Why is my dog's skin dry and flaky, and his coat losing its softness?

What you're describing does look like dry skin. though some breeds can have naturally coarse/dry skin and fur as well. However, with any skin condition, a complete workup with your vet first is a good idea. They can help rule out any health issues, nutritional problems or skin issues (bacteria, fungus, yeast, etc) that need to be addressed. Making sure to feed a balanced diet or even a sensitive skin food may help in addition to supplements such as fish oils or vitamin E. Not bathing too often and using an aloe/oatmeal shampoo can also help keep the coat frying overdrying and getting flaky.

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!

You can add an essential fatty acid supplement, such as DermCaps or EicosaCaps, to his diet. EFAs may promote healthy skin and coat and could decrease any itching or inflammation. An e-collar (cone) ca be used to prevent excessive licking or chewing. Delaney should be examined by your veterinarian to diagnose parasites (fleas or mites), allergies, infection (bacterial or fungal) and to have blood drawn to submit for thyroid testing. Hypothyroidism can result in hair loss and other skin conditions.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to skin allergies mostly due to the fact that it started after moving. Adding fish oil can be considered regardless to help with the dry skin. You can use the commercial kind for dogs. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

The skin is unhealthy for some reason. This is usually caused by some irritation of the skin. The skin is most commonly irritated from allergies, fleas, mites, or inappropriate bathing. The irritation can then cause the skin to get infected with yeast and bacteria. The best thing you can do now is give a bath with a medicated dog shampoo (you can find this at the pet store). Follow the shampoo with an oatmeal or aloe conditioner labeled for dogs. Repeat the bath every other day for two weeks. If that's helping, then repeat the bath every week for a month. If all is good after that, then she should be OK to have a once monthly bath with normal dog shampoo. If the bath is not helping, or she's getting worse, then she needs to go to the vet. The vet will be able to determine if something else is wrong and if further treatment is needed.

Hello. It is very possible that Fifi may be developing some allergies or sensitivities to things in her environment. It could be inhaled like pollens & dust, or contact to grass, cleaners in the house or products used outdoors on the lawn. Since her skin looks dry & scaly, then you want to use a moisturizing, oatmeal based shampoo, something like Dermal Soothe shampoo that is available on Amazon. I also recommend starting Fifi on a good omega 3 fatty acid. Nordic Naturals fish oil for dogs, also available on Amazon is an excellent choice. If any redness or irritation should occur, stop the shampoo & please see your veterinarian for further diagnostics. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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!