My puppy has dry, peeling skin after his first bath. Is this normal?

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!

Bathing can strip the coat of its natural oils, so it is best to make sure you are using a shampoo designed for puppies, or one that has aloe or oatmeal in it that can help soothe the skin after a bath. Making sure not to bathe too often, and using pet or baby wipes in between baths can help keep the coat clean without removing the healthy oils from the skin. A complete and balanced puppy food can also help with dry skin. If you see any itching or redness, or the skin continues to be irritated, having a vet look is always a good idea.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Yes, dogs will shed after a bath. They also shed a lot if they have skin problems like fleas or an infection. If you have bathed him daily for 4 days in a row then that could be causing excessive hair loss and could dry out his skin. If he has fleas I recommend using a long lasting flea preventative like Nexgard, Bravecto, Simparica, or the Seresto collar. Flea baths only last a day and are not good preventatives. Good luck!

Hello, thank you for using PetCoach. This looks normal to me based on the circumstances. I would recommend you apply this mousse product which may help the hair to re-grow faster and will moisturize the skin. ( http://www.allivet.com/p-5668-dermoscent-essential-mousse-for-dogs-150-ml.aspx ) Hope this helps. Best wishes!

I would advise trying an oatmeal bath to calm his skin, or perhaps a soothing gentle baby shampoo. Then try not to bathe him very frequently. Baths generally should be done infrequently as they remove the natural oils In a dogs skin which keep it healthy. Here are a few more tips for healthy skin and coats: Healthy premium dog food Fish oil supplements Infrequent bathing Flea prevention Here are some excellent resources to help as well; https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-ways-to-improve-your-dog-s-skin-coat/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-prevent-itching-in-pets/ If Bocephus is very itchy you may try some Benadryl as some pet owners find this helpful. Here is a link in using Benadryl for allergic reactions; https://www.petcoach.co/article/6-human-medications-that-are-sometimes-safe-for-sick-pets/

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Dante. He is in a great diet. I recommend using a shampoo and cream rinse approved for use in puppies only as puppies have sensitive skin. A fatty acid or oatmeal based formula is most moisturizing. If his coat quality does not improve though, he will need to see a veterinarian. I hope this information helps!

Flakes on the skin are usually from dry skin. You can get rid of the dry skin over time by bathing him in a moisturizing shampoo weekly and brushing his coat daily. Feeding a fatty acid supplement will improve his coat from the inside out. Please make sure you are using flea prevention as scratching from fleas will often irritate the skin and cause flaking of the skin. Also feeding a good quality food for sensitive skin or a food with salmon or fish in it will add omega 3 to the diet to improve the coat. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you get answers to your veterinary questions.