What can I add to my dogs bath for dry skin

Dry Skin on Dogs: Signs, Symptoms, Treatments

Dry skin on dogs is frustrating for dogs and owners alike. There are many potential causes for dry skin, which can make diagnosing skin conditions in dogs tricky. If dry, itchy, or flaky skin is making your dog uncomfortable, here is what you need to know about the causes, symptoms, and best treatment options for your pet.

What Causes Dry Skin on Dogs?

Dry skin might not seem like a big deal, but it can actually be a sign of a much larger problem in your dog. Dry skin is a symptom associated with a wide range of conditions, from allergies and parasites to serious medical disorders like Cushings disease and hypothyroidism.

Allergies

Dogs get allergies just like people do. Food allergies, and environmental allergies and seasonal allergies, such as pollen, dust, feathers, grass, animal dander, grain, and flea saliva can cause a host of symptoms in dogs that often include dry skin. If left untreated, these allergies can result in a skin condition called atopic dermatitis, which causes dry skin, itching, redness, and inflammation and can also lead to secondary skin infections.

Flea allergy dermatitis, which is an allergic reaction to flea saliva, is the most common skin disorder in American dogs. The best way to avoid flea allergy dermatitis is to keep your dog and home free of fleas and to talk to your veterinarian about treatment options for your dogs allergies.

Parasites

Parasites are another potential cause of dry skin on dogs. Dry, flaky skin can be a sign of parasites that cause mange, such as the Demodex mite, canine scabies, and cheyletiellosis (Walking Dandruff), or it could indicate that your dog has lice.

Diagnosing parasites that cause dry skin on dogs requires a trip to the veterinarian. Your family vet may refer you to a specialist in veterinary dermatology if they feel that your pet requires the attention of a specialist.

Infections

Bacterial and fungal infections can cause a variety of skin-related symptoms in dogs. Veterinarians usually diagnose canine skin infections by taking skin scrapes for cytology. These infections are sometimes secondary to a larger problem, which is why dry skin should always be taken seriously. Some infections, such as the fungal infection Ringworm, are also transmissible to humans.

Systemic Disorders

Sometimes, dry skin is a sign of a much larger problem. The two main metabolic diseases associated with dry skin on dogs are Cushings disease and hypothyroidism. In both cases, dry skin is often accompanied by dry and brittle hair, hair loss, and skin infections, among other symptoms. Auto-immune diseases and cancer can also cause dry skin on dogs.

These conditions are serious. Dry skin shouldnt be taken lightly. Make sure you take your dog in to see your family veterinarian as soon as you notice symptoms of dry skin.

Breed-Specific Skin Conditions

Some breeds are more prone to skin conditions than others, especially when it comes to dry skin. Hairless breeds, such as the Xoloitzcuintli and the Chinese Crested, are prone to a variety of skin conditions. Siberian Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes, and fast-growing large-breed puppies can get a condition called zinc-responsive dermatosis. Veterinarians can narrow down the possible causes of your dogs dry skin.

Other Causes Of Dry Skin on Dogs

Sometimes dry skin is caused by environmental conditions such as cold weather and dry air, or by excessive bathing, harsh soaps, and poor nutrition. If you suspect that your dogs dry skin is the result of nutritional deficiencies, environmental conditions or bathing habits, its still a good idea to consult your veterinarian in order to rule out more serious conditions.

Symptoms of Dry Skin on Dogs

Dry skin doesnt present in the same way for every dog. Symptoms associated with dry skin include:

• itchiness
• dandruff
• flaking
• pimples
• scaling
• hair loss
• inflammation
• odor
• increased oiliness
• scabs

Some dogs experience only one of these symptoms while others present with several. Keeping an eye on your dogs symptoms can help your veterinarian diagnose the cause of your dogs dry skin.

Treating Dry Skin on Dogs

Treatment of your dogs dry skin depends on the cause, so the first step is a diagnosis. While the internet is full of valuable resources about canine health, consulting your veterinarian is the best way to determine the cause of your dogs skin problems.

In some cases, dry skin might be a symptom of a larger cause. In this case, your vet will treat both the dry skin and the condition. Demadex mange (secondary demodicosis) is often associated with Cushings disease, which means your vet will need to treat both the mange and Cushings. Treatments and testing for these diseases vary, but most can be controlled with medication.

