You must have noticed your puppy’s dry skin and then came to Google to find out more about it and look for a possible solution.
Being a puppy parent myself, I am sure you want your puppy’s skin to return to its healthy state, don’t worry I got you.
My puppy has had dry skin in the past and as usual, I consulted my vet and the dog Reddit groups which also have vets.
I learned a lot during that period and I would be sharing them with you.
Symptoms of puppy dry skin
Chewing or biting at the skin
Itchiness and scratching
Scaly skin
Their hair may begin to fall off and you may notice some bald spots
You may notice red moist areas of inflamed skin, those are called hotspots.
Flaky skin/dandruff
Scabs on the skin
Causes of your puppy’s dry skin
They are many causes of dry skin in your puppy. Although dry dry skin may not seem like a big deal, it could be a sign/symptom of diseases that would harm your puppy.
Parasites
Parasites are one of the potential causes of puppy dry skin. Some parasites feed on the skin, which would cause sores the skin, and damage to the skin could affect the sebaceous gland.
The sebaceous gland is responsible for the secretion of an oily substance on the skin and when it is affected it could reduce the rate at which it produces that oily substance, thereby making your puppy’s skin dry.
Some parasites like mites live in the sebaceous gland, imagine the damage they could cause there.
Dry, flaky skin could be a sign that demodectic mites, or sarcoptic mites which cause mage are present in your puppy’s skin. It could also mean that your puppy has lice.
Dry air
low humidity in the air is one of the most common causes of puppy dry skin.
Dry air can cause your puppy’s skin to lose moisture and your puppy’s skin needs moisture to maintain its normal healthy state.
I would recommend you use a humidifier if you notice your puppy is mildly itching with some skin flaking during the winter or if you stay in an environment with dry air.
Asides from your puppy, the rest of the family would benefit from the humidifier.
Systemic disorder
Most times dry skin is nothing serious but in some cases, it is a sign of a much larger disease.
Cushing and hyperthyroidism are the two main diseases associated with dry skin in dogs.
Cushing disease is a condition in which your pup’s body would produce too much cortisol, a hormone related to the body’s stress response while hyperthyroidism is when too much thyroid hormone is produced in your pup’s body.
Allergies
As a puppy parent, you should know that dogs also have allergies too which could be from the food they eat or from the environment, the allergy could also be seasonal.
Things like pollen, dust, feathers, grass, animal dander, grain, and flea saliva could cause allergies that lead to dry skin.
If the allergy is left untreated, the dry skin could progress into redness, inflammation, and secondary skin infection.
Nutritional issues
Your puppy’s dry skin can be caused by a deficiency of some nutrients.
If your pup’s food is not providing enough omega fatty acid to maintain its skin then your puppy would develop dry skin.
Most dog foods have an AAFCO statement which indicates that effort has been made to ensure that your puppy’s food contains all the nutrients that your puppy needs, if the food you feeding your pup doesn’t have the statement, stop feeding them that.
Infection
Bacterial and fungal infections are also causes of dry skin and other skin-related problems in dogs.
Yeast infection and ringworms are one of the most common in puppies, this infection could be a symptom of a larger problem which is why I advise you to take your pup to the vet if dry skin persists.
Giving too many baths
If you give your puppy baths a lot, they are more prone to dry skin. Bathing your puppy strips out oil from their skin so, you should not do it frequently.
Breed-specific skin conditions
Some breeds of dogs are more prone to skin conditions than others.
If your puppy is a fast-growing breed, Siberian husky, or an Alaskan malamute, he/she is more prone to a skin condition called zinc-responsive dermatosis.
If your puppy is a hairless breed like the Chinese crested puppy, he/she is prone to a variety of skin conditions.
Harsh grooming products
Some grooming products like puppy shampoos and conditioners could be harsh on your puppy and strip out all the natural oils in their skin which would lead to dry skin.
One of the reasons I use an All Natural shampoo is to prevent puppy dry skin.
