Sherry couldn’t sit still last week. When Sherry normally sat quietly on the examination table, here she was, frantically scratching, licking and nipping whatever she could get at. Her owner wearily told me she was even keeping them awake at night.
When dogs’ skin condition dries out too much, they inevitably exhibit considerable discomfort
Sherry is a 12-year-old, amber-coloured golden retriever. This breed was originally developed as a gundog, but Sherry is now in her twilight years and prefers to take it easy in the garden, sunbathing in the winter sun on a warm patch of soil.
Skin allergies are common with golden retrievers but Sherry had long been placed on a diet designed to minimise such problems.
Nevertheless, Sherry’s skin was dry and flaky, and patches of exposed skin had become raw with scratching. A sandfly test was taken, and a skin scraping was examined under the microscope for mites.
Both these tests proved negative. Something else was bothering Sherry. Having also discounted a possible flea allergy, I asked Sherry’s owner about her dry skin condition. How long had it been since she was bathed?
In over 30 years of veterinary practice, I have dispensed a considerable amount of advice. Yet I find myself repeatedly returning to a fundamental topic that is rife with myth. Sherry had not been bathed for over six months because her owner was told by well-meaning people that washing dogs too often is harmful to the wellbeing of their skin and coat.
With such a myth perpetuated, countless dog owners choose to live with smelly dogs. And when dogs’ skin condition dries out too much, they inevitably exhibit considerable discomfort, just like Sherry.
I often liken the skin of a dog to that of a tree, which needs to be watered frequently in the summer months and less often in winter – about once or twice a week in July and August and down to once every three weeks during the coldest of winter months.
As with humans, a quick shower has a drying effect on a dog’s skin, while a long bath has a hydrating effect, so baths are preferable.
But do not use your own shampoo. The PH of your dog’s skin is different to yours and your shampoo will only dry out and irritate its skin. The formulations of dog shampoos nowadays has become as sophisticated as ours and conditioning agents have been added to the basic detergent to make sure that both dogs’ skin and coat are cleaned and conditioned without stripping them of their natural oils.
Please do not use flea and tick shampoos unless your veterinarian has actually prescribed it for your dog. This is another misconception. A flea and tick shampoo will only remove fleas or ticks that are actually on your dog at the time of bathing. But it will not provide long-lasting protection.
There are a number of good shampoo products available. Ask your vet for advice on which best to use, since this choice could actually depend on the size of dog, type of coat and the place where your dog lives or sleeps.
Leave the option of using medicated or treatment shampoos in the hands of your veterinarian as and when needed.
Throughout, you need to be observant. Just as not all shampoos agree with us, so it is with your dog.
Bathing should never make your dog’s skin condition worse. If you notice any reaction – redness, flakiness or increased itching after bathing, don’t give up on bathing your dog – just seek the advice of your vet.
Sherry’s days of sunning herself in the sun while lying on soil in the garden had a cumulative effect on drying out her skin. And as with humans, her age also meant that her skin produced less naturally hydrating oils. A good long soak, and plenty of them, will see Sherry continuing to enjoy her retirement.
thisweekwiththevet@gmail.com
Dr Martin Debattista is a veterinary surgeon.