Golden Retriever Dry Itchy Skin

By James A

November 29, 2022

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Symptoms Of Dry Skin On Dogs

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Dry skin does not present in the same way for every dog. Symptoms associated with dry skin include:

increased oiliness

Some dogs experience only one of these symptoms while others present with several. Keeping an eye on your dogs symptoms can help your veterinarian diagnose the cause of your dogs dry skin.

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Dry skin is an annoyance for anybody, and it can also affect our pets. If your pooch suffers from flakes or itchiness, their skin is probably dry. You may be wondering, what can I put on my dog for dry skin? Fortunately, there are plenty of products and treatment options you can try before the problem becomes severe.

Many of the things that cause dry skin in humans also affect dogs. There are also some causes that are unique to our furry friends. In this guide, well go over the typical culprits of dryness and some useful home remedies so your dog can regain its healthy skin!

The Connection Between Food And Skin Allergies

If you see your Golden frequently or excessively biting, scratching, rubbing or itching, a food allergy may be the cause. Self-trauma and chronic allergies can lead to yeast or bacterial infections that may take the form of lesions, seborrhea and crusting.

In many cases, the cause of food allergies in dogs is an animal protein such as chicken or beef, although some dogs also develop allergies to other sources like corn, eggs and milk. Your Golden Retrievers reactions to a food allergy may manifest itself in areas aside from the skin often, dogs with food allergies will also experience gastrointestinal distress.

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Symptoms Of Scaly Skin In Dogs

Scratching, chewing, licking at skin
Dandruff in dogs bedding, your home
Uncharacteristic hair loss, bald patches
Hot spot, or localized area your dog keeps itching/biting
Scales on face and paw pads
Dog rubbing against furniture

There are a few breeds where the condition is reported more often, these include:

West Highland White Terriers

The Problem: Dogs Cant Produce Vital Omega Fatty Acids

healthy breeds herbal avocado dog shampoo for dry itchy skin for golden ...

There are many sources of essential Omega fatty acids. Some mistakenly believe that dog food delivers all your dog needs. Unfortunately, because Omegas are susceptible to heat, most of the benefits become biologically unavailable to your dog due to the cooking/treatment temperatures of dog food.

Thats why I personally give my dog an Omega supplement. They really seem to like the Omega-3 Select chews from Project Paws. I like them because theyre made from anchovies and krill, which have some of the highest concentrations of Omegas of any fish. Because these are small fish with a shorter lifespan, they dont contain the high level of toxins like other large fish like Salmon. The other reason I love them is because each purchase of Omega-3 Select chews provides meals for up to 21 shelter dogs.

Its important to remember that this is a marathon, not a sprint. It may takes weeks or even several months for your dog to feel the benefits of an Omega supplement. Talk to your vet, and find out if Omega fatty acid supplementation might be a part of an holistic plan to support your golden retrievers immune system and fight allergies.

Dogs With Dry Skin: Symptoms And Causes

Dry skin is itchy and uncomfortable, and can result in skin problems and potential infection when left untreated. If your dog has dry skin, you may notice one or more of the following symptoms emerge.

Scratching, licking, and biting at the skin
Rubbing body and/or head on floor and furniture

Skin conditions may seem like a small issue, but it can signal bigger health problems. Dry skin is hard to accurately diagnose without help because of the myriad causes that can contribute to this uncomfortable issue. Causes of skin dryness in canines include:

Changes in the season When winter comes, and we make use of the furnace, many people and pets experience dryness of the skin. This is why hydration and humidity are so important any time of year.

Parasites Fleas, mites, and other parasitic infestations can cause a number of skin problems that can result in dry skin.

Diet Low-quality foods or food allergies often manifest as changes in the health of your pets skin and coat.

Seasonal allergies Another common form of allergies in dogs comes from environmental or airborne allergens, such as pollen, grasses, and mold. Most allergies cause skin conditions in dogs, including that chronic itching you may witness in your pet.

Shampoos and chemicals Some dogs are sensitive to ingredients found in shampoos, from dyes to chemicals, as well as laundry detergent, carpet cleaners, and cleaning supplies. This causes skin reactions, such as dryness.

Using Immunotherapy To Treat Skin Allergies

1Ask your vet how immunotherapy works. Immunotherapy, also called Allergen Specific Immunotherapy , is usually the best choice for treating CAD. It can help your Golden Retriever achieve remission without the use of other medications . ASIT works by gradually desensitizing your dogs immune system to the allergens causing the CAD.XResearch source The immunotherapy medicine, commonly given by injection, contains small amounts of the specific allergens to which your Golden Retriever is allergic.

By exposing your Golden Retriever to small, measured amounts of the allergens , your dogs immune system would slowly become more tolerant of the allergens over time, therefore lessening the allergic reaction.XResearch source

Results of the skin tests your vet performed to diagnose CAD would indicate the specific allergens.

Immunotherapy is most helpful for dogs that have skin allergies for longer than two to three months at a time and have not responded well to other skin allergy medications. It is a lifelong treatment.

