How can I treat my dogs dry skin at home

6 Home Remedies for Dry and Itchy Skin on Dogs: Homemade Lotions and Moisturizers

It's not difficult to spot a dog with dry skin. If the itching, scratching, and biting don't give it away, the flaky skin and dry fur are easy to spot.

Not only will dry skin irritate your pet, it could lead to more serious health troubles if left untreated.

These six dog dry skin home remediesare easy to use, and you probably already have the required supplies.

Itchy skin can be caused by a number of factors, and some of those factors have been researched in scientific studies.

These studies show that the most common cause of itchy skin is dryness.

Dry skin on dogs could be linked to environmental factors, like cold winter air or a nutritional deficiency.

The best way to ensure your dog's skin and coat stay moisturized is to keep him well-hydrated and feed him a balanced diet.

Even if you provide these things, your dog may still suffer from dry skin.

Like humans, some dogs just have dry skin for no particular reason.

In these instances, a dog dry skin home remedy could be just the cure your pooch needs. Just be sure that you're keeping a close watch on the condition to make sure it's not getting worse.

Veterinarians do warn that some of the causes of dog itchy skin may be serious and could lead to health issues if left untreated.

Usually, if your dog's itchiness is severe and doesn't go away, you'll need to do tests at your local vet clinic to rule out any serious health conditions.

6 Dog Dry Skin Home Remedies

1. Colloidal Oatmeal Bath

Most of the over-the-counter products you will find to treat itchy skin contain oatmeal.

Studies have shown that the properties of oats have a positive effect on itchy skin.

You can make your dog an oatmeal bath at home to help heal dry or itchy skin.

Add 3 cups of colloidal oatmeal to a bathtub filled with about 6 inches of warm water.

Put your dog in the bathtub and use a cup to apply the oatmeal water generously to his coat.

Massage the mixture into the skin with your hands.

Try to allow the oatmeal bath to sit on your pup for 20-30 minutes (if he will stay in the tub long enough).

2. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple ciderhas been shown to have antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties.

DO NOT use it directly on your dog's skin, as the high acidity could actually be harmful to him.

It could irritate the skin and cause a burning sensation in your dog.

Make a 50/50 blend of apple cider vinegar and water in an empty spray bottle.

You can apply the spray to your dog 2-3 times per day until the itching stops.

If your dog has chronic skin itchiness, you can use the apple cider vinegar spray once daily as a treatment remedy.

This spray should not be used if your dog has open wounds on his skin.

It will sting and cause your dog pain.

You should also pay close attention to the itchy areas after applying this itchy dog home remedy.

If you notice any redness or the itchiness seems to get worse, stop using the spray and contact your veterinarian.

3. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil has many effects on skin and coat health.

It can help with skin conditions like eczema, contact dermatitis, and itchy skin and generally improve skin health.

It can reduce allergic reactions, especially when it comes to flea allergies.

Skin cuts and wounds can also be treated withcoconut oil.

It can disinfect cuts and promote their healing.

It can also help with the treatment of dry skin, hot spots, bites, and stings.

Coconut oil can be given to dogs orally or applied topically. Including coconut oil in your dogs diet can improve their health in general but for the best results regarding skin and coat health, coconut oil should also be used topically.

Coconut oil can be given to dogs daily with meals, one or two times per day.

The amount of oil in your dogs meals depends on its size.

For example, many vets recommend that you introduce coconut oil slowly to your dogs diet, like 1/4 of a teaspoon for small dogs on a daily basis.

For large breeds, start with one teaspoon with every meal.

Using coconut oil topically is rather simple. It is important to start with small amounts because your dogs fur can get greasy if you apply too much.

Just rub a bit of oil between your hands and put it on your dogs fur, like you are giving him a gentle massage.

Use your fingertips to rub the oil on his skin as well. It is best to apply coconut oil once or twice a week.

Coconut oil isvery healthy for dogs, so you don't have to worry if your pooch licks this dry dog skin home remedy.

SIMILAR: 9 Ways to Improve Your Dog's Skin and Coat Health

4. Chamomile or Green Tea

Chamomile or Green tea is one of the best dog dry skin home remedy options, and many pet owners have it right in their kitchen cupboards.

Steep the tea bag in about 8 ounces of water and allow it to cool.

You can apply the wet bag directly to the affected area or use a cotton ball to apply the tea to the hot spot.

Apply it 3-4 times daily until the affected area has healed completely.

You can also give your Fido a bath in chamomile or green tea.

Steep 6-8 tea bags in a bathtub filled with about 6 inches of warm water.

Bathe your pet following the same instructions I listed in the colloidal oatmeal section above.

5. Baking Soda Paste

Mix 1 part baking soda with 1 part water to create a paste.

Apply the paste to the affected area and allow it to sit for 20 minutes.

Rinse the area thoroughly.

If your dog is experiencing widespread itching, you can also create a baking soda bath by adding 2 cups of baking soda to a bathtub of water.

Bathe your dog using the same instructions as noted above.

6. Vitamin E Oil

You can purchase Vitamin E oil at most pharmacies or natural living stores.

Applying the oil topically to sores on your pet's skin will help them heal faster.

You can also apply the oil to especially dry patches of skin to help moisturize and heal the area.

Vitamin E is an antioxidant that helps to defend against free radicals in the skin.

It is also good for your dog's immune system, heart and liver health, and overall skin and coat health.

Dog Dry Skin Home Remedy: FAQs

What natural oil can I use on my dog's dry skin?

Coconut oil can be a great dog dry skin home remedy.

