Dogs, like people, can have dandruff. However, unlike people, they’re not at all embarrassed by it, and they don’t mind it showing up on their dark coat. For their owners, it’s more of a problem. It’s not fun to cuddle and play with your dog, and have little white flakes of skin fall all over you.

What Causes Dandruff In Dogs?

Dandruff and flaky skin in dogs are usually caused by a condition called seborrhea sicca.

Normal round skin cells become dry and flat scales of keratin as they age and move up to the surface of the skin. It’s normal for these scales to flake off. In dogs with seborrhea, the skin cells are too quick to turn into the keratin scales, so there’s an excess of these scales on the skin. They fall off in much larger quantities, causing small white dandruff flakes. These dogs also usually have abnormal oil glands in the skin. The glands don’t produce enough oils, which results in drying and scaling of the skin surface, flaky skin and dandruff.

Some breeds of dogs have a genetic tendency to seborrhea. This is called primary seborrhea, and it’s something that isn’t ever cured, but is just managed. Breeds which suffer from primary seborrhea include German Shepherd Dogs, American Cocker Spaniels, Basset Hounds and Dachshunds.

Most dogs with flaky skin suffer from secondary seborrhea, where there is a primary underlying disease causing the excessive skin flaking. The primary disease could be as common as a flea allergy, or could be an internal disorder such as an under active thyroid gland, or a nutritional deficiency.

In many cases, the changes to the surface of the skin allow the normal skin micro-organisms to multiply, causing infection. The result is red, itchy, irritated and often painful skin.

Controlling The Crusts

It can be very difficult to treat flaky skin in dogs, and it will take commitment from both you and your vet. It’s important to find out what the underlying cause is, because unless you treat that, you’ll never get the dandruff under control. This can mean blood tests to check hormone levels, low allergy food trials to see if a food allergy is involved, and in extreme cases, a skin biopsy.

While you’re working on that challenge, there are steps you can take to treat the secondary dryness and scaliness that’s affecting your dog’s good looks.

1. If your vet feels there is a secondary infection, he may prescribe antibiotics or anti fungal medication to get that under control.

2. An appropriate shampoo can work wonders in removing excessive skin flakes and making your dog much nicer to hug. Bubbles’n Beads contains some rain forest remedies to help combat skin infections, and also plant ingredients which reduce skin flaking and soothe inflammation. It’s micro beads deliver nourishing vitamins and conditioners to the skin, and it will replenish cells to heal damaged skin.

3. Because seborrhea is usually secondary to an internal problem, it’s important to also treat it internally. Healthy Skin Shiny Coat is an all natural supplement which works from the inside to eliminate toxins that affect your dog’s skin, and relieve itching and inflammation.

Your and your dog’s social life needn’t be affected by his dandruff. By using a combination of Bubbles’n Beads, and Healthy Skin Shiny Coat, you’ll find your dog’s skin is less flaky, and his coat is in great condition. You’ll be proud to be seen with him.

Dealing with dog hair is a normal part of owning a dog. Every dog sheds to some degree. Even "non shedding" breeds such as Poodles and Pulis do lose their hair, but not as much as other breeds. Some dogs shed once a year, some dogs twice. Some do it over a period of weeks, and others do it all at once. Now that can be impressive!

Shedding is usually seasonal, and is most influenced by the amount of light a dog is exposed to. Because many of our pet dogs live inside with us, they’re exposed to fairly constant light. This means that they’re more likely to shed continuously, rather than in cycles.

What’s Normal?

Many people take their dogs to their veterinarian, concerned that their pet is losing too much hair. However, there may not be anything medically wrong with your dog, and your vet may not be able to do much about it. If your dog’s hair coat looks healthy, and you can’t see patches of bare skin through the hair, it’s not likely to be a medical problem.

Active dogs appear to shed less than dogs that are couch potatoes. The increased activity helps them loosen the hair, and it falls out easier. Elderly dogs or overweight animals are less active, so the hair isn’t naturally worn off as it would be if they were out walking or playing.

Female dogs lose their coat twice yearly. This is related to their hormonal cycles. Also, bitches that have raised a litter often shed more than normal, and end up with a thin sparse coat.

However, there are times where excessive shedding is related to an illness such as hypothyroidism, or follows an anesthetic or surgery.

Five Steps to Help Control Shedding

If you’re concerned that your dog is losing too much hair, and you feel like you’re living in a blizzard, it’s important to have your dog examined by your vet. If everything is normal and he can’t find any reason for the hair loss, then it’s most likely a management problem.

