Dandruff dog treatment: Dog Dandruff: Facts, Prevention & Treatment

Dog Dandruff: Facts, Prevention & Treatment

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• Environmental Allergies
• Skin Care
• healthcare

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You probably know a few humans who deal with dandruff, but did you know dogs get dandruff, too? Maybe you have noticed your pup scratching more often or have seen white flakes on his bedding. Besides irritated skin, these signs can also point to a skin condition called walking dandruff.

How do you know when dog dandruff warrants a veterinarian visit? Since the signs of canine dandruff can be very similar to other skin issues, it’s important to know what to watch out for and the possible treatment options to consider.

The Facts About Dog Dandruff

Dandruff is the presence of dead skin cells on your dog’s coat. Depending on the color of your dog’s fur it may be difficult to actually see the flakes, but they are often visible when they hop off the couch or put their head in your lap. There are many ways a dog’s skin can get irritated. From excessive licking to a nutritional issue, the root cause of dandruff can sometimes be difficult to identify.

The first thing to ask yourself is whether you notice the dandruff all over your pup’s coat or just in a particular area. Irritated skin in one concentrated spot could be due to a reaction to something your dog came in contact with, or it could be a more serious problem like an infection or parasite. Once you notice dandruff, consider visiting your vet for help. If you notice additional signs such as itching, reddened skin irritation, or scaly patches of hair loss then the best advice would be to consult with your vet immediately for further help. Since skin issues can have genetic, environmental, nutritional or parasitic causes, sometimes several different treatment options have to be explored.

Preventing & Treating Dandruff

There are a few things you can do to prevent dog dandruff and other skin problems. Trupanion recommends that pet parents start by grooming their dogs regularly. Removing matted hair leaves less of a breeding ground for parasites, and regular brushing encourages you to spend a few minutes checking your dog’s skin and coat to catch any problems early on. You should also look for seeds, burrs and sharp plants or objects they may have picked up on a walk.

Your vet might suggest bathing your dog more frequently to prevent dandruff. Wag! advises using a specially formulated dog dandruff shampoo and making sure you dry your pet thoroughly after their bath.

If simple preventative measures like grooming and bathing are not ridding your dog of dandruff, discuss special food options or allergy tests with your vet. They can help you find a dog food with omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E that promote a healthy coat and immune system.

The Difference Between Dandruff and Walking Dandruff

A more serious possible cause for your dog’s flaky, itchy skin is a condition called walking dandruff. MedVet clarifies that walking dandruff is a parasitic infection called cheyletiellosis that is caused by mites. If you notice your dog scratching, licking or biting their skin, check the area for hair loss, redness and scaly patches.

Walking dandruff is extremely contagious. The mites can easily spread to other pets in your household like cats and rabbits, and in about 20 percent of cases they can also affect humans, MedVet notes.

It is best to get your dog to the vet as soon as you notice they have dandruff coupled with redness or scaling. Unfortunately, there is no quick fix for walking dandruff. Your vet will likely administer a topical treatment called a dip that coats your dog’s fur in a mite-killing medicine. Dips and other treatments may need to be repeated once or twice every week for up to six weeks. You should also bring any other household pets to the vet for mite treatment, and you may need to treat your home with a pesticide designed for killing mites and fleas.

No one likes an itchy and uncomfortable pup. Once their dandruff or other skin issues are addressed, hopefully you and your dog can enjoy more time doing the things you love, itch-free.

Author

Chrissie Klinger

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Dealing with Dog Dandruff | Animal Clinic of Woodruff, Spartanburg, SC

If your dog has been especially itchy this winter, it could be a sign of dog dandruff (or seborrhetic dermatitis). Just like in humans, winter can be a tough time for a dog’s skin because of the low humidity in the air, especially in breeds that are more susceptible to dandruff.

What Is Dog Dandruff?

Dandruff is a skin disorder that causes itchy, flaky, red skin. It often affects a dog’s back, face and sides. At Animal Clinic of Woodruff, we see a lot of dogs with dandruff.

Common signs of dog dandruff include:

• Whitish scales left behind on their sleeping areas 
• Redness
• An odor to the skin
• Itching or discomfort
• Hair loss

What Causes Dog Dandruff?

Any type of dog can get canine dandruff, but certain breeds like Terriers, Hounds, Spaniels, Labs and Retrievers are more susceptible to cases of dandruff. Dog’s have glands that produce an oil called sebum. This oil helps keep your dog’s skin moisturized, but when those glands produce too much sebum, an imbalance sets in and dandruff can occur. There are two kinds of seborrhetic dermatitis:

• Oily seborrhea
• Dry seborrhea

Your dog can have one, both, or some combination of the two.

Treatments for Dog Dandruff

If your dog has moderate to severe symptoms, we recommend bringing your dog into Animal Clinic of Woodruff first for an evaluation, as there are many possible underlying issues that could be going on, and each has its own treatment protocol. Usually, dandruff is a secondary symptom of another underlying condition or a skin problem. Those issues could include allergies, a skin infection, an immune-related disease or endocrine disorders.

