Why do bloodhounds have so much skin

While you cannot see most parasites, your vet can see the eggs under the microscope. In intact non-spayed female dogs, hormonal shifts may cause an enlarged belly and sagging skin.

This is often due to the onset of a false pregnancy. During a false pregnancy, the female dog develops all the symptoms of pregnancy although not pregnant. Unfortunately, the disease is likely to affect muscle tone in other areas such as the legs, which can later lead to problems getting around on their own. As the disease progresses, you may notice your fur baby suffering from hair loss as well. If this condition appears, get to the vet immediately.

Be sure to give them all the information you have. The more, the better. The typical Cushing's dog has a bulging, sagging belly caused by a decrease in muscle strength and redistribution of fat from body storage areas to the abdomen.

Sagging skin from belly in a dog who has undergone heat cycles. Addominal distension and muscle atrophy in a dachshund with endogenous Cushing's syndrome. As seen, there are several reasons your dog may be sporting some extra skin around their neck or middle. Some of it is natural, while some may be cause for concern. But as always, make sure you consult your vet with any questions.

So to recap:. It is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional.

Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a veterinarian immediately. I would never have thought that there could be any underlying cause behind something like this. It just shows you that dog owners really do need to be cautious when suddenly their dog starts having saggy skin. Great info. My dog is I thought like people- dogs age and get wrinkles. I never knew dogs could have so much loose skin.

The fur hides it. You are educating all of us about what we should look for in our animals and when a trip to the vet might be necessary. Regular checkups might nip some of these conditions early as vets are more attuned to these types of issues. Hi Pamela, this is one of those problems that may seem minor, but can sometimes turn out being a great deal.

I recently went through this with one of my dogs he got a sagging looking neck area and my vet ran many tests and it turned out being cancer. This is another interesting article about a problem that could affect your dog. You are a wealth of information about dog healthy, Adrienne. My dog too ended up getting a swollen area in the neck and I was sure it was lymphoma, but my vet aspirated it and said it looked more like hemangiosarcoma as she aspirated blood from it and his bloodwork showed anemia.

Euthanasia is recommended for dogs suffering cutaneous asthenia to prevent it from living in chronic pain. Bloodhounds are considered as a unique breed of dogs possessing sniffing and monitoring power.

They can pick up scents even after long periods, probably days and over great distances which makes them the ideal breed of dogs used for investigations by law enforcement authorities.

The loose folds of skin located at their jaws and neck capture the scent that the dog might have missed therefore empowering him to confirm and find what he was searching for. Basset hounds are usually used for hunting animals such as rabbits in the United States.

They use their sagging skin and ear leather to trap the prey's scent, enabling them to locate the prey. Certain breeds of dogs such as the Shar-Pei are bred and kept for fighting and guarding homes as well as hunting boars. Unlike the tracking dogs, war or guard dogs tend to lack the long ears in their body anatomy. When defending homes, the Shar-Pei has a strategic advantage by having the loose skin since whenever it is bitten or attacked it could twist in its coat and have enough time to recover and bite back or counter-attack.

Therefore, the loose skin acted as a weapon. The loose skin in Shar-Pei and other breeds of dog like the mastiffs protected them by reducing the impacts of bites from the attacker or enemy which make them move around with ease even if the enemy has a grip of their skin.

The skin also acts as a barrier that protects the inner body parts of the mastiffs and other guard dogs because when an enemy tries to bite them by their necks, it will only get a mouthful of skin, shielding the inner body parts from any injury as well as making them tolerant to pain from such bites.

Guard dogs like the mastiffs have the edge over an enemy or human intruder since the loose skin on his face and neck makes it look intimidating instilling fear to the intruder.

As a characteristic, loose skin is part of the breed standard so breeds without one could be disqualified if they don't possess it. There is a skin condition referred to as hypothyroidism which makes the dogs look dull and can also be caused by the enlargement of the lymph glands or even some fluid leaking out from the blood vessel.

