Dog scales are always visible in the fur. The dead and shed skin cells are visible as white dots between the fur hairs. The causes of dog dandruff can be very diverse since dandruff is an accompanying symptom of irritated skin and other diseases. You can find out everything about dandruff in dogs in this article.
Dandruff Symptoms in Dogs
Dog dander lies loose in the dog’s coat. The skin cells, which come from the horny top layer of the skin, detach and trickle out of the fur of the four-legged friend. Since the scales are formed in different diseases, the symptoms are sometimes different.
The dog’s skin is irritated and dry. The dog scratches and rubs itself repeatedly on objects. When scratching, the dead skin cells lose their connection with the rest of the skin. They lie loosely between the hairs or form clumps with the hair sebum. The greasy yellow scales are heavier than the white scales. If there are large numbers of dog dander covered with tallow, a rancid skin odor is usually noticeable. The greasy film on the dog’s skin can be clearly felt when petting it.
Dog dander can form locally or spread over the entire body. The white or yellowish flakes can often be seen on the back and at the base of the tail. If the dog is stroked, the scales fall out of the fur and trickle onto the ground. Since the skin barrier is usually also disturbed in the case of dandruff, bacteria and fungi can penetrate the skin more easily and cause inflammation.
If the dog scratches itself very badly, small cracks form in the skin and bleeding injuries. The loose scales clump together with the blood and take on the reddish color. The dried blood can also cause the scales to stick to the hair.
What to do if the dog has dandruff?
The scales are brushed against the coat line with a brush. Removal of loose hair, healthy food, and grooming with coconut oil prevent dog dander from forming again.
Causes of dandruff in dogs
Dog dander is not a disease in its own right, but a symptom that occurs with many different skin disorders.
Coat change
During the change of coat, the dog’s skin is particularly stressed. The old and dead hair must be shed. At the same time, many dormant hair follicles are activated. The newly formed hairs crowd out the old hairs that fall out. During the change of coat, the skin needs a better supply of nutrients and oxygen. If there is an undersupply of liquid and nutrients, the skin dries out quickly. White scales are clearly visible.
Infestation with ectoparasites
Fleas, ticks, lice and mites damage the skin. Some of the parasites live directly on the skin, feeding on blood and dead skin cells. Predatory mites and digging mites bore tunnels into the top layers of skin and suck in tissue water from there.
An infestation with parasites is usually associated with severe itching. The dog scratches itself constantly. He is irritated because the parasites run between the fur hairs. The skin becomes scaly and cracked, bloody spots can be seen. The thickness of the horny layer increases. Dandruff increasingly detaches itself from the skin surface.
Infestation with endoparasites
Worms, which live in the digestive tract, deprive the dog of nutrients that are also needed by the skin. Tapeworms injure the intestinal mucosa with their teeth. The dog keeps losing blood and becomes anemic. The dog’s skin becomes dry due to the undersupply of the skin with nutrients. Dog scales can be seen.
Which oil helps against dandruff in dogs?
Oils that contain a lot of high-quality unsaturated fatty acids are well suited. These include salmon oil, linseed oil, hemp oil, and safflower oil. For particularly stubborn dandruff, walnut oil is used internally and externally.
Incorrect nutrition due to feeding with insufficient nutrient content
The inferior feed contains too little protein, minerals, and trace elements. The skin is not sufficiently supplied. Skin cells die. scales appear. If the dog suffers from a zinc deficiency, the skin on the head, on the elbows, and on the pads of the paws will change. The hair is dull and breaks off. The cornea (stratum corneum) is thickened. Yellowish, greasy scales form due to excessive sebum production.
With an iron deficiency, fewer red blood cells are formed because iron is an important component of hemoglobin (red blood pigment). The skin is poorly supplied with blood and only insufficiently supplied with oxygen. White scales appear as the upper skin cells die off. A lack of calcium does not only affect the health of bones and teeth. The keratinization of the skin is disturbed with a calcium deficiency. There are many scales between the dull hair. Too low a protein content in the feed causes skin irritation, reddening, and an increased formation of dog dandruff.
