Reviving Your Dog's Dry Coat: Top Remedies
Dec 03,2024 | puaintapets
A dry, flaky coat can be uncomfortable for your dog and a sign of an underlying skin issue. Dry skin may appear dull, brittle, or even itchy, leading to excessive scratching or licking. While occasional dryness is normal, persistent dry patches or dandruff could indicate something more serious, such as allergies, dehydration, or a lack of proper grooming. In this article, we will explore what causes a dry coat in dogs and provide solutions to help restore your dog’s coat to its full, healthy shine.
What Cause Dog Dry Coat?
I. Disease Factors
- Skin disease
When dogs suffer from folliculitis, eczema and other skin diseases, the normal metabolism and barrier function of the skin will be affected. For example, folliculitis will lead to blockage of hair follicles, affecting the normal growth of hair and making the hair dry and easy to break; eczema will cause itchy skin, and scratching by the dog will damage the hair, while the inflammation of the skin will also affect the supply of nutrients to the hair, leading to dry hair.
- Parasite Infection
Fleas, mites and other parasites that live on your dog's skin will suck nutrients from the skin and may also cause skin inflammation. For example, flea bites can cause red spots and itching on the skin, and mite infections can cause thickening of the skin and hair loss, all of which can cause the hair to lose nutritional support and become dry and rough.
II. Nutritional factors
- Malnutrition
If the dog's diet is not balanced, the lack of protein, vitamins (such as vitamin A, B vitamins, etc.), minerals (such as zinc, iron, etc.) and other nutrients will affect the normal growth and health of the hair. For example, a lack of vitamin A will lead to dry and flaky skin, which in turn affects the quality of the coat; a lack of protein will make the coat fragile, easy to break and lack of luster.
- Excessive salt intake
Excessive salt intake in dogs will aggravate the burden on the kidneys and affect the normal metabolism of the body, as well as lead to dry skin and rough coat. For example, feeding human leftovers for a long time, which tends to have a higher salt content, can easily cause dry dog fur.
III. Nursing factors
- Improper bathing
Bathing frequency is too high: the dog's skin will secrete oil to protect the skin and hair, if the bath is too frequent, it will wash away these oils, so that the skin loses its protection and becomes dry, and the hair will also become dry and easy to break. Generally speaking, 1 - 2 weeks to give the dog a bath is appropriate.
Using the wrong bath products: Human body wash, shampoo and other bath products have different pH levels than dog skin, and their use may disrupt the pH balance of your dog's skin, damaging the skin and coat. For example, the pH of human skin is 5.5 on average, while the pH of dog skin is 7.5 on average. Using weakly acidic body washes for humans will make your dog's skin dry and coat rough.
- Lack of Grooming
Long-term failure to brush your dog's coat can lead to tangled hair, which affects the breathability of the skin, as well as drying the coat by preventing the oil secreted by the skin from being evenly distributed on the coat. For example, if a long-haired dog is not combed regularly, the hair is easily knotted, and the bottom layer of the hair can not be moisturized by oil, so it will become dry.
IV. Environmental factors
- Insufficient sunlight
Dogs stay indoors for a long time, the lack of sunlight exposure will affect the synthesis of vitamin D, which in turn affects the absorption of calcium, but also the growth and health of the hair will be affected. For example, lack of sunlight exposure will lead to poor physical quality of the dog, the hair becomes dry and lusterless.
- Dry environment
In dry climates, or when indoor use of air conditioning or heating equipment dries out the air, your dog's skin and coat tend to lose moisture and become dry. For example, in the winter in the north, indoor heating, air humidity is low, the dog's skin and hair easily become dry.
V. Genetic factors
- Congenital Heredity
Some dogs have dry and rough coats inherited from their parents, and it is more difficult to change the hair problems caused by this genetic factor later in life. For example, some dog breeds are born with coarse and hard hair, and even if they are supplemented with nutrients and carefully cared for, it is still difficult to change the dry hair trait.
What to Deal with Dry Skin in Dogs?
1. Adjust diet
Supplementary nutrition: feeding your dog foods rich in protein, vitamins and fatty acids, such as eggs, tuna, chicken breast, carrots, seaweed powder, etc., can help improve dry skin.
Choose the right dog food: Choose natural dog food that is low in salt, low in oil and well-balanced in nutrition. You can also add an appropriate amount of olive oil into the dog food to prevent hair loss.
