How to Treat Dog’s Dry Skin


Dog’s dry skin is quite common, and occurs more often during colder months due to exposure to heat indoors. Winter is also a time when we experience dry hands and feet, and as such we require extra treatment during this time to keep our skin moist and healthy.

There are several steps you can take to avoid and cure dry skin in dogs. To cure dog dry skin symptoms include skin that appears dull, dry to the touch, and flaky. Your dog may scratch, lick, or bite at his skin, causing redness and/or bald patches. His coat may also appear dull and dry. Treatment varies based on the cause of the condition.

  • Your dog may appear to have dandruff. Symptoms include (in addition to flaky dry skin) itch, thinning hair in patches, scabs, bumps and pimples. The treatment for canine dandruff is bathing with a medicated shampoo every other day for 10 days. Decrease the frequency to twice a week then once a week as you see improvement. There are two types of medicated shampoos for dandruff. Be sure to get the type for dry skin which contains the ingredients sulphur or salicylic acid. Shampoo with coal tar, benzyl peroxide or selenium sulphide is for greasy skin, not dry skin. Only use warm water when bathing. As a supplement try an after bath spray with the ingredients glycerin, colloidal oatmeal, fatty acids, or urea.

  • Poor nutrition is a common cause of dry skin. Many commercially available pet foods or vitamin supplements contain vitamins that are essential for healthy skin. Dogs need fatty acids and vitamin E in order to have healthy skin. These are found in quality commercial dog foods and vitamin supplements. Other important vitamins are Vitamin A, Vitamin B3 (niacin), Vitamin E and protein. A good vitamin supplement to help cure dog dry skin for dogs is pet alive skin & coat tonic for dogs. It contains horsetail, dandelion and Spirulina, all elements known for their positive impact on skin. Explore this option with your veterinarian who can monitor progress.
  • It is important to keep your dog clean, but as long as his coat appears clean and he does not have a bad odor, baths is unnecessary. Regular brushing will help him stay clean and will also stimulate the productions of oils that help prevent dry skin. When you do bathe your dog, use a dog shampoo for dry skin. Human shampoos can be too drying.

Most of the time, these simple cure dog dry skin home remedy treatments will help your dog’s condition and solve the problems. If your dog’s skin appears dry and crusty, this may be a sign of an infection, and you should take your dog to the vet.

Filed Under: Pets & Animals

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About the Author: Fred Goodson has a passion for pets and animals. He has 4 dogs and is planning to have another one. He is also a blogger who writes about pets and animals. Currently, he is living in New Jersey.

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