If your favorite pooch is getting all flaky and itchy, you may need to start seeking out ways to cure dog dandruff. Like humans, some dogs are not spared from dandruff and the annoying discomfort that comes with it.
Signs of Dog Dandruff
Also referred to as canine seborrhea, dog dandruff is pretty similar to human dandruff. The flakes you’ll see are actually dead skin cells that clumped together after falling from the skin – which is the biggest sign that it’s getting too dry.
The flakes may be accompanied by bumps, pimples and scabs. The itchiness will also drive your dog to scratch more often than per usual. In more serious cases, you might even spot patches of balding or thinning hair on his or her coat.
What Causes Dog Dandruff?
There are many possible causes of dog dandruff, and understanding what those are is key to finding the best kind of treatment for your canine pal.
Mild cases are usually brought about by low environmental humidity, a diet lacking in fat, vitamins or minerals or too many baths. Other more serious factors could also be in play. Your dog may have an undiagnosed skin allergy caused by food, or they may have an underlying bacterial or fungal skin infection. It may also be a sign that they have become a host to fleas among other internal or external parasites, such as coccidia, fleas, heartworms, hookworms, roundworms and Chyletiella mites.
How to Cure Dog Dandruff
To cure severe cases of dog dandruff, visit your veterinarian in order to receive the best possible treatment for parasites or severe skin infections. For the rest of the time, as long as your pooch’s dandruff is mild, you can deal with it by using the following home remedies:
- Bathe your dog regularly – once or twice a week should be enough. If you’re using a medicated shampoo, bathe him or her every other day for about 10 days. Your vet will also give you some helpful instructions and recommendations for this.
- Use mild shampoos specially medicated and created for dogs, not for humans.
- Try an oatmeal or coal tar shampoo. Oatmeal helps reduce itchiness, skin inflammation and flaking, and is particularly effective in formulations that include an antihistamine (for example pramoxine) or a steroid (for example hydrocortisone). Coal tar is an essential ingredient for dissolving and removing skin crusts.
- Apply moisturizing conditioner after shampooing and then spray on a soothing after-bath oil to keep the moisture locked in.
- Brush your dog’s coat daily to keep their natural oils healthy, even on days when they won’t be bathing.
- Add some nutritional supplements to their regular diet. Fish oil or Omega 3 are popular choices, as they contain fatty acids that can restore moisture in the skin. Vitamins A and E are known for their skin-health-boosting properties, and zinc improves skin cellular and immune system functions – perfect for allergy-prone dogs.
These are just a handful of various ways to manage and cure dog dandruff. You just need to get to the root of the problem and from there come up with a treatment plan with your local vet. With the right approach, your canine companion will be dandruff-free in no time.
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