Will a wool blanket damage my dog's coat or cause hair issues?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Generally, licking something like a blanket is not necessarily a bad thing. However, my concern is more making sure that she is not swallowing the fur especially if it clumps as that could result in an obstruction. Good luck!

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.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question. I recommend using a mild or sensitive detergent, that it what I have used on my sheets and clothing, and have never had a problem with my dogs even when they sleep in the bed with me. Dryer sheets are fine too, the only problem comes if the dog ingests them. I hope this helps!

This could be a sign of disease when the hair coat changes. You can use things like Krillex Shed Free chews to see if the coat improves. These chews can be found online quite easily. If the hair coat continues to worsen or does not improve, I would recommend having her blood tested and see if there are any abnormalities. Thyroid level can oftentimes affect how the hair coat appears. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I'm sorry to hear Benelly is having fur issues. What you are describing can be due to a variety of reasons, including a skin infection (from getting so wet), mats or tangles in the fur, or another underlying issue. I would recommend having him evaluated by his regular veterinarian to determine if there is an underlying skin infection, as well as to have the areas shaved to remove any mats or debris. Good luck!

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 him allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed.  

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!

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. 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!