If your dog is suffering from flaky dog skin, it's no fun for him or for you. Dog skin problems are irritating for both the dog and the owner. Dry skin in dogs is easily treatable, but first you must be able to identify the problem. There is a variety of reasons why dogs get flaky skin. Most of the time, the cause is dryness.
Things You'll Need
- A dog with flaky dog skin
Instructions
Find the Cause
Identify the problem. Your dog could be suffering from parasites, fungal infections or allergies to food or something in his environment. Your first step is to identify what is causing the problem and then address it accordingly.
Check for parasites. External parasites include ticks, fleas and mites. These parasites can cause an allergic reaction and in the case of scabies, can even burrow into the skin. Itchy, flaky skin is the most common sign that your dog has parasites and needs to be treated. Untreated parasites can lead to sores that won't heal which leads to infections. Carefully examine his coat for signs of fleas or ticks.
Examine your dog for fungal infections which often cause dry flaky dog skin and be very irritating to your dog. Fungal infections can be yeast infections or ringworms. The symptoms of fungal infections other than flaky skin are redness and oozing sores. If you suspect your dog has a yeast infection or ringworm, have him treated immediately by your vet. Other pets and even family members can be infected by these infections.
Discuss your dog's diet with your vet. Allergies have become a common problem for dogs. The two most common allergies are contact dermatitis and food-related allergies. Dermatitis can strike your dog overnight from common things that have never caused a problem before. Household chemicals, cleaners, detergents, shampoos, and fabrics can all cause an allergic reaction in your dog causing him to have itchy, flaky dog skin and other dog skin problems. His food allergy would manifest itself as itchy skin and yeasty ears.
Treat the Problem
Bathe your dog in a commercially available shampoo and conditioner that is made to treat flaky, dry skin. There are many oatmeal-based and herbal shampoos and conditioners that will help irritated and inflamed skin. The herbs will quiet the itching while the conditioners moisturize your dog's irritated skin.
Feed your dog a hypoallergenic dog food if you find that your dog's diet is causing the problem. There are a number of brands that sell hypoallergenic foods. Most of them have a fish and potato base and do not include ingredients known to cause allergies in dogs including wheat, corn, soy and certain proteins.
Avoid bathing your dog more frequently than every two weeks. If you bathe your dog every week, you will dry out his skin, causing flakiness. The natural oils in his skin are meant to keep him from drying out and his coat shining. If you bathe too often, you wash away those natural oils.