While you can’t stop your dog shedding, here are 5 steps you can take to keep our dog’s coat in the best condition, which results in less hair for you to sweep up.

1. Make sure your dog is on a good quality diet like that from The Honest Kitchen .

2. To keep a coat healthy, you need to treat it from the inside. Healthy Skin Shiny Coat is an all natural tonic for dogs which detoxifies their system and results in a general improvement in their health. This leads to a more lustrous shiny coat.

3. Give him plenty of exercise, to encourage the hair to fall out.

4. A gentle shampoo and towel dry will also help remove any loose hairs. Bubbles ‘n Beads two in one shampoo and conditioner is the perfect product to keep your dog’s coat in great shape. It contains a blend of 14 amino acids to improve coat strength, and its conditioning microbeads deliver conditioning vitamins directly to the hair follicle. The result is a stronger, shinier, healthier coat. The beads also act as an exfoliant which helps to ease away hair.

5. Regular brushing is very good for his coat’s condition, as it spreads skin oil along the hair and adds a healthy shine. Try the Furminator grooming tool, it is amazing!

Dog hair is supposed to shed. Keeping your dog’s coat in good condition will reduce the amount of hair he loses in your home, and save you time spent in doing housework - time you can then spend playing with him!

Lili the Pug gets special care by her owner Jeannine.

Caring for Wrinkly Dogs

Some of the most popular breeds of dogs today are breeds with wrinkles — cute little Pugs, stout Bulldogs, Shar Peis, and many of the Mastiff or Molusser breeds. These breeds may have wrinkles only on their faces or they may have wrinkly skin all over their bodies. In either case, their owners may have fallen in love with them before realizing that it takes some extra effort to care for a dog with wrinkly skin. Without special care these dogs can develop serious skin problems. But if you’re willing to give your dog’s wrinkles some regular maintenance you can prevent these skin problems from occurring.

Wrinkles are beautiful

If you have a dog with facial wrinkles, such as Pugs, you should use a very gentle wipe to clean their wrinkles on a daily basis. If you begin wiping your dog’s wrinkles when he’s a puppy he should have no problem with this daily regimen. He will probably enjoy the attention. If you have acquired an adult dog with a wrinkled face, you may have to help him get used to the idea. Clean your dog’s wrinkles slowly, give your dog lots of treats, and you can help him adapt to having his wrinkles cleaned.

Pre-Moistened pads are very good to use to clean your dog’s wrinkles. They’re alcohol-free and safe to use on even the youngest puppy. Try Eye Pads , they don’t contain any pharmaceuticals or chemicals. You can rub Eye Pads with and against the grain of your dog’s fur to thoroughly clean inside the folds of his wrinkles – but always rub very gently. You don’t want to irritate your dog’s skin. Eye Pads contain all-natural colloidal silver that helps prevent the growth of bacteria.

More wrinkles!

Some breeds, such as Shar Pei and the Mastiff breeds, have wrinkles all over. Their wrinkles need to be wiped all over their bodies. When wiping these dogs you should pay special attention to anyplace where your dog may seem to be itchy. This can be a sign that there is dirt collecting in the folds of the wrinkles. This can lead to irritation and even an infection if you don’t clean your dog frequently. This is one of the reasons that dogs with wrinkly skin can have skin problems.

In addition to this daily wrinkle care you should take special care to bathe your wrinkly dog at least once a month with a gentle shampoo to soothe any irritated skin. Shampoos with colloidal oatmeal are especially good for dogs with wrinkly skin and for skin irritations such as itchy and dry skin. Comfy Dog Oatmeal Shampoo is a good choice for dogs with wrinkly skin and skin irritations.

You’ll need to gently — very gently — scrub between all of your dog’s wrinkles during each bath. Make sure that you rinse your dog completely, too. Rinsing your dog is perhaps even more important that the bath itself since any shampoo residue left behind can cause skin irritations, especially between your dog’s wrinkles. Dogs with wrinkles are particularly prone to itching and rashes so be very careful to rinse away all traces of shampoo. If you use a conditioner make sure that you use an all-natural conditioner that will soothe your dog’s skin.

There’s no need to blow dry a wrinkled dog. They tend to already have dry skin and blow drying them will likely dry out the top layer of skin and may leave moisture in the folds of their skin. Simply towel dry a wrinkly dog and let him air dry.