Unsaturated fatty acids are particularly important for the skin’s metabolism. They are needed to build a stable skin barrier and healthy skin. If the unsaturated fatty acids are missing, dandruff develops.
Too much supply of protein
If the dog food contains too much protein, the liver and kidneys have to work harder to get rid of the toxic breakdown products. Part of the ammonia produced when protein is broken down is excreted through the skin. The effects of the high proportion of protein in the feed depending on the type of amino acids. High-quality and easily digestible protein is easily broken down and quickly excreted. If the protein is of inferior quality, the body has to invest more energy in breaking it down.
If the dog regularly receives dog food with inferior protein, water will be retained in the skin. The hair falls out. The formation of dog dander is increased.
Why does the dog have so many scales?
Dandruff occurs when the skin is out of balance. She dries up. More and more skin cells die off and are shed.
Food allergies
Dog food contains many substances such as soy, wheat or other grains containing gluten that can cause allergies. The immune system attacks its own tissue. The skin is red and irritated. The surface is dry and covered with numerous dog dander. Feed allergies have increased significantly in recent times. The immune system of many dogs is overloaded by environmental stimuli. The soy and grain contained in industrial dog food promotes the development of food allergies when fed over a longer period of time.
The scales can be observed especially on the abdomen, armpits and inner thighs. Hair has fallen out in these areas due to the dog constantly licking itself. The skin is dry and covered with small white scales.
Thyroid disorders
If the thyroid gland is underactive, the fur will grow slowly. The hair breaks off. The skin is darkly pigmented. White scales lie on the black skin. Because of the itching, the dog scratches constantly.
Genetic causes
In some dog breeds, such as the Basset Hound, Shar Pei and Cocker Spaniel, the sebum glands in the skin produce a larger amount of secretion. The sebum accumulates mainly in the skin folds of the dogs. The scales mixed with the sebum form a yellowish, oily film on the skin’s surface. This skin condition is also known as primary seborrheic dermatitis.
With age, the skin is drier
In older dogs, the fluid balance changes. The skin is drier and more flaky. The unsaturated fatty acids are no longer as well absorbed from the intestine.
Stress and psychological problems cause dandruff
In the case of mental problems, the dogs repeatedly lick the skin. The skin surface is irritated and inflamed. More and more skin flakes detach from the cornea. Long-lasting stress, which the dog can no longer compensate for, produces large amounts of cortisol in the adrenal cortex. The stress hormone causes inflammation and irritation of the skin. White dog scales are formed.
Wrong care
Sometimes when the dog’s fur is very dirty, it is absolutely necessary to bathe it. If the wrong shampoo is used, the skin reacts with irritation and dries out. The skin barrier is destroyed and scales form. The pH of the dog’s skin is slightly acidic. If pH-neutral shampoos are used, as is the case with humans, the skin is no longer in balance. The greasy film is washed off when bathing. It takes up to four days for the new sebum to redistribute itself over the entire surface of the skin.
What helps against itching in dogs?
Coconut oil and aloe vera have a calming effect and relieve itching. If there is no improvement after a short time, the dog must be treated by a veterinarian.
First aid and treatment for dandruff in dogs
If dog dander is already visible, the balance of the skin should be restored. Various anti-dandruff remedies can be used.
Moisturizing dog shampoo
To soothe the skin, a mild dog shampoo with an acidic pH should be used for bathing. Shampoos with lactobacilli (lactic acid bacteria) support the development of a new acid mantle. In the case of yellowish, oily scales, the dog needs a dog shampoo that regulates sebum production and removes the fat with the scales from the coat.
Unsaturated fatty acids for spotting
Ampoules with unsaturated fatty acids are dropped onto the skin in the shoulder and base of the tail area. The omega-3 fatty acids are distributed throughout the skin. The sebum production is reduced. A healthy skin barrier builds up.
Antiparasitics
If there is an infestation with fleas or mites, the dog should be treated with anti-parasitic drugs. Tablets or spot-on preparations, which are available from a veterinarian or in the pharmacy, are suitable for this.
If there is a worm infestation, a worm treatment should be carried out.
