Environmental Dermatitis – Dogs in this category are physically and nutritionally normal, but present with signs of pruritus, hair loss and skin irritation. By careful discourse with the owner regarding diet, activity, medical history and environment, and by performing a thorough physical exam, the veterinarian can rule out the other categories of dermatitis. Through the analysis of the patient’s history, the veterinarian will discover that the patient spends time swimming or excavating gopher holes or romping through fields where thistles seem prevalent. Many dogs are very sensitive to simple lawn grasses. And by matching what is visible on the patient’s skin with a probable environmental irritant – the cause of the skin problem can be determined and corrective measures taken. An example is Moist Eczema, often called a “Hot Spot”. These skin lesions often occur as a result of moisture on the skin surface from rain, pond or lake water. Minute scratches on the skinHot Spot! Click to enlarge. from, for example, a clipper blade, may trigger other cases.Especially in dense coated dogs or dogs where there is an accumulation of mats or shedding hair, moisture on the skin may remain long enough to allow superficial bacteria to reproduce = and create an infection. Some cases of Moist Eczema will spread very rapidly and require rather aggressive therapy to correct. Contact with plastics can create â€Â?Environmental Dermatitisâ€Â?.