Is it safe to use my human moisturizer on my dog's dry, itchy skin?

I'm sorry to hear of your issues with Nala. Flaky skin and bumps can be indicative of several issues with the skin including fleas, a skin infection, mange or allergies. I would ensure that you were using a high-quality flea preventative. You can try giving Nala a bath with a soothing oatmeal dog shampoo; however, if the bumps are getting worse, Nala seems very itchy or you notice any open sores she should be seen by a veterinarian.

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach. Regular lotion is not the best idea because of added chemicals and other products that can harm the skin or dry it out. I recommend using a shampoo such as Douxo PS calm shampoo to help strengthen the skin and prevent dandruff. I also recommend using essential 6 spot on by dermoscent and welactin omega 3 fish oil capsules. I would bathe with the shampoo twice weekly. All of these can be found online quite easily. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.

You can wash Luna in an oatmeal shampoo and use the associated oatmeal conditioner, just make sure it’s a pet product, and this may help. Other things you can do is feed a diet aimed at skin health such as Nutro or Royal Canin. You can also add in an omega-3 fatty acid for dogs. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

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.

Hello, I am sorry to hear about Scooby! If his skin is just dry with no lesions or hairloss or itching, you could consider adding a fatty acid supplement to his diet. Some are available over the counter for dogs, such as Welactin for dogs http://www.nutramaxlabs.com/dog/dog-skin-coat-health/welactin . You could also use a creme rinse and conditioner to moisturize his skin, such as epi-soothe https://us.virbac.com/product/dermatology/epi-soothe-cream-rinse

For dry skin, the best oral supplementation for dogs seems to be fish oil. Be sure to use a liquid for a small dog, so you can give an accurate amount. We try to avoid putting anything on their skin that might be a problem for them to lick. There are some moisturizing sprays that may be an option for Sassy such as this one. https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/espree-natural-aloe-hydrating-mist Good luck! I hope that was helpful and answered your question. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your dog. No, I do not recommend using human shampoo on your dog. The pH is different between our skin and a dog's. This can cause irritation. I would use a moisturizing pet shampoo and conditioner such as an oatmeal or fatty acid based formula. I hope this information helps!