How to Decrease Pet Dandruff

Dandruff is a pesky condition that involves the shedding of dead skin cells. This inflammatory condition manifests itself in the form of itching and flakiness, and is not only common in humans, but also in dogs and cats. Pets frequently experience dandruff due to low humidity levels in the air, as well as insufficient bathing. If your pet is suffering from itching and other dandruff symptoms, you can take action to control and eliminate the situation.

Things You'll Need

  • Gentle dog or baby shampoo
  • Brush
  • Moisturizing lotion
  • Olive or vegetable oil
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Instructions

    • 1

      Bathe your pet regularly. Dandruff appears in the form of flaky skin, so it is important to bathe your pet to get rid of any flakiness before it gets a chance to build up. To decrease pet dandruff, shoot for bathing your pet once monthly in winter and twice a month during the hotter summer months. Make sure you use warm, not hot, water. Scalding hot water can increase skin dryness for an animal. Use a gentle pet shampoo or baby shampoo. Dry your pet off thoroughly with a towel afterward, as residue from shampoo can increase flakiness.

    • 2

      Groom your pet frequently. This is especially helpful if your dog or cat has long hair (think Persian cats and Lhasa Apso dogs.) Make sure to brush your pet's fur every day to get rid of dead skin cells. Brushing the fur is beneficial for massaging the skin and evening out the skin's natural and healthy oils. Evening out the natural oils can lubricate your pet's skin and seal in moisture. Sealing in moisture helps to decrease dandruff. Apart from those positives, it also can be relaxing and calming for your pet.

    • 3

      Rub vegetable or olive oil on your pet's skin. Apply a tiny dab of oil onto your pet's skin and rub it in thoroughly. Do this once a week or so. This works to thoroughly moisturize the pet's skin. For cats, you can also add one or two tablespoons of olive oil to meals several times a week in order to enhance the skin and coat. Mix the olive oil in well so that your cat doesn't notice the taste. Ingesting olive oil encourages the production of natural oils and locks in essential skin hydration, which can keep dandruff away.

    • 4

      Put lotion on your pet. Apart from olive or vegetable oils, you can also moisturize your pet's skin with a natural hand lotion, preferably one that contains colloidal oatmeal. Just put a small amount on your hands and massage it deeply into your pet's coat.