See what the vet thinks

All dogs should see the vet at least once a year. Your wrinkly dog is no exception. When you take your wrinkly dog to the vet, ask your vet to pay special attention to your dog’s skin. Make sure that he or she checks the folds of your dog’s wrinkles and looks for any skin irritations or other problems. Whether your dog has face wrinkles or wrinkles all over his body, see that your vet gives your dog’s skin a thorough going over. If your vet finds any skin problems he or she will probably prescribe a topical spray or cream to help the symptoms.

Wrinkly dogs are all beautiful in their own unique ways. If you have a wrinkly dog take extra special care of his skin and your dog’s wrinkles shouldn’t give you any trouble at all.

4 Steps To DIY Dog Grooming

When money is tight, we all try and cut back on spending where we can. Having your dog professionally groomed on a regular basis can make a big dent in the family budget. Grooming your dog is an important part of his care, because it helps prevent skin and coat problems. Not only that, there will be more hands-on love and affection in his life if he’s clean and smells nice.

With a bit of practice and the right equipment, you can groom your dog yourself and save quite a few dollars. You may not be able to trim him into a perfect "show clip" but you can keep him looking quite respectable.

When you’re starting out, you’ll need to invest in a few grooming products such as shampoos, brushes and nail clippers, but this is money well spent.

Like the Dreadlocks Look?

The first step in grooming your dog is to thoroughly brush his coat. This will get rid of loose hair and any little clumps of dirt that are stuck in his coat. If your dog’s coat is long, unless you do in fact like the dreadlocks look, you need to carefully comb out any knots and mats, or they’ll be almost impossible to get out after his bath.

If there are one or two particularly stubborn tangles that just won’t comb out, give them a spray with Calming Aromatherapy Spritzer . This makes it much easier to comb out the knots, and it also contains lavender essential oil. Lavender is well known to have a calming effect, and it can make your grooming session much more relaxing for your dog.

It’s not a good idea to use a human hairbrush on your dog. Use a specific dog brush that’s suitable for his coat type. A slicker brush is ideal for a longer coat, whereas a short coat often just needs a quick once over with a curry brush.

Shampoo, Blow Dry and Style Cut

Let’s face it - when you bathe your dog, the odds are that you too are going to end up more than a little wet! So, make it more comfortable for both of you, and use lukewarm water. Whether you wash your dog in the bath tub, in the shower or out in the backyard, he’ll feel much more secure with a non slip surface to stand on.

Your choice of shampoo is very important. Choosing a product that doesn’t suit your dog’s coat can leave your dog itchy and scratching. Bubbles ‘n Beads is a two in one shampoo and conditioner that will gently but thoroughly clean his coat. It then delivers conditioning vitamins right down to the hair roots to make his coat stronger, softer and shinier.

Wet your dog all over, apply the shampoo evenly over his body, and lather thoroughly. Make sure you rinse him well and remove all of the shampoo from his coat. Watch out - he will shake when you least expect it, and you’ll end up drenched. There is nothing more affectionate or loving than a wet dog!

If your dog has a long coat which tends to tangle, it’s a good idea to spray his coat lightly with Calming Aromatherapy Spritzer after his rinse, and massage it into his coat. He’ll be much easier to brush him next time.

You can also learn to clip your dog if you wish. You’ll need a good set of clippers, and this is one area where you shouldn’t skimp. It’s worth investing in quality.

There are two ways you can clip him. You can read books, watch videos and learn how to give him the style cut that’s typical of his breed. It’s a lot of work, but if you like that look, you can do it. Alternatively you can clip him short all over, and just let the hair grow out. It doesn’t matter which way you choose; it’ll take practice to get it right, and in the meantime, he may have a few "bad hair days".

The Eyes (And Ears!) Have It

Some breeds of dogs are prone to tear staining . The dark stains extending below the eyes can really stand out, particularly in a light colored dog. Fortunately they’re easy to remove with Eye P ads containing Eyebright, Golden Seal and Colloidal Silver. These ingredients will clean away the tear staining and help prevent it recurring.

If your dog has long hair around the eyes, you can trim it short with round ended scissors. This can be scary stuff - one wrong move and you run the risk of poking him in the eye. You may want to have an extra pair of hands to hold his head steady while you do the trimming.

Have a look inside your dog’s ears. Keep his ear canals free of hair, to allow air to circulate and prevent them from staying moist. You can do this by gently plucking the hair with tweezers or forceps. Make sure you only grab a few hairs at a time, or it will hurt. If he has particularly dirty ears, clean them with an ear cleaning solution. Squeeze some solution into his ear, massage the ear base to move it around, then gently wipe it out with cotton balls. Don’t use Q Tips in his ear - if he moves his head, you could injure his eardrum.

