Fish oil can help skin dryness in dogs.
There's a variety of conditions that can cause dry skin in dogs. Non-medical causes include poor diet and overbathing--these are relatively simple to correct. More complex medical causes for dry skin are hypothyroidism and other glandular disorders, allergies and Cushing's syndrome. Take your dog to the veterinarian to rule out medical causes for dry skin. If it gets a clean bill of health, you have several good options for treating dry skin at home.
Puppy Dandruff
Puppies often have dry skin and dandruff, which is quite apparent if the pup has a short, dark coat. This is quite normal and usually corrects itself as the pup grows and its oil glands begin functioning properly. Feed a good-quality, high fat food and avoid over-bathing or conditioning your puppy.
Adult and Senior Dogs
Senior dogs also get dandruff and dry skin, and while weight gain is a concern with senior dogs, foods that are below 10 percent fat are too low. The Iams company recommends food that is at least 10 percent fat and contains omega-3 essential fatty acids. The Purdue Research Foundation's Omega-3 learning site states that dry dog food often contains too much omega-6 fatty acid and too little omega-3. This imbalance can result in dry skin and a dull coat. Feed food that has both types in balance, or talk to your veterinarian about adding a fish oil supplement.
Shampoo
While too much bathing strips a dog's skin of natural oils, some shampoos can help combat dry skin. Look for shampoo that contains antimicrobial agents to remove and treat dandruff, or talk to your veterinarian about prescription shampoo for quelling itchy skin.
Seasonal Causes
If you live in a very arid climate, or tend to keep your home very warm in winter, the dry air may be making you dog's skin dry and itchy. If you notice an increase in dandruff during winter, or your dog is licking and scratching a lot, a humidifier can help. Often it takes a multi-pronged approach to deal with a dog's dry skin. Increasing fat in the diet during winter, along with a humidifier, may help. On the other hand your dog may be spending time in the pool or swimming in the ocean or lake in summer. Both activities can dry out its skin. Rinsing your dog off after each swim can help.
Warning
If the dry skin is accompanied by intense scratching or biting, or if you notice skin discoloration, take your dog to the vet to determine the cause. It can be anything from allergies or mites to an underactive thyroid--conditions which don't respond to home treatments or dietary changes alone.
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