Home

>

Dog

>

Grooming

>

8 Causes of Dog Dandruff (And How to Treat It)

8 Causes of Dog Dandruff (And How to Treat It)

Updated On April 20th, 2020

Image profile

Reviewed By Dr. JoAnna Pendergrass

A shiny, glossy coat is beautiful on a dog. What’s not so beautiful is dandruff: white flakes of dead skin cells. Dogs don’t get embarrassed by their dandruff, but it’s not exactly fun for them, either.

Dandruff — typically found on the back, belly, and armpits — frequently indicates an underlying problem.

What Causes Dog Dandruff?

**Environment.** In the winter, temperatures and air moisture levels drop, drying out the skin. Also, [allergens](https://www.petcoach.co/article/food-allergies-vs-environmental-allergies-whats-the-difference/) like dust or pollen, or a drop in indoor humidity (50% humidity is ideal), can cause mild dandruff.

**Grooming.** Dogs naturally groom themselves a bit to keep their coats healthy. However, under- or overgrooming can contribute to dandruff development. Dogs who are ill or are in pain will groom themselves less often. Overgrooming (e.g., an overzealous bathing routine) strips the skin of its natural oils, leaving the skin dry and prone to dandruff.

**Diet.** [Good nutrition](https://www.petcoach.co/article/new-dog-survival-guide-feeding-tips/) is key to optimal skin health. Dogs who become dehydrated can develop dandruff because their skin dries out from a lack of water. Too few healthy fats in the diet (such as omega-3 fatty acids) can lead to dandruff. Also, [food allergies](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/food-allergies/) can make skin flaky.

**External parasites.** [Fleas](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/flea-infestation-1/) and [lice](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/lice-in-cats-and/) can make skin itchy and flaky. The [*Cheyletiella* mite](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/cheyletiella-in-rabbits-cats-and/) doesn’t cause dandruff, but is nicknamed “walking dandruff” because it resembles flaking skin as it marches down a dog’s back.

**Skin infections.** [Bacterial](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/staphylococcal-pyoderma-1/) and [fungal (yeast)](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/malassezia-dermatitis-in-cats-and/) infections commonly cause dandruff. **Seborrhea.** [Seborrhea](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/seborrhea/) in dogs makes the skin flaky, scaly, and greasy. It is caused by overactive skin oil glands. The yeast *Malassezia* is a common cause of canine seborrhea.

**Systemic disease.** Diseases characterized by hormone disruptions, such as [Cushing’s disease](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/cushing-s-disease/) and [hypothyroidism](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/hypothyroidism), can cause dandruff. Autoimmune diseases, in which the body attacks itself, can also lead to dandruff.

**Genetics.** Unfortunately, some dog breeds, like Cocker Spaniels and Golden Retrievers, are prone to developing dandruff.

Treating Dog Dandruff

For many dogs, dandruff is mild and can be easily treated at home without veterinary care. If you are unsure about at-home treatment, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian, who can help you determine what’s causing the dandruff and recommend the ideal course of action.

Unless the dandruff is due to genetics, treating it depends on the underlying cause. For example, if the cause is low humidity, consider purchasing a humidifier for your home. For dietary causes, make sure that your dog has free access to fresh water and his food is full of healthy fats; omega-3 supplements can also help. Other underlying causes will have specific treatment plans.

Severe cases of dandruff require veterinary care. For example, underlying diseases like hypothyroidism or Cushing's disease need to be managed with additional medication.

Dandruff Grooming Tips [A proper grooming routine](https://www.petcoach.co/article/bathe-and-brush-pets-the-right-way) can work wonders for eliminating dandruff, regardless of the underlying cause. Bathe your dog once or twice a month and brush daily. A moisturizing dog dandruff shampoo, such as colloidal oatmeal shampoo, is ideal to relieve dry skin on dogs. For seborrhea or mite infestations, a specific veterinarian-prescribed shampoo will be needed. **Never use a human dandruff shampoo on your dog**; the shampoo’s ingredients can harm your dog’s skin.

Brush your dog’s coat in the direction of hair growth. First, wear a rubber nubbed pet grooming glove and rub the skin in a circular motion to loosen up the dead skin. Then, use a brush to remove the dandruff and distribute your dog’s natural skin oils. Adding a bit of coconut oil or olive oil at the end of the grooming routine can be helpful in some cases, despite being a bit messy.

