How to Treat Dry Skin in Cats and Dogs with Fish Oil

Does My Pet Have Dandruff?

Summer Banks
If this is a question you have asked recently, you are not alone. With the changes in humidity and weather throughout the year comes changes in a pet's skin reaction to their environment. When a human sees such changes, they seek out the help of specialized shampoos, but these are often filled with chemicals that are simply not eco-friendly. Green or natural alternatives for humans would be to add Omega 3 fatty acids to the diet as an internal method of treating the dry skin of the scalp. The same treatment may also help your pet.

Pet Skin Versus Scalp Skin. The skin on your pet is not that different from the skin on the scalp. Both are taught and covered with hair which means natural treatment used for humans can also be used for pets in some cases. Omega 3 fatty acids are also known as Fish Oil in the retail market. Fish oil can be supplied through a veterinarian for natural pet care, but can also be purchased over the counter. The fish oil, when eaten as part of a health diet with plenty of water, works as a excreted lotion of sorts. The pet will seep out the fish oil through the skin and the flaky quality will soon disappear.

How Long Will the Treatment Take to Work? There are varying estimates on how long the Omega 3 or Fish Oil will take to provide relief from dry skin in cats and dogs. The general consensus is between 6 weeks and 12 weeks of continued use. This may seem like a long time to wait, but once the initial period has passed, your pet will be able to live dry skin free for the duration thanks to the natural pet care options you have chosen.


Bathing More / Helping Less.
Many people think bathing their pet more and using a conditioner is the best option for dry flaking skin. This is simply not the case. While the use of Omega 3 fatty acids is helpful in cats, dogs and humans - the use of shampoo and conditioner in pets is not solving the problem. Most of the time, there are external or internal causes for the dry, flaky skin. These can include, but are not limited to allergies or vitamin / nutrient deficiencies. The Fish Oil is a natural way to supplement the diet and treat the dry skin from the inside out.

Published by Summer Banks - Featured Contributor in Health & Wellness and Lifestyle

Summer Banks is a medical assistant with four years college nursing education. She is a senior health writer for Dietspotlight.com and Featured Contributor in Women s Health, Parenting and Dating & Relations...  View profile

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