Taking Care Of Your Dogs Dry, Itchy Skin Naturally
Is your dog driving you crazy with his constant itching and scratching? It can be just a nuisance to you, but it can be painful to your dog. Just like humans, dogs can get dry skin. When a dog has dry skin, they feel irritated and uncomfortable. This can result in excessive biting or licking in problem areas, creating sores or bleeding.
The dry skin can also be a menace for pet owners, since dry and flaking skin can end up scattered all over the house. It is important for dog owners to recognize the symptoms of dry skin, so they can help them. Understanding the cause of dry skin is the best way to prevent it.
Causes
Dry skin can be caused by several factors, including: An improper diet (which does not give your dog the fatty acids it needs), excessive bathing and environmental factors. Weather, particularly during winter months when there is low humidity, is a common season for dogs to have dry, itchy skin.
It is sometimes difficult to determine the cause of your dog’s dry skin, especially if it is caused by an allergy. Dogs can be allergic to a variety of things, usually found in their food. Often times, a low cost dog food can be the cause of a dog’s skin problems.
More than dry skin?
In some cases, your dog may have more severe problems than just dry skin. Your dog may be having an allergic reaction, be infected by a parasite, or have an infection. If you notice any open sores, bumps, or excessive hair loss, this is a sure sign that there are other problems present. If your dog has any open sores, scratches or bleeding on his body, it is important you seek veterinary help, before it becomes worse.
Treatment
Fortunately, there is relief for both pets and pet owners! There are numerous ways in which combat your dog’s dry and itchy skin. Brushing your dog regularly, to remove the dead hair and skin, will help their skin to produce more of the oils that it needs. Brushing also helps to improve blood flow to the skin which can help in the healing process. Putting a humidifier in your house may also help, but does not usually solve the problem.
Often times, simply changing the type of food you give your dog helps a lot. Changing your dog’s diet can give them the oils that they are missing, which will assist in healing their dry skin problem and also give them a nice shiny coat!
Another important thing you can do is not over bathe your dog. This will remove oils on their body and cause their skin to dry out even more.