You dog’s dry skin can be a problem for both you and your dog. It irritates your dog; you don’t want your dog to suffer; and you probably don’t like the extra dander that can result from dry skin. Fortunately, there are a few things that you can do at home to help your dog’s dry skin.

If your dog has minor skin problems, you can often handle it at home. However, you should do these things with your vet’s guidance. Your dog might need special shampoo or medication, and your vet can give you recommendations on what you can do at home.

Baths

Bathing your dog on a regular basis will help its coat. Bathing helps to remove dirt, pollen, hair and dander. These things can irritate your dog’s skin and make it itchy. Bathing also removes the oils that protect your dog’s coat, so you don’t want to bathe your dog too often. Unless your vet recommends otherwise, you don’t want to bathe your dog more than once a week, and once or twice a month is usually sufficient.

Olive Oil

Olive oil can also help dry skin. You can apply it directly to your dog’s skin by adding a few drops to its coat and rubbing it in. Most people choose not to do this, however, because the oil can rub off on furniture and stain it. You can also add olive oil to your dog’s diet, and you can add a few drops to the dog’s food on a daily basis. Do not add more than a half a tablespoon because too much olive oil can cause diarrhea.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E can also be added to your dog’s diet. You will want to consult your vet on dosage recommendations. In addition to this, you can apply vitamin E directly to your dog’s skin. You can pop vitamin E capsules and apply the liquid that is inside. This is often used for to treat small areas of chapped or dry skin.

Dry skin is a problem that plagues us and our canine companions. Fortunately, you can do a few simple things at home to help combat this problem.