How to Avoid Dog Skin Problems

Does your dog always having a lush, soft coat?

Does your dog's skin remain rash and itch free?

If you said yes to either or both of the above questions, yours is a very fortunate dog.

More likely, like me, you said "No", or, perhaps "Sometimes". Most of our dogs suffer from a dull coat and/or dog skin problems or skin irritation of some type from time to time. Some poor dogs seem to be plagued by dog skin conditions, which often causes them to molt, or even to pull their own fur out in an attempt to relieve the itchiness.

This can be caused by a number of things, including a vitamin deficiency.

Even if you think you're feeding your dog an ideal diet, it may not be so. For years my vet complimented me on the great health of my dogs due to the largely raw diet I fed them, but little did I realise that down the track they would begin to develop degenerative conditions which I can now only attribute to a failure to supplement with vitamins and/or other supplements.

Of course, diet can impact on your dog's skin condition and the look and feel of your dog's coat in a major way. But sometimes even an ideal diet is not enough in and of itself.

Kara, my Rottweiler, has pretty sensitive skin - she gets a rash from coming into contact with the pollen from certain plants, and she develops an immediate allergy to even one flea bite. And sometimes she's itchy for no apparent reason at all. Yes, Kara really suffers from dog skin allergies, and often has incessantly itchy skin - poor dog.

My Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Jet, is more hardy in the coat and skin department. Jet's pretty lucky. She doesn't get incessant itches very often at all, although she has been known to molt once or twice in her 12 years. It hasn't happened for several years now, though - not since I started giving my dogs supplements for their skin and coat.

So what is the most effective way to look after dog skin problems? Well, in addition to your dog's diet, you should use a two pronged strategy - dog skin supplements and an excellent dog shampoo.

To keep your dog's skin and coat in tip top condition and health, these two areas are really important:

ONE - to treat the skin from the inside - I recommend a wonderful fatty acid supplement which contains all the nutrients your dog needs for a healthy skin and shiny coat. It also reduces shedding if your dog's coat is prone to that. These great tasting tablets really do reduce itchiness, and work on the cause of the itch - whether it be due to allergy or other skin condition. They contain Omegas 3, 6 and 9, plus OptiMSM and other Vitamins for a healthy coat.

   
 (Just click on the bottles of Dermatrix above, or click here).  You'll love the results of Dermatrix on your dog's skin and coat!

TWO - a good dog shampoo is the second really important aspect to a healthy skin and coat. When my dogs were younger I sometimes used cheap shampoos from discount stores. I came to the conclusion that this was really false economy. They cleaned the coat reasonably well, but weren't particularly beneficial to the skin. Now I use a wonderful oatmeal shampoo which help relieve itching and dry, flaky skin. And the coat comes out really silky and it really seems to have a lovely shine. Oatmeal shampoo for dogs is also all-natural, and contains no chemicals.
 

Doc Ackerman's Oatmeal Shampoo 20 oz. - $ 9.99 Doc Ackerman's Oatmeal Shampoo 1 Gallon - $ 49.99  A penetrating shampoo that contains 3.8% Colloidal Oatmeal. Can be used for itching, dryness, scaling of dandruff, and certain types of dermatitis. Excellent for routine bathing to help control body odors.

Or if you really like the smell of oranges, there's a particularly good dog shampoo and conditioner formulation. It's called the Herbal Orange Cream Shampoo and Conditioner, and it's a favorite with dog groomers and vets, and has been for 20 years. Again, it's all-natural without any chemicals, and it also has a great aromatherapy soothing effect on your dog!

Doc Ackerman's Orange Cream Shampoo - $ 9.99 Doc Ackerman's Orange Cream Conditioner - $ 9.99 This shampoo and conditioner are used extensively by groomers and veterinarians. Deep cleaning, with a fresh citrus aroma, to give your pet the ultimate shiny coat.

Or, if you're wanting to keep fleas at bay, try the herbal shampoo and conditioner below:

ONP Herbal Defense Shampoo - $ 12.99 ONP Herbal Defense Conditioner - $ 12.99 Shampoo and conditioner for a luxurious coat and contain essential oils to help repel fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, flies, and other insects

If your dog is anything like my Rottweiler, Kara, your dog's fur is probably often dusty and not so great to stroke.  Kara loves rolling in the dirt outside.

When the dirt in the backyard is dry, I can brush out the dust and dirt without too much trouble. But when it's damp, Kara needs to be washed to really get her coat clean again.

And when it's been pouring rain for a day or two, I actually try to keep her inside the house as much as possible. Because, yes, she rolls in the wet, sticky mud, when she gets a chance. You should see the mess she gets in. She can be covered in mud from head to toe. And she's most put out when I won't let her in the house in that state!

That's when the shampoo really comes in handy!

And for the fatty acid tablets which your dog will love to take, which will promote a lush, shiny coat and itch-free skin, you'll want to try Fatty Acids for Dogs.

Let me know if you have any questions/comments/feedback.

I'd love to hear from you.

Just post your comments below!

 

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