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Having a dog with dry and flaky skin is troublesome to pet owners because we don’t want out loved ones to be uncomfortable or suffer. One of the biggest problems we face, often on a continual basis, is dog itching. So what is the cause behind it and how can it be cured?
Well dry, flaky, and itchy skin can be the result of many factors; the biggest one simply being the genetics of the animal. For example Labradors are much more prone to dandruff, flaking, dry coat, and hot spots. Having said that, all dogs have a need for a well moisturized and healthy coat. Before we jump into some of the cures, let’s take a deeper look at some of the causes beyond genetics.
The weather will affect the skin and coat condition and in fact overall pet health. It’s the same for us – if we spend too much time outside in the cold we may get sick and we definitely get chapped skin. Luckily for animals, they produce more natural oils than we do so the problem is often not as chronic; it does however exist. Besides the cold temperatures, poor nutrition and diet will quickly cause chapped skin, scratching, and even hot spots. One of the first indicators that a nutrition is lacking is to look at their fur or skin – if it is dull, dry, and looks unhealthy chances are that diet is playing a role. Always make sure that you provide a high quality pet food; organic is probably the best as their digestive systems can easily absorb all the nutrients because there are not many preservatives and dyes as compared to normal off the shelf foods.
Lastly, the type of dog shampoo you use will play a big role. Never use a low quality brand, and stay away from the large branded names that you can find at pet stores. While these brands have slick marketing, they are all made from human shampoo bases and are not the best choice for pets because of the ph mismatch. Also stay away from the online “spa” brands as, regardless as how they promote them, they will be aggressive on their skin with too much fragrances and chemicals. Our experience suggests that a all natural oatmeal dog shampoo works best and provides great moisturizing, agents with a nice shine.
So what are the solutions, well they are easy. As mentioned above use a good shampoo; aloe vera based are also very good. Secondly start providing enzymes at meal time daily. They will provide a catalyst allowing your pet to absorb all the nutrients that is takes in. These nutrients will go right toward the coat and you will see lasting results very quickly. Also try Omega 3 for your dog, their coats also respond very well to this. Also, be sure to bath your dogs a minimum of twice a month. And lastly, be sure to keep your dog in a comfortable place when the weather turns cold; especially if they are typically spend most of their time indoors. By following these guidelines you will see great results!
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