Your dog certainly has more things to worry about than a few white flakes on his coat. He would probably much rather focus on digging up that bone he buried a few days ago or chasing the neighbor’s cat away from his territory. But those flakes may have you wondering, “Why does my dog have dandruff?”
Most dandruff is little more than dead skin cells that are being shed, and dogs tend to get dandruff just as frequently as humans do. During the winter months when the air is dry and humidity is low, these snowy-looking flakes seem to get worse.
Having dandruff is not a health issue with dogs unless you can’t get rid of the flakes no matter how many remedies you try — or if you notice any scabbing, crusting or itching constantly. Those are reasons enough to get your veterinarian’s opinion on the problem. In some cases, skin mites or light infections can cause dandruff.
According to veterinarian Alice M. Jeromin, DVM, dry skin in dogs may well be the result of a handful of medical problems. In veterinary medicine, as in human medicine, Dr. Jeromin says, dermatology is a specialty area where an in-office exam is essential.
Ernest Ward, DVM, says that with canine dandruff (also known as seborrhea), the sebaceous glands make too much sebum, an oily fluid that moisturizes your dog’s skin and hair. Normally affected by this skin disorder are the face, back and flanks, causing itchy, scaly and flaky red skin.
Signs of dandruff are those white flakes on Fido’s bedding or other places where he lies.
Possible Medical Problems
The causes of dandruff are not always easy to determine, but Dr. Ward says underlying medical problems that may be related are:
- Hormones out of whack, as in the case of thyroid disease or Cushing’s disease
- Allergic reactions
- Fungal infections (yeast infections)
- Not enough Omega-3 fatty acids in the diet, or the dog is very overweight
- Other medical problems that mean your pet can’t adequately groom itself
- Parasites such as fleas, ticks and mange mites.
Let’s talk more about that last one, the mange mites. Cheyletiella mange, often referred to as “walking dandruff,” usually affects puppies. According to the book Vet on Call, the “walking dandruff” name came about because the mite population on your poor pup grows to such large numbers that this makes skin flakes on the dog appear to actually be moving. Ick!
To determine if your pet is dealing with Cheyletiella mange and not dandruff, look directly at his skin with a magnifying glass. If the skin is moving, he is probably dealing with “walking dandruff.” Although rare, this type of mange usually affects dogs in pet shops or large breeding operations. The mites are most often seen on the back, accompanied by a lot of dandruff. If you suspect your dog has this type of mange, take him to a veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment. The condition is quite contagious, so any other pets you have should also be treated; you will also want to wash or throw away any bedding that has been used by your dog.
For more on mange, see our article Identification and Treatment of Dog Mange.
Treatment
While your veterinarian may answer your question, “Why does my dog have dandruff?” there is no specific treatment for this problem. If no underlying cause is found, the veterinarian will suggest some forms of treatment to ease or eliminate the problem. Among the suggestions will likely be:
- Omega-3 supplements (or add a teaspoon of sunflower/safflower oil per bowl of food)
- Dog dandruff shampoo
- A good moisturizer designed for dogs, with ingredients like lanolin, lactic acid and glycerin
- Retinoid skin cream
- Antibiotics, if your dog has a secondary bacterial infection
Bathing your dog at least twice a week will surely help in controlling the dandruff, washing it away before it can build up. Use an antiseborrheic (dandruff) shampoo made for dogs — that means no Head & Shoulders for Fido! Always follow up with a good pet moisturizing rinse to keep the skin well lubricated, otherwise the two weekly baths will dry the skin out, erasing your progress. Pet stores have moisturizing sprays to give added protection between baths.
Photo: Reynir Hauksson/Flickr
Additional Resources
In the video below, Dr. Fiona Caldwell gives a few quick tips:
