Anyone who says 'it's just a dog', clearly has never owned one of shared the relationship between dog and master/mistress/family. Most of us find that our canine chum becomes one of family and a true friend. It's because of this that we want to make sure that they are as healthy as possible, but also are free of the frustrating and annoying ailments that they can't fix themselves.

Dry skin and moulting problems in dogs can really become a daily issue that effects their quality of life; as some of us unfortunately are aware, eczema isn't pleasant the itching sensation can drive you to distraction. So what causes these issues and what can we do to help?

Dry Skin

Dry skin can cause itchy skin, and to a dog that means scratching. But it can also mean a knock on effect to secondary issues that arise from dry skin problems; such as dust mites, pollen and a whole host of other allergens which, with a seasonal impact, can become very unpleasant.

If your dog has dry skin and starts to itch and scratch, they will be removing layers of protective skin. Dry skin also becomes more vulnerable and allows irritants to penetrate and inflame the skin.

How to help?

Firstly you need to understand what is causing the itching and professional / veterinary help may well be needed. Of course you can still help by ensuring that your dog is getting the correct nutritional balance through their diet, and this of course you control.

Common causes of itching can be due to dry skin which is often due to a lack of moisture in the skin. Omega oil can help this problem as omega 6 (which helps the skin retain its' moisture) contains Linoleic Acid. Also contained within omega 6 is GLA (gamma-linolenic acid) and this helps the conditioning of your dogs skin. This is a very important as your dog is unable to manufacture enough amounts of this naturally to be beneficial. GLA is found is seed oils such as Evening Primrose Oil and Starflower Oil.

Other itchy skin tips:

Professional advice - Firstly, as ever, speak to your local vet for advice and treatment ideas.

A good diet - Just like us, our dogs need a balanced diet and certain supplements may well help your dog.

Bathing - Not you, your dog! Find a shampoo that is designed to sooth irritated skin, but do remember not to overdo is as too much will end up drying their skin once more.

Fleas - Make sure you are on top of any potential flea or lice problem; you don't want to give your dog another reason to be itching.

Brushing - Treat your dog to a daily brush to remove matted hair, dirt and debris.

Moulting

In the natural world, dogs moult by changes of season - temperature and daylight hours help the dog to determine which coat they need, and therefore whether they need to shed hair to cool down or grow a thicker coat to keep in warmth.

However in today’s world, where dogs live indoors for the most part of their time, things such as central heating can confuse the dogs natural reaction and the triggers that start or stop moulting.

How to reduce Moulting?

To help reduce moulting, your dog requires nutrients that support healthy hair and skin: such as minerals, vitamins, antioxidants and fatty acids (such as Omega 3 and Omega 6). Hair that doesn't have this balanced supply of nutrients will become damaged and dull and will begin to fall out.

Once again it is the Omega oils that can really help with dog skin problems. Omega 6, with Linoleic Acid, stops the skin from drying out and therefore reduces moulting. It also helps to nourish and replenish the skin and healthy skin will of course lead to a healthier coat. The Omega 3 then maintains the condition of the coat, ensuring the hairs are protected from natural elements.

So if your dog is suffering from itchy skin or excessive moulting, there are ways to help. Speak to your local veterinarian and see what you can do to help your favourite family member!