How to Protect a Dog’s Skin in Winter

With the cold weather and cranked-up heat — comes the dry and itchy skin — and with the dry and itchy skin — comes the moisturizers. But while you’re protecting your own skin, you might want to think about Fido’s too. Dogs experience the same winter skin woes as us humans, but unfortunately, you can’t use Nivea or Jergens on them. Here are some other ways to protect your pooch from that pesky winter skin.

Instructions

1. • Brush your dog frequently to get rid of dead skin cells. Brushing stimulates circulation and the production of oil, which in turn provides moisture. This applies to both long and shorthaired dogs.

   • Use a moisturizing shampoo with an ingredient such as lanolin, that is specifically formulated for dogs. People shampoos can upset a dog’s pH balance (which is different from ours), and thus be harsh on their skin.

   • Shampoo your dog less frequently during the cold months. Too much bathing can strip the coat of its natural oils. Every few months is normally a good schedule, unless you have a dog that spends more time outdoors.

   • Feed your dog a quality brand of food (or homemade diet) with Omega-3 fatty acids and Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols are a source of Vitamin E) for a healthy skin and coat.

   • Add fish oil (Omega-3) to your dog’s diet. Fish oil is used to treat canine skin allergies and relieve itching, and may also treat a variety of conditions including high cholesterol, arthritis and kidney disease. You can purchase liquid fish oil or break open a fish oil capsule and add it to your dog’s food. Flaxseed oil is also a good source of Omega-3 for the coat and immune system, but make sure it’s organic for full benefits.

   • Use a room humidifier to moisten the air if your home is too dry from running the heat.

How to Stop Dog Shedding

Unfortunately, dog shedding is a common problem for virtually all breeds, whether they have short or long hair. Of course, breeds with finer, softer hair may shed even worse. Either way, when dog shedding happens, you could be putting yourself and your family at greater risk for allegories and other breathing problems. Also, when it comes to aesthetics, excessive dog fur doesn’t look right on your carpet or furniture.

Read more: http://www.ehow.com/how_4674614_stop-dog-shedding.html#ixzz2bb9mZ0C6

Instructions

1. • Wash your dog. Before you can stop dog shedding, you must make sure that your animal is properly groomed. This process begins by thoroughly washing both their fur and skin. To do this, you need to first get a dog washing shower attachment. These attachments cost between $20 and $100, but they make bathing a lot easier. You won’t get water all over the place plus there won’t be any shampoo left behind in the dog’s skin.

     Make sure you only use dog shampoo and conditioner on your pet’s skin. Human shampoos may not contain the necessary ingredients to optimize the health of your dog’s skin and fur. And, if your dog has a dandruff problem, use dog shampoos that help treat dry skin.

   • Comb and brush your dog’s fur. Use dog shedding combs and brushes to remove the top layers of fur. You will want to make a habit of doing this every day, especially in the morning.

   • Use a vacuum dog brush. The techniques mentioned above do not help as much when it comes to removing a dog’s undercoat. That’s why you will want to consider an additional regime: sucking out some of the undercoat with a vacuum dog brush. These attachments are readily available at any pet store, and they’re easy to use. Just place them at the end of a vacuuming hose, and you’ll be ready for business.

   • Add a tablespoon of olive oil to your dog’s food. Olive oil contains omega-3 fatty acids, which are nutrients that are essential for your dog’s skin and fur. And, since olive oil is virtually tasteless, you won’t have to worry about the dog rejecting its food after it’s been added.

   • Give your pet dog vitamins. If a dog is malnourished, it is more likely to shed because it’s not receiving enough nutrients to maintain the health of its fur. And, due to the fact that many brands of dog food do not contain enough protein, you will want to give them vitamins regardless of how much they eat.

   • Schedule an appointment with your vet. Sometimes dog shedding is caused by a more serious health problem. So, if you plan on stopping the shedding, you will have to get a physical examination for your dog.