What Can I Bathe My Dog in for Dry Skin

Dr. Mark is a veterinarian. He has been working with dogs for more than 40 years.

Dry skin in dogs may arise from a number of issues, but diet is often the most prominent cause of skin problems.

Tony Alter CC BY 2.0

Symptoms of Dry Skin in Dogs

There are several ways to improve the quality of your dog's skin, as well as ways to treat his or her preexisting dry skin. Before we get started, let's talk about problems that can develop in a dog with untreated dry skin.

Flaking: Although this occurs in all dogs to some degree, it should not be noticeable in a dog that has normal skin. Flaking occurs when dead skin falls off of your dog; it is usually noted on the belly or underarms.
Dandruff: Similar to flaking, dandruff will come off in pieces. You may notice white flakes of dead skin anywhere that the dog has chosen to lie down.
Scaling: With this condition, the skin comes off in large sections, not just flakes.
Shedding: With most cases of dry skin, the hair loss is all over the dog's body, as seen in shedding. In some cases, the dog will have spotty or patchy areas of missing hair.
Pimples: Pimples appear as small, red bumps. If they are on the chin, especially if you have a short-haired breed like a Rottweiler or Pug, your dog might actually have canine acne, which is unrelated to dry skin.
Scabs: When pimples swell, they may eventually break open when your dog itches. They might scab up before you even notice them.
Redness: Red skin is a sign of inflammation. If your dog has dry skin, it is more likely to become infected and inflamed.
Odor: Dry skin can begin to stink in the presence of a bacterial or yeast infection. If you ignore dry skin when it is just flaking and scaling, it can lead to a more serious problem that causes odor.
Itching: A lot of times, an owner will not notice dry skin until the dog becomes itchy. Since the dog does not have allergies and will not respond to steroids, it will continue to scratch and need to be treated as described below.

The most important change you can make for your dog is switching him/her to a real diet.

CC 75471828@N036954788387

The Most Important Change for Dry Skin Is Dietary

The most effective remedy for your dog's dry skin is to switch his diet to real food. Don't be deceived—the largest retailers of dog food sell the most dog food compared to other brands because their product is cheap. Unfortunately, cheap dog food diets are lacking in many nutrients that would otherwise keep your dog's skin from drying out. Even if you do not buy the cheapest brand of dog food, other dog food brands that are able to sit on the shelf for months are not what your dog needs either.

What Kind of Food Does Your Dog Need?

Your dog needs a raw diet that provides essential nutrients and oils to improve his health and the quality of his skin. The majority of his diet should be raw, meaty bones. This type of diet will provide your dog with every essential nutrient to keep his skin healthy: essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and antioxidants.

The largest retailer of dog food sells the most dog food compared to other brands because it is cheap.

Canva CC0

Ingredient List for Raw Dog Food to Improve Skin

About 50% Raw Meat and Bones

It may not matter which meaty bones you use as long as your dog has no allergies and you vary what your dog is eating. Grass-fed beef is excellent, and your butcher will also be able to provide you with many of the cheap cuts of other animals that humans do not care for (tails, etc.) Chicken carcasses are another good source, and chicken wings can sometimes be found on sale. Chicken necks have a lot of fat, so if you use them, remove the skin and feed them with something else. Chicken feet are low in fat, are a great source of calcium, and also have good levels of glucosamine which keep your dog's joints healthy.

Source: Grass-fed beef, cheap cuts (tails), chicken carcasses (wings, necks, and feet).

About 25% Soft Meat

If the meat you are giving is less than half bone, you do not need to worry about this. If not, add a little meat to the diet.

Source: Beef tongue, beef heart, beef cheeks, and other sources that are inexpensive.

About 10% Organ Meats

You need to vary which meats you give your dog, but if you establish a relationship with your butcher, he will be glad to sell you those parts that he cannot market to his human customers.

Source: Kidneys, lungs, liver, spleen, etc.

About 10% Vegetables

This is not absolutely necessary and also depends on what your dog likes. Dogs will usually eat most veggies if they are mixed with their main diet, but they need to be put through a blender so that they are as fine as the contents of a cow's stomach. If they are not blended finely, they will pass through the dog without being digested. Some people also bulk up their dog's diet using cheap sources like potatoes, rice, and grains. Your dog does not need these starch sources.

Source: Broccoli, spinach, other dark, leafy vegetables, and carrots.

Raw Dog Food Ingredient List Breakdown. (Starred items are listed by unit and not percent.)

Canva

Miscellaneous Items to Incorporate in the Raw Diet

Several Raw Eggs Weekly (Shells Included)

I add eggs to my dog's diet when I am mixing in the veggies. If I am thawing meat at the same time, I add the blood to the mix to improve palatability.

