Dog Lovers Newsletter August 05, 2014 TODAYS FEATURE Doggie Dandruff - What You Should Know If youve ever had dandruff or dry skin, you know how uncomfortable it is. But did you know your dog can also suffer from dandruff and dry skin? Dry doggie skin can be a sign that your dog is not getting enough nutrients from his food. It can even mean he has malnutrition! So dont let it go unchecked. Another term for dry skin is seborrhea. Check out this article to learn more about seborrhea, the causes and what you can do to treat it. Your dog cant tell you when his skin is bothering him, but he can show you. Dry skin is itchy and you will probably notice your dog is scratching more than usual. He may even whine, whimper, or appear uncomfortable and fidgety. Check your dogs fur, too: dry skin often means unhealthy skin, and you can see the effects of that in your dogs coat. Is his fur dull and lifeless? Are there bald patches? If you look even closer, you might be able to see actual skin flakes. All of this might be due to dry skin! Sometimes all you need to do to help your dogs dry skin problem is to groom him more. Think about the last time you brushed your dogs fur. If you cant remember when you last did this, it means its time for a grooming! Brushing your dog stimulates the oil glands in his skin, causing them to release natural healthy oils that add shine to his fur and moisture to his skin. If your dogs hair is matted, brushing it can help air circulate to the skin and root of the fur, eliminating excess moisture and discouraging bacterial and fungal growth. Your dog needs grooming even if he has short fur. You might not need to do it as often, but short hair needs to be healthy and shiny too! Your dog’s skin and fur gathers dirt, grime, and other unpleasant things over the course of the day. Brushing him doesnt only help his fur; it also helps remove the gunk that you can’t see with the naked eye. You can also buy special shampoos and oils which are designed to be rubbed into your dogs skin to help moisturize it, just like we would do with lotion. Before using anything like this on your dog though, make sure with your vet first that its OK! If you would prefer to make your own, here’s a recipe for homemade dog shampoo. In my opinion some of the commercial ones are really good but this is a good alternative if you are running low or would prefer to DIY. Go to Homemade Dog Shampoo Most importantly, you should make sure your dog is getting the nutrition he needs. Dry skin can mean that his diet is not giving him enough of certain minerals and vitamins necessary for skin health. Specifically, you want your dogs food to contain good sources of omega fatty acids. (Go here for some information about common omega fatty acids that you might find helpful.) Ensuring your dog gets enough fatty acids is easy. You can give him supplements to make sure he gets enough, or you can feed him a higher-quality dog food that will naturally help moisturize his skin. Remember, a dog with healthy skin is a happy dog! With warm regards, Dr. Debra Dog Tips TODAYS PET TIP Territorial Aggression Territorial aggression is not only expressed toward another dog but can also be expressed toward people. The dog attempts to protect his resources, mates and offspring against infiltrators and potential usurpers. The territory generally includes the house and yard plus abutting areas (e.g. sidewalks) that the dog regularly patrols and any family vehicles in which he routinely rides. When dogs show excessive territorial behavior only on their perceived property, but do not respond aggressively to strangers in neutral territory, territorial aggression is the likely diagnosis. © Copyright 1999-2014 PetPlace, All Rights Reserved
Posted on: Wed, 06 Aug 2014 01:07:12 +0000
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