Dogs dry, itchy skin solutions with grooming
If your dog has dry, itchy skin, he’s not alone. This is a very common issue with dogs. Let’s see how can we treat this with grooming.
Brush your dog
Brushing your dog daily will remove pollens, grasses, and other outdoor irritants as well as stimulating the skin’s circulation and preventing matting. Brush carefully and down to the skin, taking care not to tug on tangles, and using a soft bristle brush on sensitive areas. The simple act of brushing your dog removes the loose hair and dander that’s accumulating near your dog’s skin (especially if you use a good undercoat brush). By clearing away the irritants that are trapped and hovering around your dog’s skin, you’re letting the skin breathe. (Fresh air is good!) At the same time, you’re also stimulating the release of your dog’s natural skin oils — which will make his coat healthier and shinier over time.
Groom your dog
Many dogs today suffer from itchy skin caused by a variety of factors. Dogs actually have more sensitive skin than humans, and are often exposed to a variety of irritants in their environment. These grooming tips may help alleviate your dog’s constant itching.
One session with a professional groomer can work wonders at bringing your dog back to the best he can be coat-wise and looks-wise. Plus, a professional groomer is keenly aware of dog skin issues… and remedies! So it makes sense to get your dog professionally groomed before you try other things.
If you don’t want to pay to have your dog groomed from head to toe, then groom your dog at home. Pay special attention to how to bathe your dog and how to brush your dog, since those 2 things have the biggest impact on your dog’s dry skin.
Consider these grooming tips before turning to chemical treatments.
Bathing should also be done, following a thorough brushing. Use a natural, low lather, low irritant shampoo, wet your dog down thoroughly with lukewarm water, and apply the shampoo using your hands. Avoid getting water or shampoo in his eyes and ears, and lather all over, right down to his skin, then rinse thoroughly. Shampoo residue is a major cause of skin irritation for dogs. If your dog suffers from dry, flaky skin, you should use a dog shampoo with natural moisturizers in it like these dog dry skin shampoos. After rinsing, towel dry your dog, and avoid using any coat finishers or blow dryers, which can also cause skin irritation in a sensitive dog.
Never use HUMAN SHAMPOO!!!
Human shampoos, even the baby variety, are far too drying for a dog’s sensitive skin and have a variety of additives — for example, thickening shampoos or those for color treatments — that are unnecessary and perhaps, harmful to pets. Because dogs bathe much less frequently and get so much dirtier than we do, their shampoos have to work even harder than ours – so dog shampoos have to be even better quality than human ones. AND
Human shampoos are formulated for human pH levels.
The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, with levels less than 6.4 considered high acidity, and levels more than 6.4 considered high alkalinity. The normal range of skin pH levels for humans is 5.2 to 6.2, which means it tends to be on the acidic side, and shampoos and skin products are formulated specifically to maintain this balance. Now consider the relative pH balance for dogs. Depending on breed, gender, climate, and the anatomical site on the dog, the pH levels range from 5.5 to 7.5, tending toward a more alkaline concentration. Therefore, if a shampoo that is formulated for human skin is used on a dog, the dog’s acid mantle will be disrupted, creating an environment where bacteria, parasites, and viruses can run rampant.
CHOOSE NATURAL FOR PETS
The skin is our largest organ and is there to protect. It has been researched that more than 50% of what we apply onto skin may be absorbed into our bloodstream. This raises a question “why would you put something toxic onto your pet’s skin and poison one of the most important organs they have”? Not to mention about the effect these toxic might have when they are absorbed into the bloodstream.
Since, the ingredients in natural and organic products are coming from nature and therefore purer, there is smaller risk of allergies, skin irritations or any other reactions that might harm. www.naturalpetcare.co.za
Grooming is essential for a dog’s skin health, helps you identify skin problems early on, and is a great way for you to bond with your dog as well!