Sometimes all it takes is a short round of medicine to clear up a skin condition. But all too often, it’s a maddening hunt for an elusive diagnosis, a frustrating, drawn-out trial before finding the correct treatment protocol.     

And in the meantime, your poor dog suffers from painful rashes or open sores, constant itching, frequent paw-chewing, or hair loss so humiliating all the other canines at the dog park are gossiping about it.

Here’s a heads-up on some of the most common canine skin disorders and how some dog owners dealt with them.

Want to read the full story? Pick up the September 2008 issue of DOG FANCY today, or subscribe to get 12 months of articles just like this.