Dog Dandruff . . . Dog Dander: Is Your Dog A Little Flakey?

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Is Your Dog A Little Flakey?

Urgggh, doggie dandruff . . . those flakey, flecks of dry skin that seems to be everywhere: on the bed, on your couch and even on you. First, know the cause: dandruff (or dander) mostly occurs when a dog's skin cells naturally form, die, and flake off at a very rapid rate. But there ARE ways you can counter-act this.

So you wanna know how to give your pooch some "itch relief" and get rid of doggie dandruff? Here are several tips on how to keep your dog's coat clean and dandruff-free:

Doin' The Dander Dance

Scratch

What Is Doggie Dander . . . or Dandruff?

Dog Dandruff

Photo courtesy of: Douglas Phillips


Similar to dandruff in humans, dog dander (or dog dandruff) is the result of shedding tiny scales or flakes of dried skin and hair . . . and is a frequent cause of allergy in humans.

Bath Time Tips

Combating Dog Dandruff Starts With Proper Bathing

How Often Should You Give Your Dog A Bath?

It all depends . . . A dog's fur and skin varies from breed to breed. Long-haired dogs for instance, generally require grooming a lot more often than short-haired dogs.

Here are a couple of other factors involved in determining how often you should give your dog a bath.

    Is she a yard dog or an inside dog?
    Does she get dirty eating?
    Does she have an odor?

>>> Brush Before Bathing

Before bathing your dog, you need to brush out the entire coat to remove as much dead coat as possible. Remove any mats with a mat comb or coat rake, or cut through them with scissors.

Doing this will also help eliminate tangle once you start bathing your dog..

>>> Water Temperature Matters

Controlling the Water Makes Bath Time So Much Easier

It's usually easier to use the bathtub to wash your dog because you can control the water temperature:

    . . . Keeping the water warm allows you to give your pooch a full soak.
    . . .The shampoo comes out a bit better using a combination of water temperatures.

However, if you have a large enough portable receptacle (e.g. tin tub) with access to hot/cold running water, you can just as well bathe your dog outside.

>>> Using The Right Shampoo

The Right Shampoo Can Do Wonders

With so many shampoos on the market, sometimes it's not so easy to decide which ones to use. For most breeds a basic, all-purpose shampoo will do just fine. However, if you want your shampoo to do more than clean, you might also consider a specialty shampoo:

    A hypo-allergenic (or "tear-less") shampoo can minimize reactions experienced by dogs with very sensitive eyes (or skin).

    A medicated shampoo designed to treat itching, allergies or other sensitive skin conditions can be helpful (your vet should be able to recommend a good one).

    Shampoos with extra conditionaers can make post-bath grooming easier but also combat dry skin.

Tip: Some say that when you shampoo your dog it can be helpful to mix some water and shampoo in a separate bottle (enough just for that bathing). This has two advantages: the diluted shampoo can be worked into the coat easier and will rinse out better.

Go Here . . . For More Dog Grooming Tips!

Shampoo for Dog Dandruff

NaturVet Flake Away Dandruff Shampoo 8oz. For Dogs And Cats

Amazon Price: (as of 05/31/2012)Buy Now

A unique scientific blend of nine botanicals, herbal oils and extracts in a gentle, but thorough cleansing shampoo base. Flake Away is an excellent shampoo for any skin condition. A natural alternative to strong-smelling and harsh coal tar shampoos. Helps skin change from excess and abnormally large flakes to its normal, practically invisible shedding process. Contains Tea Tree Oil & Aloe Vera.

A Medicated Shampoo

Malaseb Shampoo (16oz)

Amazon Price: $22.00 (as of 05/30/2012)Buy Now

Medicated Shampoo for dogs, cats & horses. Provides antibacterial & antifungal agents for optimal therapeutic effectiveness.

For Beautiful Coats . . .

Bamboo Dog Undercoat and Dematting Rakes (Colors Vary)

Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 05/31/2012)Buy Now

For long, medium, or double coats, this rugged two-in-one dog-grooming tool comes in handy. The unit removes thick winter coats with an undercoat rake, while its dematting rake cuts through fur that's too tangled to comb out.

A Dog Grooming Handy Helper

The Everything Dog Grooming Book: All you need to help your pet look and feel great! (Everything Series)

Amazon Price: $5.80 (as of 05/30/2012)Buy Now

A do-it-yourself guide that offers detailed information and instructional photographs for handling all facets of dog grooming. . .

Dah'lin . . . Let Me Enjoy My Bath In Private

Mayita baƱo de tina

Photo courtesy of: Toronja Azul

Spa Kit For Your Dog

Spa Dog Botanicals Urban Dog Spa Kit, 1 kit

Amazon Price: (as of 05/31/2012)Buy Now

Pure botanical natural body care for dogs. Kit includes: Natural ear care; Natural breath drops; Sweet orange spray; Urban dog shampoo and more.

The Best Drying Towel

Aquis Doggie Dryer Microfiber Pet Towel, Red, Extra Large (29 x 55-Inches)

Amazon Price: $28.01 (as of 05/30/2012)Buy Now

The Aquis towel is woven from the unique Aquitex microfiber, which makes the towels very absorbant and instantly soaks up water on contact. Aquis towels are designed to dry hair and body faster, more thoroughly and more gently than conventional cotton terry.

After Bath Time

Why not give your dog a treat? It will help to give her a pleasant association with bath time.

That Wasn't So Bad . . . Was It?

Frank after his first bath

Let Me Know You Stopped By . . .

  • Dawnel Apr 7, 2012 @ 2:09 am | delete
    Thank you for the great tips
  • esperance Feb 15, 2012 @ 5:13 pm | delete
    I'm sure your advice will help people who love dogs but are allergic to them. Regular bathing will help keep down the antigens which bother their owners. (Of course, I mean regular bathing of the dogs!)
  • JaguarJulie Sep 17, 2010 @ 5:02 am | delete
    Hmmm, well my dog's NOT a little flakey but my husband is ................ argh argh argh! ;)
  • Ramkitten Sep 27, 2009 @ 10:31 pm | delete
    When I read the title of this lens, I answered, "Yep, she's a little flaky." Not too, too bad, but I've been flicking the flakes off her lately. Thanks for the tips. And I especially love the photos.

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