Improvement of the indoor climate
Especially in winter, dandruff often forms due to room air with insufficient humidity. An air humidifier, which is attached directly to the radiator, ensures that the air is humidified. The dog’s skin does not dry out. Indoor plants such as the golden palm generally improve the air in the room. The palm trees release moisture and oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide and pollutants.
What can you do about dry skin in dogs?
So that the dog’s skin is better supplied with moisture, care should be taken to ensure a good room climate with appropriate humidity. Aloe Vera supports the storage of water molecules in the skin. Fresh drinking water must always be available to the dog so that it can drink enough liquid.
Thorough grooming
Grooming is not only necessary during the moult, but throughout the year. With brushes, combs and curry combs suitable for the type of coat, it is possible to remove the loose hair and air the coat. The massage with the brush stimulates blood circulation in the skin. Grooming gloves and massage brushes are particularly good at promoting skin health. If scales are already present, they can be brushed out by carefully brushing against the coat line.
Feed supplements compensate for a lack of nutrients
If the dog has a higher need for vitamins and minerals as a result of pregnancy or illness, this can be compensated for by feeding feed supplements.
Linseed oil, coconut oil, salmon oil, and hemp oil are good for an increased supply of unsaturated fatty acids. Biotin, vitamin A and D stimulate the formation of new skin cells. Zinc prevents excessive cornification of the top layer of skin.
Home remedies for dog dandruff
- Irritated and scaly skin is soothed with a spray containing chamomile tea or eyebright tea
- Oily yellow dandruff can be easily removed from the hair and irritated skin with a mixture of nettle tea and field pansy tea.
- Apple cider vinegar diluted with water supports the build-up of the skin’s protective acid mantle. If bloody cracks in the skin are visible, apple cider vinegar should not be used.
- So that the skin does not dry out from the vinegar bath, a nut-sized piece of coconut oil should then be kneaded into the fur. The coconut oil also helps prevent reinfestation with parasites.
- Inflamed, scaly skin is soothed by applying towels with sage tea and rosemary tea. If the skin is very red and there are many scales between the hair, a tea made from willow bark should be added to this mixture. (Mixing ratio: all teas in equal parts). The willow bark has an astringent and anti-inflammatory effect due to the tannins it contains and reduces sebum production.
- Two to three drops of evening primrose oil on the back of the neck and on the base of the tail accelerate the build-up of the skin’s protective lipid layer. At the same time, the evening primrose oil soothes the sebaceous glands. The production of sebum decreases.
- Cooling aloe vera gel soothes irritated skin, reduces inflammation and promotes the elasticity of the new skin through the faster formation of collagen fibers.
- Colloidal silver soothes irritated skin. The sebum production is reduced. The skin cells can regenerate more quickly and do not become horny as quickly.
Preventive measures against dandruff in dogs
Healthy, balanced and nutritious food is particularly important to prevent dog dander from forming. The food must contain all the amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and trace elements that the dog needs. The grain and sugar content in the feed should be low in order not to promote the development of feed allergies.
Detox cures for dogs
During the change of coat, the dog’s skin needs extra support. Now is also the right time for a detox. Milk thistle stimulates and supports the work of the liver. Goldenrod and dandelion stimulate the production of urine and promote the excretion of metabolic end products. Propolis drops increase the formation of new skin cells and reduce the formation of dandruff.
Berths with silver
Silver threads act as a natural antibiotic and antiparasitic agent. Fleas cannot reproduce in these beds and die off. In addition, a spot-on against fleas and ticks should always be applied as a preventive measure.
Good hygiene
Not only the lying surfaces, but also the brushes and combs must be cleaned regularly and treated with a mild disinfectant. Good hygiene is the only way to reduce the transmission of fleas, mites, bacteria and skin fungi.
It is not always necessary to use a chemical disinfectant. Fresh sliced ginger root boiled in water and mixed with honey is a good natural disinfectant. To increase the cleaning effect, one to two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar can be mixed in.
Conclusion – dog dander should be taken seriously!
Dog dander is not always a sign of a serious skin condition. The balance of the skin is often disturbed. This can be brought back into balance with home remedies. If new scales keep forming, or if the general condition and behavior of the dog is disturbed, a veterinarian should always be consulted to clarify the cause of the scale formation through an examination.