Supplements: such as lecithin fish oil pellets, the unsaturated fatty acid omega-3 can prevent dry hair loss and promote the growth of new hair, but it is recommended that puppies born less than 3 months do not eat .
2. Scientific care
Adjust the frequency of bathing: Adjust the frequency of bathing according to the season, once a week in summer, once or twice a month in winter, avoid bathing too often, because too frequent bathing will deprive the dog of the natural oils on the hair, resulting in drier skin.
Use appropriate bathing products: Use specialized pet body wash, do not use human shampoo, because human skin and dog skin have different pH values, and human bath or shampoo may damage your dog's skin.
Use conditioner: such as Isana Classic Series Conditioner, which can provide deep nourishment and moisturization for your dog's coat, repair damaged scales, and make the coat softer and smoother.
Grooming: Brushing your dog's coat every day can prevent bugs from hiding in the fur, while stimulating the skin follicles to release moisturizing oils to clean up shedding hair and dander, etc., and prevent blocking the surface of the skin, which is especially important for long-haired and double-coated dogs. If your dog’s dry coat persists despite your efforts, it may be time to consult a professional groomer or veterinarian. A groomer can provide specialized treatments like deep conditioning or recommend more advanced skincare products. A veterinarian can assess for underlying health issues such as allergies or infections that could be causing the dryness.
3. Increase sunshine and exercise
Sunbathing: Take your dog out in the sun more often to enjoy sunbathing, ultraviolet rays can effectively kill viruses and bacteria on your dog, but be careful not to take too long.
Increase the amount of exercise: the owner can take the dog with him when he runs, regular exercise can promote the dog's blood circulation, which helps the skin health.
4. Improve the living environment
Keep the environment clean: Regularly clean the dog's living quarters, toys, tableware and other supplies, and do a good job of disinfection to prevent skin diseases.
Use a humidifier: When the weather is dry, such as when turning on the air conditioning or heating, you can use a humidifier to relieve the dryness of your dog's skin.
5. Others
Regular deworming: To prevent parasitic infections from destroying the skin's defense barrier, it is recommended to do deworming once a month, inside and outside the body at the same time is best.
Avoid shaving: dog's hair has the function of heat insulation and cold protection. Unless necessary, do not shave your dog's hair to avoid direct sunlight on the dog's skin and increase the chance of disease.
6. Treating skin diseases
Use of medication: If your dog's dry skin is caused by parasites, bacteria or fungal infections, it will need to be treated with anthelmintics or antiseptic and anti-inflammatory medication.
Seek medical examination: If the symptoms of dry skin in dogs continue to be unrelieved or accompanied by other symptoms (such as itching, redness, hair loss, etc.), it is best to take your dog to the pet hospital to give the doctor a detailed examination, so as to target treatment.
Should You Bathe Your Dog With Dry Hair?
Dogs can be bathed when their coats are dry, but the following points need to be noted.
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Bathing frequency
Too frequent bathing can strip your dog's coat of its natural oils, leading to a drier coat. However, if you don't bathe for a long time, your dog will easily get dust and dirt when you go out. It is recommended to adjust the bathing frequency according to the season, which can be once a week in summer and once in one to two months in winter.
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Water temperature control
The water temperature should be suitable when bathing, keep the water temperature at 35-38 degrees in winter and 25-35 degrees in summer.
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Use appropriate bathing products
You can't use human shower gel, you should choose pet-specific shower gel, whose pH is more suitable for dog's skin, and can clean gently while retaining the moisture and oil needed by the hair.
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Post-bath care
Immediately after the bath, you should use a hair dryer to blow dry thoroughly, because the dog has an outer coat and an inner fleece, both layers should be blown dry, otherwise the damp hair will be easily damaged and become rough.
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Use of hair care products
Products such as conditioners can be used to provide deep nourishment and moisturization to your dog's coat. For example, Isana Classic Series Conditioner has natural ingredients that can penetrate deep into the hair and repair damaged scales, making the coat softer and smoother.
Signs of Serious Skin Issues
While occasional dryness is common, persistent or severe dry skin could indicate an underlying health issue, such as:
- Allergies
- Hormonal imbalances
- Infections or parasites
If your dog’s skin is inflamed, red, or your dog is scratching excessively, consult your veterinarian for a proper diagnosis and treatment.
Conclusion
A dry coat in dogs can often be improved with simple home remedies, proper diet, and regular grooming. By identifying the cause of your dog’s dry skin and implementing the right solutions, you can help your pet feel more comfortable and restore the health of their coat.