How to Condition a Dog's Dry Skin

Hi Misty, it's wonderful that you are taking care of Lupo so well. You have treated Lupo for fleas; I hope the eradication of these pests gives him relief. Your home will need treatment, too to ensure that all fleas and eggs are removed. Based on the fact that Lupo is malnourished and has skin problems, I think a vet visit is warranted to check on his health and make sure that he can move forward with continued improvement. The vet can also advise on how to get rid of fleas in the house. All the best with Lupo!

Hi Lisa, Dougie looks like a beautiful companion! My advice would be to take him to the veterinarian so that they can determine the cause of the itching. There could be reasons such as ticks, mites or other parasites that are difficult to see, an allergy such as to his food or due to an environmental cause, or even heat rash. The vet will be able to diagnosis the cause and provide treatment which will give Douggie the relief he needs. I recommend the vet because often itching can lead to secondary infection (say, if Douggie has raw skin and dirt from his paws enters the wound). Hope this helps!

Hi there, because Oralie is so young, I would take her to the vet to rule out conditions like pyoderma, allergies to food, hypothyroidism, or a parasitic infection that is not visible to the eye. A lot of itching and scratching can lead to secondary infection and I am sure you must want to see Oralie find relief. There can be many reasons for the problem, so it is crucial that the right cause is treated. Good luck!

Thank you for the question about Sake'. How long has she had the dry skin and has the vet assessed the condition yet? Consult your vet to rule out a health issue. Try the coconut oil treatment but make sure that she does not ingest it since she has pancreatitis. As for the regular vinegar, I think it may be more harsh and drying than the Apple Cider Vinegar. Most natural remedy recipes use Apple Cider Vinegar. Keep in mind that too much bathing can have the opposite effect - overbathing can dry the skin out. The vet will have a reliable and gentle product for dandruff as well, so mention that if you do contact your vet. Good luck!

Thank you for the question. George is so handsome - I love the Newfoundland! There could be many causes for the itchiness and scratching. There could be a bacterial or fungal disease (and with George's thick coat it may be difficult to see). There could be an environmental or food allergy developing only now, or bug bites. Because there could be many reasons, I would take George to the vet, especially if it is something contagious to your other pets. All the best!

Ethel is a very unique and cute dog! I am not familiar with the skincare for this breed. My recommendation is to ask the vet for suggestions to ensure that you are using a safe and effective product. The vet can suggest something that will not be harmful when licked. Ask about putting a humidifier in the room where she sleeps to add moisture to the air. As well, supplements like Omega-3 can be used - the vet can give you the proper dosage for Ethel. All the best and thank you for the question!

Thank you for the cute pictures and the question. Yes, coconut oil is a good product to add to the food. Just be careful to add it very slowly, a little bit at a time to allow them to get used to it. Olive oil is another good choice. Take a look here: https://wagwalking.com/wellness/could-olive-oil-help-your-dogs-dry-flaky-skin. As well, I am sure you can call your veterinarian office too, and ask the question, especially since the dogs were just there. Good luck!

Thank you for the question. It's hard to tell what this may be. I think the safest bet is to take Tokey to the vet. The skin issue could be any number of things including flea allergy, ringworm or other parasite, etc. Rather than have Tokey's skin get worse and develop into a serious infection, have the vet treat the problem. There is a possibility of the skin condition being contagious so that adds another aspect to the situation too. The vet can also advise whether your house and belongings need a cleaning process, too. Good luck!

Hello, Kyrie may have dry skin due to the onset of cold weather, or yes, maybe from the grooming. Either way, if he starts to itch incessantly, the flakes get worse, or his skin becomes red and inflamed, please see the vet to rule out out a medical issue or something like mites. In the meantime, you can try gently brushing him regularly to distribute his natural oils: https://wagwalking.com/grooming/prevent-a-dogs-dry-skin. You can also try coconut oil as described here: https://wagwalking.com/grooming/brush-a-dog-with-coconut-oil. Good luck and enjoy little Kyrie!

Hello, I hope that Rooby gets relief soon. I would consult her vet too, just to get their opinion on the situation. They may have a recommendation that will provide relief sooner than anything you can do at home, preventing Rooby from scratching herself too much and causing infection. In the meantime, I do have two guides that can help you with the coconut oil. Take a look here: https://wagwalking.com/wellness/does-coconut-oil-have-benefits-for-dogs and here: https://wagwalking.com/grooming/bathe-a-dog-with-coconut-oil. If the coconut oil does not provide relief or if Rooby starts to scratch even more, be sure to call the vet. Also, if Rooby's skin is looking irritated or inflamed, hold off on the coconut oil and call the vet. All the best to Rooby!