Dry, flaky skin in dogs - everything about dog dandruff 

Can dogs get dandruff? Yes – dogs, just like humans, can suffer with dandruff. Dry and flaky skin, with white flakes in the coat – all signs that your dog has dandruff. In dogs, it is a commonly seen problem at the veterinary clinic. It can be very mild and just on one part of the body, or severe and affecting every region. It can be a misery for owners and their pets, especially if it causes an odour or is itchy.   

When you notice skin flakes in your dog's coat, she leaves a small pile of dander after sitting on your lap or sofa, or, if the skin feels rough and dry when you stroke your pet, then that could be the sign of a skin problem.   

Why do dogs develop dry and flaky skin?  

There are quite a few names for dandruff or flaky skin, you may also have heard it referred to as scurf or dander (even if dander is more the normal shedding). Your vet may refer to it as scale, or "dry seborrhoea".  

Dandruff is not a disease or an illness, but the result of an imbalance in the skin. Simply put, dandruff is an abnormally large number of dead surface skin cells.  

Normal skin is a complex conveyor belt of continuously shedding cells. In its lifecycle, a young skin cell first undergoes a toughening process called keratinisation. It is then strapped to neighbouring cells, much like bricks and mortar. The result is an extremely tough mechanical barrier, like a brick wall, to protect your dog from what day-to-day life in the world throws at them. The dog skin cells last about 21 days (a bit shorter than the 28 days for human skin cells) before they are shed from the skin surface and replaced by the cells below.  

This is a finely controlled process. If anything upsets this delicate balance, the skin's mechanical barrier is compromised, and the brick wall becomes leaky. The body reacts the only way it can: by making more skin cells. With these new cells coming through faster, they are shed in greater numbers, resulting in noticeable skin flakes in the coat. Water in the skin is lost, which dries the skin out. Bacteria and yeasts can get in more easily, triggering an inflammatory reaction. 

Flaky skin sometimes only affects a small region, such as the top of the tail, the inner thighs, along the back, or ear margins, or can be found all over. It can also be mild or very severe. It can also make your dog quite unpleasantly smelly.

What causes flaky skin in dogs?  

The bad news is that many diseases can cause dry and scaling skin in your pet. The first thing to know is that these diseases fall into two types. The first type, "primary" causes of flaky skin, are congenital due to an inherent problem with the skin cell wall construction and are typically seen in certain breeds of dogs at a younger age (Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Cocker Spaniels to name a few). These causes are relatively uncommon. Then there are "secondary" causes. They result from a disease (of the skin or elsewhere in the body) causing disruption of the skin's normal function. It is thought that more than 80% of cases of flaky skin in dogs are due to secondary causes.  

On top of that, just like us, environmental factors such as central heating, stress, or dry winter air can exacerbate skin dryness, leading to dandruff.  

Can a dog’s environment cause it to get dry, flaky skin and dandruff? 

Yes absolutely! There are many environmental factors that can exacerbate skin dryness, leading to dandruff. Examples include dry winter air and central heating causing low air humidity.  Good diet is optimal for skin health, so a poor diet can also lead to dandruff, as can bathing with an inappropriate shampoo. 

What underlying conditions lead to dry, flaky skin and dandruff? 

Let's start with the more common group of conditions that cause dry and flaky skin. We know this is a reaction to another disease.  

• Skin problems due to allergies commonly cause flaky skin. 
• A common secondary cause is a superficial bacterial infection of the skin with local flakes in a circle (epidermal collarette), and there may be redness and itching with pimples, but not always.  
• Fungal infections such as ringworm will also result in flaky skin, as well as many skin parasites, including a mite called Demodex.  
• Then there are the hormonal imbalances. Cushing's disease (overactive adrenal glands) and hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) are very commonly seen in older dogs, and both can cause dry and flaky skin among other signs, notably hair loss.  

• Less commonly, immune diseases, such as lupus, can result in similar symptoms.  
• Finally, scurfy skin could be due to dietary imbalance, such as deficiencies in vitamin A, zinc and essential fatty acids.  

And where might we see dandruff as a condition itself? 

The primary causes of flaky skin are genetic conditions and are hereditary. As such, it is seen in certain breeds of dogs. Springer Spaniels, Basset Hounds, Labradors, Golden Retrievers, American Bulldogs, Jack Russel Terriers, Cocker Spaniels, Westies, Doberman Pinschers, Dachshunds, Shar Peis and German Shepherds are all prone to genetic causes of flaky skin. 

The heritability of dry, scaly skin is best understood in Golden Retrievers, a breed where it is relatively common. Congenital ichthyosis (as shown in picture) is a skin condition where the outer layer of skin doesn’t form properly, resulting in scaling. Researchers have identified the gene responsible, and there is a genetic test available. However, it is mainly used to detect mutation in breeding animals and not in general diagnosis.  

When to see a vet? 

If you notice your dog has dandruff and ongoing dry, flaky skin, sometimes seen with other signs such as redness, hair loss, without any relationship with environmental conditions, make an appointment to see your vet. Your vet will need to establish the cause of the dandruff in order to recommend the most appropriate treatment.  

How is the underlying cause of dry, flaky skin diagnosed? 

To narrow down the list of many potential underlying causes of flaky skin, your vet will first consider which diagnoses are more likely. They will assess your dog's age and breed, their general health status, and whether they have any other symptoms, such as itchiness or hair loss. After this initial evaluation, they will plan which diagnostic tests are most appropriate. Before a diagnosis of hereditary skin disease can be made, your vet will need to rule out all possible secondary causes (known as a "diagnosis of exclusion"). To do this, your vet will need to take skin tests to rule out infection, parasites, investigate allergies and a blood sample to rule out a hormonal problem. Identification of the cause is not always easy and can take time, so don’t feel discouraged. 

What is the treatment for dry, flaky and dandruff skin in dogs?  

Treatment for dry, flaky skin in dogs does of course depend on the cause. Treatment plans include: 

• Identification and treatment of underlying causes 
• Using topical products where indicated to relieve symptoms. The aim is in this case to properly hydrate the skin as well as regulate the skin cell turnover. Your vet will guide you, but products such as the DOUXO^® S3 SEB line are specially formulated to reduce excess sebum and dandruff, strengthen the skin barrier, maintain skin hydration and prevent fungal overgrowth that is common in such conditions. 
• Regular grooming 
• Supplementing your dog’s diet if necessary.  

Please go to our article dedicated to the treatment of dry, flaky skin for more information.