Last Updated on May 9, 2022 by Marco
Dry skin is as annoying for dogs as it is for people. So, here are 9 safe and effective dachshund dry skin remedies for your short-legged pooch. Fortunately, most dry skin issues your Doxie experiences should be fairly simple and easy to deal with by trying one or a few of the steps below. Of course, you should keep in mind that some problems can be more significant, and consulting with a vet is recommended.
9 Dachshund Dry Skin Remedies
When talking about home remedies for dry skin on dogs it’s easy to wonder if it’s all just nonsense – after all, we’re bombarded with pseudo-scientific “remedies” anywhere we look online. What we’re about to mention below are perfectly safe and effective dachshund dry skin remedies, however.
- Olive oil in the food – All you need is one small tablespoon of olive oil into your dog’s food once every couple of days. The exact quantity will depend on your dog’s size so it’s worth it to talk with your vet for an exact estimate.
- Omega-3 supplements – Similarly, adding a bit of Omega-3 to your dog’s food is also excellent for dry skin. As above, talk with your vet for the precise personalized dosage.
- Vitamin E bath – Vitamin E can also be added in small quantities to your dog’s food. It’s also a good idea to add a few drops into your dog’s bath water or rub a few drops into your dog’s skin.
- An oatmeal bath – This tends to give some people pause, however, you may have noticed that some dog hair products include oatmeal. That’s cause it works. You can either sprinkle some ground oatmeal powder into your dog’s bath water or make a paste out of it and rub it into your dog’s skin for a few minutes before rinsing it away.
- Apple cider vinegar and water spray – All you need to do is mix some apple cider vinegar with water in a 50/50 solution and spray it onto the dry skin area. If the problem is on the paws, you can just soak them in the solution for ~5 minutes.
- Coconut oil rub – A light coconut oil massage is excellent for allergies, eczema, bug bites and stings, and yeast infections.
- Fix your dog’s bathing routine – A common mistake a lot of people make is “overbathing” their dogs. This can actually make the problem worse, especially if you’re using the wrong shampoo and conditioner. Get products designed specifically for dog dry skin and bathe your dog about once a month.
- Regular and extensive grooming is obviously a must – Even with a smooth-haired dachshund, a light daily brushing can solve most of your problems. Not only does this prevent matting but it also helps spread the skin’s oils more evenly over the dog’s coat and prevents oil and dirt buildup.
- Look out for low air humidity – Low air humidity leads to dry skin in dachshunds as in people. This means that you should avoid long winter walks and you should try and keep the indoor humidity at home above 40-50%.
Do You Need To Go To A Professional Groomer If Home Hachshund Dry Skin Remedies Don’t Work?
If none of the dachshund dry skin remedies we listed above is working then the person you need to call is your vet, not your groomer. That should go without saying, however.
Still, once you’ve figured out what the issue is and how to treat it, getting a professional groomer’s help isn’t a bad idea. A couple of visits a year can help you make sure that your dog is groomed as well as possible.
What Causes Dachshund Skin Issues In The First Place?
The cause of your dog’s dry skin issues can either be completely harmless and incidental or it can be a serious underlying condition. This doesn’t mean that you should necessarily freak out the moment you see some dry skin flakes, of course. It’s usually best to just look into the much more probably harmless causes and treat those before you start jumping to conclusions.
If none of the above remedies work, however, it’s best not to wait for your bi-annual routine vet visit and to go there sooner rather than later. To give you an idea as to what may be necessitating the aforementioned dachshund dry skin remedies, here’s a quick list:
- Inadequate grooming
- Poor diet
- Too frequent bathing and/or the wrong bathing products
- Parasites
- Allergies
- Skin infections
- Hypothyroidism
- Cushing’s Disease
- Auto-immune diseases
- Cancer
Read more about Best Dog Food For Dachshunds With Skin Allergies
So, What Are The Best Dachshund Dry Skin Remedies and When Is It Time To Call Your Vet?
Dachshunds can often have skin issues so this isn’t necessarily something that should freak you out. Most of the time it’s enough to just fix your dog’s diet, pick up the grooming routine, change your dog’s shampoo, and consider some supplements such as vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids, and olive oil.
If none of those seem to have an effect, however, and you can find an obvious surface-level reason for the issue, it might be time to call your vet.
FAQs
What can I put on my dachshund for dry skin?
The safest and most often recommended skin supplements for dog skin include stuff such as vitamin E, oatmeal paste, apple cider vinegar with water, and coconut oil. The way to apply those is different, however. With vitamin E, you’d want to just mix a few drops into your dog’s bathwater – consult with your vet about the exact quantity based on your dog’s size, coat type, and condition.
Apple cider vinegar should be mixed 50/50 with water and sprayed lightly over your dog. Never make direct contact with the dog’s eyes or with open wounds. Coconut oil should be gently and sparingly rubbed into your dog’s skin and oatmeal should be grounded into a paste and rubbed lightly on the dog and then washed away.
Every one of these solutions should be safe when applied well and they are all things typically used as ingredients for canine skincare products anyway.
Why is my dachshunds skin so dry?
There are many possible reasons why a dog’s skin is dry. Fortunately, most of them are pretty harmless if treated quickly and effectively. These include stuff such as skin parasites, allergies, using the wrong shampoo, lack of grooming, too many baths, and so on.
Some issues are internal and more problematic, however. Stuff such as Cushing’s disease or hypothyroidism, as well as cancer or certain auto-immune diseases can also have dry skin as a symptom. Those are rare, of course, so you only need to worry about them if you’ve eliminated all the other possible causes.
Jordan is an animal–lover who specializes in dachshunds. He has owned and cared for dachshunds since he was a child, and his passion for these unique dogs has only grown with time. Jordan is an avid researcher and learner, and spends a large portion of his free time studying the history, behaviour, and health of dachshunds. He has a knack for training and socializing his own dogs, and loves introducing them to new experiences. When not caring for his own pets, Jordan likes to volunteer at local animal rescue shelters, helping to find homes for abandoned dachshunds. He is a true animal advocate, and dedicates his time to ensure that all animals receive the love, respect, and care they deserve.
