Itchy, dry skin is miserable—we all know it because we’ve experienced it ourselves at one point or another. While other canine symptoms, such as an upset stomach or back pain, aren’t always recognizable by us two-legged caretakers, there is no mistaking what they are experiencing when they are itchy.
The most common causes of itchiness, dry skin, or rashes in dogs are environmental skin allergies, called atopic dermatitis (atopy), and food allergies. Both of these conditions predispose poor dogs to bacterial or yeast infections, which further intensify the symptoms.
If your dog is itchy year-round and the ears and or anal area seem to be most affected, a food allergy may be the culprit. It may be beneficial to have a discussion with your vet about a hypoallergenic food trial, as this product discussion is mostly for dogs with presumed environmental skin allergies (atopic dermatitis, or atopy), or dry skin.
Unfortunately, you can’t fix everything at home, so before you try any at-home remedies or products, ask yourself the following questions:
- Is your dog persistently experiencing moderate to severe itching?
- Is he scratching himself to the point of obviously traumatizing the skin?
- Is he licking his feet to the point of obvious redness?
- Is he licking so much that the hair is stained on his feet or elsewhere?
- Are there open wounds or sores, or does any area of skin seem to be oozing?
- Is he constantly shaking his head or scratching his ears?
If you answer yes to any of these questions, make an appointment with your veterinarian. However, if you would describe your dog’s dry skin as a mild or mild-to-moderate issue, and there are no “yes” checks on the list above, there are safe and effective home remedies that you can use to help your dog be more comfortable. These products fall into four categories: bathing, diet, supplements and targeted relief products.
Bathing Products for Dogs with Dry Skin
The vast majority of the allergens your dog reacts to are actually absorbed through the skin, so weekly bathing may be quite helpful. A moisturizing shampoo for your dog’s dry skin is a good choice, such as Well and Good Oatmeal Shampoo or Oxymed Hypoallergenic Shampoo.
Following the bath, use a gentle moisturizing conditioner, especially if you live in a dry climate. You can also try this leave-in conditioner spray to help detangle hair and maintain good moisture in your dog’s skin and coat. The avocado and olive oils are absorbed into the hair and skin, giving a healthy sheen and supporting skin health.
Diet Products for Dogs with Dry Skin
As mentioned, food allergies are a separate issue for dogs. However, diet choices can be crucial when skin discomfort is a concern. Commercially available diets designed to help with sensitive skin have an ideal balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. An ideal balance of these fatty acids will help enhance and strengthen the skin’s barrier, making it less prone to inflammation. These diets also contain high levels of antioxidants to help fight free radical damage that may hinder the skin’s defenses.
There are a number of very good commercial diets available that are great choices for dogs with mild environmental allergies including Hill’s Science Diet Sensitive Stomach and Skin Adult Dog Food and Purina Pro Plan Focus Sensitive Skin and Stomach Adult Dog Food.
For additional dietary skin support, prescription diets are available from your veterinarian that have been formulated specifically to help nourish skin and strengthen skin’s defenses. These diets have been studied extensively and have been clinically shown to benefit dogs with skin conditions.
Supplements for Dogs with Dry Skin
If you’d rather not change your dog’s diet, fatty acid supplements can be certainly be helpful as well. Keep in mind that if you change to a diet recommended above, you should not need additional supplementation, though it won’t cause harm to give a supplement on top of a dermatological food.
Targeted Relief Products for Dogs with Dry Skin
If your dog has some specific areas that seem especially problematic or itchy but that are not oozing or open (in which case you should take him to the vet), you can try some targeted spot products.
For mild “hot spots,” try Zymox spot relief with hydrocortisone. The hydrocortisone serves as an anti-inflammatory, and the enzymatic nature of the Zymox products creates an environment that does not allow continued growth of bacteria. This comes as either a spray or as a cream. The spray can also be used on feet, if your dog is constantly licking at his paws, whereas the cream may be better for spots on the head/face/neck/body.
[Vetericyn products](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/vetericyn-plus-wound-and-skin-care-for-dogs?cm_mmc=PCH--REF--NBU--CCO--OTH--AQU--Petco--0-- embed_link-_-0) are good for small rashes or mild irritation and are safe for use in cats, horses and even birds. They use hypochlorus acid, which is a compound that is produced in white blood cells to help fight infections.
In addition to the above information, please make sure to keep your dog on a once-a-month flea prevention, such as Advantage or Frontline, even if you don’t see fleas. Dogs who have a flea allergy only need a few fleas to make them itchy, and you may not ever see evidence of them on your pet.