Dog dry itchy skin

Dog dry itchy skin: is your dog itching a lot this winter? Has your dog’s coat lost its glossy appearance? Dry skin seems to be a problem for many dogs in the winter. Just as in humans, their skin seems to dry out and become flaky and dull. Often dogs will also itch a lot. Itching may further aggravate the skin often causing more irritation, the development of hot spots and even skin infections. Here are some hopefully helpful solutions, to make your pet feel better.

• Oatmeal

Oatmeal baths are great because they are soothing and a natural way to give relief to irritated skin. Adding some colloidal oatmeal such as Aveeno to the water in the bath tub may really make a difference.

• Try Cool Baths

Cool water works much better than warm water in giving relief. Make sure to dry your dog well and not get chilled though!

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• Excess is not Good

As much as you want to give relief, keep in mind though that too many baths may strip away the dog’s natural oils in the skin making problems worse.

• Up the Humidity

Dry winter weather and the dry environment of heated homes deprive the air of humidity. Keeping the home humidified may help winter dry skin in both dogs and humans.

• Lubricate

Adding some oil to the dog’s food may be helpful but it is important not to over do it as too much may cause diarrhea. You can try by giving some olive oil by adding a small amount to the dog’s food once a day or you can dip a small piece of bread in olive oil. Massaging your dog’s skin with a bit of olive oil may also be helpful.

• Fatty Acids

Oil may do the trick, but fatty acids/fish oil seems to work much better, as a matter of fact, fatty acids may work very well when dealing with dry, itchy skin. There are several fatty acid supplements available in pet stores or over the internet. Some dog foods are also supplemented with omega 3 fatty acids.

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As seen there are many ways, you may be able to help out your itchy pooch, however, it is always best to rule out skin allergies, fungal and yeast infections by your veterinarian as these are common culprits for itchy skin. A physical exam by your veterinarian should be done first to rule out these conditions before trying home treatments. Fleas must be ruled out as well, as these are a well known of scratching. There are also many other skin conditions that may cause itchiness and dry, flaky skin. Itchiness can be a very frustrating issue to deal with. Finding the underlying cause (if other than winter skin dryness) is key to finding appropriate treatment.

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