Posted on by Admin Life Retreat
Itchy skin problems are among the top reasons dogs and cats are taken to the vet.  One common cause of itching is dry skin. To see if your dog does in fact have dry skin, part your pet’s hair, you  will see flakes of dandruff in the undercoat, and the skin itself may be cracked and tough.  There are various ways you can rid your dog of this discomfort;

Causes of dry or itchy skin in dogs:

  • Living in an region with low humidity
  • Dry dog food with not enough nutrients and probiotic bacteria
  • Detergents used to was their bedding
  • Household cleaners
  • Tropical flea medications
  • Boredom or lack of exercise
  • Dog’s stress levels
The most common cause that’s often over looked, is your dog’s diet. Food sensitivities are abundant in almost every breed, possibly due to genetics or the fact that many animals are fed the same food for months or even years on end, that lacks the correct nutritional ingredients or no variety in ingredients or alternative sources of nutrition.

Dry skin can be influenced not only by environmental factors, but also by diet. Many commercial pet foods process out the good oils that contribute to healthy skin and shiny hair. The wrong dry pet foods can have an dehydrating effect on skin and hair and also stimulate increased thirst.

Home Remedies for dogs with itchy skin:

Epsom Salts
  • Use Epsom salts mixed with warm water to wash the affected area.  (Ocean water works even better if you live near the beach).  Order Epsom salt online, click here.
Use less shampoo when bathing
  • Too much dog shampoo could also be causing the skin to dry and can cause irritation.
  • When your dog needs a bath, try using plain water, a good, non-drying solvent. If you must use shampoo, use a moisturizing type with humectants, and follow up with a moisturizing conditioner. Avoid blow dryers.
Vinegar for flea bites
Mix vinegar with water and pour on the affected area.  Some people claim apple vinegar is best and repels fleas.  This is particularly effective if the dog was bitten by a flea.  Please note that vinegar tends to dry the skin so I recommend  that you use epsom salt or ocean water instead of vinegar unless you are certain that the dog has numerous flea bites.
Olive oil or Coconut oil
  • Rub olive oil or coconut oil onto the dry patches on your dog’s skin.
  • A small amount of coconut oil can also be added to your dog’s drinking water.
A Proper Diet
The skin is an organ and is often the only outward reflection of upset on the inside.  Food allergies can also cause your dog’s skin to itch.
  • Make sure the dog has a good diet with enough fat (but not too much).
  • Fish oil is an excellent supplement for Omega 3.
  • Feeding a variety of vegetables to your dog helps supply nutrients and antioxidants. You can add olive oil as a supplement to your dog’s food.
Hill’s Science Plan Sensitive Skin
Hill’s Science Plan Sensitive Skin

Try buy a high quality brand of food for your pets, which has Omega 3 & 6 as well as the required antioxidants and protein for strong muscle growth and healthy skin and fur coat. I would recommend Hill’s Science Plan Sensitive Skin, it costs about R250 for a 3 kg bag, depending on where you purchase it from. Find the nearest supplier of Hill’s products here.

Article Author: Lynette Redelinghuys

Why Select Hill’s Pet Nutrition:

Each and every one of the people working at Hill’s understands that special bond that exists between you and your pet. Which is why we work so hard at providing you with the best nutritional care available to ensure that relationship stays good and healthy.
We are constantly innovating to ensure the highest quality ingredients and optimal balance of nutrients to meet you pet’s specific age, breed and medical needs. Perhaps this explains why Hill’s pet foods are what vets choose to feed their own pets.

Hill’s Philosophy:

We believe all animals – from your pet to the companion animals we care for – should be loved and cared for during their lifetimes. That’s why we’re proud our pet foods can make a difference in your pet’s life. We make this pledge to you about our commitment to the welfare of animals everywhere.

Nutrition Is Vital:

We firmly believe that the right pet nutrition is vital to pets’ living long, healthy lives. Our research, directed from the Global Pet Nutrition Center, helps make Hill’s the global leader in nutritional health care for companion animals, allowing us to provide the right formulas for precisely balanced nutrition that meets the wellness and therapeutic needs of pets worldwide.

The Right Nutrients In The Right Quantities:

Guided by evidenced-based research, Hill’s formulates its complete pet foods with a precise balance of 50 nutrients to meet the specific needs of pets, based on their lifestage, lifestyle, size or special needs. Carefully avoiding too little or too much of certain nutrients is important because a wide range of common disease conditions can be made worse, or even caused by, consistently feeding a diet with an incorrect balance of nutrients. Look at the table below to see how the most important nutrients will influence your pet’s health:

Does your dog need more exercise? How about getting your pet an Aerobie Dogobie, click here

[Tweet “How to stop your dog’s skin from itching #HillsPets @liferetreat_”]

puppy
Cute puppy eating dog food – isolated over a white background
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4 thoughts on “How To Stop Your Dog’s Skin From Itching”

  1. Use the best natural shampoo for your dog, this is the best way to keep your dog away from itching and other skin issues. Bath your dog with a shampoo on a daily basis. Use natural shampoo that does not contain any harmful chemicals.

    Reply

  2. I had not heard the vinegar remedy before so thanks. We feed our staffy Thandu Supreme Pet which has all of the above needed ingredients.

    Reply

    1. I love staffies! It’s good to hear you are feeding your dog the correct nutrients. If you do however see that the skin a bit dry and perhaps give the Hill’s food a try, please let us know if you see any changes from switching between the brands.

      Reply

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