shitzu skin problems

Question
I bathe my shitzu weekly.She is 1 and a half years old and is currenly pregnantand due the 1st week of December.  She is constantly scratching herself. When I brush her, I am noticing fine white flakes in her hair such as dandruff. She does not have fleas and I have tried oils and dandruff shampoos.  Nothing seems to help.

Answer
Hi Missy,

You didn't say why you're bating your dog as often as once a week.

Bathing a dog on a weekly basis is far to often. Did you notice your dog's flaky skin, and in an attempt to cure the problem started bathing her, or has this always been your habit?

If the answer is the later, stop bathing your dog. Excessive use of soap and shampoo can turn the skin dry. Continue to brush your dog daily to spread the natural oils of her coat. Add about 1/2 a teaspoon of olive oil, or flax seed oil to your dog's meals. You should start to see results within a month.

If you started shampooing your dog in an effort to get control over the dry skin issue but it hasn't been working, then it's now time to contact your veterinarian. The problem may be due to the pregnancy, in which case your vet can best advise you which diet supplements to use, or the problem might be something like a thyroid disorder.

Best of luck,

Patti