2Have your vet perform the immunotherapy injections. Immunotherapy injections are usually given about once every one to four weeks. Your vet will let you know how often your Golden Retriever will need the injections. It may help to schedule several appointments at one time to make sure your dog receives stays on schedule with the treatment.

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Other Causes Of Dry Skin And Hair Loss

Hormonal diseases can cause changes to skin and hair growth. Hypothyroidism and Cushings disease can result in a dull and brittle coat, dry skin, hair loss, pigmentation and secondary infection.

Both conditions can be diagnosed with blood tests but it can sometimes be challenging to interpret the results. Hypothyroid dogs may have low energy and weight gain and can be treated with lifelong medication. Dogs with Cushings disease will normally drink and urinate excessively, have thin skin that bruises easily, a pot-bellied appearance and a higher chance of urinary tract infections. Once diagnosed, medical treatment is usually effective but again needs to be lifelong.

Ichthyosis

Ichthyosis an uncommon birth skin defect causing skin cells to grow abnormally. The condition is reported in a range of breeds, including the Jack Russell Terrier, Cairn Terrier, West Highland White Terrier and Golden Retriever. Fine peeling as a pup is often unnoticed but as the patient ages, large flakes of skin come away, sometimes with underlying darkening of the skin. Diagnosis is via skin biopsy and treatment is difficult, involving special shampoos, supplements and treating secondary infections.

Epitheliotropic lymphoma

Although dry skin can sound simple, and may be so, it is always worth getting your pet checked by a vet in case there is more to it than meets the eye.

Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach

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Our best overall dog food for Golden Retrievers with skin allergies is the Salmon & Rice recipe from Purina Pro Plan. This sensitive skin & stomach formula features real salmon as the first ingredient which is a rich source of protein your dog needs to support a strong muscle build.

Salmon is also a great source of omega-3 fatty acids that support skin and coat health in your dog and you can choose the lamb recipe as well. This dry dog food is fortified with live probiotics that give your Golden Retriever with skin allergies healthy digestion and immune system.

Other ingredients include rice or oatmeal which are highly digestible and it contains no corn, soy, wheat, or artificial additives.

Pros:

Inconsistency of batches at Amazon

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What Are The Clinical Signs Of Seborrhea

In dogs, seborrhea usually affects skin areas that are rich in sebaceous glands, especially the skin along the back. The affected areas of skin often flake off like dandruff that can be seen on the dog’s bedding and other places where the dog lies. Some skin areas may be red and inflamed, with either a dry or oily feel to the lesions, and may be worse in areas with skin folds, such as the feet, neck, lips, armpits, thighs, and underside. Many dogs will have an odor associated with seborrhea. This odor is usually worsened if the seborrhea is complicated by a secondary bacterial or yeast skin infection.

How To Transition Your Golden Retrievers Diet

Transitioning your Golden Retrievers diet should not be done in haste and can sometimes lead to some side-effects such as decreased eating habits, stomach upset, and even diarrhea. As such, you should make the process smooth so you do not make your dogs condition uncomfortable.

The time taken to change your canine buddys diet should range between 5 to 7 days and must be done gradually as you are introducing them to a new food they are not used to. Check out this food transition guide from the AKC site:

Day

Table: AKC recommendation for Food Transitioning

It is that easy and your Golden Retriever is ready to continue eating the new diet comfortably.

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He Or She Needs A Different Food

It may not be the first thing you consider when trying to figure out why your golden retriever is scratching so much, but food type actually plays a large role in skin irritations in golden retrievers.

If your golden just cant seem to stop scratching, you may want to consider their food as a source of the irritation. Some dog foods dont include a lot of the proper nutrients and ingredients necessary to help golden retrievers with their overall skin health.

Luckily, there are foods out there you can switch your golden retriever to that will help him or her with their skin sensitivities and skin and coat help. Well discuss this more later on.

Keep A Close Eye On Your Golden

Details about and habits of your golden retriever can be a big help in attempting to figure out just what is making him or her scratch so much. Before you can figure out how to help your golden, you need to know more about whats actually going on.

Keep a close eye on your golden and monitor him or her, especially when it comes to scratching. When does the scratching begin? Does your goldens skin irritation seem to arise at certain times of the year, or is it all year round? What does the skin look like around the itchy area?

Keep a mental note or even a log of your golden retrievers scratching habits and if you have any hunches about what could be causing the scratching.

You may find out your pup only seems to be scratching after he or she uses a certain blanket, or maybe after taking a swim. Maybe he or she begins scratching after rolling around in the grass, or after youve used a certain shampoo at bath time.

Keeping a close eye on these types of factors can help you figure out whats causing the irritation to your golden retrievers skin and can help you find a remedy for them.

Pethonesty Allergy Relief Immunity Supplement For Dogs

If you are a dog owner who prefers feeding his Golden Retriever with skin allergies a diet that is recommended by a veterinarian, this Allergy Relief Immunity Supplement is a fantastic choice. These chews feature wild-caught Alaskan salmon as the first ingredient for a high-quality sources.

