falls out, this is called shedding! Stress and nutri onal deficiencies can increase shedding. Normal shedding is determined by the dura on of daily sunlight as well as environmental temperature. The longer the day and the warmer the temperate, the more vacuuming you are going to need to do! The thicker winter coat traps air warmed by the body and keeps this warmed air near the skin to provide warmth. Pet dander is dead shedding skin cells. Excess dander is a sign of poor diet and lack of gut health. Other contribu ng factors include internal parasites, external parasites, thyroid imbalances and other hormone issues. Many people are allergic to pet dander. Wiping the pet down with a moist cloth, intermi ent bathing and regular grooming (I love the FURminator, a great tool to remove shedding hair) will reduce the amount of dander. Swea ng is not the main way dogs and cats cool themselves. Dogs and cats sweat in areas not covered with hair, like the nose and feet pads. They do have sweat glands, called apocrine glands, associated with every hair follicle on their body. Our fur kids cool by vasodila on, the blood vessels in their face and ears expand, enabling the blood to flow closer to the skin, allowing heat to be exchanged with the outside environment. Dogs primarily release excess body heat by pan ng and drooling. Cats DO NOT pant unless they are seriously compromised. A pan ng cat is a dangerous sign, seek immediate veterinary care! It takes a new, healthy skin cell about four weeks to mature and be present near the skin surface. Some coat colors and pa erns are seen more commonly with gene cally linked health issues. Collies, Great Danes, Dachshunds and Shetland Sheepdogs that have a merle pa ern may also be deaf or have severe vision problems. The white coats of Boxers and Dalma ans are linked to deafness. Hair loss, scales, crusts, redness, itching, chewing and yeasty smell are symptoms that catch our a en on, but they are not the root cause of the disease. These symptoms are the clues that something deeper is wrong. THE UNDERLYING CAUSE OF SKIN DISEASE IS INFLAMMATION Un l the inflamma on is resolved, the condi on will persist. Tradi onal western medicine is focused on trea ng the "symptom" and Skin: There Is No Disease, Just Lack Of Health Page 42 | Abby's Magazine - www.AbbysMag.com