by Jade Skyye

Created on: July 07, 2009

Doggie Dry Skin

One common behavior observed in dogs of all shapes and sizes is scratching. The first thought that comes to mind when seeing an itchy dog, involves fleas. However, it is important to always remember that scratching is a part of their daily life and does not always mean that fleas are present. Dogs with long hair and short hair and curly hair and straight hair can all have dry skin at some time or another in their lifetime. Keep in mind that some dandruff is simply part of the skin life cycle. As new skin cells are generated, the old, dead cells are shed, thus creating a slight snow effect on your dog's back.

There are several situations which may be contributing to and even worsening the dry skin condition of your dog. The presence of dry skin may be the result of the season changing to colder weather, may indicate that there are parasites aggravating the dog's skin, may be the result of an allergic reaction, and may also be caused by fungal infections. The first step toward treating a dog's dry skin is to first identify the irritant. A trip to the veterinarian is most likely necessary to rule out infection and potential parasite infestation. Once the cause is known, it is much easier to move on to a proper course of treatment with the end result yielding relief for your dog.

In any case, while your dog is suffering from dry skin, it is best to modify the bathing schedule.

1. Only bathe your dog when necessary to keep the coat clean. Bathing once or twice a month is the suggested frequency.

2. When bathing, be sure to use a specially formulated for dogs moisturizing shampoo. When possible follow the bath with a moisturizing rinse (also formulated for dogs). Dog shampoos with sulfur or salicylic acid are recommended for treating dandruff.

3. Brushing helps remove dead hair and dander and also stimulates the hair follicles to secrete oil. Using a soft-bristle brush accomplishes this and helps to spread the oils evenly.

4. Feeding your dog a nutritional dog food and/or adding vitamin supplements to the daily routine will also improve your dog's skin health. Nutritional, in this case, means a top-of-the-line dog food with quality ingredients including excellent sources of vitamins and minerals.

Whatever the cause of your dog's discomfort, it is important to alleviate the stress so that your pet can get back to enjoying it's life and enhancing the owner's life as well.

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