Dog dandruff is unsightly, but is not usually a big problem. With the proper treatment, your dog’s coat will look as good as new!

Vote icon

155Pet Parents found this article helpful

Related Questions

My dog I heated uses tampon is it an emergency

Unfortunately I'm having a little trouble understand your question as I'm not sure what you mean by "My dog I heated uses tampons..." I'm wondering if Bella ate a tampon or if you wanted to use one on her while she is in heat. I will answer both to be safe. If she ate a tampon, then yes this is a medical emergency and she has to see a vet now. Tampons can easily cause obstructions in the GI tract, especially since they are absorbent and can get large in the stomach from liquid in there. if Bella ate a tampon, you need to take her into a vet immediately to get it removed. If she is on heat, no you cannot use a tampon to control her bleeding. It's not safe to use at all, and are not meant for dogs. You can put a diaper on her to catch any bloody discharge. There are dog specific diapers online and at pets stores, or you can use one made of a human child. Just cut a hole in it for her tail. Hopefully this answers your question. If it doesn't, I'm sorry and ask you post again in the forum for free to it can get answered!

Read More

My dog has an ear infection

Sorry to hear Marley isn't doing so well with his ears. It is not possible to tell from tge picture tve exact nature of the irritation but if it is indeed infected (typically red, hot, painful and smelly), he will need prescription medication from his regular vet. In the meantime I recommend gently cleaning tge outer war with cotton wool and a pet safe ear cleaner to reduce the build up of wax/discharge

Read More

My dog vomited a pinkish colour. Does this look like blood vomit? She doesn’t have diarrhoea or anything else. Yesterday i fed her plain chicken with rice.

That is very red vomit, however, this color could be linked to a number of things including blood in the vomit, inflammation of the GI tract, having chewed on a toy this color, eaten a food item this color, or gotten into a plant or other item this color. If the vomiting continues, worsens, or other symptoms appear such as a painful or bloated abdomen, diarrhea or blood in the stool, or severe distress, I would schedule a veterinary appointment right away to rule out more severe issues. In the meantime I would continue the bland diet for 24 hours, and monitor for any additional vomiting or illness symptoms.

Read More

My dog developed a red hairless bloody mass on her skull overnight. I don’t think she bumped her head on anything.

Poor Marley! Unfortunately there are a number of possible reasons for these raised nodules and a picture cannot diagnose the underlying cause. Itis not possible to distinguish between a wound from a bug bite, cyst, benign histiocytoma or even a tumour without a physical exam and possible testing by an aspirate taken by a needle during the exam or even removal and biopsy. I recommend you follow up with your regular vet, especially if it increases in size, is painful or persists.

Read More

Hi my 5 year old dog has this on her nose ( saw it 4 days ago) and getting bigger. What could it be and is there anything I can do? Thank you.

Ouch! Any new or suddenly growing growth like this should be checked out by your vet in person ASAP. Allergies, infections, skin irritation from rubbing it on things, and some growths and tumors can all cause spots like that on the nose, and can also cause rapid changes and discoloration like this. Until you can get to your vet, I would place an Elizabethan (cone) collar on Amber and keep the spot clean and dry to help reduce any further irritation. It is also a good idea to monitor the size and shape of it and how rapidly it is changing as this can help your vet figure out what may be going on. Your vet will likely take a full history as well as a potential sample of the spot to see what cells are present and provide treatment as needed.

Read More

My dogs are experiencing a bad flea outbreak. We used a generic for Frontline (fipronil) two weeks ago, with no results. I have purchased a generic for Advantix II (Imidacloprid, Permethrin, and Pyriproxyfen) and am wondering if I need to wait the full 4 weeks to use this, or if I can treat with the second medication now.

In severe outbreaks, 2 weeks between different drugs is ok. You will also need to use a household flea treatment in order to break the cycle, only 5% of the flea population are adults and actually present on pets, tge remaining 95% are eggs/large and will continue to hatch, develop and reinvest your pets. All in contact animals should be treated together and also given a tapeworm treatment because tapeworms are also transmitted by fleas

Read More

image

Have a Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Filed Under

Sponsored