Do Dogs Need a Skin-Care Routine?

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As complex skin-care routines for humans abound, perhaps you’ve looked at your best friend and wondered if, under that fur, their skin could use a little TLC, too. Or, if your dog is not furry, maybe you’ve pondered the best dermatological protocol to protect their bare skin.

Dog skin conditions, including those caused by allergies, are not merely cosmetic, and can even lead to serious infections. So, while dogs don’t need the same type of skin care humans do, we still need to take care of their skin.

Here’s what to know about keeping your dog’s skin and coat gorgeous and healthy.

What is skin, and why is it important to dogs’ health?

As the body’s largest organ, skin is a protective barrier that guards against harmful things in the environment, regulates temperature, and receives information through touch. Skin comprises three layers: the epidermis, the dermis, and the subcutaneous layer.

The epidermis, or the outer layer that we can see and touch, serves what dermatologists call the “skin barrier function.” At the cellular level, it looks like a brick-and-mortar structure, where the “bricks” are various types of skin cells with different purposes and the “mortar” is lipids, or fatty compounds dispersed throughout, according to Heather Edginton, DVM, Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology and an assistant professor of veterinary dermatology at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. This sturdy structure keeps the skin functioning as a barrier.

Atop this “brick-and-mortar” barrier lives a multitude of bacteria and fungi composing what’s known as the skin microbiome. These microbes help keep each other in check and prevent overgrowth of any one species. “They also can prevent other bacteria that could be harmful from setting up shop on the skin,” Dr. Edginton said. “Everybody’s just in harmony.”

Keeping this brick-and-mortar barrier healthy is crucial to holistic health, as any breaks in it could cause other problems—including infections.

A long-haired dog standing with their back to the sun.

Does my dog need a skin-care routine?

A “skin-care routine” may conjure visions of goops, serums, and a 10-step, twice-a-day regimen; in this sense, healthy dogs do not need a skin-care routine. While dogs with skin conditions may require some kind of treatment that your veterinarian or a veterinary dermatologist would recommend, they likely will not need anything resembling a beauty influencer’s elaborate “get ready with me” video.

But there are still ways for you to take good care of their skin.

The keys to healthy skin for your dog are relatively simple: “In two words, diet and grooming,” said Douglas DeBoer, DVM, Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology and professor emeritus of dermatology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Veterinary Medicine. 

Regarding how dogs eat, “a high-quality, complete and balanced diet is of course key to health of any organ system, including the skin,” Dr. DeBoer said.

As for grooming, regularly brushing and bathing your dog will keep their skin and coat clean. Brushing removes dead skin cells from the epidermis, which can reduce a flaky appearance. This flakiness is really the layer of dead skin on top getting pushed out by new layers of cells. “The skin’s not the smartest organ,” said Fiona Lee, VMD, Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology and board-certified veterinary dermatologist at the Animal Dermatology Clinic in New Jersey. “The only thing it really knows how to do is to make more of itself.”

Different breeds have different grooming needs. A long-haired super-shedder will benefit from more frequent brushings, while a short-haired dog can get by with fewer. Activity level and time spent outside, as well as a penchant for rolling in grass, may also influence this frequency. In general, brushing your dog several times a week—perhaps every day for shedders prone to matting—will do the trick, as will a bath anywhere from once a month to once every two months depending on hair length and how dirty they get from exercise.

For hairless breeds, like the Xoloitzcuintli and Chinese crested, ultraviolet damage from the sun poses a serious threat. Excessive sun exposure increases the risk for skin cancers like cutaneous lymphoma, hemangiosarcoma, melanoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. 

Use dog-safe sunscreen on hairless dogs—Dr. Edginton recommended at least 30 SPF—and avoid taking them outside when UV rays are at their strongest, which is usually around noon. You can check the UV index in weather reports. Don’t let hairless dogs lie in the sun for too long, and consider equipping them with a UV shirt if they’ll be out for a few hours. Don’t swap in sunscreens meant for humans; these contain ingredients that can harm dogs.

Even short-haired breeds that have a few bald patches, like on their tummies, could use some SPF in the sun. If your pitbull, for example, loves to loaf on their back in a patch of sunshine, grease their belly with dog-safe sunscreen.

While these guidelines apply for dogs with healthy skin, they look a little different when dermatological problems arise.

What skin problems can dogs develop?

Common canine skin diseases may develop from environmental allergies to irritants like pollen or mold, food allergies, autoimmune diseases, bacterial infections, and yeast infections. These yeast infections aren’t like the kind humans suffer from, but an overgrowth of a fungus called Malassezia that’s part of the healthy skin microbiome when in balance. You can read more in our guide to common canine skin conditions.

