Home Remedies for Dogs With Scaly Itchy Skin
Many dogs suffer from dry, scaly skin that causes excessive scratching and even hair loss. Dogs, like people, often suffer from dandruff and seborrhea. Flaky skin is more common in puppies due to immaturity of the sebaceous glands, and this often resolves itself as the puppy matures. However, many dogs never seem to grow out of dry skin. If dry skin becomes a chronic condition, the dog can develop "hot spots" of raw skin or even ulcerated lesions.
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Shampoos
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Commercial dog shampoos contain harsh ingredients designed to reduce scaling such as salicylic acid, sulphur, refined tar, and selenium sulfide. Although all of these ingredients reduce scaly buildup, refined tar and selenium sulfide can irritate mucous membranes. You can use a vinegar rinse to control the dog's dandruff by massaging it onto the dog's skin, leaving it on for a few minutes, and then rinsing with water. You can also make your own homemade dog shampoo by mixing 1/3 cup glycerin, 1 cup dish detergent, 1 cup white vinegar, and 1 qt. of water.
Conditioners
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Dogs often benefit from the use of coat conditioners. You can use Vitamin E, olive oil and eggs to make a soothing conditioner. Break open two to three eggs and separate the whites from the yolk, whip the whites into a peak, and add 1 tbsp. of water to the yolk. Mix the whites and yolk and massage into the dog's coat and rinse with warm water. You can also add a Vitamin E capsule to 2 cups of olive oil, massage into the coat, and rinse with warm water.
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Dietary Supplements
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Veterinarians have found that fatty acids play an essential role in combating dry skin and allergies in dogs. Fatty acids such as linoleic acid have been found to be deficient in dogs with seborrhea. You can add 1 tbsp. per day of corn, sunflower or peanut oil to the dog's food. Since fatty acids need to be incorporated into cell membranes, dogs need to take fatty acid supplements for a month or so before you will see any improvement.
Leave-in Ointments
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To soothe the itchiness associated with dry skin and to prevent the dog from excessively scratching dry skin, apply tea tree oil or aloe vera to any spots on the dog's skin that the dog repeatedly scratches. You can make a leave-in spray by mixing 3 capsules of sage, ¼ tsp. of Epsom salts, and 2 cups of water, and heating this mixture to boiling, letting it cool, and then pouring it into a spray bottle.
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References
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- Photo Credit dog image by Holtea Silviu from Fotolia.com
