Did you know that skin problems are the primary reason most people make an veterinary appointment for their dog? You may be surprised but we’re not, because that is exactly why we at Petology do what we do! As professional pet care scientists, we designed our Petology formulas around the unique biological grooming needs of your dog.
We’d thought we’d take an in-depth look at the most common skin issues affecting dogs while also giving you our expertise on which of our specialized Petology skin-care formulas can help with relief and treatment.
Today, in Part Two of this skin-related canine blog, we’re going to look at dry skin and doggie dandruff. Be sure to check out Part One where we addressed itchy skin and come back for Part Three in which we’ll take a look at dull coats.
Yes, dogs get dandruff too! While you won’t notice white flakes on your dog’s shoulders like you’ll see on your Uncle Bob’s black sweater, you’ll begin to notice white flakes everywhere: on your clothes, on furniture, and floating in the air—especially after playing or patting your pooch. Dandruff is a sign that your dog’s skin is dry and needs moisture. You might also notice that your dog has begun to itch and scratch themselves, this is another sign of dry skin. This drying can happen anytime, but is more prone to happen during seasonal weather changes. What your dog’s skin needs is lots of hydration and some good old tender loving care. Regular grooming and brushing is essential because it stimulates not only healthy hair growth, but also the skin’s natural oils. As for hydrating, make sure your dog is drinking lots of water and don’t forget about hydrating and moisturizing the skin under their coats.
We have two moisturizing Petology product lines that combat dry skin:
A common misconception is that you shouldn’t be washing your dog too often when you’re dealing with dry skin. Don’t worry, as long as you’re using quality moisturizing products with natural ingredients (like ours!), washing your dog will not dry them out. Your dog needs more water, not less. The key to avoiding dry-out is moisturizing, conditioning, and locking in all that water that gets absorbed into their skin while you are bathing them. If the dandruff is really bad, you might consider bathing your dog every day until it seems to be under control and then you can slowly reduce the frequency until you are at once or twice a month as you see improvement and healing. In-between washes we recommend one of Petology’s specially formulated daily leave-in conditioning/moisturizing sprays. The Coconut Water Hydrating Daily Spray is formulated with coconut oil for extra hydration and the Shea Butter Moisturizing Daily Spray is formulated with shea oil to relieve and nourish your dog’s skin and provide long-lasting moisture. Both are gentle and conditioning enough to be used daily as the name suggest!
Again, While typical rule of thumb is washing your dog once or twice a month, don’t be afraid to wash more often when you’re treating a skin condition. Your dog’s skin needs moisture and all our products are specially formulated with your dog’s skin in mind. In fact, all Petology® formulas include the following:
Don’t forget that all Petology products are compatible with flea and tick treatments. And remember, you’re responsible for your dog’s health, so if you notice that your dog appears to be suffering hair loss in addition to the flakiness, you should most definitely make an appointment to see your veterinarian.
* The articles and information on the Petology Blog are presented for informational purposes only and are not intended as an endorsement of any product. The content offers the reader information and opinions written by our staff, guest authors, and/or veterinarians concerning animal health issues and animal care products. The information is not intended to be a substitute for visits to your local veterinarian.