Diagnosis for puppy dry skin
If your puppy’s dry skin persists and lasts up to a week, your vet might be able to recognize the cause by looking at your pup’s skin or he/she might take part of their skin for an examination.
Treatment for puppy’s dry skin
The treatment that would be given to your puppy for his/her dry skin would depend on the cause of your puppy’s dry skin.
When you take your puppy to the vet, his/she would first carry out a diagnosis to determine the cause of your puppy’s dry skin.
If your puppy’s dry skin is caused by food allergies, your vet might recommend a food trial to find out the cause of the allergy, you have to know that there is no reliable test for diagnosing food allergens. Your vet may also recommend a hypoallergenic diet of some allergy pills.
Some common foods that could cause allergies in your puppy are soy, wheat, beef, dairy, eggs, and chicken.
For environmental allergies, there is a diagnostic test for them but there is no cure.
In that case, one of the best things to do is to avoid the allergen and control the symptoms. Your vet may also administer immunotherapy.
If your puppy’s dry skin is caused by a bacterial or fungal infection, an anti-bacterial or antifungal treatment would be administered.
If your puppy’s dry skin is caused by nutritional deficiencies, your vet would recommend a change of food or diet and may even prescribe some supplements.
If systemic diseases like hyperthyroidism or Cushing disease are the causes of your pet’s dry skin, your vet would focus on managing the symptoms since the diseases cannot be cured.
Natural remedies for puppy dry skin
Omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acid supplement
You should give your puppy an omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid supplement to boost his skin and coat health.
You should take note that not all supplements are the same in quality so, you should use supplements with the National animal supplement council quality seal.
Humidifier
Use a humidifier to solve the problem of dry air in your home so, your puppy’s skin can get better.
Coconut oil
Some puppy parents have reported that rubbing coconut oil on their pup’s skin helped the dry skin.
Coconut oil can be used as a deep treatment for cracked and dry skin, replenishing moisture and strengthening the skin barrier to retain it.
Chamomile tea bath
Chamomile has been used for centuries as a cure for dry, irritated, sensitive skin.
While there’s not much research into the specific benefits of chamomile for the skin, science suggests the flower contains several chemical compounds that have anti-oxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties.
If your dogs have a few dry patches you can apply the tea to does parts but if their whole body has dry skin, you should put a couple of tea bags into hot water and let it get warm before using it to bathe your puppy.
DIY oatmeal shampoo
Oatmeal has anti-inflammatory properties that would help treat irritation and relieve your puppy’s skin.
Oatmeal also helps lock moisture in your pet’s skin by forming a protective barrier on the skin.
To apply this method:
Grind your oatmeal to a powder-like form
Mix it with water to form a paste
The water should be lukewarm and not hot
Apply the paste on your puppy’s skin and let it sit for 10-15 minutes.
Rinse it off with lukewarm water
You could decide to use coconut oil or any dog-safe moisturizer to moisturize his/her skin afterward.
Frequently asked questions about puppy dry skin
Why does my puppy have dry skin and dandruff?
Most times dry skin in puppies progresses to dandruff and dry skin is caused by a lot of things as I have mentioned in this post.
If your puppy has dandruff, you should visit your vet.
Why does my dog have dry, flaky skin, and scabs?
This could be caused by different things like allergies, infections, parasites, and genetic problems.
You should see your vet, he/she would be able to determine the cause.
Why does my dog have flaky skin and is losing hair?
This is mostly caused by systemic disorders such as Cushing’s disease and hyperthyroidism.
You should see your vet to confirm.
Is it normal for puppies to have flaky skin?
Because your puppy’s sebaceous glands are still developing they are more prone to flaky skin but I suggest you monitor them.
If you notice any other symptoms or the dry skin persists, you should see your vet.
How often should you bathe a puppy with dry skin?
This would depend on the cause of your puppy’s dry skin and your vet would be in the best position to answer this.
What does dry skin look like in puppies?
