Itchy and Scratchy

Many dogs suffer from extremely dry skin during the colder, drier winter months. My adopted baby, Athena, has an issue with this to a horrible degree. Her skin becomes so dry and uncomfortable for her, she licks and chews certain areas to the point of drawing blood. I feel absolutely horrible for her- I remember how bad it was to have chicken pox or poison ivy and how much of a relief it was when my conditions could be soothed.

I've been investigating the best ways to help dry skinned pups deal with and overcome their itchy conditions and this is what I found:

First, do not bathe your pet too often. Their coats should be clean, but over washing will only irritate their sensitive skin more. Water and winter don't mix very well for dogs, as is the same for humans. However, when your dog does need a bath, only use shampoos formulated for dogs. Humans and dogs have different pH levels and so human shampoos can be harsh on their skin, only worsening the issue. Look for formulas that offer extra moisturizing elements to help add moisture to their dry skin. Also shampoos with flea killing ingredients may also help fight itching due to fleas.

Brushing daily will also help to remove dead skin and hair, soothing your pet. Daily brushing can help control itchy dry skin immensely.

Finally, healthy skin reflects an overall healthy lifestyle. To help give your pet itch relief and a shiny, healthy coat, use high quality food and add fatty supplements such as oil to their food.

If these steps don't help soothe your pet, the dry skin may be a byproduct of a larger condition. Allergies, infections and parasites maybe why your pet is scratching constantly. If their condition doesn't improve with dry skin treatment, contact your vet and schedule an appointment to look for an overlying issue. My cat, Purdue had had issues with biting and scratching. We treated her for dry skin as stated above but her symptoms didn't improve. We took her to the vet and found that she had an allergy to fleas. Not only did she need to be treated for fleas, but also required special medicine to help fight the allergy when she was bitten by fleas.

All of us want our pets to be happy and healthy. Little steps like using a moisturizing shampoo or adding oil to food can help us insure that our furry friends will be comfortable and happy all winter long.