Treating allergies that cause dry skin on dogs can get tricky. For canine food allergies, your veterinarian might prescribe an elimination diet, as there is no reliable diagnostic test for diagnosing food allergens. The most common ingredients that cause food allergies in dogs are beef, soy, corn, wheat, dairy, chicken, and eggs.

Environmental allergies can be tested for, but there is no cure. The three common treatment options for allergies are:

Usually, veterinarians use a combination of these treatment options to control canine allergies.

Some factors, like excessive bathing, are easy to control. Purchasing a humidifier to use when the weather is cold and dry, using a veterinarian-approved shampoo, and reducing the frequency of baths usually resolves dry skin on dogs, as long as those factors are the cause. Some dog owners will use a dog skin moisturizer to help soothe the dry skin. Switching to a high-quality diet provides the necessary nutrients your dog needs for a healthy coat and skin, so talk with your veterinarian about a nutrition plan, along with any supplementsthat they recommend.

Preventing Dry Skin on Dogs

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, the saying goes. This proves true when it comes to skin conditions in dogs. While some breeds are more prone to dry skin than others, there are a few things you can do to prevent dry skin on dogs:

• Feed a high-quality, balanced diet from puppyhood
• Prevent parasites by keeping up-to-date on preventatives
• Groom your dog regularly to prevent the buildup of dirt and debris
• Give supplements when necessary as prescribed by your veterinarian
• Schedule regular veterinary checkups to monitor your dogs overall health
• Keep facial skin folds clean in breeds with folds
• Research your breed to discover what skin conditions theyre predisposed to and how to prevent them

The best way to prevent dry skin in dogs is to ensure that your pet leads a happy, healthy life. Some skin conditions cannot be prevented, but by regularly examining your dogs, you can catch dry skin before it gets out of hand.

How to moisturize your dogs skin

Knowing how to moisturize your dogs skin is one of those often overlooked parts of being a pet parent, but its an important part of maintaining your canine companions overall health and wellbeing.

While a good dog shampoo does a wonderful job of keeping your pups fur clean and fresh, learning different ways to moisturize their skin will ensure that it stays smooth and hydrated.

Its easy to think that after lathering your bundle of fur up with shampoo that following up with dog conditioner would help add moisture back into your dogs skin and coat. But while soothing formulas containing ingredients such as oatmeal and coconut oil can certainly help relieve some of the itchiness and discomfort that dry skin can cause, finding regular ways to moisturize is the only way to keep your furkids skin looking and feeling its best.

Dry skin on dogs is a fairly common condition that can result in dandruff, hair loss and flaky skin that may cover the entire body. It can be caused by allergies and hormonal conditions as well as seasonal changes when air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter can cause the skin to lose moisture. This is when learning ways to rehydrate your dog's skin can come in handy.

Its important that you dont just apply any old moisturizer though as many popular human products contain harmful chemicals and other ingredients that can be toxic for dogs if theyre ingested. The good news is, there are plenty of dog-safe moisturizers on the market that are soothing, nourishing and will have your canine companions skin back to peak condition in no time.

Below, we walk you through how to moisturize your dogs skin, including some of the main factors that contribute to dry skin and our favorite remedies for giving dry and flaky skin the flick once and for all. And if youre finding that the dryness is solely relegated to your pups paw pads and not the rest of their body, check out our guide natural ways to moisturize dog paws for some tootsie-specific tips.

Does my dog need moisturizer?

While a lot of us human folk have a daily moisturizing routine, regularly slathering lotion all over your dog isnt going to be necessary unless they suffer from dry skin and the unpleasant side effects that often come with it. Conditioning your dogs skin can bring with it a great deal of relief, but its also important to address the underlying causes of why their skin has become dry in the first place.

Why does my dog have dry skin?

It can be tricky to diagnose the exact cause of your dogs dry skin because of the number of potential issues that could be triggering it, but here are some of the most common:

1. Diet

Taking a look at your dogs diet is a good place to start when youre trying to narrow down the potential causes of their dry skin. An imbalance of essential fatty acids (omega-3 and omega-6) or a lack of protein are two diet-related issues that can cause the skin to become itchy and flaky.