When it comes to skin allergies, or atopic dermatitis, dogs may often develop what are called secondary infections, which can arise as a consequence of an allergic reaction. Allergic reactions occur when the immune system overreacts to things in the environment like pollen or dust. “The most common reason that we see folks for infections is going to be allergies,” Dr. Lee said.

She continued that a typical bacterial skin infection will look like little red bumps resembling pimples, or crusty scabs. Infections may also manifest as perfect circles, because they form around a hair follicle. These infections may be itchy, but aren’t always.

Skin problems may also come about from introducing inappropriate products to the skin microbiome. Shampoos, conditioners, and other substances not intended for dogs can disrupt a healthy skin barrier function. “I wouldn’t use human products, because there’s also the toxicity aspect,” Dr. Lee said. “Dogs lick themselves, whereas most humans I don’t think do.”

One phenomenon Dr. Edginton has seen before is pet owners who rub their dogs with coconut oil. “People love to slather coconut oil on their dog,” she said. In particular, she’s seen clients who had been using this oil on their allergic dogs with skin infections that had developed as a consequence of an allergic reaction, thinking it might help. However, coconut oil could do considerable damage to a dog’s skin.

“What you’re doing is feeding the bacteria and yeast and making it a perfect environment for more infection,” Dr. Lee said. The skin barrier function “keeps the bacteria and yeast at peace,” she added, so introducing a new element like coconut oil could disrupt that peace, as well as the pH, potentially causing irritation.

Dr. Edginton emphasized that there’s still limited research on coconut oil’s effects on canine dermatology. One paper published in 2019 in the journal Veterinary Dermatology examined how virgin coconut oil affected specialized skin cells in dogs called keratinocytes, and found that it disrupted the strength of the cells’ membrane, which could weaken the skin barrier function. Ultimately, the authors concluded that dog owners should refrain from using coconut oil on their dogs. Dr. Edginton added that we need more research to demonstrate clinical effects of coconut oil on dogs’ skin health, too.

A grey dog wearing an orange bandana against a blue sky.

How can I help my dog with skin disease?

Your veterinarian and a veterinary dermatologist will know how to best care for your dog with a skin condition.

“For dogs with a chronic skin disease, such as allergies or recurrent infections, veterinary dermatologists often advise a topical, preventive skin regimen as part of management,” Dr. DeBoer said. The closest a dog may ever get to a skin-care routine as we humans conceive it would be in this sense, as treatment for an existing condition.

Bathing your dog more frequently may also ease skin conditions like atopic dermatitis and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP) infection. “Those are the ones where you can’t really overbathe them,” Dr. Lee said. She described that one safe, over-the-counter way to treat superficial infections is with an ingredient called chlorhexidine, which your veterinarian will recommend when necessary. The advantage of using a topical antibacterial or antiyeast medication over an oral one is that it doesn’t disrupt the makeup of the gut microbiome, which is just as complex and important as the skin microbiome.

For more persistent skin issues, your veterinarian may refer you to a veterinary dermatologist.

Why you should only use dog-safe products on your dog’s skin and coat

Skin also has a pH balance, or a chemical balance of acids and bases. On the pH scale, a dog’s skin tends to be more alkaline—or basic—at between 6.2 and 7.4, while a human’s sits between 7 and 7.5, according to Dr. Lee. 

Maintaining a healthy pH balance is essential to good skin-care for your dog, and the easiest way to do so is to only use dog-safe products on their coat and skin. In fact, using products designed for humans on dogs can throw the pH out of whack and even deteriorate the brick-and-mortar barrier. “You can remove these protective lipids that are on their skin,” said Ivan Ravera, DVM, PhD, Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Dermatology and a clinical assistant professor of veterinary dermatology at the Virginia–Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. This removal may allow environmental irritants to slip through the barrier.

And, of course, skin-care products for humans may contain ingredients that are poisonous or otherwise harmful to dogs.

Pay attention to your dog’s skin every day

Keeping an eye on the condition of your dog’s skin can be as easy as petting them for a few minutes a day (which we bet you’re doing anyway). This ritual is not only fun; it’s also good for their health, because it gives you a chance to notice any potentially significant changes.

With every head pat and belly rub, you’re getting to know your dog’s skin better and better. Keeping an eye on what looks normal on their body will help you stay in tune with their skin health. So really, that chin scratch is vital to their well-being.

And remember that feeding complete and balanced food is one of the most important things you can do for your dog’s overall health, including their skin health. Food from The Farmer’s Dog is complete and balanced, formulated by on-staff, board-certified nutritionists, and supports healthy skin and glossy coats.

The post Do Dogs Need a Skin-Care Routine? appeared first on The Farmer’s Dog - Digest.


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