Crafted using all-natural ingredients, the supplement contains salmon oil which helps relieve itchy skin allergies and is rich in omega fatty acids that support skin and coat health. It combines powerful ingredients to improve immune and digestion health by addressing the cause of allergies in Golden Retrievers.

To provide wholesome nutrition to your pooch, the supplements contain no wheat, corn, GMO products, wheat, or synthetic additives.

Pros:

Check on Chewy or

The Good News Theres A Solution

I was recently turned on to an amazing product called Omega-3 Select chews. They are made from the highest quality anchovies , designed to provide your pup with the perfect balance of essential oils. Plus, theyre available in small and large chews depending on your dogs size.

Within a few weeks of having my dogs take the chews, I began noticing that they werent itching as much and their coats looked shiny and healthy. These were just the benefits that I could see.

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Bathe Your Dog Regularly

For many dogs, a soothing, conditioning shampoo will help to reduce itch and inflammation in the skin, and reduce skin cell turnover, explained Dr. Woodnutt. You’ll also physically remove the skin flakes in the bath with a good rub. âI usually recommend an aloe vera and coconut-based shampoo for dogs with dry skin,â says Dr. Woodnutt.

What Causes Seborrhea

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Seborrhea can be a primary or secondary disease. Primary seborrhea is inherited and occurs in breeds such as Cocker Spaniels, West Highland White Terriers, and Basset Hounds. Secondary seborrhea is more common however, the exact cause cannot always be determined. In these cases, it is called idiopathic seborrhea.

Secondary seborrhea is often related to an underlying medical problem, such as:

Hormonal imbalances
Fungal infections – especially yeast skin infections
Bacterial infections
Dietary abnormalities
Environmental factors
Obesity or musculoskeletal disease making the dog unable to groom properly

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How To Fight Food

If your Golden Retriever has food allergies, you may want to try a fresh food diet. Unlike commercial dry kibble, fresh food diets include healthy fats like fish oil and sunflower oil and essential fatty acids such as Omega-3 and Omega-6, along with B-vitamin complexes, essential amino acids and zinc.

Here are some suggestions for managing your Goldens food allergies:

Condition

Why Does My Golden Retriever Have Dry Skin And 7 Ways To Treat It

There are many things that make golden retrievers special such as their big brown eyes that you cant resist, their playful and fun nature, and their beautiful golden fur.

Even though it takes a lot of effort to keep that golden fur healthy and shiny and to avoid any shedding, but its all worth it.

I am doing everything that I can to keep them healthy but lately, I have noticed that their skin looks really dry, so I looked it up, and heres the short answer

Why does my golden retriever have dry skin? Golden Retrievers skin is prone to dryness and they make it worse by scratching, licking, and biting. Dry skin could also be an indication of a bigger issue such as infections, allergies, cancer, autoimmune disorders, or parasites. If you notice that your dog has dry skin, take them to the vet.

Dry skin can be a very serious issue. To learn more about the symptoms and what could cause dry skin, keep on reading.

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Recovery Of Scaly Skin In Dogs

In the majority of cases, carefully following the veterinarians instructions will lead to healthy skin, coat, and a happy dog. It is important to follow through with all diet, parasite control, and hygiene recommendations. The veterinarian may recommend a natural, hypoallergenic shampoo for regular use. Frequency of bathing depends upon your dogs breed and specific skin and coat, so be sure to keep to the recommended schedule. Additionally, regular brushing is important for hygiene but frequency will also depend upon your dogs breed, skin and coat. In order to prevent further issues with scaly skin, keep your dogs environment clean.

What Is Dog Dandruff

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Dandruff, or “scurf,” happens when dead skin flakes get stuck in your dog’s fur. “Dry skin could be caused by multiple different causes including parasites, endocrine disease, allergies, bacterial, fungal, auto-immune conditions, and cancer,â says Dr. Joel Navratik, CEO of MRVL Pets.

There are a few different causes of dog dandruff and it’s important to discover the cause to find the appropriate treatment. If you are unsure of what’s causing your dog’s dry skin, talk to an online vet.

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Tips On Reducing Skin Issues

There are a few steps that you can take to help reduce the risk of these skin conditions from occurring.

For starters, groom your dog regularly. Goldens should be brushed at least once a week, but more often would be better. You want to keep that undercoat free of mats and as dry as possible.

Grooming frequently also gives you the advantage of spotting any potential problems early on.

If your Golden seems to be scratching more than usual, try an oatmeal bath or pick up an anti-itch shampoo, which can help relieve skin irritation. Just remember to brush and dry your dog well after the bath.

Speak to your vet about potentially changing your dogs food and adding supplements, such as fatty acids, which can contribute to healthier skin.

Finally, try to keep the house clean, especially your Goldens bedding. Use cleaning detergents that are pet friendly, since many household cleaners tend to be full of chemicals that can trigger allergies.

Above all else, see your vet. If you wait too long for your vet to look at your dog, the skin condition can potentially worsen and be harder to treat. Checking in with your vet is essential, even if it ends up being a false alarm.

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