How to Treat Dry Skin in Dogs
No one likes feeling itchy and uncomfortable all the time, and the same goes for dogs. Dogs can experience dry skin, rashes, and other skin conditions the same way that humans can. While dry skin isn’t necessarily hazardous to your pet’s health, it can cause discomfort. Luckily, dry skin is easy to spot and treat, so your pet will be feeling like themself again in no time!
What causes dry skin?
Like humans, dogs can get dry skin for a number of reasons. Ruling out each cause will help determine what your pet is experiencing.
Environmental changes
A change in the weather, such as a temperature drop or change in humidity, can cause your dog’s skin to dry out.
Poor nutrition
If your dog isn’t getting enough protein, vitamins, or fatty acids in their diet, they could be more susceptible to dry skin.
Allergies
Dogs can be allergic to almost anything, from foods and liquids to dust and pollen. Allergies are one of the most common reasons for dogs’ skin to become dry.
Excessive bathing
While regular grooming and bathing of your dog is important, it’s also important to not overdo it. Too frequent bathing can cause the skin to become irritated, which leads to becoming dried out.
How to treat dry skin?
Ask your Vet
When dealing with any abnormality in your pet’s behavior, it’s important to contact a vet first and foremost. They are able to run tests that we aren’t, so they can find out if there’s a more concerning underlying issue.
Try a Gentle Shampoo
Gentle shampoos are popular among dog owners. These moisturize your dog’s skin, helping them create the natural oils needed to keep their skin healthy. It’s important to only use dog-specific shampoos when bathing your dog, because human shampoos can actually be more drying.
Don’t Blow Dry
No one likes a wet dog after a bath! It can be tempting to blow dry them, but the warm air can be harmful to their skin. Instead of a blow dryer, opt for a thorough towel dry. Your pet may take a bit longer to dry, but their coat will thank you!
Brush Often
Brushing your dog is a key component in keeping their dry skin at bay. Brushing them helps oils from their skin come to the surface. Bringing oils from other parts of the skin can help alleviate some of the more uncomfortable symptoms, such as hot spots.
Try a Hypoallergenic Diet
Your dog’s dry skin could be due to a food allergy, so eliminating that food in their diet could resolve their issues. Some dogs need a red meat based food, while others need a grain-free food. That decision is up to you to make with the guidance of your vet.
Feed Nutritious Food
If your dog doesn’t have any food allergies, you may still want to look at their food when thinking about their dry skin. If their food is too low in proteins, vitamins, or fatty acids, you may consider switching to a more nutritionally dense food.
Try Supplements
If nothing else seems to be working, you can supplement your dog’s food with coat-enhancers such as fish oil or probiotics. Always reach out to your vet before changing your dog’s diet.
Dry skin can be uncomfortable for your dog, but it doesn’t have to last long. The right steps will have your pet back to living their best itch-free life again!
