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Originally Posted by Mmtats  My yorkie who is about 10 years old has really, really bad thick dandruff that is making her very itchy...and kind of stinky! I went and bought oatmeal shampoo but that didn't seem to help.. And I don't want to over wash her if it will make it worse.
I'm tempted to get some coconut oil to rub into her skin and then wash it off but I just wanted to get some other advice too! Has anyone had this problem, if so, what helped get rid of it?
I've heard of using fish oil but don't know what kind to get...? And how often should I be bathing her? Twice a week? |
I would would also try the natural approach; though it may take some time to figure out what works, but I think it's worth it. I'm not pro, but I think vets would just prescribe meds, expensive and harsh on their bodies.
Anyway, this was my experience with dandruff and dry skin...
My puppy between 5 months to about 8 months had really bad dandruff and was constantly scratching himself. It was pretty gross. We switched his food 3 times before settling on Acana Singles Duck (& Singles Lamb); the Singles chicken made him VERY teary so I think he's allergic to chicken. I believe food contributes to skin condition, so that's what mine eats now. And he occasionally gets Orijen Freeze Dried Regionals as treats or when he gets upset stomach.
Scottie is now 1 yr old and all dandruff is GONE
I've been feeding him organic unrefined coconut oil nightly, starting off with very small amounts. He loves it so I use it as a "go-to-your-crate"-because-it's-bedtime treat.
I didn't try fish oil because he was allergic to Fromm salmon and tuna. I never tried applying the coconut oil directly onto the skin because he has really long hair. But initially I tried bathing him with ground down oatmeal flour (I used a food processor), hoping it would sooth his skin. I did that for a month, bathing him about every 2 to 3 weeks. It was messy and kind of difficult to wash out, but I did it anyway. If you try this, make sure to use a sieve to get rid of the larger chunks so you don't plug your bathtub.
As for shampoo, I use Earthbath Aloe and Oatmeal natural shampoo and haven't changed it since the very beginning. It's got high reviews on Amazon so I decided to stick with it.
All in all, I believe that getting Scottie to eat the coconut oil was what helped him with the dandruff. His hair is also very soft and shiny too
