© AmazonWe independently pick all the products we recommend because we love them and think you will too. If you buy a product from a link on our site, we may earn a commission.
Have you ever noticed white flakes in your dog's fur when you pet him?
That's probably dandruff. Dogs can get dandruff, just like people can, and there are even dandruff shampoos made just for dogs.
The Dodo spoke to Helen Schaefer, a national certified master groomer and a certified canine esthetician with Heart + Paw, to find out what a dog dandruff shampoo is and how to find the best one for your pup.
Groomer-recommended dandruff shampoos:
Sometimes dogs get dandruff because of common health issues, like dry skin or allergies.
"There are simple, everyday things that can trigger dandruff, such as turning on the heat in winter," Schaefer told The Dodo.
According to Schaefer, having a poor or incomplete diet can also cause skin issues, like dandruff, in dogs.
Dandruff can even be a sign of serious underlying health issues, such as pemphigus (an autoimmune skin disease), hypothyroidism, seborrhea (a skin disease), bacterial and fungal infections, or Cheyletiella mites (aka walking dandruff).
Dog dandruff looks similar to human dandruff. You'll see little white flakes in your dog's fur, but if your dog has light hair, it could be harder to spot. In that case, you might see flakes in your dog's bedding or other areas where he likes to hang out.
Finding the right dandruff shampoo for your pup's a good first step toward getting rid of his dandruff.
According to Schaefer, "Using a high-quality shampoo and conditioner can help greatly in restoring the skin's mantle [the skin barrier] balance."
In addition to shampoo, making sure your dog gets all the nutrients he needs is super important for keeping his coat healthy.
"Good nutrition is key to healthy skin and coat," Schaefer said. "Offering your dog a supplement or chew that has both omega-3 and omega-6 can help reduce any inflammation and ensure that your pet has an adequate amount of these essential nutrients."
You can get these Zesty Paws Omega Bites from Amazon for $26.97
According to Schaefer, some ingredients to look for in dandruff shampoos for dogs include alpha hydroxy acid and salicylic acid. "These will help gently exfoliate the old dead flakes off and reduce any greasiness and will most likely be in any vet-prescribed shampoo," Schaefer said.
Dandruff shampoos should also include humectants, which are substances, such as oatmeal and aloe, that attract and retain moisture in the skin.
And a tip from Schaefer about shampoos that contain oatmeal is to look for colloidal oatmeal in the ingredients. "This means that the oatmeal is small enough to be suspended throughout the shampoo," Schaefer said, which makes it more moisturizing.
"Another great ingredient to look for is zinc pyrithione," Schaefer said. "This is a common ingredient in human dandruff shampoos, but the percentage in human versus pet shampoos is different, so I do not recommend reaching for the Head & Shoulders!"