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Questions
- Can Dogs Get Dandruff?
- Why Do Dogs Have Dandruff?
- Signs and Symptoms of Dandruff in Dogs
- Which Dogs Breeds Are Prone to Dandruff?
- Treating Dandruff in Dogs
If you have ever had dry and flaky skin after using the wrong kind of shampoo, then you’re likely to know the irritation dandruff can cause in pets too. A dog’s coat withstands a lot, from changes in temperatures to being dragged through bushes and being coated in mud. Not to mention fleas, so just like our scalps, several different things can cause dandruff in dogs. We have all the information you need on how to spot it and how to stop it in its tracks and get your pooch back to looking and feeling their best.
Can Dogs Get Dandruff?
Dogs can get dandruff! Dandruff is when dry, flaky bits of dead skin shed away and will often raise to the surface of your dog’s coat or get trapped in their fur and make it lose the usual healthy sheen it has. As it’s an issue with the skin, which is often caused by external factors, all dogs can get dandruff for several reasons.
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Why Do Dogs Have Dandruff?
There is not one reason to why dogs may have dandruff, as it’s almost always a secondary symptom to another condition. While dandruff is usually caused from dry skin, it’s important to understand why their skin is dry to begin with and reviewing their diet is a great start.
Dogs with sensitives and allergies from their diet could be the cause of dandruff, but it could also be caused by stressed. Cortisol is a hormone level that regulates dogs stress levels, weight levels and regulates their blood sugar levels. High cortisol levels can highlight many clinical signs, particularly dandruff.
Unhealthy Diets
Dogs who struggle to get the right nutrients from their diets are more prone to suffering from itchy and flaky skin. A balanced and complete diet is needed to maintain good health and some diets may not help to support a healthy coat. Each dog is different and need tailored diets, but not having food that fulfils all their needs can cause irritation and a dull, lacklustre, coat or flaky skin.
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If your pooch has a sensitive stomach, then switching to a hypoallergenic diet can help. Many dogs are intolerant to specific proteins or grains, so changing their diet can restore their glossy coat once more.
Raw feeding is a great way to make such your beloved pet is getting all the vitamins and minerals they need for a healthy coat and skin. Safely feeding raw dog food is less likely to trigger any intolerances and without being cooked in high heat. Meaning your pup can access all the extra goodness available in the diet.
Under or Over Grooming
While grooming is a basic need for all dogs, there is a balance to it and under or over grooming can both cause issues. By not grooming your four-legged friend enough, dead skin is allowed to sit on the surface of the skin and trap moisture. Causing the skin beneath it to become irritated and the coat to fill with the dead skin that needs to fall away. This is when your pup can appear irritated and itchy trying to remove that dead skin themselves.
Over grooming is when either we or our dogs themselves groom themselves too often and become sore. Over grooming can lead to lots of damaged and dead skin falling away, resulting into the irritation of dandruff.
Seasonal Allergies
If you only notice that your dog gets dandruff during specific months of the year, it could be related to allergies. Many pups suffer from hay fever just like we do and that can cause skin irritations. Pollen allergies in dogs are quite common, and they can flare up sore and inflamed skin that causes dander to become loose and fall away from the skin.
Sometimes simply giving your pup an antihistamine can help with their skin and their seasonal allergies if they’re quite mild however, if left to develop they can become quite nasty and sore.
Can Dandruff Cause Hair Loss in Dogs?
In some situations, dandruff can cause some hair loss. When small patches of skin flake away, the most common cause of hair loss from dandruff is caused by a dog trying to alleviate the irritation it creates. The itching and over grooming of those areas can lead to patches of missing fur so you may notice their fur starting to thin where their dandruff is the worst.
Can Fleas Cause Dandruff in Dogs?
Fleas are another common cause of dandruff. An infestation of fleas causes a dog to become itchy so they tend to scratch at themselves a lot which can dry skin out and cause it to flake. The skin underneath can be left sore and reddened. Some dogs also have allergies to flea bites and allergic reactions to fleas can also cause skin to flare up and dandruff to make an appearance.
A robust flea prevention plan can help to keep these little beasties away and keep your pup’s coat looking shiny and healthy with no dandruff.
Signs and Symptoms of Dandruff in Dogs
Signs of dandruff in dogs can depend on their coat type and colour. If your pup has white fur, it’s unlikely it will be as visible of pooches with a darker coat. By taking a brush through their fur, the flakes of dead skin will be hiding in there. Signs of dandruff in dogs include:
Visible flaky skin on the surface of the coat
Excessive itching
Raw and inflamed skin
Scabs on the skin from itching
Hair loss
Severe cases of dandruff can lead to skin infections so the sooner you spot it, the faster you can treat it.
Which Dogs Breeds Are Prone to Dandruff?
All different dogs are prone to dandruff however there are a few breeds that seem to be more likely to get it than others. Cocker Spaniels, Golden Retrievers and Yorkshire Terriers are among some of the most common breeds to suffer from it. Many long-coated dogs can get dry or oily skin which results in dandruff.
Short, coated dogs are not that much better off as breeds like the Shar Pei who are prone to allergies are also frequent sufferers of dandruff.
Treating Dandruff in Dogs
Treating dandruff in dogs depends on the cause to begin with. Any skin infections may need antibiotics to clear up and parasites will need a parasite treatment. If there are environmental factors causing dandruff like low humidity or even just the weather drying out their skin too much, you can find nourishing shampoos to help restore moisture to the skin. Johnson's Manuka Honey Shampoo is great for nourishing and conditioning both the coat and skin and leaving it healthy.
If your pup is suffering from seasonal allergies like pollen getting stuck in their coat then a medicated bath with Johnsons’s Medicated Shampoo will help treat the itch, wash out any flaky skin and soothe and soreness.
To soothe your pup’s flaky skin and for all your other doggy necessities, check out our latest stock in-store and online.