Pet Dry Skin Remedies

Just like humans, the skin of each dog or cat is unique to the individual animal. Dry skin in pets is common, particularly with dogs. It occurs more often during colder months due to heat exposure indoors. Luckily, dry skin is relatively simple to treat in dogs and cats if you use grooming supplies and food that are formulated for your pet's dry skin.

  1. Causes of Dry Skin in Cats and Dogs

    • In cats, causes of dry skin center around nutritional deficiencies and disease. When cats do not get proper proteins, vitamins and minerals in the right amounts, dry skin can be one of the side effects. An unbalanced diet can lead to deficiency in fatty acids that are needed to contribute to the cellular health of your cat. Disease and allergies are other common causes of dry skin in cats. Diseases such as thyroid disease, kidney disease and heart disease can all have the side effect of dry skin. It is important to contact your veterinarian to determine if any of these diseases are a factor in the condition of your cat's skin.

      Nutritional deficiencies and disease are factors in dry skin conditions for dogs as well as cats. One of the more common causes of dry skin in dogs that you don't see very often with cats is over bathing. Essential oils in your dog's fur are important to keeping the skin healthy and lubricated. When a dog is over bathed, these essential oils are stripped from the skin and this can lead to dry, flaky and uncomfortable skin conditions. Since cats bathe themselves effectively, over bathing issues are usually not seen with felines.

    Dry Skin Treatments

    • It is important to brush your pet daily to remove dander and loose fur. This keeps your pet's coat healthy and clean. Since cats do not typically need baths unless they are coated with grease, oil or dirt, bathing them is usually not necessary. However, if you find that your cat does need a good scrub, use a moisturizing shampoo with a conditioning rinse after the bath. Make sure the products you use are specifically designed for cats.

      For dogs, bathing is usually much more necessary, especially if you have a dog that likes to play outside and run in the dirt, as most dogs do. Using a moisturizing shampoo made for dogs is important. Humans and animals have different pH levels in their bodies, therefore human shampoos and soaps can be too harsh for dogs. Follow the bath with a conditioning rinse as well (see Reference 3).

      When you purchase a dog or cat shampoo from your local pet retailer, it is important to read the labels. A good shampoo will be hypoallergenic and fragrance free. Look for natural ingredients, such as aloe vera, peppermint, shea butter or oatmeal.

    Natural Treatments

    • For your dog and cat, there are several natural treatments that are promising in treating dry skin. These treatments include horsetail, dandelion, spirulina and fucus. These herbal extracts not only repair dry skin, but are also known for promoting digestive health and the general well-being in dogs and cats. Skin tonics that contain these herbs can be purchased as supplements in many pet supply retail stores.

    Proper Nutrition

    • Treating dry cat and dog skin starts from the inside out. It is important to address any nutritional deficiencies your pet may have before turning to grooming products. A key ingredient to keeping skin and fur healthy is Omega-3 fatty acid. Check the labels of the food to make sure that the food your pet eats has this important ingredient. You can supplement your pet's diet by adding 1/8 of a teaspoon of very fresh fish oil to her food daily.