[JLWillow]

Lately I've noticed more and more dandruff on my poor little dog. I brush my dog every couple days, and I'm not sure what I should do about bathing. I read here->(http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...4084258AAbaMaS) on the second post that bathing your dog is pretty much bad for it, because it washes away the natural fats and oils from the skin, and the more you wash it away, the faster and the more it comes back, and ruins the natural cycle or whatever the dog's skin has. A lot of dandruff remedies I've read include bathing and shampooing your dog a lot, and after reading what I've linked, I'd like to avoid shampooing my dog, assuming that what that person said on that page is true. I've also read that rubbing olive oil on the dog's skin can help with the dandruff problem, but I don't know how much I can trust that suggestion. Thoughts? Advice?

It just came to my attention that a dog's diet can effect the way a dog sheds and effect its skin. I feed my dog Pedigree dry food mixed with wet food, twice a day. If there's anything that I should change about that, let me know.

[merrow]

you can bath your dog as reg as u like my boy gets done ever 1-2 weeks but i use a good quality shampoo

i would recommend a oatmeal one or an evening-primrose one or show season do a lovely range

i would also ad an egg in to the dog food about 2 ish times a week or a tin of pilchards or any oily fish or feed a little splosh of olive oil on to there dinner i give an evening-primrose capsule fom the shop to my boy usally see any scurff go within a week

pedigree is a cheap food using cheap bulkers which lack real nutrients some dogs do fine on these brands of food and others not so much but adding the oil will really help

[JLWillow]

Thanks for the reply. Bump!

[Michiyo-Fir]

I don't agree with the bathing and dry skin problem. I believe if you use a very high quality shampoo for sensitive skin, it works wonders and actually moisturizes the skin and coat.

I'm not sure what breed of dog you have or what kind of coat your dog has but I've had great success with Vellus shampooing products. I usually use the shampoo, conditioner and then apply a product called Satin Creme. It's a cream mixture that moisturizes the coat as well as the skin. You can apply it to skin or coat if you feel either is dry.

I agree with merrow that oatmeal shampoo is great! Try to find one that is shampoo and conditioner. It usually doesn't cause flakey or dry skin.

I bathe my dogs once every week in the summer and 2 times a week in the winter. My breeder's show dogs bathe once every week and on a show weekend sometimes up to 3 times in 2 days! None of her dogs have dry skin or dandruff.

As for diet, try something with a little less fillers if you can. Perhaps the dandruff is a mild allergy from your dog? I've known some dogs that eat corn or wheat and then have itchy dry skin. I recommend Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul. Or if you have a Costco membership, the Kirkland brand dog food. CS is about $1/lb, Kirkland is $0.50/lb.