Fruit

The fruit you have available will vary depending on your location, and if you have nothing available, it is not an absolute necessity. I like to add fruit to my dog's veggie and egg mix. The dogs are more interested in eating the mix if it contains fruit.

Source: Papaya, avocado, and banana.

Homemade Cooked Dog Food

You do not need to be a nutritionist to feed your kids, and you do not need to be a licensed veterinary nutritionist to take care of your dog. If you feel like you cannot provide a healthy, raw diet for your dog, the best alternative is a homemade cooked diet.

Dr. Pitcairn's "Titan's Diet"

Dr. Pitcairn, in his book on natural treatment options, has several acceptable options and this is a good source to start with. The best option for dogs with skin problems is his "Doggie Oats" recipe. I've included the book title in the reference section, and a link if you'd like to download the recipe. This alternate recipe is titled, "Titan's Diet," and consists of:

5 cups of raw oats
3 pounds of turkey
1 cup of vegetables
Supplements (brewers yeast, bone meal, and vitamin E)

Vegetarian and Vegan Options

A vegetarian cooked diet is also a healthy option, but not a substitute for the raw diet I have outlined above. Dr. Pitcairn has several vegetarian diets in his book, but there are also vegan diets available from other sources. The chickpea diet is a good one, but you will need to supplement the omega-3 fatty acids. If you do not want to use fish oil, then you can use flax oil.

AAFCO Labeled Dog Food Brands

If you choose to continue feeding your dog cheap commercial dog food, your dog will probably continue to have dry skin. The AAFCO-approved diets labeled "sensitive skin" and "healthy skin" are probably better than the other supermarket diets, but then again, they might not help. AAFCO is a voluntary organization and cannot fully identify 100% of the ingredients. According to the AVMA, about 40% of foods tested contain proteins from animals that are not even listed on the label.

Give your dog a bath with a shampoo that will help moisturize the skin and relieve itching.

CC0

Managing Your Dog's Dry Skin

Improving your dog's skin quality by changing his/her diet is going to take some time. In order to see more immediate changes, there are several things you can do:

Brush your dog daily: If you have noticed your dog's dry skin, you might already be brushing him every day. If you have not, brushing helps to remove dead skin and also helps to distribute the inflammatory cells that congregate in the area where the skin is most itchy. Brushing alone will not take care of your dog's dry skin, but it will help it clear up quickly when you are providing other therapies.
Bathe your dog: Give your dog a bath with a shampoo that will help moisturize the skin and relieve itching. The best shampoo for dry skin is colloidal oatmeal. Oatmeal-based shampoos contain polyphenols and the antioxidants avenanthramides, which have an anti-inflammatory effect and relieve some itching. All shampoos, including oatmeal, strip the skin of some of its protective oils, so if you are just bathing your dog to get rid of some dirt he rolled in, you can just use plain water.
Soothe your dog's skin with a dry shampoo: If you want to give him a little itch relief but have bathed him recently and do not need to do so again, you can use dry oatmeal shampoo. Take some regular oatmeal and blend it until it is a fine powder; take a little and massage it into the itchy areas. Most sources recommend warming the paste a few minutes before using it so that more of the oatmeal's oils will be released. You should leave it on there about 20 minutes before combing it out. You can do this every day if your dog needs it.
Apply apple cider vinegar: No studies have proven that apple cider vinegar (ACV) will help dry skin, but for those of us who have used it, we have seen its benefits as a humectant. Given orally, it acts as a natural acidifier and may increase blood flow to the skin. Given topically, organic ACV will improve the flora on your dog's skin since it contains lactobacillus which will replace the bacteria that can cause some of the secondary skin problems. I also use it topically to decrease the yeast populations on my dog's skin and replace them with a healthier bacterial population.
Bathe them in Epsom salt: I recommend using Epsom salt when a dog has swollen feet, but I do not use it for dry skin. It can help with open sores though, so if your dog has been itching and has scratched himself deeply, this can help. You can add about a half cup of salts to his bathwater, but be sure to rinse it off after you are done.
Cover affected areas with baking powder: Make up a baking powder paste to apply to the inflamed and itchy parts of your dog's skin. It needs to be about half water and half baking soda; apply it right on the area. Leave it on for about 15 minutes and clean it off with cool water.
Add eucalyptus essential oil to the shampoo: Although there have been a lot of dangerous cases of misuse involving essential oils, I have found them to be helpful if used properly. The safest and most effective is eucalyptus oil, but some vets have also had success with pennyroyal or evening primrose oil. Essential oils are not a cure, but a few drops of the oil can be added to the shampoo, and the anti-inflammatory properties help diminish itching. If you have made up shampoo for the first time, be sure to try it on one small spot to check for allergies.
Soak your dog in herbs after his bath: If your dog seems itchy even after a bath of colloidal oatmeal, you can try using an herbal soak. Take your dog out of the bath after rinsing, fill the tub back up with warm water, and add a few liters of green or chamomile tea (prepare it ahead of time). As long as it is not too hot or cold, you can pour it on your dog's skin as he sits in the tub, but let him soak in the dilute mixture for about 15 minutes.

Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant, and will moisturize your dog's coat if incorporated properly into his/her diet.

CC0

Home Remedies for Dry Skin in Dogs

Although most dogs with dry skin will clear up with just omega-3 fatty acids and coconut oil, a few dogs will be harder to treat and will require additional remedies. Here are a few that you can try:

Yogurt: Yogurt is a moisturizer that also contains "good" bacteria which can help to recolonize the skin. If you give your dog a small amount (anywhere from one teaspoon for a small dog, to one tablespoon for a larger dog) each day, those bacteria can also improve your dog's GI system and keep him from developing diarrhea as easily.
Add fish oil to the diet: Dry skin is usually a sign that something is missing from the diet. Many of the commercial dog foods contain enough of the omega-6 fatty acids, but since they are more expensive, they tend to skimp on the omega-3s and add more of the omega-6 acids. If you think those commercial diets that are labeled "omega-3 added" are going to help, you are wrong. The amount added is insignificant. To help your dog with dry skin, you can feed fresh fish like salmon, mackerel, or sardines (in moderation), or supplement with liquid fish oil. The omega-3 fatty acids will improve the quality of the dog's skin and help clear up the dry skin.
Try coconut oil: As a treatment for dry skin, coconut oil has several advantages. It has high levels of antioxidants and vitamins, so besides being effective for moisturizing dry spots, it can also be used as a supplement in your dog's food. This is a great benefit because if your dog is anything like mine, she is going to lick off any product you put on her.
Use vitamin E: Some of the damage done to your dog's skin when dry is due to free radicals. Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant and will moisturize the coat so that it can improve with the change in diet. In some dogs, the relief is immediate. You can buy the capsules labeled for humans, and squeeze them out and apply them right to the dry skin. When you rub it in, the vitamin will get absorbed pretty quickly, but do not worry if your dog licks some of it off—it is good for his heart and liver. Be sure to check with your vet before using human products on your pup.
Give other oils: Some veterinarians recommend olive oil first. It has many of the same benefits as coconut oil, so it is both a moisturizer and a source of vitamins for what the dog is missing. The dosage recommendations are similar to yogurt, in that you just have to add a teaspoonful to the diet of a small dog and a tablespoon for a large dog. Some vets also recommend flaxseed oil, but it should be given at a lower dose—about ½ teaspoon for a small dog.

Are the Dry Skin Supplements Going to Make My Dog Sick?

If you are in a hurry and give too many supplements to your dog, there can be problems. Excessive fatty acids can cause loose stools, and too much coconut oil or olive oil will make a dog fat.

Try switching your dog's diet first. Bathe him in colloidal oatmeal. As long as everything is okay, use coconut oil on his skin and follow directions. If you do not notice any problems with this regimen, you can add fish oil to his diet once a day, use apple cider vinegar the next day, and then vitamin E the following day. If your dog has problems with any of the supplements, you will know which one is causing the problem and can stop administering it immediately.

A Pug taking a monthly oatmeal bath.

Rick Harris CC BY-SA 2.0

Additional Remedies for Dogs With Dry Skin

If your dog has dry skin, you should try the effective therapies mentioned above before using others. Some owners still have problems with their dog's skin and may need to try these additional remedies.

Use a Homemade Moisturizer

The problem with treating dry skin with cream is that dogs often lick it off. Pure coconut oil is the best option because it will still improve your dog's coat quality even if he licks it off. If you want to try something else, oatmeal paste is an alternative moisturizer that will not affect your dog's gastrointestinal system. Like oatmeal shampoo, the paste contains saponins that will clean the skin down to the pores. Here's how to use oatmeal paste:

Combine half oatmeal and half water
Mix it up until it is thick
Apply it and sit with your dog for about 15 minutes
Remove it with clean tap water

Purchase a Humidifier for Your Home

This can be a big help for some inside dogs. Low humidity in a house with central heating or air conditioning aggravates dry skin, which is why this problem is relatively uncommon in outdoor dogs. It is not the best nor the only solution, however, and if your dog is still eating commercially produced dry dog food that has been sitting on a shelf, he will be lacking the nutrients he needs for healthy skin. The best way to tell if you need a humidifier is to look at your own skin. If it is dry, especially if you have noticed it itching, then a humidifier is a good option.