Grains and other ingredients, such as wheat, corn, soy, milk and eggs, have also been found to trigger allergic reactions in some dogs that manifest as skin issues. If you think your dogs current diet might be to blame, check out our guide to the best dog food for allergies for our favorite skin-friendly formulas.

2. Too many baths

How often should I bathe my dog is a common question amongst pet parents and the answer is that it depends. Active dogs who are more prone to getting dirty or larger dogs with long hair will need bathing more frequently than thin-haired breeds and those that spend most of their time indoors.

But, the rule of thumb is to try to keep bathing to a once a month affair. The reason for this is that over-bathing your dog is likely to strip the skin of its natural oils, which is one way that it can become dry and flaky.

3. Dry air

If youve ever spent long periods in an air conditioned or heated room, then you likely know what its like to have your skin dry out. The same is true for our canine companions whose skin is also affected by seasonal changes in temperature, both indoors and outdoors.

If you live in an area where the humidity tends to be low, you may find it helpful to invest in a humidifier, which will help add moisture back into the air which may be enough to combat your dogs dry skin.

4. Allergies

Alongside possible food allergies, your pup may also suffer from seasonal or environmental allergies that can trigger dry skin. Things like pollen, dust, grass, grain, animal dander and flea saliva are all common culprits.

The latter can also cause a condition known as flea allergy dermatitis, which can cause itchiness, redness, and inflammation. The best way to prevent this is to ensure your pup is protected from pesky parasites with one of the best flea treatment for dogs.

5. Health issues

Bacterial and fungal infections, such as ringworm, are well known to cause dry skin in dogs. If your dog has a metabolic disease, such as hypothyroidism or Cushings disease, or an autoimmune illness, you may also find dry skin to be a common side effect.

6. Their breed

Finally, some breeds are just genetically more predisposed to skin conditions than others. Hairless dog breeds, such as the Chinese Crested, can struggle with a number of skin-related issues, and larger double-coated breeds, like the Siberian Husky and Alaskan Malamute, can develop a condition known as zinc-responsive dermatosis that can interfere with normal skin cell development.

How to moisturize your dogs skin: 7 simple remedies

There are lots of different ways you can add moisture back into your dogs skin and its important to remember that this is very much a process that starts from the inside out. With that in mind, here are a few internal and external remedies to get your pups skin looking its best:

1. Feed them a good diet

The best dog food is complete and balanced, containing everything your canine companion needs to stay happy and healthy. But some formulas will contain more of some things than others and when it comes to dry skin, its crucial to look for a wet or dry dog food that contains an abundance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. These do a beautiful job of nourishing the skin and contributing to its overall health.

If you feel that your dog isnt getting enough fatty acids in their diet, speak to your vet about supplementing with salmon, krill or coconut oil, which can be added to your pups meals to give them an extra boost. Your vet will be able to advise you on the correct dosage, as too much oil can cause digestive disturbances.

3. Make sure your pup is drinking enough water

Just like with us humans, water is essential for keeping the body functioning at its best and its also essential for adding moisture to the skin. If youre worried your dog isnt getting sufficient hydration, consider investing in one of the best pet water fountains to encourage them to drink more.

4. Use products designed for dry skin

While we recommend you avoid bathing your dog too frequently, when you do lather your pup up, stick to a nourishing shampoo and conditioner that use ingredients such as oatmeal, shea butter, coconut oil and aloe vera, all of which are designed to add moisture back into the skin.

5. Try coconut oil

While weve mentioned adding coconut oil to your dogs food in appropriate doses, this miracle oil can also be used externally, with many pet parents reporting great results when it comes to getting rid of dry and flaky skin and relieving inflammation and itchiness. Apply to your dogs coat, being sure to rub it into the skin.

6. Keep an eye on the weather

This goes for both indoors and outdoors. A dogs skin is particularly sensitive to extreme changes in temperature, when the air in the home or outside is too cold or too hot.

Low humidity is particularly problematic, so investing in a humidifier is well worth it if you find that this tends to trigger dry skin in your dog as these help put moisture back into the air - super important if your dog spends a lot of time in heated or air conditioned rooms.

7. Regular grooming

One of the easiest ways to keep your canine companions skin in tip-top condition is to engage in regular grooming sessions using a good dog brush. We recommend you brush your pup at least once a week (more is preferable!) as this will help distribute the natural oils in your dogs coat as well as removing dead hair and old skin cells.