Dry Skin Care for Dogs: Essential Tips and Home Remedies

If your puppy or dog is bearing a persistent itch that never goes away, then some of the effective remedies prove to become the highly shooting solution to meet the needs of your pup. There are numerous possible reasons for the chronic scratches of your dog while identifying the reason behind the itchiness they face with the help of a vet is important to offer them rapid and effective relief. But, not all dog scratching needs prescribed medication or treatment from vets. It is the reason we have created this list of the best remedies to help you relieve dry skin care tips for your dogs so that you can render them better comfort to your forever companion whenever required the most.

How to Soothe Dry Itchy Skin on Dogs

Here are a few tips that can help your dog to ditch the need to itch

Eliminate Fleas

Fleas are the most common reasons behind irritated skin and increasing scratches in dogs. When a dog’s allergic to fleas, even one bite is too many. Use strong flea care and don’t forget tick prevention methods to avoid further irritation.

Fleas are often tough to identify once there are greater numbers present, as you need to assume your dog lacks fleas only since you cannot check them out. Suppose you need to treat your dog with the best flea control product that you wish to start with. Check out with your vet for the highly potential option, which is often the tropical solution, collar, or oral tablet dedicated to the pet and the region where you are residing.

Bathe Your Dog Regularly

You can bathe your dogs often weekly with hypoallergenic or gentle shampoos, following smart grooming tips that can help save money and prevent irritation. 

You should refrain from using human shampoo on your dogs as their skin's thickness and pH are often different from ours. Bathing them frequently will remove allergens and help them remove dandruff. You have to consider wiping off the paws of your dog using a damp washcloth whenever they come into the home from outside, mainly when they are allergic to grasses.

For extremely itchy dogs, try bathing them in cool water using pet-based oatmeal shampoo, as it will soothe them. Your vet is often required to prescribe a medicated shampoo that can help ease itching for the better management of all sorts of secondary skin infections. You will also come across a cream that can help rinse and condition your pet to get temporarily relieved from the itching, flaking, and all sorts of irritation.

Switch Foods

Your dog may also face food allergies; therefore, changing their diet to the specifically formulated food would help, as you can find the diet-related instructions in online training packages. If food allergies are the main reason behind your dog's itchy, remove every possible trigger ingredient, as it would create a massive difference. Dog food comprises a limited list of ingredients and the right ratio of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids to help benefit both the health of the coat and the skin.

Supplement with Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids, comprising EPA and DHA, are beneficial in reducing skin itchiness and self-trauma and improving coat quality. It is recommended that you consult the veterinarian on the right dosage for your dog. Know that it takes up to six weeks of the administration of omega-3 fatty acids to see the outcome.

Use Medications as Directed by Your Veterinarian

Your veterinarian's recommendation for medication depends on the health condition causing your dog to itch, but your veterinarian could offer an anti-itch topical medication. In some cases, veterinarians may also recommend supplements like vitamin E, which have shown improvement in itch relief for dogs with skin conditions , as supported by some studies.

Coconut Oil

Many people have been using coconut oil for their health today and the same thing applies to dog health. Through its massaging effect this oil is particularly good in reducing dry and itchy skin on your dog’s body. It also has the added advantage of having effects on the coats of their hair, leaving them shiny and healthy as long as you are using virgin, unrefined coconut oil and are conscious of the initial application so as not to overwhelm your dog’s skin. These homemade coconut oil dog treats are also very useful for incorporating a certain amount of coconut oil into your dog’s diet.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider diluted with water is an example of a home remedy that can be applied to stop the dog from scratching. But do not rub apple cider vinegar on your puppy’s skin because this may cause a burning sensation for them, especially if the skin is open. Some areas that one should not apply the apple cider vinegar include the ears, eyes, or genital parts. The oral application can be mainly used by incorporating a special spray in which equal measures of apple cider vinegar and water should be prepared in a spray bottle. You might also have your dog take apple cider vinegar internally if your dog has a yeast infection. Thus, you need to mix it a little into the food or water and it will help to maintain and bring back the bacterial balance in the digestion chamber of dogs.

Conclusion

It is important to note that, like any other organism, dogs are also likely to be affected by seasonal flares of dry skin. During sunny months, consider applying sun protection for dogs to reduce skin damage and irritation. At Up and Away Pups, we bring you the most potential solutions to help your dog stay in the best of health. This most often happens in the winter or conditions of high wind or low relative humidity. If dryness only manifests itself as skin that is slightly scaly and somewhat itchy, you should not worry. However, if your dog exhibits other signs or has pain signals other than the black coloration, then there is an underlying issue, and it is time to visit the vet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Let's look at some common frequently asked questions

How to Stop Dog Itching Naturally?

Calendula, Chamomile, and green tea have effective properties that can help soothe and cool irritated skin while reducing any sort of inflammation. They are ideal additions to bathe a dog with itchy skin.

Is Coconut Oil Good for Dogs?

Many veterinarians agree that edible and healthy coconut oil can sometimes be a component of the dog’s diet as long as it is consumed in moderation, i.e., as a supplement to a balanced diet or applied to the skin.

How to Treat a Dog Skin Infection at Home?

Bathe using tepid water. The shampoo should be lathered lightly by hand, starting at the scalp and followed by the affected areas, instead of pouring it on the back. Bathe the rest of the dog and allow this shampoo to remain on the skin for about ten minutes before washing it off.

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