Pedicure Time

The thought of clipping their dog’s toenails is enough to strike fear into the hearts of many dog owners. With good reason - many dogs hate having their toenails cut, they twist and turn, and it ends up being stressful for both of you.

Use good quality clippers and make sure they’re sharp. Cheaper clippers often crush the nail before they cut, and this hurts.

How short can you cut a toenail? It’s easy if your dog has white toenails - you can see the pink blood vessel, and avoid cutting into it. Black toenails are harder. It’s better to err on the side of caution, and nibble away at the nail, a little at a time.

If you do happen to cut the quick, it does sting, and it seems to bleed a lot! It’s handy to have some styptic powder in your grooming kit for just such occasions. Sprinkle a little on the bleeding nail and it will stop very quickly.

Long haired dogs also look tidier if you trim the hair around and between the toes with scissors. And if your dog’s paws are feeling rough and ragged, be sure to heal and protect them. Try bowWOW Butter Balm which is a quick relief soothing treatment for dry, cracked noses and paws. Read more about paw care here

Owning a dog costs money, but there are some areas where you don’t want to skimp. Good food, parasite control and veterinary care are essential, and can’t be avoided. If you learn to groom your dog yourself, you could save hundreds of dollars a year. When your dog gets admiring glances as you walk down the street, you’ll also have the satisfaction of knowing you did it yourself!!

For more tips on grooming your own dog, click here.

Grooming an anxious dog? Try these tips

Whether it’s trimming nails or trying to bathe a dog, if you’re a dog groomer then you probably see anxious dogs on a daily basis and if you have an anxious dog then you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about! No matter how experienced you are, how good at your job, and how much effort you put into keeping a dog calm, there are some dogs that simply don’t like to be groomed. Maybe they’ve had a bad experience. Or perhaps the sound of clippers makes them nervous. It could be a lot of things. Fortunately, there are some easy ways to help calm nervous dogs.

A little bribe never hurts

Bribery may be illegal with humans but, when it comes to dogs, a little bribery will often get you what you want and there are no laws against it. Many dogs are very food-motivated. If you’re grooming a dog who is only slightly anxious then you can frequently help him overcome his nervousness by giving him a treat reward for being a good boy (or girl). This is a great way to help a puppy when he’s getting his first “big boy” hair cut or having his nails trimmed. If he’s never had a bad experience and he’s simply a little uncertain you can ease him through the entire grooming process by giving him a treat at each step. Clip a nail — give a treat. Clip another nail — another treat. And so on. Many puppies can’t wait to jump up on the grooming table if you practice this method.

Music soothes the savage…

If you’re bathing a dog who is seriously afraid, such as a dog who freezes up as soon as the water hits him, singing and crooning to him can help. Playing music in the grooming salon is often relaxing to dogs. Some groomers find that dogs enjoy having a television with nature programming on in the shop. This may not take away all of their anxiousness but it can help relax some dogs. Grooming products with soothing natural scents, such as lavender, can also help calm a nervous dog. You may want to try something like Calming Aromatherapy Spritzer , a leave-in conditioner and detangler with a calming lavender & chamomile scent.

An all-natural solution

You may also wish to try an all-natural solution such as Sleepytime Tonic to help an anxious dog. Sleepytime Tonic is a relaxing tonic that is perfect to help calm a nervous dog. It’s a herbal and a Flower Essence-based formula that can ease your dog into a calmer more relaxed state. It contains valerian and scullcap, two herbs that have been used for centuries in Europe to encourage relaxation and sleep. If you’re using it for a dog that you’re going to groom you can put a couple of drops on a treat or place a few drops directly into the dog’s mouth. Sleepytime Tonic works in about 20 minutes so you can give a dog a treat with a few drops on it when he first arrives and he will be ready for a bath or grooming in just a few minutes.

Grooming can be very stressful for some dogs and Sleepytime Tonic can help relax the dog so he won’t be so distressed about the whole process. You will be able to trim the dog’s nails, clean his ears, bathe him and finish his grooming without causing him the kind of upset that disturbs some dogs so much. Sleepytime Tonic is perfectly safe and completely non-toxic. But of course, get permission from the dog’s owner first.

The finishing touch

Remember, too, that simple brushing is often relaxing for many dogs. Try to begin grooming with brushing and let the dog relax a little so he feels more comfortable before you spring something on him that could cause him to become anxious, such as trimming his nails. Finish up with treats and lots of petting. Don’t forget to tell your client dog what a good boy he’s been and how great he looks. He’ll be happy to see you next time.