The Moose monster has several special tricks for taking care of his itchy back. Sometimes he’ll flop down in the grass, roll onto his back, and squirm. Sometimes he’ll subtly jam his head under your arm so you know it’s time to scratch his back. But my favorite is when he walks through the bushes so the branches scratch his poor itchy self.
If your dog has dry and/or itchy skin, there are a few things you can do to help.
- Try to determine the cause of the itching. It could be skin or food allergies; it could be fleas or other parasites; it could be a seasonal issue.
- Use an oatmeal shampoo to help keep skin hydrated. A dog with dry and itchy skin should be bathed monthly. Make sure all the shampoo is rinsed out; soap residue can make the itching worse.
- Add Vitamin E capsules or other healthy oils to your dog’s food.
- Brush your dog daily to remove possible irritants like dust and pollen. (That will be beneficial for any human allergy sufferers in the family, too!)
If your cat has dry and/or itchy skin, there are a few things you can do to help.
- Try to figure out what is causing the dandruff and itching. It could be skin allergies; it could be fleas or other parasites.
- Try to increase the humidity level in your house. Humidifiers are available at most drug stores and help add warm or cool mist into the air in your home. As an added benefit, running a humidifier during the winter months will help reduce static electricity in your cat’s coat.
- Reduce sun exposure. A sunburn on your cat’s delicate skin can cause dry, itching dandruff. The most intense hours of sunlight come between 10am and 2pm — try to keep your cat indoors during that part of the day.
- An over-the-counter oatmeal shampoo may help relieve some of the dryness if your cat will tolerate a bath.
Call your vet if your dog or cat scratches her skin open — she could get an infection!