Dry Skin & Olive Oil
 

Does anyone put Olive Oil in their dogs food to help with dry flaky skin? And if so, has it helped and how much do you put in?

Sully has flaky skin and I've tried everything.
I use a good quality shampoo and conditioner.
I've gone from a weekly bath to every 2-3 weeks.
Since he was a pup, I brush him every night.
He eats good quality food.

I'm thinking of adding maybe a 1/2 teaspoon of Olive Oil.

Thoughts?

Try using some Head and Shoulders or T/Gel. I know a lot of Italians that put oil on everything, and they still have dry skin. What has your Vet Dermatologist recommended?

Yes! to Olive Oil!
 

I do...........1/4 teaspoon twice daily, 'cause I feed twice daily! Also add 1/4 teaspoon apple cider vinegar along with OO.......the guys smell like salad! LOL!

I thought Head and Shoulders and TGel both have ingredients that could be toxic for a little dog. They both will sting and burn eyes for sure.

Instead of olive oil, I would try coconut or other oil supplements. Do a search query in the forum for coconut.

Which shampoo and conditioner do you use? Even the highest quality products won't work the same for every dog. PetSilk started drying out my boys' skin, so I switched to Biogroom.

coconut oil is better than olive oil in my opionion

what are you bathing with as my dry skin york had pancreatitis so i will not suppelement him with fatty acids and i bath him once a month only if that as if i do it more often he itches from dry skin

Olive oil's health benefits

It has a lot of benefits, but not sure it does anything internally for dry skin. Anyone rub it on externally? Also, watch the calories.

You can use it, but keep it out of theur eyes. There are several other threads about using head and shoulders for flaking and dry skin. Heck, I even wash my face with it! Never had all of these problems when I was young.

Healthy skin comes from inside out...EVO is fine (higher calories) but many people use Fish Oil that you can purchase in just about any pet store.

Please do not use Head & Shoulders.

On your face!? Men. :p

i know you all will think i am crazy BUT dr jean dodds recommends murphy oil soap yep the floor cleaner - it is used with dogs with SA and it does work as it is pure vegetable oil soap with citronella in it which is used in dog shampoos and it is used with kids with eczema and psoriasis. The citronella is a good flea protection added benefit lol. I used it on dee dee and her coat looked amazing and skin was amazing after but due to allergies she reacted to the citronella - I would give it a shot see how it does -here are some pics of dd after the bath

Head and shoulders (or similar dandruff control shampoos) are fine to use on a dog that has that itchy, flakey skin thing going on. Slather a thick coat of the stuff on and lather the dog up. If you happen to get any into their eyes, promptly rinse the area with lots of water. Let the dog soak for about 10 minutes in an area that is safe for them and your belongings. Rinse the dog thouroughly after the soak, and if they're still dirty (water is not running clean after rinsing soap) shampoo once more and rinse. Don't forget to use a little conditioner to keep their fur from drying out!
I have spoken with the vet I work with and got the ok on using stronger medicated shampoos like nizoral if the dog's coat is bad, again BE CAREFUL around the eyes! Even shampoos especially formulated for pets can cause chemical burns if not completely rinsed out of their eye!
Unless your dog is outside a lot I would suggest only bathing him once a month to prevent over-drying of their skin and coat. I do not recommend baby shampoo for anything except faces. I have seen many yorkies come in with hair that is greasy and dry and brittle due to their owners washing them in baby shampoo weekly. Animals do not have the same PH on their skin as people, which is why it's always good to get the go ahead from your vet before trying people shampoos.

What can I say? It works. :D:D:D:D

Heck, if you are washing your hair, you already have it lathered up, and all you need to do is drop down 6 inches and go for it!

For dry flakey skin I recommend Dr. Bonner's Baby Mild Liquid Soap. It is a castile/olive oil liquid with no chemicals and leaves Cerise's hair and skin moisturized.

Dandruff shampoos are too harsh for sensitive skin Yorkies and could make the problem worse. The same goes with the shampoo and conditioner that you are currently using if they contain chemicals and additives.

I would also recommend adding some Omega oils to the food, daily.

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Head and Shoulders

How to eliminate doggie dandruff.

Jon Geller, DVM

Q. We have a 4-month-old Australian Shepherd-mix. We feed him holistic dog food. His coat is very soft and shiny but has terrible dandruff. Should we mix some liquid vitamin E in his food or is this just temporary due to the dry air in the house during the winter months?

http://www.dogchannel.com/images/zon...r2_142x160.JPGA. Dry, flaky skin in a dog can often be a condition similar to dandruff in people. Sometimes it is made worse by low humidity or wintertime dry heated air, but in general, it will not improve without treatment.
Fortunately, it responds well to the same medicated shampoos that people use. Try a good dandruff shampoo and see how it goes. If there is no improvement, I would recommend a visit to your veterinarian. There are also some prescription shampoos that may be helpful.

Adding vitamin E in reasonable amounts to your dog's food may help dry skin in general, but probably will not clear up the flaking dandruff. Be careful about adding too much oil to the food because this can add considerable calories. In small amounts it can be an effective coat conditioner.
Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids may be helpful as well, but you should have your dog thoroughly checked out to rule out any other skin diseases first.

Best,
Jon Geller, DVM

That's my story, and I am sticking to it! Common sense, consult with your vet, and be careful. I am in no way compensated by Head and Shoulders.