Natural Dry Skin Dandruff Care
For natural dry skin dandruff care, one of the best treatments is daily brushing. Most pets enjoy a good brushing and this process acts effectively to distribute essential oils throughout the coat. If your pet continues to suffer dry skin or dandruff after you’ve begun a daily brushing regimen, you do have natural options to treat your pet’s discomfort.
First, know that all cases of dry skin/dandruff are not simply dry skin or dandruff. A pet’s skin is often the first indicator that disease (hypo- or hyperthyroidism, for example) is present and therefore, maladies of the skin shouldn’t be treated lightly. Consult your veterinarian immediately; she can do tests on your pet’s skin that will rule out Cushings Disease, among other dermatological conditions that could be very serious requiring medical intervention. She can also determine whether dry skin/dandruff is a symptom of allergy as well, whether seasonal or food/chemical.
If the dry skin is just that-dry skin-adding fatty acid (omega-3) supplements to your pet’s diet will help significantly. Where are fatty acids found? Fish oil is an excellent source that pets love. To introduce omega-3 acids to your pets’ diet, simply break a capsule over their food and mix in for a healthy treat. Flax oil is another source of omega-3, but must be refrigerated to preserve the integrity of the oil. Cod liver is especially beneficial for cats as it is what is known as arachidonic acid, a type of omega-3 oil that is essential to a cat’s healthy function (clotting, controlling inflammation and reproductive function.) Two to three drops of these oils mixed in to a dog or cat’s food will act as insurance that your pet is getting key nutritional support.
Adding humidity to the wintertime furnace-heated air can be an effective natural dry skin dandruff care for your pets’ skin as well as your own. You don’t need to invest in expensive humidifiers, either. A simple, natural solution is to place large bowls of water around your home (in areas where pets cannot spill them.) The evaporation will add moisture to the air, acting as a rudimentary humidifier.
While on the subject of moisture, be sure not to over-bathe your pet. Cats are very self-sufficient when it comes to cleanliness and a dog requires bathing only once every 6 to 8 weeks. I have my dog groomed only every eight to ten weeks in the winter; I go to a six week schedule in the summer. When bathing, use the most gentle soap you can find like Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap.
Visit Dr. Dr. Bronner's web site here.
You may want to follow with a rosemary-chamomile rinse to soothe and condition the skin. (Do not use on a pregnant pet.)
Rosemary-Chamomile Rinse
To make a rosemary-chamomile rinse, bring two cups of water to boil. Pour over 2 tablespoons chamomile and two tablespoons rosemary. Steep until cool. Strain and massage the rinse into your pet's coat. No need to rinse out!
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