What Can Make a Dog's Skin Flake Into Its Fur?

Dry, flaky skin isn't just a problem that affects people -- it can affect your canine companions too. While a few flakes of dry skin are perfectly normal, an excessive amount of them all over Fido's coat are not, so consult with your vet about this issue. Your vet can determine if a serious medical issue could be causing your dog's extra-flaky skin or if it's just a little harmless dandruff.

  1. Dry Skin

    • If you see a bit of dandruff on your dog's coat, it's probably because his skin is very dry, usually due to cold weather, a dry environment or a lack of fat in his diet. Dogs need to eat fats to keep their coats and skin moisturized. Some pups may also suffer from a lack of vitamin A or zinc in their diets, which can cause dry skin, according to petMD. Your vet can help determine if any vitamin or mineral supplementation for your pooch's diet is necessary. Feeding your pup a diet that is appropriate to his life stage and follows the guidelines established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials should maintain the proper balance of ingredients to prevent dry skin.

    Skin Disease

    • In some cases of canine dandruff, also referred to as dry seborrhea, a parasite, skin infection or allergy could be to blame for your canine's flaky coat. Fungal infections like ringworm and infestations with fleas or mites both cause the skin to become red, itchy and flaky. Bring your pup to the vet so she can examine your pup's skin and take a skin scraping to check for microorganisms and prescribe a course of treatment with anti-fungal, anti-parasitic or antibiotic medications. If contact allergies are suspected, bathing your pup weekly with a gentle shampoo should help remove the flake-inducing allergens from his skin, according to the Humane Society of the United States.

    Underlying Illness

    • There are certain illnesses that can result in flaky skin, such as Cushing's disease, lupus, diabetes or hypothyroidism, according to PetEducation.com. Your vet will run blood, urine and other diagnostic tests to see if your pup is suffering from any of these conditions. Once these illnesses are treated, your dog's dry and scaly skin should begin to heal. If a food allergy is suspected, a prescription veterinary hypoallergenic diet might help alleviate your pooch's dandruff issues. Treatment with medicated shampoos or creams containing exfoliating ingredients like sulfur or salicylic acid can also help to clear up your dog's flaky and irritated skin, recommends WebMD. For pups with flaky, greasy skin, coal tar and benzyl peroxide can also remove excess sebum and scales from the skin.

    Keeping Flakes Away

    • Wash your dog monthly with a soap-free, gentle shampoo to remove any excess skin flakes and rinse out his coat well. Frequent bathing and soap residue in the coat can actually cause skin dryness and irritation. Rub a leave-in conditioner into your pup's coat and skin to moisturize them. Supplementation with fish oils containing omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids can also help moisturize the skin, so discuss this with your vet. Between baths wipe Fido down with a moist cloth and brush him daily to remove flakes and stimulate your his circulation. Apply a bit of canine-specific sunscreen to protect your pup's skin on sunny days -- dogs can become sunburned like people, leading to flaky skin.