Winter air is cold and dry, and it can exacerbate skin conditions for humans and animals alike. Dogs, in particular, are susceptible to cold-related dermatological issues. Find out how to keep your four-legged friend safe from common dangers with the below animal skin care tips.

How to Protect Your Pet’s Skin During Winter 

1. Don't Over-Bathe

Your dog's skin produces oils that help keep the dermis hydrated and promote a healthy, glossy coat of fur. If you bathe them too often in winter, when air is already dry, you risk stripping away these oils. This increases the odds of them developing flaky, dry, and itchy skin. An animal skin care specialist can recommend a moisturizing rinse to use when temperatures drop.

2. Provide Protection

Although you want to groom your dog, you don’t want to shave their fur too short in winter. A longer coat of hair keeps your pup warm. For long-haired breeds, trim their fur to keep snow, ice, and de-icing chemicals from clinging to it. For short-haired breeds, get a dog jacket or sweater that covers the base of the tail and belly to prevent exposure.

3. Keep Paws Clean & Dry

If your dog goes outside, clean their feet when they come back. Rock salt and other de-icing chemicals on streets and sidewalks cling to their paws and damage the delicate pads. Trim hair on the feet of long-haired dogs to keep balls of ice from forming between toes. Another option is to get dog boots, although not all dogs will appreciate them.

Trust Veterinary Dermatology Services to help manage your pet's skin. Located in Cincinnati, OH, they serve Ohio, northern Kentucky, and southern Indiana. Board-certified pet dermatologist Patrick T. Breen, DVM, ACVD, focuses exclusively on skin conditions. He offers everything from allergy consulting to laser surgery for benign and malignant growths, and treatment of infectious skin diseases, autoimmune and endocrine disorders, and more. Find out more about his expertise online. To schedule an appointment with the animal skin care specialist, call (513) 489-4644.