Dogs and cats may have a cozy coat to help them through the winter, but it won’t quite be enough to protect their skin. Exposure to dry air, snow, and chemical ice-melting agents can do a lot of damage. It’s up to you to provide your pet with proper animal skin care. Here’s how you can prevent uncomfortable, flaky skin during colder months.

How to Care for Your Pet’s Skin in the Cold

1. Stay Hydrated

Everyone, pets included, burns more energy in the winter to stay warm. This, along with the absence of moisture in the air, makes cats and dogs extra thirsty. Make sure they always have a bowl of fresh, clean water available.

2. Feed Them a Healthy Diet

Feeding your pet a healthy, balanced diet year-round provides them with much-needed nutrients for smooth, flexible skin. This will help prepare your pet for cold, dry weather. For extra sensitive skin, however, you may still need to give them a special winter diet. Pet foods rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids will nourish your furry family member and assist with animal skin care.

3. Keep Up on Grooming

Brush your pet’s fur daily to get rid of dead hair and skin cells, prevent matting, improve blood circulation, and stimulate the production of natural oils. Matting traps painful ice and deicing chemicals, so cut off any tangles you find. Keep long coats trim to decrease the accumulation of skin irritants.

4. Limit Bathing

While you want to keep your pet’s skin clear of deicing chemicals, bathing them too frequently will dry them out. Washing removes the hydrating oils that provide natural animal skin care. Avoid dandruff and itchiness by increasing the time between baths during the winter. Use a special moisturizing shampoo for sensitive skin when it is time for a wash.

5. Don’t Leave Them Outside

Never leave your animal outside alone in cold weather. Not only will freezing temperatures damage their skin, but it will also put them at risk for hypothermia. Only take dogs out for short walks, and supervise adventurous cats. Towel them off thoroughly once you’re back inside to clean off skin irritants, and take care to wipe areas between toes. Make sure they have plenty of dry, warm bedding to get them back up to a comfortable body temperature.

Protect your pet’s sensitive skin through the winter with Veterinary Dermatology Services. These professional pet dermatologists offer comprehensive animal skin care services for owners in Ohio, Northern Kentucky, and Southern Indiana. Veterinary dermatology focuses exclusively on skin conditions and allergies, so they’re fully equipped to diagnose and handle any skin problems your pet may be having. Learn more about the clinic on their website. Schedule your appointment today by calling (513) 489-4644.