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What causes dry, flaky skin on my puppy's tail and how to treat it?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | American Pit Bull Terrier | Male | unneutered

My puppy. Has something that. Look like dry skin. On his tail

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on September 8th, 2016

Dry skin can be common on dogs for many different reasons. Give the location of it (on his tail), fleas might be the most likely cause of Obadiah's dry skin. With flea infestations, you see specific focus on the back and tail. If he isn't up to date on his flea medications, I recommend getting him a spot on treatment such as Advantage or Revolution. I'm not sure how old he is, but he needs to be at least 7 weeks of age in order to use these products, and they will have to be used once a month. You will also have to disinfect the environment. Wash his bedding in hot soapy water, and vacuum the furniture and carpet surfaces. You can use a spray to kill fleas in the house, such as Indorex, or a flea bomb would work well to kill the fleas in the home.

3Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA
Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer
Poor pup! Without being able to see what his skin looks like, it's difficult to say for sure what this might be. Puppies can sometimes get areas of dry skin, due to poor nutrition or low humidity, or sometimes for no obvious reason. If he is acting normal otherwise and he isn't itchy or losing hair, then you could try giving an omega-3 fatty acid supplement such as Welactin and feeding a high quality puppy food to make sure he's getting all the nutrients he needs.

If he is losing hair in this area, or if it seems itchy, crusty, or painful, then it's likely that he has a skin problem of some kind. Some common possibilities in a young puppy would include allergies (food allergies, or an allergy to something in the environment such as grass or pollen), fleas, a bacterial or fungal skin infection, or skin mites (mange). In that case, I would recommend having Obadiah examined by a vet when you are able to - he/she can do a simple test called a skin scrape to help determine the problem and get him started on appropriate medication to treat it.
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS
Veterinarian
Sorry I hit submit too soon! The scratching can also be caused by mange, ringworm, or allergies. If he is up to date on his flea treatment, I recommend taking him into your vet for an exam. Your vet can do blood tests, skin scrapings, and use a Wood's lamp to diagnose allergies, mites, and ringworm. Once the cause of the itching is found, your vet can diagnose the appropriate treatment. I recommend taking him into the vet today or tomorrow.
3Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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