How to Help Your Dog Combat Dry Skin During the Winter

Does it seem like your dog has been itching like crazy lately? Scratching just about everywhere they can reach? Our dogs can suffer the same fate as us when the winter months roll around: dry skin. Itching, redness and flakes can all come with the winter weather and can be a nuisance for you and your dog. But your dog doesn’t have to succumb to the itch all winter long!

Dry skin in dogs is a normal side effect of the climate changes that take place during the winter months. With the drop in temperatures outside, the increase of heat inside and low humidity, a dog's skin - and coat - suffer from moisture being pulled from the air. Symptoms of dry skin in dogs can take the form of:

• Flaky skin

• Itchy skin

• Scaly skin

• Red skin

• Cracked skin

• Hair loss

• Inflammation

Not all dogs with dry skin will show the same symptoms. Some dogs can show just one of these symptoms while others may have several at a time. This is because the condition can be caused by various factors, including environmental conditions, allergies or a lack of essential fatty acids in their diet.

For some dogs, the cause of dry skin can just be chalked up to the lack of moisture in the air and the drop of temperatures outside; however there are other common factors that have a huge impact on your dog’s dry skin.

An increase of staying indoors can actually aid in dry skin for some dogs. Allergens can have an impact on your dog’s skin, which come into play when everyone is cooped up inside for most of the winter months. Your home may be harboring more indoor allergens than you think, leaving your dog more vulnerable to the exposure of them and causing allergic reactions in your dog’s skin. Certain day-to-day products can be the culprit of this too, including fabric softeners, harsh cleaning chemicals and plants. 

Allergies are extremely common in dogs and can manifest themselves in the skin. Your dog can suffer from food allergies and environmental allergies such as pollen, house dust mites, flea saliva or animal dander. If allergies are left untreated in your dog, it can result in dry skin, itching, inflammation and secondary skin infections. 

There is such a thing as over-bathing. Instinct may tell you to bathe your dog more frequently to help keep their skin clear and moisturized, but it can actually do the opposite. Over-bathing can remove natural oils, drying out their skin even more. Your go-to shampoos and bathing products can also cause further irritation if used too much on your dog’s skin. Avoiding too much grooming and bathing will help your dog’s skin to maintain natural moisture and oils in the winter. To help their dry skin, oatmeal-based shampoos are a great option.

A poor quality diet can result in your dog becoming deficient in certain nutrients. And if they aren’t getting the proper nutrients through their food, it can lead to poor coat quality and dry skin. Your dog requires high-quality nutrients to maintain a healthy coat and skin such as fatty acids like omegas 3 and 6. 

Artificial heat during the winter actually dries the skin out more. When the air is dry and lacking humidity, it takes away from your dog’s skin ability to stay flexible, soft and comfortable. Maintaining a balance between keeping your house warm but not too dry is important for everyone’s skin during the winter. 

Luckily for pet parents, there are lots of preventative actions to take to help reduce dry skin in your dog. 

Keeping your dog hydrated can help moisturize from the inside out. Sometimes we forget about this simple action that can really help during the winter. You can always add to your dog’s moisture intake by adding water or nutritious bone broth to your dog’s meals. Water flushes toxins through the body and when your dog is drinking water, it flushes toxins out through the kidneys. With no water running through your dog to flush toxins, their body will absorb them.

Brushing your dog frequently helps to remove dead hair, stimulate blood circulation and keep the skin healthy. It also helps to stimulate and distribute the skin’s natural oils to form a protective and moisturizing barrier. Brushing your dog at least once a day to remove skin flakes and loose hair can help against dry skin and is a great preventative to keep it away.

Adding fatty acid supplements to your dog’s diet can be beneficial to dogs with dry skin and allergies. Omega fatty acids have oils that help improve your dog’s skin and coat by keeping the natural oils present in healthy amounts. These fatty acids can also act as anti-inflammatories and reduce the intensity of allergens . Make sure you talk to your veterinarian to see if adding Omega fatty acids to your dog’s diet will be beneficial before you go out and buy them. 

Using a humidifier inside can help to counteract the dryness caused by winter air and your home’s heating system. Since you can’t control the humidity (or lack thereof) outdoors, you can certainly up the humidity indoors to help battle the lack of moisture that is being pulled from winter and your heating system. Humidifiers are a great way to help balance out your house if it becomes too dry from the heaters. 

Whether your dog’s dry skin is from the winter weather or a factor that leads to other health issues, it’s always best to use your veterinarian as your main resource when it comes to treatments and diagnosing. Your dog doesn’t have to deal with the itch, flakes and redness all winter, so remember that simple things, such as hydration and some fresh air, can help your dog battle their dry skin this winter.

Winter can really put a damper on things, especially outside time for your dog. Despite the temps and the frigid air, it can be beneficial to let your dog experience some nice cold, fresh air - which is where we can come in! Let your daily dog walker from Going Mutts Pet Services take your pup for the walk they need to let out energy while you’re away from the house. We take all winter precautions to make sure your dog has a fun, comfortable and enjoyable walk with us! For more information, drop us an email at info@goingmuttspetservices.com or visit our website to fill out our contact form.

Sources:

https://www.vetniquelabs.com/blogs/vets-corner/7-tips-to-help-your-dog-s-dry-skin-in-winter

https://news.orvis.com/dogs/why-is-my-dog-itchy-in-the-winter