Sep 23, 2024
While dry skin on dogs doesn’t seem to be much of an issue, it can potentially lead to more serious complications. From a slight discomfort to several sores, dry skin in dogs is something worth looking at. Luckily, our clinic knows just what to do to help your dog’s skin feel brand new!
But first, let’s learn more about dry skin in dogs.
Symptoms of Dry Skin on Dogs
Spotting the first signs is great for knowing more about your dog’s skin condition. Here are a few signs of dry skin on dogs:
Itching
Redness
Hair loss
Scaliness
Dryness
Cracked skin
What Causes Dry Skin on Dogs?
Dry skin on dogs can come from various factors. Some can be environmental factors, dietary concerns, or parasites looking to cause trouble. Here are some of the common causes of dry skin in dogs:
Dietary Deficiencies
What your dog eats could cause dry and flaky skin. Dogs need a good amount of healthy fats, such as Omega-3 and Omega-6, to keep their skin smooth and moisturized. When they lack these types of foods, they may experience dry skin that could lead to more complicated skin issues.
Environmental Factors
Dogs can also experience dry skin depending on specific seasons. Cold and dry weather can remove the moisture from their skin, which can lead to itchiness, dryness, and flaking. On the opposite side of the spectrum, extreme exposure to the sun can also cause dryness in your dog’s skin. It’s important to keep it moisturized when dealing with extreme weather.
Allergies
Like any other skin condition, allergies are one of the most troublesome conditions your dog can face. It’s a leading cause of dry skin and can come from its food, environment, and fleas. These allergic reactions could lead to dryness, itchy patches, and hair loss. Prolonged exposure without treatment could mean harmful effects to your dog’s skin, making it drier.
Infections
Parasites around your dog’s environment, such as fleas, ticks, and mites, could cause its dry skin. Infections, itchiness, and dryness are possible signs of the presence of these parasites. They could often cause severe reactions that do more damage than just dry skin and can cause more serious health issues.
Medical Conditions
In some cases, dry skin could be a symptom of another medical condition. Hormonal changes and imbalances, such as hypothyroidism, can directly affect your dog’s skin’s health and make it easily affected by dryness and irritation. If its skin is still not getting better after a few home remedies, it’s advisable to have a vet check your dog out to diagnose the cause of its dry skin.
Excessive Bathing
Excessing grooming can be too much for your dog, leading to dry and irritated skin. Dogs don’t need to be bathed and groomed every day, as too much can be dangerous to their skin. Using harsh shampoos can also damage their skin, leading to irritation and flaky skin. Be sure to use dog-friendly shampoos and soaps to make sure your dog’s skin does not get dry and damaged.
How to Cure Dry Skin on Dogs?
Curing your dog’s dry skin starts with a few home remedies that can be useful in simpler conditions. However, before doing these home remedies, it’s important to consult with our vets to see which remedy will be the most effective solution for your dog’s case.
Home Remedies
Here are a few of the home remedies we will recommend to cure dry skin on dogs:
Dietary Adjustments
The easiest remedy is to feed your dog foods that contain healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals that moisturize its skin. Some examples of these types of food are chicken, beef, fish, spinach, sweet potatoes, and eggs. These foods provide a good amount of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, Vitamins A, B, and E, and protein.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is a good moisturizer for your dog’s skin. It can be easily applied to the dry patches and irritated areas of the skin to help relieve and soothe irritation. Aside from its topical application, a small amount of coconut oil in your dog’s diet can help moisturize its skin, prevent inflammation, and fight off bacteria.
Be sure to introduce only small amounts gradually so as not to upset your dog’s stomach. While coconut oil is healthy, too much is always dangerous. If given too much, it can cause diarrhea, obesity, vomiting, and lethargy.
Oatmeal Baths
Oatmeal baths are a good way to help reduce the skin irritation and dryness your dog is experiencing. It’s also great for removing odors, helping lock in moisture, and calming dry skin. This can be easily prepared at home or bought at your local grocery, making it an easily available remedy for your dog.
When bathing your dog with oatmeal, make sure it takes its time to soak in the bath and get it all over its skin. From the paws all the way to its head, make sure every area is accounted for.
Humidifier
Dry skin on dogs can come from the dry air in their environment. Hot summer days and cold winter nights can make your dog’s skin super dry. This is where a humidifier comes in. A humidifier adds moisture to the air, making it easier for your dog’s skin to retain natural oils. This simple solution can make a big difference in keeping your dog’s skin healthy and moisturized.
Vet Treatments
When home remedies don’t seem to be doing the job, we can proceed to more advanced techniques and specialized treatments. A quick visit to the clinic can help determine the best cure for your dog’s dry skin. Here are a few treatment options we might recommend for your best friend:
Medicated Shampoos
When it comes to topical treatments, a medicated shampoo can help moisturize your dog’s dry skin and treat any bacterial or fungal infections. These shampoos are formulated and designed with natural ingredients your dog’s skin can handle, such as oatmeal, aloe vera, and essential fats.
It’s important to use only vet-recommended shampoos, as regular or human shampoos can strip the natural oils from your dog’s skin, making the problem worse.
Antibiotics or Antifungals
If an infection causes your dog’s dry skin, we might prescribe antibiotics and antifungals to help manage the infection. These medications help relieve your dog of the infection’s symptoms and restore its skin to its smooth and healthy nature. Some forms of this medication could come in medicated creams or ointments that can be easily applied to dry or infected areas.
In addition to these medications, flea and tick treatments can also be given to make sure that these carriers can stay away from your dog, keeping it healthy all the way!
Prescription Diets
If food allergies were the cause of your dog’s dry skin, we might suggest prescription diets from the top brands at our vet pharmacy. Brands such as Royal Canin and Hill’s have diets tailored to your dog’s condition. These formulated diets can help moisturize its skin, remove irritations, and give your dog a better gut situation all in one!
How to Prevent Dry Skin on Dogs?
Preventing dry skin in your dogs starts by knowing what steps to take. By following a simple set of effective preventive measures, you can keep your dog’s skin moisturized and avoid future flare-ups of dryness. Here’s how:
Provide Good Nutrition
The first step to ensure healthy skin for your dog is to provide good food and a healthy diet. You can either use foods that are great for keeping your dog’s skin healthy, such as spinach, fish, and chicken, or use prescription diets that can help target your dog’s skin and provide a wide variety of other benefits.
Just make sure to keep the amounts high enough to avoid overfeeding your dog. Nutrients work best when they are given in just the right amount. If you’re unsure of the amount you need to give, a quick visit to our clinic can easily help you!
Groom Regularly
Keeping your dog’s skin hydrated and moisturized starts with a good grooming routine. While we offer a dog grooming service for your best friend, we also recommend keeping them clean at home. Use dog-friendly shampoos that don’t damage your dog’s skin so you can keep that fur shiny and that coat healthy.
While grooming is important, it’s also advisable to avoid over-bathing. Too frequent baths can dry out the skin and remove the natural oils that help keep your dog’s skin healthy.
Keep a Good Environment
Keep your home a great place for your dog, making sure to keep allergens away and parasites at bay. Regularly wash its bedding, mats, and other equipment it uses. We recommend using humidifiers to help keep your dog’s coat healthy and well-hydrated.
Visit the Vet Regularly
Regular vet visits are important to keep tract of your dog’s health and the condition of its skin. With a quick visit, we can understand what your dog needs and recommend the best diets, treatments, and activities.
Conclusion
While having dry skin is completely normal for dogs, it’s good that it can be easily managed and treated. With the right care, compassion, and cooperation, we can help your dog have soft and healthy skin. It all starts with a good understanding to show your dog some love!