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Dog Dandruff

Dog dandruff is the white flakes that appear on your dog's coat. It is usually not difficult to treat using natural home remedies.

Yes - dogs can get those unsightly, annoying tiny white flakes too! Just like people, dog dandruff is merely an accumulation of dried, dead skin cells and it is actually a rather common condition in dogs. Our dog's skin is constantly replacing old cells with new ones. However, when this skin-replacement cycle is out of sync, dandruff will appear on the dog's coat, mostly around the neck, the back and the rump.

Causes of Dog Dandruff

Dog Dandruff

There are many possible causes for dogs to have dandruff. The most common ones (and the easiest ones to fix) are:

  • Poor diet (especially fatty acid deficiency)
  • Low humidity in the air
  • Inadequate grooming
  • Inadequate exercise

However, sometimes dog dandruff is caused by some underlying physical health problems. For example, hormonal imbalance (such as hypothyroidism) can lead to dry skin; and diseases that cause the dog to lose a lot of bodily fluid through excessive urination or defecation will also result in dryness of the skin, causing dandruff to appear. Such diseases include:

Dog dandruff may also be caused by some sort of skin irritation. Skin irritation usually will speed up the skin reproduction rate, causing dandruff to form. One common skin irritant is a mite that lives on the outermost layer of the skin. This mite is minute and appears as a white speck if put on black paper. It is called "cheyletiella mite" and since it moves around and looks like dandruff, it is commonly called "walking dandruff".

Other skin parasites can also cause dandruff in dogs. For example, fleas can cause dandruff over the hips, whereas scabies causes dandruff on the dog's ears and the elbows.

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Natural Remedies for Dog Dandruff

If you can rule out that the dandruff is caused by some underlying health problems, then try the following to improve your dog's skin condition:

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

As a dietary supplement, flaxseed oil can be added to your dog's food to provide omega-3 fatty acids which are essential for rich healthy coat in dogs. Other sources of omega-3 fatty acids include fish oil, and pumpkin seeds.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is an antioxidant and can help give your dog a healthy and shiny coat without dandruff. (Dosage: 5-10 mg per pound of body weight, daily)

Here is an excellent commercial product that can make your dog's coat shine:

Dr. Harvey's Health and Shine for Dogs 90 ct.

This formula is a combination of borage oil, flaxseed oil, fish oil and natural Vitamin E. This combination of oils is the perfect balance of the Omega 3-6-9's and contains the essential fatty acids needed for maximum health and shiny coat.

Herbs

Herbs that are good for dog's skin include oat, aloe vera, green tea, echinacea (or goldenseal).

Here is a natural shampoo that contains these herbs and more:

Doc Ackerman's Herbal Colloidal Oatmeal Shampoo 20 oz.

This shampoo can be used for itching, dryness, dandruff, and certain types of dermatitis such as hot spots. It is also excellent for routine bathing to help control body odors.

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Prevention of Dog Dandruff

Natural Diet

Feed your dog a natural, preferably home-prepared diet. Use tonic herbs on a regular basis to detox and strengthen the immune system. (Please refer to our page on Dog Skin Irritations on this topic.)

Regular Grooming

Regular brushing and grooming can help distribute the oils on the dog's skin and coat. Get into the habit of brushing your dog every day. It is also a good opportunity for you spend some quality time with your dog. While brushing your dog, you can also check to see if there are any abnormalities in your dog's skin and body.

Regular Exercise

Regular exercise is also essential to maintain the dog's health and immune system. Exercise such as walking, free-running and visits to new areas can stimulate good health. When a dog is healthy, her coat will be shiny and problem-free.



Related Topic

Dog Skin Irritations

References

R. Kidd, Dr. Kidd's Guide to Herbal Dog Care (Storey Publishing, 2000).
Pitcairn and Pitcairn, Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats (Rodale, 2005).
M.L. Wulff-Tilford and G.L. Tilford, Herbs for Pets (Bowtie Press, 1999).
A.D. Shojai, New Choices in Natural Healing for Dogs and Cats (Rodale Press, Inc., 1999).

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