My dog sheds constantly with dry skin. What food or supplements help?

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!

Sounds like that brand of food isn't good for Calypso's skin. You can try another brand of food, or you can try giving her fish oil supplements. She can have 1,000 mg fish oil containing 300 mg of EPA/DHA combined for every 30 pounds of body weight. So for her, 600mg.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing her allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. You may add fish oil to her diet which may help with dry and flaky skin. 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!

It could be Cokey has dandruff. I'd try giving her a bath with a moisturizing shampoo for dogs. You can also add some fish oil to her diet. She can have 1,000 mg fish oil containing 300 mg of EPA/DHA combined. I hope this helps!

Hello. I would have Emma on a fish oil supplement year round. In order to calculate the right dose, look at the label for the amount of EPA & DHA it contains. Add them together & that is the total fish oil content per capsule. A 50-pound dog would need about 1500 mg of fish oil. For example, SnipCaps by Dechra contains about 850 mg per capsule, so in this case, 2 capsules are needed per day. I would also go back to whatever shampoo worked for you before. Do not stop when everything is OK. If he clears using the shampoo 2-3 time a week, then continue to bathe him at least once a week all year round ( maybe once every 2 weeks ), but do it regularly. The allergy medicine ( which I hope is Apoquel ) can also be given all year. When he is doing well, you might be able to cut back to 1 dose 1-2 times a week, & immediately bump it up if she flares. Also, talk with our vet about trying some of the different over the counter antihistamines to supplement your allergy medications. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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!

Jinx is adorable! I can see the scales on her coat in the picture. You can try giving her an omega 3 fish oil supplement to see if these fish oils will improve her coat condition. Personally, I find Welactin to be both safe and effective ( https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=19121 ). However, if the scaling continues despite this supplement or if she becomes excessively itchy, it may be worth taking Jinx to her vet for further evaluation to assure that there are not any other underlying health issues. Be sure that she is eating a high quality food (i.e. Royal Canin, Hill's Science Diet, or Purina ProPlan), as skin issues often develop with lower quality diets. I hope this helps and that all goes well for Jinx!