How to Improve Your Doberman Pinscher's Skin and Coat

Doberman Pinschers tend to have drier skin and coats than other breeds of dogs, but that doesn't mean it has to stay that way. Follow these tips to keep your Dobie happy, healthy, and itch-free.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fish Oil Pills
• Dog shampoo for sensitive skin
• Brush
• Quality/healthy dog food
• Quality/healthy dog treats

1. 
   A doberman with a beautiful coat and stance.

   Above all, ensure that your Doberman is just suffering a case of dry skin or dandruff, and does not have a more serious skin condition. If your dog has open sores, skin infections, significant hair loss, or other severe symptoms, take them to the vet immediately. None of these tips will fix those situations.

2. 
   Be sure to find a pill that contains both Omega-3 and Omega 6, but avoid those that contain Omega-9.

   Buy some fish oil pills made specifically for dogs. While the human fish oil pills will work for your pet, it can be hard to determine the correct dosage. In addition the fish oil pills for dogs also contain some other vitamins and essential fatty acids that the human equivalents may not have. As an added benefit fish oil pills are also believed to improve joint health, which could offset or delay such conditions as arthritis and hip dysplasia.

3. 
   Many of the dog foods and treats available to dog owners are incredibly unhealthy for our pets.

   Check the food that you are feeding your Doberman. Some dog foods contain a lot of grain which many dogs are allergic to. These allergies can cause skin and itching problems in dogs, and simply providing a healthier food will solve these problems. Keep this in mind when buying/giving treats to your dog as well. In addition, some dog foods contain ingredients designed to improve your dog's coat, or are designed for dogs with sensitive skin.

4. 
   The right shampoo can make a huge difference in the health of your Doberman's skin and coat.

   Do not give your Doberman frequent baths. This can severely deplete your dog's skin of its natural oils, making the situation even worse. Try to wait at least 3 months in between baths, or only bath your dog when it is necessary to do so (from rolling in the mud, etc). Use a shampoo designed for dogs with sensitive skin, which you can find at pet stores, but you may have to get from your vet if the skin conditions do not improve. It is also very important to make sure all of the shampoo is washed off the dog. Any shampoo left to dry on the dog will irritate the skin and increase dandruff/itching.

5. 
   It is easy to forget the importance of grooming with a short-haired dog, but it is an important process nonetheless.

   Brush your dog frequently. While Dobermans are a pretty low maintenance breed when it comes to grooming, you should still take the time to brush your dog's coat at least two times a week. This will stimulate the dogs skin to produce more oils, as well as to spread around any oils already present, alleviating the drier areas of it's coat.

Tips & Warnings

• Be patient. It can take over a month for you to see any difference in your dog's coat/skin, but most people will see some improvement within two weeks.
• There are a ton of unhealthy dog foods out there, so pay very close attention to what you are feeding your dog and the effects it can have on its health.
• Don't hesitate to take your dog to a vet if conditions worsen, or if you think that it has another skin condition unrelated to dandruff, etc. These problems usually require antibiotics or other medications to fix, and the sooner you act the happier your dog will be.

Resources

• Dog Food Analysis.Com - Great for researching dog foods
• Gentle Doberman.Com - Site dedicated to Dobermans and their care