Moreover, the loose skin can be caused and triggered by dog bite. This results to the dog developing a knot under the skin of the area around the neck as a result of formation of an abscess. Another condition may result from development of salivary cyst which may become large, filling the entire area below the jaw. Dehydration is a condition that occurs if the levels of water in the dogs' body is less than normal.

Therefore, any reduction in body fluid will make the dog extremely ill from dehydration. The result is loose skin and its elasticity. You can check this manually by grasping the loose skin over the shoulders and lifting it up as far as it will stretch and release. If it does not snap back immediately then your dog may be dehydrated. Its large, muscular build has made it a favorite among soldiers, hunters, and farmers. And its wrinkled face with short ears and soulful eyes make it extra endearing.

Height: 23 to 26 inches Weight: 99 pounds and above Physical Characteristics: Short, fawn-colored coat; large head; furrowed brow; short, stocky, muscular body; deep chest; wrinkled face. Bulldogs originated in England in the 13th century to bait bulls.

They are tough, muscular dogs that also have a friendly, sweet, and calm side. They eventually became companion dogs rather than fighters after the outlaw of blood sports.

These dogs are easily recognized by the heavy wrinkles around their face and the loose skin that hangs around their mouth.

They also have loose skin across their body. Height: 14 to 15 inches Weight: 40 to 50 pounds Physical Characteristics: Smooth, short coat; large head; short, stocky body; wrinkled face with loose jowls; colors vary greatly. Most people have seen bloodhounds in cartoons and movies, famous for their tracking abilities and often spotted searching for a missing person or helping on a hunt.

Bloodhounds are known for their excellent nose, along with their huge ears and droopy skin. Their skin hangs in especially deep folds around their head and neck. Height: 23 to 27 inches Weight: 80 to pounds Physical Characteristics: Long, droopy ears; loose skin; wrinkled face with loose, flapping lips; standard color combinations include black and tan, liver and tan, and solid red; tall, alert stature.

The French bulldog is short in stature with a compact, muscular body and petite, rabbit-like ears. They sport fairly small wrinkles around their foreheads and mouths. Affectionately known as Frenchies, these dogs are friendly, funny, and alert. They make wonderful watch dogs and are known to bark at anything that might threaten their favorite humans. Height: 11 to 13 inches Weight: 28 pounds and under Physical Characteristics: Large, perked ears; compact, muscular body; smooth coat; wrinkled forehead and face; colors vary greatly but can include cream, fawn, and white as well as brindle and other combinations; large, square head with a short nose.

Basset hounds are perhaps one of the most recognizable dog breeds. They're built low to the ground with long, drooping ears and very loose skin across their whole body.

Even their legs tend to have wrinkles. These dogs were bred to be scent hounds. They are curious sniffers, able to accurately follow a scent for miles. They make great companions for hunters and families alike thanks to their top-notch tracking ability and calm temperament. Height: 15 inches and under Weight: 40 to 65 pounds Physical Characteristics: Short, strong legs and large paws; long, droopy ears; loose skin; wrinkled brow; short, smooth coat; coat color includes combinations of black, white, brown, tan, lemon, mahogany, and red.

Because their name is quite a mouthful, Xoloitzcuintli dogs are often called Xolos for short. They also go by the name Mexican hairless dog due to their country of origin and general lack of a full coat. Xolos are loyal watchdogs and loving companions. Their foreheads tend to wrinkle, especially when the dog is attentive or pondering something. But they generally do not have loose skin across their bodies.

Height: 10 to 14 inches toy ; 14 to 18 inches miniature ; 18 to 23 inches standard Weight: 10 to 15 pounds toy ; 15 to 30 pounds miniature ; 30 to 55 pounds standard Physical Characteristics: Can be hairless with black skin or coated with short, flat fur; thoughtful expression; forehead is often wrinkled; long muzzle; long, sleek, strong body.

The compact and dignified Pekingese has deep wrinkles on its face, which accentuate its short muzzle. This dog is said to have a lionlike appearance due to the long mane around its neck and its overall furriness.