My dog likes swimming. Is it causing his dry skin?

Answer by  hibpmgirl (2166)

It depends on what kind of water he is swimming in. Natural water? most certainly! oatmeal dog shampoo is the best for dry skin. You can also feed him some extra vitamins and minerals in his food that will help his skin and coat.

Answer by  Sagebrush (170)

A quality dog food fed with a small amount of corn oil can be beneficial to dogs with dry skin. If the water he swims in is alkaline, chlorinated or heavy with algae, it can cause skin irritations and he should be rinsed after a swim. Healthy skin can easily restore its condition after a swim. Ask your veterinarian.

Answer by  Jeff3585 (36)

It depends on what kind of water her swims in. Chlorine can cause irritation to the skin, causing it to grow dry.

Answer by  Bobinski (1652)

Great exercise for your dog. If the dog's in a pool with chlorine, it could dry the dog's skin. If he is swimming in fresh water, there is no problem. Salt water will not hurt the dog either. You might want to rinse the dog off with fresh water afterward.

Answer by  Trueakitalover (1728)

Yes the dog has an oil in their skin that lubricates their fur and it keeps it from drying the skin out. The water tends to dry the skin out totally.

Answer by  Xayne (177)

It depends on where the dog swims. If the dog is swimming in a lake, pond, river, any natural body of water that has small wildlife living in it then that probably won't cause dry skin. But if the dog is swimming in an actual pool with chlorine in it, that may be the cause of his dry skin.

Answer by  baluga (147)

Being in water too much (bathing or swimming too often) can strip dogs' skin of its moisture, leading to dry skin. If you are worried about it, don't let your dog swim as much or you can purchase special skin conditioner from a pet supply store. You could also purchase an air humidifier for your home.