Homemade Dog Food for Dry Skin

Dogs with dry or itchy skin may benefit greatly from a homemade diet rich in oils. Food allergies can cause dogs to have dry, itchy or irritated skin--preparing a homemade diet will allow you to test different food combinations to find the optimal diet for your pet. You will need to provide your dog with a vitamin supplement to ensure proper nutrition, and may choose to add additional fatty oils to improve skin health.

Things You'll Need

  • Stove
  • Cooking pot and utensils
  • Protein - lean meat or fish, cottage cheese or yogurt
  • Carbohydrates - whole grains (rice or barley), oatmeal, vegetables (i.e., peas, potatoes) or fruit
  • Oils - fish or olive
  • Vitamin supplements
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Instructions

  1. Testing Phase

    • 1

      Select and cook one lean meat--boil the meat in unsalted water, rather than frying it. Chicken (with skin) or fish may be good choices for a dog with dry skin.

    • 2

      Select and cook one carbohydrate--boil or bake, depending on the nature of the food item.

    • 3

      Combine the cooked protein and carbohydrate in approximately equal proportions and allow to cool.

    • 4

      Feed your dog an adequate portion of the protein/carbohydrate mix (at room temperature) twice daily for several days and monitor its skin condition.

    • 5

      Add a tablespoon or two of oil after a few days, if the dog seems to be tolerating the mix with no adverse effects (e.g., skin appears drier, flaky, itchy, etc.). Fish oil or olive oil are good choices for dogs with dry skin.

    • 6

      Add a multivitamin supplement as recommended for your dog's weight after a few days. Again, be sure the dog is tolerating the protein/carbohydrate/oil mix before supplementing.

    Modification Phase

    • 7

      Experiment with different protein sources. Does your dog's skin seem healthier when she eats fish instead of chicken? If skin conditions seem to worsen, return to the tried-and-true initial mixture for several days before attempting another trial.

    • 8

      Offer different carbohydrate sources, or combinations of carbohydrates. Add vegetables and fruits to the diet to improve nutrition. Add only one new food to the diet at a time, and monitor your dog's skin condition and gastrointestinal health. Does a specific vegetable give your dog gas? If so, discontinue using that carbohydrate in the diet. Peas, squash, potatoes and bananas may be good additional sources of carbohydrates.

    • 9

      Consult with your veterinarian when you have found a diet that works well for your dog's health and skin condition. Ask your veterinarian if you should add any additional vitamin or mineral supplements or consider giving allergy medications to help improve skin condition.