Dry Itchy Skin Solutions

Itchy skin is one of the top reasons for veterinary visits . Left unchecked excessive scratching can lead to secondary bacterial/staff infections of the skin.

We always recommend an evaluation from a veterinarian, especially if there are open sores, excessive hair loss, lumps or any other health issues present.


Is It Dry Skin? the number one  common cause of itching is dry skin. If you live in a region with low humidity, it’s more likely that your dog will have dry skin, which is fairly easy to recognize. When you part your dog’s hair, you see flakes of dandruff in the undercoat, and the skin itself may be cracked.

 Some excellent ingredients to look for in shampoos , conditioners and spray- ons  are Tea tree Oil, Olive oil, Calendula, Aloe Vera and Oatmeal are all helpful for dry itchy skin. Tea Tree Oil and Calendula also contain anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties as well .

The Second is Allergies.
Clinical research has shown that one important way to reduce the likelihood that dogs will develop allergies is to give them high-potency  probiotics when they are young.They are relatively inexpensive, absolutely safe to use, and can save both dog and the owner tons of grief—and visits to the vet—later in life.

Regardless of age, many dogs’ allergies are controlled by improving the quality of their diet, giving them high potency acidophilus cultures and high doses of fish oils; adding freshly milled flax seed to their diet.

Bark Loud, Run Fast AND PLAY Summer SAFE

Fur goes only so far

Don't forget to grab special dog sunscreen the next time you're heading out for a day of fun-in-the-sun with your dog. That's right; dogs need protection from the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays, just as people do. As in people, overexposure to UV rays can give your dog a nasty case of sunburn, peeling of skin, and painful inflammation, and also increase the risk of skin cancer.



Doubles as pest protection AND Sun Screen!!

Because dogs have fur, people often assume that they are not in any danger of getting sunburned. But this is not so. While fur does provide some degree of protection to much of a dogs body, the bridge of the nose, ear tips, skin surrounding the lips, and areas lacking pigmentation are more vulnerable. In addition, if  he has suffered hair loss due to illness or medical treatment, the exposed skin is at risk of sun damage.

But even where the skin is covered with fur, there is a need for protection. Sunlight can easily penetrate dog fur, especially if it is light colored, of short length, or naturally fine in texture. Certain breeds  are at increased risk of developing skin cancer.

Not all dogs are born swimmers

While swimming is great exercise and can also provide relief from summer heat. Despite popular belief, not all dogs were born to swim.    When encouraging your dog to swim it's important to know its physical ability, stamina, body shape, condition and breathing ability.  Fit your dog with a PFD (personal flotation device) if you are not sure about his swimming ability or if you plan on taking him boating.  Life jackets made for dogs keep their head above water and have a handle on the back to make it easier to grab them out of the water.    

Road Trip? Don't think for a second that safety belts are merely for people. As canine companions go along for the ride, dogs need to be strapped in, too -- to protect everyone.

A car traveling at 30 mph can result in a 60-pound dog  (such as a  medium-sized Boxer or a  smaller Labrador Retriever) crashing into the windshield, seat, or another passenger with an impact of 2,700 pounds, according to Bark-Buckle UP, a pet safety advocacy group based in San Diego, Calif. The risks, of course, increase at higher travel speeds.

Additional dangers posed by unrestrained animals include distracting the driver, or escaping the vehicle and causing a collision on the road. In addition, keep in mind that if the driver is perceived to be in danger after an accident, a protective dog might fend off would be rescuers.