How to Get Rid of Dog Dandruff

Dog Care

Dandruff can be harder to spot on dog breeds with pale fur. Dandruff in dogs is a great deal like dandruff in humans. In this condition, dry skin white flakes accumulate and then fall away. Although this is a normal process, conditions like a poor diet or dry skin can make the condition worse.

Dandruff can be a sign of more serious issues, such as fleas or mites. In many cases, dandruff in dogs can be easily treated with increased attention to hygiene or a higher-quality diet.

What is Dandruff?

Dandruff consists of dead skin cells. While these dead skin cells pile up on the scalp in humans, dogs tend to develop them on their whole bodies. In dogs, dandruff is much more relevant because they do not take a bath or shower as frequently as humans and because of the large areas that may be covered in flakes.

What Causes Dandruff?

Dogs may develop dandruff for several reasons. Typically, dogs in the winter develop dry, flaky skin which may be also itchy at times because of the lack of humidity. Some dogs develop dandruff more than others because they may lack some important oils in their skin.

Others simply develop dandruff because they lack hygiene, they are not bathed or brushed as frequently as they are supposed to. Some dogs are a combination of all of the above.

Type of Dandruff Flakes

Dandruff flakes are small and white or gray in color. They may be especially evident in dogs with dark coats and harder to see in dogs with paler fur. Dogs that are producing a great deal of dandruff will leave it on the furniture and carpets where they have been sitting or lying.

Scratching

Because dandruff is associated with a dry skin condition, a dog who has an issue with dandruff might scratch itself. Although scratching is normal dog behavior, constant scratching may be something that indicates dandruff or an infestation of fleas or mites. Watch your dog to see how often it scratches itself.

Red or Scaly Skin

Dandruff is a skin problem, and it might accompany other skin problems as well. A dog with dandruff might also have red and scaly skin, as it might be irritated from constant scratching. Check your dog’s skin on a regular basis, and make sure that it looks healthy. Red or scaly skin is an indication that your dog is uncomfortable and that something is wrong.

Dog Dandruff Natural Remedies and best treatment

Proper Nutrition Benefits Dogs from the Inside Out

Dog dandruff is usually nutrition-related and diet change. Dogs fed predominantly dry dog food by pet owners may be lacking in hydration and proper nutrition balance.

Essential Oils for Dog Dandruff and Skin Health

How To Get Rid of Dog Dandruff essential oils can help ease the itching

A diet lacking essential fatty acids can also cause dog dandruff. The ratio between Omega-6s and Omega-3s is heavily weighted on the Omega-6 end, due to the routine feeding of corn and grains to poultry and livestock.

What is the Treatment for Dandruff in Dogs?

There are various things owners may do from the comfort of their homes to help their dog’s skin become less flaky. Here are a few tips for how to get rid of dog dandruff.

No Low Humidity

This applies mostly in the winter months when homes become dry from the heat. Investing in a good humidifier may be helpful to your dog’s coat but also to your whole family.

Regular Grooming And Regular Brushing

When you brush your dog you not only help his coat look much better, but you also stimulate the production of oil and help distribute it evenly on your dog’s coat.

Invest In Fatty Acids – Fish Oil Is Best

Fatty acids may work very well when dealing with dry, flaky skin. There are several fatty acid supplements available in pet stores or over the Internet. Some dog foods are also supplemented with omega-3 fatty acids. Read the labels carefully.

How to Get Rid of Dog Dandruff with Baths

Baths in cool water may be helpful but do not overdo it. Usually, every two weeks should be sufficient. Too many baths may strip away the dog’s natural oils in the skin making problems worse. Use a good dog shampoo.

Oatmeal Baths And Shampoos

How To Get Rid of Dog Dandruff oatmeal bath helps healing and itching

Oatmeal shampoos help lock in natural oils while soothing dry, irritated, and itchy skin. Some great oatmeal shampoos can be found in pet stores. Adding some colloidal oatmeal such as Aveeno to the water in the bathtub may also help make a difference.

Lemon/Vinegar

A combination of lemon juice and vinegar may help flaky dogs. This concoction should be mixed on the dog’s healthy skin for a few minutes and rinsed off after about 5 minutes. A nice shampoo should follow to remove the odor.

Prescription Dandruff Shampoo

If your veterinarian finds your dog with a severe case of dandruff, he may prescribe some medicated shampoo or other special products made especially for dogs. Don’t use human shampoos.

Benefits

Store-bought treatments can be costly, while home remedies for the coat health use items that are usually readily available.

Instructions For The First Signs Of Dandruff

Supply your dog with clean, fresh water and a balanced diet that includes the necessary fats and oils. Try adding 1 tsp. of flaxseed oil per every 25 lbs. to your dog’s food daily to provide Omega-3 fatty acids.

How To Get Rid of Dog Dandruff lemon and vinegar bath

Also, try diluted cider vinegar or lemon juice: wet his coat and, avoiding his eyes, massage one part vinegar/lemon juice to three parts water into his coat, leave in for 5 minutes before rinsing, and then wash with a gentle shampoo.

Regular bathing can help reduce or prevent dandruff.

Considerations

Don’t bathe your dog too often because it will wash away natural oils in his coat that keep his skin healthy—read the shampoo label or consult your vet to find out about how often you should bathe your specific breed of dog.

Warning – Severe Cases

Consult your veterinarian if your dog has any rashes, sores, bald patches, or skin discoloration that may signify ailments requiring a vet’s attention.

Final Thoughts on How to Get Rid of Dog Dandruff

Humans are not the only ones exhibiting unsightly snowflakes on their heads. Rather, dogs will join in as well, even though they may care less about having a few flakes here and there on their coats. While all it takes in humans is to use a special shampoo, dogs may require different treatments even though the causes of dandruff remain basically the same.

Pet dandruff is certainly annoying to deal with, especially if you own a dog that is dark brown or black. Even though dandruff is not harmful, should your dog’s skin not improve, it is a good idea to report it to a veterinarian so as to exclude other medical conditions, fungal infections, and skin infections and initiate a proper treatment plan when looking at how to get rid of dog dandruff for good.

My Aussie Service Dog