Basic Skin Care and Grooming

By Debbie Revell, owner of Pets Behave, and Marilyn Smith, professional groomer

Just like humans, great skin starts with a sound diet. The appropriate intake of vitamins, minerals, proteins, and essential fats will ensure that your dog’s skin and coat have everything they need to grow, and remain healthy and strong. A flaky, dry, scaly, or overly oily coat are all signs of nutritional deficiency. Because your dog’s needs are individual, we highly encourage you to seek help from a professional when evaluating your dog’s diet.

In addition to a healthy diet, a regular grooming routine is also important. Organic, natural ingredients are best when searching for a good shampoo and conditioner. Lots of chemicals can irritate the skin, making any problems worse. Oatmeal is a wonderful ingredient, especially for dog’s with dry skin (which is very common), and one we always look for. Apply, lather up, and then rinse, rinse, and rinse some more! Using warm water helps with the shedding of loose hair, but nothing takes the place of good old elbow grease – run your fingers through the coat, gently massage the skin with your fingertips,
and spend some time to make sure that all of the shampoo is rinsed out.

We recommend applying a high-quality conditioner after the shampoo; again, be sure to rinse thoroughly. Dogs should not need to be bathed exceedingly often. If your dog’s coat smells all the time, that is a sign of a deeper, more chronic health problem, and we strongly encourage to speak with a professional. Regular brushing, at least twice weekly, brings the body’s natural oils to the skin and shine to your dog’s coat. Regular grooming also prevents old hair from matting, a common cause of the “hot spots” that tend to crop up in the summer. A good comb is ideal for dogs with long fur, while a rubber, curry-type brush is best for short coats.