My Maya has had dry-looking skin since she came home, and always scratched some....no prolonged periods of scratching (only a couple seconds at a time) and NEVER any sores, hair loss, or even redness. (She turned 1 in June, and her scratching has always alternated between her sides, head, and the backs of her front legs, not feet.) I keep a close eye on both my kiddos, and I've always been watching to make sure her scratching stayed just "some" and not enough that I thought she was really uncomfortable. Yesterday, it seemed like she was scratching more than usual. This morning when she woke up, she was scratching like a mad woman (she's napping now, so she hasn't been). Also, since she first came home, she's been eating Natural Balance Organic and gets fish oil and vitamin E every day.
I know it could be lots of different things....food, flea meds, shampoo, just plain old allergies, etc. And rather than spend a lot on vet visits trying to figure it out by elimination, I wanted to start by using a good shampoo and conditioner and possibly trying a spray as well (for example, I know Ark Naturals make a Neem spray that's supposed to soothe irritated skin with neem oil, which is also a natural anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory). Her coat isn't silky, but could possibly be modified between cottony and silky. She tangles fairly easily (at least, a lot more easily than my Bella, who has a silky coat), but matting isn't a huge problem. Her coat looks and feels healthy (it feels soft and isn't dull).
Does anyone have any advice on a good shampoo and conditioner for her? There are so many anti-itch, oatmeal, hypo-allergenic, etc. shampoos and conditioners, I had no idea where to start! I've always used my own shampoo and conditioner on both my girls (Bella is 3 yrs old....I tried a couple different dog shampoos and conditioners on her, but her silky hair always looked and felt best when I used mine. Maya has a different coat, though, and I'm afraid my shampoo could potentially be bothering her skin. It's worth saying that right after a bath she is less itchy than usual, and again "usual" isn't a lot.)
I know I may have to change her diet and other things too, but I don't want to do that until I've tried changing her shampoo and conditioner, and possibly helping her skin stay moisturized with a spray.
Thank you for your suggestions!!!
