Hi Y’all. There’s a million reasons for dry skin so, come to see us to determine what may be causing it. Winter seasonal dry skin is today’s topic.
When it gets cold in Texas, most of us kick on the heaters in our homes and it takes a ton of moisture out of the air. You’ll notice a ton of static and zapping your cats and dogs when petting them. Well just like us, our dogs and cats get very dry skin sometimes, but we’re not putting lotion on them right? Right! Their skin is actually much more complex and important for a healthy shiny coat.
So what can we do? The important thing is knowing what your dog or cat needs. Most cats are going to get what they need through diet alone without supplementation. Dogs however are usually the candidates for itchy dry skin. The vet house has what you need here in a skin specific diet or you can start creating a whole food/raw food diet. Instead of re-inventing the wheel and spending $$$ on expensive whole food concoctions, we have ready-made pumps with essential fatty acids to go right with the food your furry friends already enjoy. Palatability is very good for these. Whole raw food diets can be good for your pet, but you need a PhD to get it right and its time consuming. If you want a new hobby though, go for it and we can help educate you go-getters!
Always feed a good healthy premium diet. Some of the cheapies will dry your dog’s or cat’s skin any time during the year because they are meeting the minimum FDA standard, but not the greatest nutrition. Most of your pet store premium food aisle products will be fine and usually preserved with some forms of vitamin E, otherwise known as mixed tocopherols. Most premium diets will have additional essential fatty acids such as omega 3s, 6s and 9s. That’s a good start and we can enhance that by putting extra essential fatty acids in their diet as well through supplementation.
Humidifiers can add moisture back into the environment. Healthy coats are well groomed. Some of course need more maintenance than others, but brushing with a good grooming spray can reduce static during winter and add moisture to the skin and coat. Brushing the coat alone stimulates the natural oils of the skin and can make a remarkable difference. The Vet House carries shampoos that are gentle and even medicated if necessary. Be careful not to bathe too much, no more than once every 2 weeks unless our Veterinarians say otherwise (Most cat owners know that is self-limiting anyway! Lol). Don’t scrub or irritate the skin, let the shampoo do its work. More is not better, just follow labeled instructions, especially rinsing.
No matter how gentle, we change the natural balance of the skin when we bathe our pets.
Either way, make simple changes so you know what is working for your furry family members and stay in touch with us for all the education you need.
See ya soon and have a Happy Thanksgiving!
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