Is my dog's anxiety linked to her recurring dry, flaky skin?

Little bit is SO adorable! I do not think dry skin and anxiety are connected. I think from the photos Little Bit's coat looks great. I cannot see the skin. Dry skin can be from allergies, dry air, too much bathing, poor nutrition, etc.....So, if you are noticing dry skin I would suggest you start her on a fish oil supplement like this one: http://www.allivet.com/p-5328-alaskan-salmon-oil-16-oz.aspx Give it a couple weeks and see if it helps. If not, I suggest you take Little Bit to see your vet. Hope this helps! Best wishes.

If it's a thyroid problem, then this will eventually get better once she starts treatment. In the meantime, you can help by giving a bath with a medicated shampoo followed by a conditioner with the active ingredient of phytosphingosine. The product at the link below would be ideal. https://www.amazon.com/Douxo-Chlorhexidine-Shampoo-16-9-oz/dp/B000O1HEJ0 I hope that helps and all is well with Mya.

Hello, I am sorry to hear about Bentley. It is possible that Bentley is experiencing environmental allergies if he is itchy and having dry/flaky skin. Another sign of environmental allergies can be licking/ chewing on paws. If Bentley continues to itch and have skin problems medications can be added to help minimize his environmental allergies. Alternatively it is possible that Bailey is having skin problems for another reason. The areas that you describe are most commonly affected in pets that are dealing with a flea problem. If you notice any dark colored debris in those areas, this could potentially be the problem. Bentley could also have a skin infection or other problem. If he continues to itch and experience dandruff I would recommend having him evaluated by a veterinarian. They may perform skin tests such as a skin scrape or impression smear to look for infection and other abnormalities. Hope this helps, good luck!

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! Dry, flaky skin alone is not a sign of allergies. [Allergies](https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-tell-if-your-pet-has-allergies/) more often involve scratching, hair loss, skin and ear infections. Dry, flaky skin alone can be a result of diet, weather (heat being on inside) and in certain endocrine conditions (low thyroid, Cushings) or other dermatological conditions like Seborrhea. I would start with bathing with a medicated shampoo once weekly. Leave the lather on for 10 mins before rinsing. Keratolux from Virbac is an excellent product, but really [any mild shampoo](https://www.petco.com/category/dog/dog-grooming-and-bathing/dog-shampoos-conditioners-sprays/dog-shampoos/dry-skin-dog-shampoos) will do. Just be sure you rinse it well; I suggest that you rinse with warm (not hot!) water for at least 10 minutes to ensure that all of the residue is gone. I would also consider adding in Omega 3 fish oils. Choose a high quality brand that is made specifically for dogs. I hope this helps!

Any treatment will depend on the underlying cause. It could be a skin infection or allergic reaction or even an autoimmune condition. An exam with your veterinarian or a veterinary dermatologist would be needed for a definitive diagnosis. You can discuss allergy testing, hydrolyzed diets, food elimination trials as well as antihistamine use with your vet. In the meantime, if your dog is scratching, use an e-collar (cone) to prevent further trauma. Consider adding an essential fatty acid (EFA) supplement to the diet. EFAs can promote a healthy [skin and coat](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/category/dog/dog-health-and-wellness/dog-vitamins/dog-skin-and-coat). Choose a good quality fish oil as a source of EFAs. Systemic or topical antibiotics or antifungals can treat bacterial or yeast infection. Allergies can be frustrating to diagnose since they have many causes. Once diagnosed, most allergies can be managed with a combination of medication and diet.

There are many possible causes of scaling skin and crusts, including skin infections from allergies (flea, food or environmental) and even some endocrine/metabolic conditions (hypothyroidism or Cushing's disease). If Xara is licking her paws excessively, this is a sign of itchiness. Since none of the lesions appear irritated, consider bathing her with a gentle dog oatmeal based shampoo and closely examine her for signs of fleas or flea dirt, which resembles a fleck of pepper. Make sure she is on a high quality flea preventative once a month (Nexgard, Bravecto, Advantix, Comfortis/Trifexis). Consider changing her diet to one with a different protein source, but do so gradually over 5-7 days. Diet changes can take 2-3 months to achieve efficacy. Obviously if her skin begins to look worse or does not improve with these measures, take her to her vet for an exam.

Flaky, scaly skin can be caused by a number of conditions, including allergies, ringworm, mange, endocrine/metabolic conditions (hypothyroidism, Cushing's disease), among others. It is possible that either the new shampoo or glucosamine supplement may be related to the scaling if Boscoe is allergic to either product. However, oatmeal shampoos are most commonly soothing to the skin and rarely cause reactions. Anti-seborrhea shampoos (here is one example: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=21564) can be beneficial for oil, flaky skin, but require twice weekly baths initially. I recommend switching back to Cosequin rather than a generic glucosamine supplement since there is very little regulation and testing behind any supplement and Cosequin is manufactured by a highly reputable company. If Boscoe's flaky skin continues or if you notice any other changes in his water consumption, urination, energy level, or appetite, he should go to his vet for further evaluation. I hope that all goes well!