Dandruff in dogs is usually caused by dry skin. The dry skin flakes off and becomes visible light specks on your dog's fur. Once you see the first sign of dandruff, it's time to take action. The sooner you do, the easier it will be to remedy and the sooner your dog will have relief from the itchiness of dry skin.
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Bathing
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Give your dog a bath as soon as you see signs of dandruff. Then, give him baths on a regular basis. This means once a month during the colder months and twice a month during the warmer months. Baby shampoo or regular dog shampoo are sufficient most of the times. Massage the shampoo into the skin of the dog and then rinse him off. Follow up with a dog conditioner. If this does not get rid of the dandruff, then it's time to purchase dog shampoo specifically for dandruff. Follow the instructions on the label, but usually you'll massage the shampoo in and then allow it to sit for a few minutes before rinsing. You can even try oatmeal soap that people use for dry skin when bathing.
Lubrication
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For lubricating the dog's skin, some owners simply use olive oil or vegetable oil to rub into the dogs skin. Others use hand lotion used for humans. You may decide to instead purchase an oil spray at the pet store. Do this every couple of days until the dandruff is under control. Then, if you live in a dry climate, you may wish to continue massaging oils or conditioners into your dog's skin on a weekly basis. Keep combing your dog's hair on a regular basis. This will not only get rid of accumulating dandruff, but help spread your dog's natural oils throughout his body, which helps prevent dandruff.
Other Treatments
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After taking these measures, if your dog still has dandruff, it may be a sign of something other than just dry skin. Check to see if your dog has fleas. If he does, it may be the excessive scratching that is causing the dandruff. Use a coarser grooming brush to brush away the fleas. Then use flea shampoo or a flea collar to get rid of the fleas. While going to vet for dandruff may seem overkill, it may become necessary. If everything else fails, what's causing the dandruff may be something more serious. For example, your dog may have cheyletiellosis (also known as walking dandruff). Your vet will prescribe a tropical ointment to help cure your dog of this disease.
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