What can I do for my Yorkie's extreme dandruff and dry skin issues?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Yorkshire Terrier | Male | neutered | 4 lbs
My Yorkie has extreme dandruff what can I do?
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on August 26th, 2018
Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be a generalized skin infection. You can try to use a medicated shampoo containing chlorhexidine twice weekly for 2 weeks. If there is no improvement or in the meantime this appears to be getting worse, have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Also, fish oil can help tremendously with dry skin. Good luck and have a good day!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on March 26th, 2020
You would need to have him physically examined by your veterinarian to diagnose a skin infection. It could be dry skin or the beginning of a shedding period. Bathe him in a pet approved moisturizing shampoo. Consider adding a fish oil supplement, such as DermCaps or EicosaCaps, to his diet to promote healthy skin and coat.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Health & Wellbeing
My Yorky scratchs all the time. No fleas I think its dry skin... Is there a shot or what can I use to help them stop itching?
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! This could be pyodermas or skin infections. This is usually due to underlying allergies. Allergies commonly appear at age 2-4 but can develope at any time. If that is the case, they are usually environmental but if you’ve switched food or added a new treat in the last few weeks, that could be a cause too. Finally, new shampoo, change in laundry soap, etc can also cause this to flare up. Treatment is topical (including medicated shampoo) or oral antibiotics and addressing underlying allergies of needed. (Shot and pill options are available.) It is also possible that this is mites, ringworm, hormone disorders, oil gland disorders or other. I would consider trying Benedryl, fish oils supplements, and a skin-strengthening dog shampoo such as Duoxo Calm. (Bathe twice weekly during flare ups and twice monthly for maintenance.) Try these for 2 weeks and if no improvement (or if worsening at any time), it’s time to see the vet. Best wishes to you and
Updated on September 24th, 2025
New Pet
Hello, its my first time taking care of my puppy so i ask if every puppy have those things i don't know what it is, it's so dry and detaching to he's skin i put oil on it, take a look i attached the phone. Thankyou please respond
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! This looks like a focal infection. You can try to use a medicated shampoo containing chlorhexidine twice weekly for 2 weeks. If there is no improvement or in the meantime this appears to be getting worse, have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck and have a good night!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My dog has dandruff. It doesn't seem extreme and it's possible I'm only noticing it because he has short black fur, but what's a good treatment to use to help his skin without drying it out?
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! I have found fish oil to be great for this. You can get the commercial kind at your local pet store or online and follow the directions in the bottle as they are all different. This is likely going to help. Good luck!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hello, my name is Angel and I have a 4 month old female Shorkie. She has dry flaky skin, looks like dandruff on the area underneath her ears and neck area. Is there anything I can use from petco to help this out or this a serious matter?
Flaky skin, like what you have posted a picture of, can be due to an overgrowth of yeast in the skin. This can also make the skin greasy and malodorous. Typically a medicated shampoo is most beneficial in cases like this. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Boop by Petco. Best of luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I Have a Yorky Mixed, Has very dried skin only on Leggs
Thank you for using Boop by Petco! Teddy's dry skin can be caused by bacterial or fungal infections, food sensitivities, flea infestations, or certain skin mites. Your vet can perform a skin scraping to rule out most of the conditions above, and prescribe a hypoallergenic diet for Teddy to rule out food sensitivities. In the meantime, you can try bathing Teddy with a medicated shampoo such as the one below - https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/fresh-n-clean-skin-and-coat-essentials-purifying-medicated-shampoo I hope this helps and that all is well!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My newly rescued yorkie (3.9 lbs) is experiencing dry, flaky skin. No change in diet. He has a humidifier near his bed/crate. I have ordered a salmon oil to put on top of his food, but was wondering if I could use coconut oil topically until that arr
Hi there and thank you for using Boop by Petco to address your concern. You can use coconut oil but it will likely not change the dandruff. For a dog Jett's size I would add 1/4 tsp to the food. Also, I personally like to use the Krillex Shed Free chews for dandruff and shedding, so if the salmon oil does not work, I would use the Krill oil chews. You can find these online quite easily. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further. Please take the time to mark this question as helpful or not as it helps us to improve on the quality of our answers to other pet owners. Thank you kindly!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Food & Nutrition
I have a 7 yr old Yorkie that I adopted in February this year. She has seborrhea. About 5 days after bathing, she gets oily and smelly. Is there anything that you would recommend to be given with her food to help this? At present I shampoo her weekly
A combination of Malaseb shampoo and Coatex supplement usually helps. Malaseb can be used twice weekly for the first two weeks to then decrease the frequency to once every week for 3 weeks to then once every other week. If infections are present antibiotics will be needed (your vet can easily determine that). Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Food & Nutrition
My dog has several patchy, dry, scaly spots and I've used Septiderm-V as shampoo for months now and still have dry scaly spots. What should I do next? She's 10 yrs old and a mix Chihuahua/poodle. I give her Royal Canin for mature dog food.
Hi there and thanks for posting on Boop by Petco! You may want to try the Douxo products, namely Douxo Calm Shampoo which can be purchase through your veterinarian or online pet store retailer. You can also try using a fish oil supplement as well. Fish oil is wonderful for coat and skin health. If these don't seem to help or Midnight's skin becomes worse, I would recommend she sees her veterinarian. I hope this helps!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My dog has red patches of flaky skin that itch on her right side I have been giving her 25 mg of benedryl for the itching every 8 hours just started that yesterday she has had it for over a week I bought 2 diff shampoos can you tell me which one I sh
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing her allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. You can try to use the anti fungal and anti bacterial shampoo though this is likely just to work temporarily. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My 4.6# Yorkshire terrier is constantly itching behind the ears and near his tail. I've noticed he has a bit of dandruff, could that be the cause?
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! This is likely due to skin allergies. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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