References

Raw homemade diet: Dr. Ian Billinghurst, Give Your Dog A Bone, Warrigal Publishing, 1993.
Homemade cooked diet: Richard Pitcairn DVM, Natural Health for Dogs and Cats, 3rd Edition, Rodale, 2005
Doggie oats recipe <http://www.petdiabetes.com/pdorg/home_cooking.htm>.
AVMA report on "mislabeled" dog foods: <https://www.avma.org/News/JAVMANews/Pages/150515a.aspx>
Oatmeal shampoo <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3508548/>.
Safety and efficacy of personal care products containing colloidal oatmeal Maryline Criquet, Romain Roure, Liliane Dayan, Virginie Nollent, Christiane Bertin Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2012; 5: 183–193
Oatmeal benefits <https://academic.oup.com/nutritionreviews/article-abstract/67/12/731/1938740>.
Omega 3 fatty acids <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22087720>.
Therapeutic use of fish oils in companion animals. Bauer JE. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2011 Dec 1;239(11):1441-51.
Coconut oil: Antistress and antioxidant effects of virgin coconut oil. Yeap SK, Beh BK, Ali NM, Yusof HM, Ho WY, Koh SP, Alitheen NB, Long K. Exp Ther Med. 2015 Jan;9(1):39-42.
Apple cider vinegar: Authenticating apple cider vinegar's home remedy claims: antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral properties and cytotoxicity aspect. Gopal J, Anthonydhason V, Muthu M, Gansukh E, Jung S, Chul S, Iyyakkannu S. Natural Product Research. 2017 Dec 11:1-5.
Vitamin E: Vitamin E in dermatology. Keen MA, Hassan I. Indian Dermatol Online J. 2016 Jul-Aug;7(4)

This article is accurate and true to the best of the author's knowledge. It is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional. Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.

Questions & Answers

Question: Are eggs a good source for dogs with dry skin?

Answer: Eggs are one of the foods that we always recommend for a shiny coat. It really depends on why the dog has dry skin; sometimes they help, sometimes they do not. If your dog has dry skin, I would try several of the recommendations here to see if it improves. If you are just trying to keep your dogs coat healthier, then the vitamins and extra protein in eggs is sometimes the best answer.

Question: What can I do for my dog who is itching like crazy? I think its bacterial or fungal infections. Is there anything I can use to stop my dog's itching?

Answer: The first step is an antihistamine trial https://pethelpful.com/dogs/proper-antihistamine-u...

If those are not effective try these alternatives https://pethelpful.com/dogs/alternatives-to-steroi...

Bacterial or fungal infections are not usually the cause of itching.

Dr Mark (author) from The Atlantic Rain Forest, Brazil on August 01, 2020:

Jennie-bumps?

JennieWigzell on July 31, 2020:

My dog has bumps all over she is a bishon, yorkie and itches like crazy what can i do for her

Sue Lagneaux on June 05, 2020:

God bless you!!!

Dr Mark (author) from The Atlantic Rain Forest, Brazil on February 29, 2020:

Donna, you can add a teaspoon to your dogs water dish, or use it topically (without diluting) after bathing.

Donna on February 28, 2020:

Hi Dr Mark, im interested in knowing how to use apple cider viniger, i would imagine it would need to be diluted but what ratio?

thanks Donna

Dr Mark (author) from The Atlantic Rain Forest, Brazil on January 01, 2020:

Kim, I cannot tell you how wrong the person told you that is. Raw eggs are fine for dogs, a very safe source of proteins.

Kim on December 31, 2019:

I have always been told by several vets over the years that raw eggs aren't safe for dogs to eat

Dr Mark (author) from The Atlantic Rain Forest, Brazil on November 13, 2019:

Jeremy, learn to make up your own shampoo. It is easier and better for your dog. Just becaue a shampoo says that it is "oatmeal based" that does not mean it contains just oatmeal.

Read the label. Do you know that a lot of those medicated shampoos contain a lot of other medications? If you are not willing to make a safe shampoo at home, at least spot test with a new product and find out if your dog is allergic.

Your dog did not develop bad and flaky skin because of oatmeal.

Jeremy on November 12, 2019:

My dog has super bad and flaky skin because of oatmeal based shampoo I used on her. Wtf

valerie on October 13, 2019:

These remedies are very informative.

