How to Remove Dog Dandruff

1 Why Dogs Get Dandruff and How to Clear It

Causes of dandruff on dogs:

1. Climate: During the spring shedding season, dandruff appears easily, especially in a dry environment, where dogs can develop large amounts of flaking.

2. Poor nutrition: If the owner feeds a single, nutritionally limited kibble for a long time, the dog can lack fatty acids, thinning the skin’s moisture barrier and leading to dry, flaky skin. It can also happen when kibble is stored poorly or fed past its expiry, causing nutrient loss.

3. Skin-cleaning issues: Dandruff can also come from bathing the dog with human body wash or other human products, which dries out the skin; or from going too long between baths, leaving dead skin from normal shedding on the body. The dog scratches from the itch, and the loose flakes end up in the coat as dandruff.

4. Mites: These ever-present parasites harm both dogs and people. If you find dandruff with no other sign of skin disease, pay attention — your dog may already be carrying a heavy mite load.

5. Vitamin deficiency: A lack of vitamin A or vitamin B2 leads to scaly skin, which is what we see as dandruff.

How to remove dog dandruff:

1. Keep up with parasite control: Treat the dog on schedule. Use a fipronil spot-on or an abamectin transdermal solution and similar external parasite medications to prevent skin problems caused by parasites.

2. Adjust the diet: Keep nutrition balanced day to day. Beyond kibble, add a little vegetable and fruit to the dog’s food, encourage drinking more water, and avoid skin dehydration.

3. Brush often: Brushing the dog now and then clears away dead skin so it no longer itches, and it also prevents the coat from matting.

Note: If the dandruff keeps increasing, take the dog to a veterinary clinic for examination promptly.