Causes of dog dandruff

How is Dandruff Born?

Dandruff occurs when a dog’s sebaceous glands overproduce sebum. This sebum is used to retain moisture in the skin and keep the dog’s skin healthy.

However, when the sebaceous glands secrete too much oil, it will make the skin imbalance, thereby producing dandruff.

There are two types of dandruff in dogs: dry dandruff and wet dandruff.

What are the main causes of dog dandruff?

There are many possible causes of dandruff in dogs, and any breed can get it (whether purebred or crossbreed). Many dogs have a genetic predisposition to dandruff, called primary seborrheic syndrome (most common in Cocker Spaniels, West Highland, White terriers, and Basset Hounds) or ichthyosis (common varieties include golden retrievers, Cavalier King Charles spaniels and Yorkshire terriers).

But a more common cause than genetics is the environment or a health condition.

Using the wrong shampoo or bathing your dog excessively

Using the wrong shampoo is one of the main causes of dandruff in dogs. A common mistake is that owners use human shampoo or body wash to bathe their dogs.

The human shampoo will break down the protective acid layer on the dog’s skin, leaving them vulnerable to parasites, viruses, and bacteria. It also makes the skin dry and flaky.

Another reason is that the owner bathes the dog too much. Bathing your dog is fine, but it doesn’t have to be too frequent. Many dogs can lose the necessary sebum on the skin if the owner bathes the baby too much, which leads to dandruff. Please consult with your veterinarian on how to schedule a bath for your baby to be appropriate depending on the health status of the baby.

The pet owner will be recommended by the veterinarian to bathe the dog on average 1-2 times a week depending on the hair thickness, environment, living conditions, activity level of each dog.

Don’t bathe your dogs every day!
A small problem that owners need to pay attention to is that dogs with dandruff often have dry and easy hair loss due to a lack of necessary moisture. So choosing the right shower gel is also very important.

Budle Budle anti-dandruff shower gel for dogs (300ml)
Budle Budle anti-dandruff shower gel for dogs (300ml)

Bundle Budle Anti-Dandruff Shampoo can treat the most stubborn dandruff quickly and effectively. The product is clinically proven to be effective on the most stubborn dandruff and helps clear up dandruff in dogs. Budle Budle anti-dandruff shampoo with the 3-in-1 formula:

  1. Cleanse – remove sebum and dandruff
  2. Protects scalp from dandruff
  3. Moisturizing – each hair is moisturized from root to tip

The unique formula with a combination of natural organic ingredients in Budle Budle Anti-Dandruff Shampoo protects and helps dogs have a smooth coat. The product does not contain any harmful ingredients.

This body wash also helps clean and moisturize your dog’s coat with the mildest organic ingredients like Aloe. Stinging nettle leaves are also added to body wash ingredients to naturally soothe skin irritations.

Main ingredients: avocado oil, jojoba oil, chamomile flower, nettle leaf, walnut extract, aloe vera…

Dry weather

Just like us humans, when the weather becomes cold and dry, the dog’s skin will also be affected.

If you find that your baby only gets dandruff during the cold months, it could be due to a lack of moisture in the air.

Prolonged stress

Stress will cause the dog’s body to have many unusual symptoms, including dandruff.

So when your dog has the following symptoms, the owner should bring him to the veterinarian immediately: more flakes of dandruff than usual, the baby seems itchy and uncomfortable.

Puppies under 4 months of age can have a little dandruff because the sebaceous glands that help keep their skin moist are not fully developed. However, if dandruff seems unusually heavy or is persistent, it could be. This is a sign of stress, dehydration, parasites, fungus, excessive bathing, or dry weather.

Diseases that cause dandruff in dogs

3 potential diseases that can cause dandruff in dogs include:

Allergic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis in dogs is a condition in which allergy symptoms develop after repeated exposure to a harmless substance called an “allergen”. Most dogs will show symptoms of atopic dermatitis between 1 and 3 years of age.

Due to the genetic predisposition to the disease, several breeds including Golden Retrievers, most terriers, Irish Setters, Lhasa Apsos, Dalmatians, Bulldogs, and Old English Sheep or crossbred dogs are susceptible to this disease. more than that.

Dogs with allergies often rub, lick, chew, bite, or scratch their paws, sides, ears, armpits, or groin, causing patchy or uneven shedding, and red and thick skin.

Skin can be dry, scaly or greasy depending on the individual.

Dogs may rub their faces on the carpet; The earlobe may be red and hot. An allergic reaction is the excessive secretion of earwax by the wax glands of the ear, causing an ear infection by bacteria and yeast (Malassezia).

Increased sebum secretion

Many dogs have body odor and dandruff due to increased sebum production.

Dogs often have increased sebum secretion on areas of the skin with many sebaceous glands, especially the back. The seborrheic areas are often covered with white flakes (dandruff) that owners will see in bed or where the dog often lies.

Some areas of the skin may become red and inflamed, dry or greasy if the skin is damaged. Dermatitis may be more severe in areas with folds of skin, such as the feet, neck, lips, armpits, thighs, and underside of the dog’s body. Many dogs will have a strong body odor if the hyperhidrosis is aggravated by a secondary bacterial or yeast skin infection.

Skin fungus on dogs

Tinea capitis is a disease that also causes dandruff in dogs, which clears up on its own without treatment in healthy dogs.

But without the necessary intervention of the owner and veterinarian when the fungal skin condition persists, it will most likely become a chronic skin disease because of the risk of repeated recurrence.

The first sign of a dog with a fungal skin infection is dandruff, itching, a lot of scratching, hair loss, and a characteristic odor on the infected skin or the whole body.

Some fungi can change skin pigmentation, especially hyperpigmentation, making the diseased skin appear dark black.

Puppies, hunting dogs, and dogs that are prone to prolonged stress are susceptible to tinea versicolor. Dogs that are under prolonged stress or have an underlying medical condition are more difficult to treat.

How to prevent dandruff in dogs?

Here are a few ways to help owners prevent dandruff in their dogs:

  • Change your baby’s diet: if the cause of dandruff is due to a food allergy, then changing the diet will help a lot for your baby’s dandruff. You can ask your veterinarian to come up with a new menu to help your baby improve allergies and get rid of dandruff.
  • Help your baby live in a stress-free environment: stress is one of the causes of dandruff in dogs. If your dog has been through a stressful situation recently, it could be the cause of a dandruff flare-up. The owner can help the baby to play and entertain to reduce stress such as playing hide and seek or taking the baby for a walk. If all else fails, you can seek the help of your veterinarian or dog trainer.
  • Brush your baby’s hair every day. Brushing helps to keep your dog’s coat healthy. This also helps to remove dead skin and increase the necessary sebum for baby’s skin.
  • Using a baby food supplement (make sure owners check with their veterinarian before using it): some skin conditions that cause dogs to develop dandruff can be treated by adding certain foods. supplement to the dog’s diet. Omega-3s for example.

Summary

Dandruff occurs when a dog’s sebaceous glands overproduce sebum. There are two types of dandruff in dogs: dry dandruff and wet dandruff.

The most common cause of dandruff, rather than genetics, is the environment or a health condition. Common causes: using the wrong shampoo or bathing the dog too much, dry weather, prolonged stress.

3 potential diseases that can cause dandruff in dogs include: atopic dermatitis, seborrhea, and tinea versicolor in dogs.

Here are a few ways to help owners prevent dandruff in dogs: if the cause of dandruff is due to a food allergy, changing the diet will greatly help your baby’s dandruff. Live in a stress-free environment, brush your baby’s hair daily, use baby food supplements.