Doreen on May 24, 2019:

Good raw diet tips

Carol on January 31, 2019:

Almost everyone I talk to that has a dog either say their dog has skin allergies, diabetes, stomach issues etc. Cushings disease is also very common in the United States. I think dogs are over vaccinated in the U.S. My family comes from Europe and anyone you speak to say their dogs are healthy and hardly have any issues and live long lives. They feed them homemade meals, give them large bones to chew on from the food they cooked for themselves. No kibble foods or any type of dog food due to the fact that the majority of people cannot afford to buy dog food so they are fed fresh cooked meats, rice, potatoes, vegetables. The only vaccine they receive are Rabies vaccinations. So why are dogs living so much longer in Europe, if they are doing everything the Vetinarians are against in the United States?

Bob Bamberg on April 26, 2018:

I think you hit the nail on the head when you said American dogs seem to have more health problem, but then asked if it was because Americans are more likely to bring their dogs to the veterinarian when something's wrong.

I think that's exactly it. Dogs here, over all, are living longer than ever before and are enjoying better health and healthier lifestyles. Advances in canine nutrition are a factor, but the big factor is that veterinarians have tools, techniques, procedures and medicines that weren't available to them even a generation ago.

And the phenomenon known here as the humanization of pets (we don't even put it in quotation marks anymore) sees owners spending big bucks on healthcare for their pets.

When I was a kid, the dog never saw a vet unless he got hit by a car. Otherwise it was once a year at the fire station for the rabies clinic, and only because the law required it.

Fast forward to today and people are bringing their pets in for wellness visits, sometimes twice a year (especially senior pets). So, things are getting diagnosed and treated that would never have even been picked up a generation or two ago.

We finally hit 73 degrees F here today. After the cold, raw weather we've been having, it feels like summer. We've got doors and windows open for the first time since early last fall.

Dr Mark (author) from The Atlantic Rain Forest, Brazil on April 26, 2018:

Hi Bob, I agree that the US dogs are not dropping like flies, but if you look at the statistics the dogs in the US have the most health problems. Is it because the owners are more likely to take their dogs in to the vet when there is something wrong, or because the dogs have more health problems because of the diet? I strongly believe that eating processed food every day for your entire life is not healthy.

I know that those dogs that eat pizza crust and other junk like that are more likely to have problems, but I think dogs that miss out on eating some natural probiotics (eg a big warm pile of horse manure), natural vitamin and mineral supplements (a little dirt now and then), and most of all natural food are more likely to have health problems. Vets like Dr. Ian Billinghurst in Australia, who practiced both before and after the introduction of processed dog food, agree.

Thanks for the comment about the environment down here. When everyone talks about all the unidentified species in the Amazon they fail to mention that most of them are beetles. I get a hundred coming into my house every night, whether I want them or not. I would trade them for a white tail!

Bob Bamberg on April 26, 2018:

Another great article, Doc, but you still paint all commercial pet foods with that broad brush of yours. Talking with pet owners 6 days a week, I can testify to the quality of a dog's skin and coat when fed a high quality diet with balanced ratios of essential fatty acids. In most cases they don't have to supplement to keep the skin and coat optimal, however in more difficult cases, coconut oil and other fatty acid supplements work. Some owners work against the good diets by not being able to deny their dog a piece of pizza crust, wheat-based biscuits, and foods containing certain grains that irritate the dog's skin.

In order t make it onto the shelf, commercial pet foods must contain over 40 USDA-required nutrients...even the limited ingredients diets. One ingredient can contain multiple nutrients. I wonder how many home prepared diets contain all of the required nutrients, and in the proper ratios to balance the diet?

I can't speak for dogs around the world, but of the 80-odd million dogs in the U.S., over 90% of them are on commercial diets and not dropping like flies. The overwhelming percentage of canine allergies are environmental, not food related. But when they are food allergies, the majority are protein allergies, with beef and chicken leading the way.

I think most Americans go for the convenience of packaged foods, assured that their dogs are getting proper nutrition. I subscribe to email services from USDA, NIH, CDC, FDA, etc. and every day get recall notices for human foods. By comparison, pet food recalls are rare. We must be doing something right.

While I don't disagree with your approach, I do disagree that it's the only approach. Empirical evidence backs that up. BTW, I really enjoyed seeing the pictures of your biome. The wildlife sounds incredible, especially when comparing it to the wildlife we have around us. We thrill at seeing a deer in our backyard, or a hawk roosting nearby. You get to mingle with the industrial-strength wildlife!

What Can I Bathe My Dog in for Dry Skin

Source: https://pethelpful.com/dogs/remedy-for-dog-with-dry-skin