dry skin

Question
I have a sydney silky long hair.He is always scracting at his back and his front paw pads. anything you can suggest to help him stop would be great. i have started to give him oatmeal baths every week from a dog groomer. Is this bathing him to much?

Answer
Wendi,
 I am terribly sorry your animal is suffering so. It is typical of this breed to have dry skin and in the winter it
only enhances it. Bathing your dog every week is not helping
him it is actually causing more problems.
The oatmeal baths are great to resolve itchy skin problems
but you need to find the cause of the itchy skin first before you treat the itchiness.
Bathing him every week is depleting the natural oils in his skin and fur that he needs for healthy skin and fur. It
also helps protect him from the natural elements of the
weather. I would recommend bathing him every two to three weeks and use a very gentle oatmeal for dogs not for people.
Not saying you are but some people think all shampoos are the same and that just isn't so.
I would use a professional strength moisturizing oatmeal
shampoo without any conditioner or cream rinse follow up.
I know the detangle and moisture cream rinse sounds inviting
but they are misleading when it comes to a dog with very dry skin and fur.
Make sure when you do bathe him that you brush him out completely BEFORE the bath. This will prevent any knot already there from getting worse and it will open up the pores in his skin so they can absorb the moisture they need.
After the bath do not blow dry him directly. Brush him out gently then towel dry him till he is about 75% dry Then let him air dry the rest of the way. This will allow the skin and fur to absorb as much moisture as they need to .
 After you towel dry him use a baby lotion or an oatmeal based lotion on his feet. Only do this once a day for a week then you can do it once every three days for two weeks
after that only do it once a week . You don't want to make the pads of his feet to soft,because he will get hurt when he goes out side just walking around. His pads are meant to be rough and somewhat dry . It is a natural way of protection for his paws. It's mother natures shoes for animals.
 You should also find the correct brush for his coat and brush him daily. This will aide the skin in producing more
oil for the coat and the skin. You should start seeing a difference in him in about three weeks. If nothing changes
take him to a vet. I could be that he has a skin parasite
or even an allergic reaction to something.
I hope I have been of some help to you and your pet. If you
have any further questions feel free to write back
Good luck and God Bless !
Doreen