Dry Skin Remedies for Dogs

You dog's skin might become dry due to several reasons. You can cure it by trying various home remedies. Winter season is the most common reason for your pet dog's dry skin. Moreover, improper diet, health condition and poor hygiene might be responsible for your dog's dry skin. There are many easy dry skin remedies for dogs which you can try to give your doggy a soft and shiny look.

Remedies for Dry Skin on Dogs

Remedy # 1
One of the basic home remedies for dogs dry skin stems from unhealthy dog foods. You must see that your dog's diet is high in protein and that it contains Omega-3 and Omega-6 to help in the proper growth of fur to keep its skin moist and supple. This will also ensure good dog health. Your dog's dry and itchy skin might be due to an allergy to grains (fillers) usually found in lower-end dog food. So switching to a meat-based food is a great option.

Remedy # 2
Supplementing the pet's food with 1-3 tablespoons of flax seed oil everyday for about six weeks is another dog dry skin remedy. Once you see improvement, you can reduce the dosage. Most of the high-end dog foods already contain flax seed that can improve your dog's coat. You can also opt for salmon oil or olive oil which are cheaper alternatives to flax seed oil.

Remedy # 3
Remember, not to over bath your dog. Though bathing is a necessary part of dog grooming, remember that bathing your dog too often can worsen the dry skin problem as bathing gets rid of the essential oils on its fur. So it is best to bathe dogs as little as possible and use a shampoo containing oatmeal or Vitamin E. Also use a moisturizing rinse or conditioner, especially meant for dogs after shampoo. Never rub your dog with the towel as rubbing can further aggravate the dry skin condition, only pat it dry.

Remedy # 4
After you bathe your dog and pat him dry with the towel, apply some baby oil or olive oil over his fur and wrap him up in a warm towel. This will help the oil soak in. This is one of the best home remedies for dogs with dry skin. The oatmeal colloidal is best for dogs with eczema.

Remedy # 5
One of the easy natural remedies for dogs dry skin is mixing oatmeal with water and rubbing it over your dog's skin and coat. Leave it for ten minutes and then rinse it off with water. If there is problem in rinsing out oatmeal from the dog's coat, then use more water in the mix and strain the oatmeal before you use it.

Remedy # 6
If your dog's skin is dry and itchy, use water mixed with baking soda to relieve the itch. If the dog's feet is itchy, mix Epsom salts in cool water and dip its feet in the water for 5-10 minutes. Make sure that he does not drink it. Sometimes ear mites in dogs might cause excessive scratching in areas around the ears. In this case, soak a cotton ball in mineral oil and swab the ear canal gently. If your dog tends to catch fleas much often, then include yeast and garlic in his diet.

Remedy # 7
Using fish oil is one of the effective dry skin remedies for dogs. Fish oil contains essential fatty acids that keep the skin and hair moisturized and soft. It is available in the form of capsule as well. Give your dog a fish oil capsule or add a tablespoon of fish oil in his food few times a week. You can also apply this oil to the skin topically and then comb through the fur to moisturize his skin and fur and relieve the itching problem.

Always keep your dog's skin moist. Remember just as your skin needs constant moisture, so does his skin. Applying any oil high in Vitamin E on his skin regularly is one of the best dry skin remedies for dogs. Brushing your dog's coat more often will help remove shed fur and dander that can irritate your dog's dry skin. Maintaining regular hygiene is the most important element of dog care. Also keeping the dog clothes, dog collars and dog kennels clean is very essential. Remember , you must always consult your veterinarian for a diagnosis, especially in the case of skin tears, lesions or hair loss.