It is easy to overlook the dog’s skin, focusing more on the coat rather than what lies underneath that thick layer of coat. Taking care of your dog’s skin matters. The skin is your dog’s largest organ, it helps with temperature regulation, and plays an important role as a protective barrier against pathogens and environmental elements. Skin care is important to ensure the skin barrier stays healthy, preventing infections and problems like dryness, itchiness, and inflammation.

General Skin Care Tips for Dogs

Don’t Wash Your Dog Too Much

Many pet owners tend to bathe their dogs too often, thinking it keeps them cleaner and healthier. But dogs don’t need a bath often, unless they soiled themselves or have an existing skin condition that requires regular washing as advised by the vet. Most of the time, a quick brushing is all it takes to remove dirt. Overbathing, especially with harsh or cheap shampoos, can dry out their skin and cause the very skin problems (like itching and dandruff) you're trying to prevent.

The general advice is to bathe your dog once or twice every month. However, the actual frequency will depend on your dog’s coat-type, lifestyle, environment and skin condition. More importantly, always use a good-quality, pH-balanced shampoo made for dogs. Be sure to rinse well and dry your dog thoroughly to keep their skin healthy and comfortable. 

Brush Regularly

Brushing is not just for the coat. Brushing helps stimulate hair follicles and encourages the secretion of sebum, an oil that keeps the dog’s skin moisturized. Use a brush or comb based on your dog’s coat type. Bristle brushes are ideal for smooth-coated dogs, while undercoat rakes are best for double-coated breeds. For long-haired dogs, you’ll need a couple of different tools - a de-matting comb or a detangle brush, slicker brush and a deshedding rake if your dog has a super thick or double coat.  

Quality Dog Food

Quality dog food plays a huge role in keeping your dog’s skin healthy. Better ingredients equals better nutrition. You want whole proteins, healthy fats, and natural ingredients that nourish the skin from the inside out. Natural vitamins like A, E, and zinc from the dog’s food support cell repair and help protect against dry, cracked, or inflamed skin. A balanced omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids (from fish oil or flaxseed) helps keep the skin hydrated, reduce inflammation, and maintain a shiny coat.

Avoid dog foods with cheap fillers like corn or soy, that often add calories but with little nutrition. On top of this, low-quality dog foods often contain artificial colours, preservatives, or poor-quality proteins that can trigger allergies or sensitivities, leading to itchy, flaky skin.

Feeding your dog a balanced, high-quality diet doesn’t just make their coat look good. It also strengthens their skin, reduces itchiness, and helps prevent recurring skin problems. 

Supplement

There are many supplements formulated for the dog’s skin and coat health. At the very basic, you’ll want a supplement with balanced omega-6 and omega-3 content like the Australian pet organics (Skin, Coat and Nail) Certified Organic Supplements for Dogs for coat and skin health. For problem skin, with recurring itch, fungal or yeast infection, a postbiotic spray like this Furment Skin Spray for Dogs & Cats is often necessary to balance the skin microbiome and restore the skin’s protective barrier.

Parasite Prevention

Fleas and ticks can cause itchy, red bites that leave your dog’s skin irritated and uncomfortable. It’s advisable to have a regular flea and tick preventative routine. Preventatives can be oral, topical, or even through vaccines. Discuss with your vet on the different preventative options. For daily walks, many pet owners will also use a natural parasite preventive spray like this Kin+Kind Flea & Tick Prevent! Natural Dog & Cat Protect Spray to repel and protect against pests.

Examine Dog’s Skin

Routinely, examine your dog’s skin closely. Spread apart their fur at the root and examine the skin, taking notes of insect bites, rashes, colour changes, and excessive dryness. Ocassionally, run a flea comb through your dog’s fur to check for parasites.

Unique Considerations for Hairless Breeds

While every dog benefits from skincare, it’s especially important for hairless breeds who don’t enjoy the degree of protection offered by fur or hair. Without certain precautions, they’re at an elevated risk of suffering sunburns and bites.

For starters, grooming a hairless dog involves weekly baths. Antibacterial shampoo is commonly used on hairless dogs, as they’re at an increased risk of canine acne and dermatitis. With a hairless dog, you’ll need to apply lotions or oils containing Vitamin E to keep the skin hydrated as shampoos will strip the skin of its natural oils. The Be:Loved Be:Sunsafe Pet Paw & Nose Balm (UV Protecting & Insect Repelling) is exactly what a hairless dog will need. This multi-purpose balm is formulated using intensively skin nourishing ingredients, provides sun protection SPF15, whilst also repelling insects.

Taking care of your dog’s skin isn’t a one-time deal. It involves a level of commitment that can be incorporated into your daily routine. During the course of your dog’s skincare routine, should you notice troubling signs like lumps and bumps, signs of infection, redness, discolouration, or swelling, do consult the veterinarian for further insight.

KATHERINE KHOO

Katherine is a Pet Nutrition Specialist and GDP’s Pet Wellness Advisor. She is committed to helping pet owners make informed dietary and lifestyle choices in nurturing healthy pets. Katherine is also a practicing Nutritional Therapist (human nutrition) and has been helping hundreds of clients to heal naturally with nutrients.