My dog has itchy, dry skin & sheds. How often to bathe & what to use?

Question

My dog has itchy skin and patches of dry areas where he has scratched until the area is irritated.It looks like eczema and it seems to be a seasonal problem as it started very suddenly as the weather has started to change to fall.He is also shedding quite badly as a result.I have used tea tree shampoo and conditioner in the past and he seems to get relief.We are also giving him some Benadryl which helps.How often can I bathe him without drying his skin and can I use a safe topical of some kind? Pet's info: Dog | Border Collie | Male | neutered | 5 years and 5 months old | 39 lbs

Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS · Accepted Answer

Please be careful with using a tea tree shampoo on Clyde because tea tree oil is toxic to dogs. Bathing a dog too often stripes out the natural oils, and would make the dry skin worse. You can try giving him an oatmeal bath once a month to see if that would help him. I'd also have him seen by a vet. If this problem is seasonal, it could be allergies, and having prescription medications may help with his symptoms and dry skin. I'd make an appointment for him with the vet for this week. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

My dog has itchy, dry skin & sheds. How often to bathe & what to use?

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