It is an excellent natural moisturizer with strong antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties.

To hydrate and calm your woofer's skin, warm the oil in your hands before applying it.

What causes dry skin in dogs?

Bacteria are most frequently blamed for dry skin, but parasites, fungal infections, systemic illnesses, immune system issues, or wounds can also be the cause.

Something is wrong if Fido starts scratching a lot or if you see other symptoms like hair loss, dry skin, scabs, irritation, or a bad odor.

It's time to make an appointment to bring your dog in for a checkup at the vet's office.

Can I put baking soda in my dog's bath?

Every time you give your dog a wash, you can add baking soda.

Simply adding it to the bath water can aid in deodorizing and calming the skin.

Pour 3 tablespoons of baking soda, 1 teaspoon of dish soap, and 1 teaspoon of baby oil into a spray bottle for a wet wash.

Your dog should be sprayed, then dried off.

Dog Dry Skin Home Remedy: Before You Go

Dog dry skin can be relieved with various natural remedies, but not all of them will completely fix the issue.

Finding out what is causing your dog's skin disease is the first thing you should do.

To ascertain whether there is an underlying issue, a vet should examine severe cases of dry skin.

If Fido is scratching a lot, a few of the above remedies may provide relief in the meantime.

READ NEXT:

Want to share this?

The Best Way to Treat Dry Skin on Dogs, According to Veterinarians

Just like humans, dogs can suffer from dry skin. And unsurprisingly, some of the same causes of the condition in humans are responsible for dry skin on dogs, too. Although it's generally more of a discomfort than a serious danger to your pet, dry skin can be spotted and treated effectively so that your pup is back to living his best life in no time. Here are the the causes, symptoms, and most effective ways to treat dry skin on dogs, according to veterinarians.

What causes dry skin on dogs?

When the weather changes or even when the conditions within a dogs indoor environment change dry skin can strike. Dry skin in dogs can be due to environmental changes, such as cold weather in the winter [or low air humidity], says Dr. Juliette Bouillon, assistant professor at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine.

Another factor could be your dogs food. She notes that poor nutrition, including deficiencies in protein, vitamins, or essential fatty acids, could be a culprit.

Just like people, dogs can suffer allergies to a number of different factors in their environment. "Because allergies can cause excessive itching in dogs and cats, it is one of the major causes of dry skin, says Dr. Amanda Nascimento, the head of integrative veterinary medicine and research at NHV Natural Pet. It can be caused by ingestion of food, dust, or liquids, for example.

Similarly, all those baths you think are helping your dog stay in top condition might actually have the opposite effect on their skin. Excessive bathing can also lead to dry skin, especially when the shampoo is not followed by a moisturizer, Bouillon notes.

In some cases, your dogs dry skin could be something more serious. Ultimately, scaling can develop in association with some illnesses such as endocrine diseases (hypothyroidism, hyperadrenocorticism, diabetes mellitus), skin allergies, resolving skin infections, parasitic infestations (mange, lice, Cheyletiella) and, more rarely, cancer or genetic diseases like ichthyosis (fish scale disease), Bouillon warns.

What are the symptoms of dry skin on dogs?

Because there are several different causes of dry skin on dogs, there are also a range of symptoms. The first step is to be able to identify dry skin, says Wag! advisory board member and veterinarian Dr. Ann Eliopulos. Typically, these dogs will have a lackluster coat and flakes, which are dead skin cells that are sloughing off. A certain amount of flaking is normal, but excessive amounts and/or chronic flaking is not.

Other symptoms are more serious and often require a visit to the vet, says Dr. Gary Richter, a veterinarian with Rover.com. These symptoms include redness, which can indicate inflammation in the skin from an allergic or infectious cause; crusting, which may indicate a fungal, bacterial, or parasitic infection; itchiness, which could indicate parasites, allergies, bacterial, or fungal infections; hair loss, which could indicate endocrine changes, autoimmune disorders that attack the skin and fur, parasites, or fungal infections; or an odor, which is usually indicative of a yeast infection that is a common secondary infection with bacterial or other infections. In many of these cases, your vet will recommend effective prescription medications as a next step.

What are the best treatments for dry skin on dogs?

If there are no underlying causes requiring further treatment, follow a healthy, vet-advised protocol to keep your pets skin moist and decrease dry skin.

First, make sure your dogs shampoo is gentle and moisturizing (human shampoo is at the wrong pH), then follow up with a conditioner, suggests Dr. Richter. After the shampoo, dont blow dry your pets coat. Even cool blow dryers will dry out the coat, Richter notes. Toweling down and blotting to absorb the majority of the moisture will be effective enough and your pet will naturally take care of the rest.

Make sure your dogs food is nutritionally balanced. Most packaged pet food from pet stores is nutritionally balanced for dogs, but look for the AAFCO symbol on the back of pet food to be sure, Richter advises. If this symbol is not on the feed packaging, then it is not being appropriately regulated and may not contain the nutrients your pet needs to maintain healthy skin and a fur coat.

Consider supplementing your pets diet with products like fish oil and probiotics to improve the coat and skin condition. Adding a little moist food and supplying abundant fresh water will also increase your pets hydration intake and add moisture to the skin.

Beyond that, make sure youre keeping up your flea-prevention treatments all year long. "This is a standard veterinary recommendation, even if you rarely see a flea. Thats because as soon as a flea jumps on and bites your pet, the saliva is allergenic enough to cause itching and scratching which creates a vicious cycle of inflammation and infection, Dr. Richter says. Its better to just prevent a bite.