If your dog has a mild case of dandruff, then there are a few home remedies that you can try.

1. Keep your dog’s coat brushed. When you brush your dog’s coat regularly, you distribute the natural oils in your dog’s skin that help lubricate and massage his skin. This can help calm the surface of the skin. Make this a normal part of your dog’s routine.
2. Add a humidifier to their home. Just like in humans, the colder, drier months can take a toll on a dog’s skin. Keep a humidifier running, especially where your dog sleeps. Increasing the moisture in the air increases the moisture on your dog’s skin, which can in turn calm or prevent dandruff.
3. Wash with dog anti-dandruff shampoo. Have you heard of the benefits of oatmeal baths for humans (especially little ones)? The same benefits go for your pet’s bath, especially when dandruff is an issue. Find a dog shampoo that has soothing oatmeal or other anti-dandruff ingredients. These shampoos help to soothe, moisturize and calm your dog’s skin. (Don’t use human shampoos, as the pH is different and can make the situation worse.)
4. Consider changing your dog’s diet. First, be sure you’re feeding your dog healthy food made for dogs. And don’t change up their diet too much without consulting a veterinarian first. If our team at Animal Clinic of Woodruff has diagnosed your dog with food allergies, then you’ll want to make sure to select a dog food that avoids that ingredient. Simply removing that trigger food from your dog’s diet can have a big impact on his overall comfort when it comes to dandruff. Plus, choosing a dog food filled with the right nutrients also promotes healthy skin and fur. It’s a “win-win” all around for your dog!

Contact Animal Clinic of Woodruff

These simple changes can have a big impact on your dog’s comfort when a mild case of dandruff sets in. If your dog seems to have a moderate to severe case of dandruff, then don’t hesitate to set up an appointment with us at Animal Clinic of Woodruff. We’ll assess the issue and create a treatment plan that’s just right for your dog.

Dandruff in dogs: causes and treatment

Surely among your friends there are those who have or had a problem with dandruff on the head, did you know that this is also a common phenomenon in dogs? You may have noticed that the pet began to itch more often, and white flakes appeared on the coat. In addition to skin irritation, these signs can also indicate a condition called “stray dandruff”.

Does dandruff in a dog require a visit to the veterinarian? External symptoms can be similar to other skin problems, so it’s important to know what to look out for and what to do if this problem occurs.

Dog dandruff: basic facts

Dandruff is the presence of dead skin cells on the dog’s coat. Depending on the coat color, these scales can be difficult to see. Often they become noticeable when the dog jumps off the couch or puts its head on the owner’s lap.

Skin irritation in dogs can vary. Sometimes the root cause of dandruff is difficult to pinpoint: it could be excessive licking or eating problems.

Attention should be paid to the localization of dandruff – over the entire surface of the coat or in a certain area. Irritation in a particular area may be due to a skin reaction to contact with an external irritant, or the presence of a more serious problem, such as infection or parasites.

If your dog has severe dandruff, seek help from a veterinarian. If your pet has other symptoms, such as itching, redness, or scaly bald patches, contact your veterinarian immediately. Since skin problems can have genetic, environmental, nutritional, or parasitic causes, several different options for the problem and its treatment must be considered.

How to get rid of dandruff in dogs

Pet owners are advised to start with regular dog grooming. Removing matted hair leaves parasites with less breeding ground. Regular brushing allows you to monitor the condition of the dog’s skin and coat and detect possible problems earlier. During the inspection, it is necessary to remove seeds, thorns and sharp fragments of plants, as well as any foreign objects that could get stuck in the pet’s coat during the walk.

How to cure dandruff in a dog? Your veterinarian may recommend bathing your pet more frequently to help prevent dandruff. Wag! recommends using a specially formulated dog dandruff shampoo and thoroughly drying the dog’s coat after bathing.

If simple preventive measures such as grooming and bathing do not help to rid the dog of dandruff, you need to put it on a special diet and take tests prescribed by a doctor. A specialist can help you choose dog food with omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E, which contribute to the health of the coat and immune system.

Canine cheyletiellosis, or “walking dandruff”

A more serious cause of flaky and itchy skin in dogs can be a condition called cheyletiellosis. MedVet clarifies that “stray dandruff” is a parasitic infection caused by the cheyletiella mite. If your dog itches, licks excessively, or bites, check the area for bald patches, redness, and scaly patches.

Walking dandruff is extremely contagious. Ticks can be easily transmitted to other pets in the home, such as cats and rabbits. In about 20% of cases, they can also affect people, notes MedVet.

If your pet’s dandruff is accompanied by redness and flaking, it is best to take it to a veterinarian. There is no quick solution to this problem. Your doctor will likely prescribe topical treatments for external parasites.

Treatments may need to be repeated 1-2 times per week for 6 weeks. You should also take all other pets to the veterinarian for tick treatment and possibly treat the home with drugs designed to kill external parasites.

No owner will like a dog with a lot of dandruff. But once dandruff and other skin problems are gone, the whole family can still spend a lot of time with their pet. And no scratching!

See also:

Why does my dog ​​itch?