It’s not just our skin that can get a little dry and irritated over winter – the same thing can happen to our furry family members too!

Here are our team’s best tips for supporting your pet’s best skin health year-round.

Appropriate bathing

Excessive bathing can dry out your pet’s skin, so only bathe them if they are smelly or dirty, or if we have recommended a routine of medicated washes for a diagnosed skin condition.

Dogs with naturally sensitive or dry skin may also benefit from the use of a pet-friendly leave-in conditioning product to help moisturise and soothe the skin.

Essential fatty acid supplements

Essential fatty acid supplements such as fish oil can support pets with drier skin or allergic skin conditions. Ask our vets for recommendations on safe and effective products.

Regular grooming

Most pets will benefit from regular grooming to help remove loose, dead hairs. Long-haired pets should be combed several times weekly to prevent mats, and double-coated pets may require the use of a deshedding tool, particularly during seasonal changes, to remove loose undercoat and prevent fur compaction and skin irritation.

Keeping up with parasite prevention

Fleas (and in some regions, ticks) can remain active even during winter. We’d recommend keeping your pet up to date with parasite prevention all year round as the safest option.

When to get a vet check

While some environmental allergic skin conditions are seasonal and therefore may settle down over winter, other pets may suffer from allergic irritations of their skin and/or ears year-round. These conditions may also result in secondary bacterial or yeast overgrowth, which can rapidly worsen the problem.

If you notice your pet recurrently scratching or licking at certain areas, or any smell, redness or discharge, it’s best to have our vets take a look!