What should I do if my dog has dandruff?

Dandruff on a dog's body actually means that skin cells are dying and falling off. If there is a small amount of dandruff, it's not surprising, but if there is too much, there may be three factors causing it. The first is environmental, which is related to the dog's living environment; the second is dietary; and the third is pathological. For dogs with dandruff, you can first reduce the frequency of dog baths and timely deworming. If there is no improvement, further inspection at a veterinarian's office is needed to see if the dog has a skin disease.

Bathing frequency and living environment

When the environment a dog lives in is too dry, the skin will also feel dry and thirsty, just like humans. This is also related to the usual bathing habits of the owner. If you find that your dog loses hair and skin severely after using shampoo, you need to reduce the frequency of bathing and choose a suitable shampoo. Bathing too frequently not only dries the skin but also damages the skin barrier. Always choose a shampoo suitable for your dog and avoid using human shampoo.

Dietary factors

To ensure high-quality skin and hair in dogs, a comprehensive diet is necessary, and dogs should try to eat less salt. Since dogs don't have sweat glands, salt is difficult for them to metabolize and can even be a burden. At the same time, you can add a suitable amount of fish oil or lecithin to your dog's food to enhance skin nutrition and resistance.

Pathological factors, such as parasitic skin diseases

Always give your dog regular external deworming. The existence of external parasites can cause dandruff and even develop into skin diseases. Symptoms of dandruff on a dog's body, such as ear, elbow, and abdominal dandruff caused by common mange infections, indicate a suspected parasite issue. If the cause is mites, appropriate treatment and deworming are necessary.