Dry skin can make your dog miserable. Help ease your dog’s condition with shampoo, olive oil, vitamin E, oatmeal baths, humidifiers.
Just like human beings, dogs can also suffer from dry skin. In fact, some of the causes of dry skin in human beings are responsible for dry skin in our furry friends. Dry skin in dogs is discomfort that most owners tend to dismiss as harmless. However, dry skin can drive your dog crazy, and it can cause other complications if left untreated.
Dry skin in dogs is quite common in winter when the humidity drops, but the weather change might not be the only cause of this condition. It is caused by several factors, including allergies, infections, parasites, poor diet, and excessive bathing. Therefore, instead of just watching your furry friend struggle alone, why don’t you try these natural remedies to ease dry skin.
Dry skin symptoms
There are numerous ways of improving your dog’s skin and treating any preexisting dry condition. However, if left untreated for a very long time, your dog will develop the following symptoms:
- Flaking: Flaking is a common skin condition characterized by dead skin cells falling off your dog’s skin. Flaking is rarely visible in healthy dogs, but it can become visible when your dog develops dry skin.
- Dandruff: You will start noticing white flakes of dead cells everywhere your dog has been in the house.
- Shedding: In most dry skin cases, the dog will start losing hair all over his or her body. And in some cases, your furry friend will have patchy or spotty regions of missing hair on their bodies.
- Pimples: Pimples tend to form as small red bumps all over the dog’s body.
- Odor: The dog’s skin can start to stink in the presence of yeast or bacterial infections. Therefore, if you ignore this condition when your dog’s coat is scaling or flaking, it can result in a severe infection.
5 ways to treat dry skin
1. Bathe your dog the right way
We all want our dogs clean every time, but don’t overdo it. Excessive baths can dry your dog’s oily skin. Therefore, find out how often your pup should be washed and stick to a set schedule. Another cause of dry skin is the shampoo you are using. Washing your dog with human shampoo can cause serious skin problems.
Determine the right type of shampoo that you should be using. If your dog already has dry skin, you can buy the best shampoo for dry and itchy skin and wash your dog’s coat with it. According to Pet Fashion Week, these shampoos have a perfect formula for improving the health of your dog’s coat within no time. Just wash him using this shampoo when grooming, and your pet will never have to worry about dry and flaky skin.
2. Try some olive oil
Olive oil is beneficial to both human beings and dogs. It is an excellent remedy for dry skin in dogs that is quite safe. All it takes is a tablespoon of olive oil numerous times a week, and the flaky skin will go away, leaving your dog with its shiny natural coat. The vitamin E and fatty acids in olive oil can help keep your dog’s coat moisturized. Half a tablespoon twice a day can help your over 90 pounds help you get rid of dry skin. Just make sure you don’t give your pooch too much olive oil as it can cause diarrhea or loose stool.
You can apply olive oil on your dog’s itchy or dry skin for a fast relief since it can penetrate deeply and moisturize. You can add 5 to 10 drops of olive oil in a cup of water and apply the mixture on your dog’s skin or use an olive oil-based conditioning spray. You can use this mixture on your dog’s dry skin twice a day and don’t stop until his skin becomes healthy again.
Once the dog is healed, you can apply the treatment occasionally to make sure the skin is moisturized. Olive oil can also help you reduce shedding and dandruff. After all, dry skin can worsen your dog’s shedding and dander production rate.
3. Give a dose of vitamin E
Vitamin E is an excellent treatment for dealing with skin diseases, and it can be used both externally and internally. You can apply vitamin E directly to the affected region. A little massage and even a soak in the bath with this vitamin can have that skin back to normal. When giving your dog this vitamin directly, you should be careful since different dog breeds require a different dosage of vitamin E.
You can also give your dog a high-quality diet that contains sunflower oil, spinach, avocado, eggs, or salmon. These foods are rich in Vitamin E. The change in diet can help improve your dog’s health. Vitamin E oil can protect your dog from direct UV light, which is beneficial if your dog spends a considerable percentage of the day outside.
4. Get a humidifier
Your dog’s skin dries out during winter when the humidity is low. So, you should keep your eye on the weather. When it gets cold outside during winter, you should try as much as possible to keep your pooch indoors and turn the humidifier on. The change in humidity outside can cause the humidity level to drop, resulting in your dog getting dry skin. However, a humidifier can help you avoid or even get rid of the dry skin problem during winter.
5. Try an oatmeal bath
Oatmeal is a popular treatment for several skin conditions, both in human beings and dogs. Oatmeal baths can help you get rid of dandruff and balance your dog’s skin oil. You can prepare an oatmeal bath for your dog to help him get rid of the itch. You can also purchase oatmeal soap from the local pet store and wash your dog with it.
Final thoughts
Dry skin is a severe condition that can result in a serious infection if left untreated. Instead of assuming that it is harmless, why don’t you take care of this problem with the above safe remedies?
These remedies can have your pup running around happily in no time. But, make sure you turn your humidifier on every time the humidity drops outside.
Cynthia Garcia is the editor and content creator at Pet Fashion Week. She’s a passionate pet rescue supporter and in her free time, she’s always looking for ways to help the community.
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