Dandruff on a Dog's Coat

While dogs naturally shed dead skin cells that build-up on the surface of the skin, then fall off, visible flaking on the dog's coat or around your home indicates that your dog suffers from dandruff. Dry skin or another skin condition can cause canine dandruff. While you can control mild dandruff with grooming, have a veterinarian examine your dog to ensure the condition does not indicate something more serious.

  1. Grooming

    • Control your dog's dandruff due to dry skin by bathing it with a moisturizing dog shampoo. Purchase a shampoo that contains oatmeal or essential oils like chamomile or lavender to soothe its dry skin. Bathe the dog once per week to remove skin flakes without drying out the coat, according to VetInfo. Brush the dog daily to circulate the oils on its skin and remove matting that can contribute to canine dandruff. Rub a natural vegetable or olive oil on its coat to moisturize its dry skin, concentrating it in the areas where you notice the dandruff most.

    Cheyletiellosis

    • Caused by a microscopic parasite called the cheyletiellosis mite, this condition mimics normal canine dandruff. Sometimes called "walking dandruff," the dandruff on the dog's coat appears to move when the mites move under the skin flakes caused by the infestation. This highly contagious disease requires veterinary care and diagnosis to get rid of the mites on the dog's skin. Weekly lime-sulfur or amitraz dips or the use of sprays containing pyrethrin can treat chyletiellosis, says the PetPlace.com website. You must treat other dogs and cats in your home, because the mite spreads through contact with infected animals or with mites and their eggs shed into the environment.

    Seborrhea

    • Seborrhea may be either a main cause of your dog's dry, flaky skin or a secondary result of another medical condition. Dogs with seborrhea exhibit signs of flaky skin, similar to dandruff, but may also show signs of itching and an oily discharge. Those with seborrhea oleosa have an excess production of oil on the coat, which usually smells unpleasant because the oil causes a build-up of bacteria and fungus on the skin. Treatment for seborrhea includes bathing the dog with shampoos containing sulfur, salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide or selenium sulfide, according to PetPlace.com. These ingredients exfoliate the skin, remove excess oil and have antibacterial or antifungal properties.

    Other Causes

    • A dry environment or a lack of moisture can cause dry skin in your dog. Increase your dog's hydration by providing fresh water at all times, switch the dog to a canned food diet and add a tablespoon of vegetable oil to its food daily. Food allergies can also cause dry skin. Dandruff has other causes, including more serious medical conditions such as hypothyroidism, Cushing's disease or a sex hormone imbalance, according to PetPlace.com. Take your dog for a veterinary exam to determine if your dog suffers from an underlying medical condition or food allergy causing its flaky skin.