What Causes Dog Dandruff?
Known medically as seborrhea, dandruff is the presence of dead skin cells in your dogs coat of fur. They appear as tiny flesh-colored or white flakes throughout the hair.
Dog dandruff is almost always a side effect of another condition. Primary seborrhea, in which your dogs dandruff occurs alone without an underlying cause present, is very rare and is thought to be inherited genetically.
Secondary dandruff can be caused by a variety of conditions. Common causes include:
As you can see, dog dandruff is about more than simple dry skin. Sometimes, a serious medical issue is present. Lets take a look at the symptoms of dandruff in dogs so you know what to look for. Then, you can determine whether you need the help of your veterinarian to resolve the problem.
Can Dogs Get Dandruff Like Humans Do?
Yes! Just like in humans, dandruff occurs in dogs when flakes of dead skin cells start falling out of place and hanging out on the hair and wherever they land. While in humans dandruff usually affects the head, in dogs one of the most common places is the back (especially toward the tail).
You may see dry white “flakes” on your dogs coat or in places where he likes to hang out and nap. You may also notice that his skin is dry and be able to see it flake when giving him a good scratch.
The official name for dandruff is seborrheic dermatitis. Your dogs skin includes sebaceous glands that produce sebum, an oil that helps to keep the skin moist and flexible. When these glands produce too much sebum, it causes an imbalance in the skin. There are two forms of seborrheic dermatitis: seborrhea sicca (dry seborrhea) and seborrhea oleosa (oily seborrhea). Dogs can have a combination of the two.
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A variety of things can cause dandruff in dogs, and any breed or mix can be affected. In some cases it is a primary issue due to a genetic condition like primary seborrhea (most commonly in cocker spaniels, West Highland white terriers, and basset hounds) or ichthyosis (affected breeds include golden retrievers, Cavalier King Charles spaniels, and Yorkshire terriers). But more often it is either caused by something in the environment or an underlying health disorder.
Just like us, dogs can be afflicted by dry skin in the winter months when the air is drier than normal. Forced-air heating can exacerbate the issue. If you only notice dandruff on your dog during the winter months, lack of humidity in the air may be to blame.
Cheyletiella mites are large enough to be seen with the naked eye, and look very similar to white dandruff flakes. Like other external parasites such as fleas, ticks, and Demodex and Sarcoptes mites, these unwelcome guests live and feed on your dogs skin, and will cause him to be very itchy.
An improper diet can cause your dog to miss out on nutrients that he needs to keep his skin and coat healthy. Make sure that your dog is eating a high-quality, balanced dog food. Fatty acids such as omega-3s and omega-6s play a role in skin health, and some dogs benefit from additional supplementation of these in their diets. Its important to check with your vet before introducing anything new to your dogs diet, however.
As you know, obesity puts your dog at risk for a wide variety of health conditions. Poor skin health is just the tip of the iceberg.
Bacterial and fungal infections on the skin can also cause dandruff to occur. These tiny invaders may also take advantage of your dogs weakened skin due to other conditions to cause a secondary infection. Whether the dandruff or the skin infection came first, bacterial and fungal infections require appropriate treatment to get your dogs skin back to a healthy state.
Food and environmental allergies in dogs usually manifest as skin problems. Affected dogs may be itchy during particular times of the year, suffer from chronic ear and skin infections, or constantly lick their paws. Dandruff is usually just one symptom of a dog with allergies.
Diseases such as hypothyroidism and Cushings disease can cause changes in your dogs skin health. A weakened immune system will also make him more vulnerable to secondary infections.
Sometimes we dont know what causes seborrheic dermatitis, hence the use of the term idiopathic, or spontaneous. Dogs where the cause of flaky skin is unknown can be treated symptomatically to provide relief, and additional management care can be provided as needed.
How Is Dog Dandruff Treated?
Youve spotted a lot of white flakes around your dogs coat. Now what? You can deal with minor cases of dog dandruff at home. And, when dandruff becomes severe or home remedies dont work, turn to your veterinarian for help.
Dry, Itchy and Flaky Dog Skin? Brand New Holistic Remedy
Dandruff is dry, flaky skin. It’s made up of dead skin cells that fall from the skin, looking like white flakes.
However, simple things such as daily brushing, a balanced diet and dietary supplements can go a long way to sorting the problem out.
As with humans, dandruff can be a result of many factors in your dog’s health. Here are a few possibilities:
Seborrhea in a dog may be accompanied by greasy skin, as the grease glands are also overactive. The cause is unknown, but certain breeds are particularly prone to seborrhea, which points to a genetic link.
Also referred to as “walking dandruff,” cheyletiella mites make themselves comfortable in a dog’s skin and coat while they lay eggs.
These white mites are large enough to see with the naked eye and have the appearance of skin flakes.