My chow puppy has dandruff all over. Why isn't shampoo working?

I'm sorry to hear that Zoe is having skin problems! There are a few different things that could cause itching and hair loss with dandruff in a puppy this age. The most common possibilities would be allergies (food allergies, or an allergy to something in the environment), fleas, a bacterial or fungal skin infection, or skin mites (mange). Treatment will depend on what the underlying problem is, so I would recommend having her examined by a vet as soon as you are able to. He/she can do some simple skin tests to help diagnose the problem and get her started on appropriate medication to treat it.

Poor pup! I will say that one condition I see commonly is flea allergic dermatitis. Very often I do not even find fleas on the animal! Reason being the dog develops an allergic reaction to the flea saliva. They can be bit only a few times and have a very severe reaction similar to some humans with bee stings. If he is itching at the base of his tail, I would venture to guess this is a flea allergy. It is possible, however, that it is something else .Fish oil can be a great natural anti-inflammatory and can improve skin and overall health. I often combine fish oils with a few drops of Vitamin E oil and place it atop their food. From a medical standpoint, treatments such as Apoquel( an oral pill), or Cytopoint (an injectable every 4-8 weeks) are two options to relieve the itching. I will say that in such a young dog, flea allergy is still at the top of my list. Good luck!

Hi. Skin problems can be difficult to diagnose and difficult to resolve. Your breed of dog tends to have allergies but as a puppy he may be a bit young for this. He could be having a reaction to something in his environment, have dry skin, or may have a parasite on the skin called Demodex. This parasite can cause fur loss in different areas and is more common in puppies as well as your breed of dog. You did not mention the exact medication that he is on so I cannot comment on that however I would recommend to add a high quality soothing and hydrating shampoo. Virbac has high quality shampoos that many veterinarians use and now it can be purchased on amazon! I particularly like the episoothe shampoo and resicort

I would give him fish oil in the diet to improve the coat. I recommend an aloe and oatmeal moisturizing shampoo, and make sure you are using a flea control product as having fleas causing excessive itching will irritate the skin. Also as he’s a puppy please make sure he’s been treated for internal parasites which can cause a poor hair coat. To control the itching you can use Benadryl. There is a recommended dosing schedule elsewhere on this website. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Arjun.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This looks like a focal infection. You can try to use a medicated shampoo containing chlorhexidine twice weekly for 2 weeks. If there is no improvement or in the meantime this appears to be getting worse, have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck and have a good night!

Blowing her coat is normal due to hormonal fluctuations. If she has hair loss with reddened skin then she may have fleas or a skin infection. Can you post again with some photos of the skin and also please tell us where you are accurately located so we can help you find treatment you can use in your area. Thank you.

Baby shampoos do tend to be fairly gentle for puppies, but any dog can be sensitive to any shampoo and it’s possible that it caused irritation or dried his skin out more. You may want to see if your vet carries a dog specific shampoo like Dermallay or HyLyt. It is common for young puppies to have dryer skin and act itchy, and most outgrow it within a few months. If he has developed skin wounds I’d recommend rechecking with your vet to make sure he doesn’t have a skin infection or parasites that weren’t obvious on his previous exam.