Treating Dry Skin in Dogs

Treating Dry Skin in Dogs

Itch, itch!  Scratch, scratch!  Do you find your dog doing this often?  It may be because they have dry skin!  There are many reasons why your dog may develop dry skin.  It could have something to do with food allergies, the environment (think about the weather, humidity, and allergies), animal dander, grain, and/or even flea saliva. However, you do not have to just sit back and watch your dog struggle!  We would like to share five tips that can help.  Please see below.

  1. Vitamin E. Vitamin E oil can be applied directly to the affected area of the skin. You can massage the oil in which will provide quick comfort to the dog.  Be sure to check out correct doses of vitamin E.  Different breeds require unique amounts.
  2. Olive Oil. Doctors encourage humans to a little olive oil in their food. It has some great benefits for dogs as well. All it takes is about a tablespoon of olive oil several times a week. The flaky skin should go away after a little while and your dog is left with a very shiny coat.
  3. Grooming is super important! Dirt and oil build up in your dog’s coat which can cause some of these major skin concerns. By brushing the coat on a regular basis, it allows the natural oils to be evenly distributed.  The matting will be removed, and the skin will be able to receive the air that it needs.
  4. The weather is a factor. This is both inside and outside for your pet. Dry skin can be made worse with low humidity. When the weather gets cold this winter it is not a bad idea to keep the dog inside as much is possible.
  5. Bathing the right way! First, look at the shampoo and ensure that it is doggie friendly. Do not use any bath products that you would use on yourself!  The wrong pH level can cause serious skin problems for your animal.  There are also many conditioning sprays that can be used to help soften and moisturize the skin of your dog.

All the above are essential home remedies that you can use on your dog’s dry skin. It is also possible that the dog is having an allergic reaction to something. Arranging for a trip to the veterinarian is going to help in creating a strategy for taking care of the dry skin. We advise that you take it seriously…. you wouldn’t want to itch and scratch yourself all the time, would you?