What to Do if a Dog Has Dry Skin
Much like humans, dry skin is a problem for dogs that can be avoid or cleared up if treated immediately.
Other People Are Reading
-
Oatmeal Shampoo
-
Oatmeal shampoo is designed to not only cleanse and deodorize your pet, but to also add hydration to the skin. This deep cleaning shampoo relieves many causes of dry skin such as rashes and bug bites.
Allergies
-
Allergies can cause great problems with your pet, including hair loss and dry skin. Your dog can be allergic to anything from the environment to its food. Be sure to get a checkup from your veterinarian. Allergy medication could relieve your pet from discomfort.
-
Hydration
-
In most cases, dry skin can come down to hydration. If your dog has dry skin, be sure to watch its drink habits. Make sure you provide plenty of water throughout the day and that he is drinking enough water.
Bathing
-
If you bathe your dog too often, you could be causing dry skin. There are certain oils on the skin that keep it hydrated and not flaky. Washing your dog removes these oils and can create dry skin problems.
Fleas and Bugs
-
If your dog spends a lot of time outdoors, fleas or other pests could be the problem. Check its skin for any markings or take it to a vet to be inspected.
-
References
More Like This
Comments
-
groomergal
Dec 05, 2009
Very nice article. However, oatmeal is an exfoliant and would irritate the skin further. Colloidal oatmeal is a humectant and would bring moisture to the skin, unfortunately no 'oatmeal' pet shampoos on the market contain only colloidal oatmeal (they all have the exfoliating oatmeal in them as well). Also, you can bathe your pet as often as you want as long as you use high quality pet products. A gentle hypo-allergenic shampoo would remove environmental pollutants from the skin and coat, then rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water (this is what adds the most moisture to the skin) and then follow with a light conditioner to seal in moisture in the hair follicle. Show pets are bathed 2-3 times a week and have beautiful skin and coats.
