March 6, 2007 -- By Laura Stebbins

Princess, a six-year-old, English bulldog, was badly neglected by her owner. She ended up at an adoption center, suffering from a severe skin infection.

"The infection is all throughout her body," said Mike Keiley, of the Noble Family Animal Care and Adoption Center, said. "She's got hair loss in different areas and itchiness all over, and it's a situation where every single minute of every day she's itchy."

Keiley says the infection is so bad on the tail, it may need to be amputated. He says an owner should never let it get to that. Just a little care, could easily prevent any skin infections.

"These are manageable issues and had they been managed right from get-go, she would have been fine," Keiley said "And she would have been comfortable and in a much better condition, where now it's been let go for a long time her condition is now severe and critical."

So as an owner, you want to keep a very close eye on your pet, especially those breeds that have a lot of folds in their skin. Also, be on the lookout for infection, things like redness, irritation, itching and also hair loss.

To prevent skin problems, wash your dog with a mild shampoo. It's a good idea to get dog food with no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. You can also add a pet-friendly vitamin E, and if you have a dog with wrinkly skin, make sure to clean between the folds regularly.

As for Princess, she is on the road to recovery and looking for new owners who will keep her skin clean and healthy.

And if you're wondering exactly how often you should wash your dog, it depends on the breed. So, talk to your vet for the best advice.