 Hand Lotion Season by Robin Brock, D.V.M.
It’s hand lotion season again. As I smooth into my hands that thick smelly lotion that my husband hates because it makes his nose tickle, my hands emit a loud “aaaaahhh.” Actually, this is the same sound that comes from the legs of my terrier when I spray the aloe based “anti-itch” spray on his dry and scaling legs. Yes, dogs get dry skin too.
While some animals are plagued with dry skin year round, the cooler seasons are when dry skin seems to get worse. Why is that? Here in the Southeast, we are blessed? with plenty of moisture in the air (humidity) in the summer. Even with our air conditioners working hard to de-humidify, the air in our homes is still heavy with moisture during the summer. The opposite problem exists in the winter. The air outside is less humid and the air inside is even dryer. Heat dries things out. This is true of the heat sources we use to warm our houses. So how do we know there is a problem?
One of the most common signs of dry skin is scratching. (Sound familiar to those of you humans with dry skin on your legs or arms?) Often, animals arrive at my office with a complaint from their owner of scratching. When I don’t find fleas, the next thing I look for is dry skin. Dry skin is one of the most common causes of scratching. Signs seen on the animal are bits of white flakes and irritation associated with the scratching. So what do you do about it?
Dry skin in animals is treated in much the same way as it is treated in humans. Oils and lotions on the skin will help to ease the discomfort. There are also shampoos and conditioners which help dry skin. Some of these products are designed to decrease the itching and some are designed to moisturize the skin. These preparations only provide temporary relief as they only treat the skin from the outside. They do not actually increase the content of moisture inside the skin.
In order to increase moisture from the inside out, nutritional supplements are needed. Supplements for dry skin contain essential fatty acids. These are the omega fatty acids that you hear about in advertisements for these products. Fatty acids are very sensitive to break down by light among other things. For this reason, packaging of the product is important. Consult your veterinarian on which products are most reliable.
Omega fatty acids are also present in certain foods. Fatty fishes such as salmon are high in omega fatty acids. In addition to helping the skin, these compounds are high in anti-oxidants. Anti-oxidants help protect many of our internal organs against disease and abnormal cells that can grow into cancer. There are several special diets that are high in these cancer and dry skin fighting compounds. Consult your veterinarian regarding which brands actually do what they say.
So when you lay out the gloves and hand lotion for yourself, remember that your pet may also be feeling your pain. If you notice your pet scratching and his skin flaking, his problem may be dry skin. Consult your veterinarian about products that will help him through this skin irritating season.
Farmland Veterinary Clinic, PA
Compassionate care for farm animals, companion animals, exotic mammals
336-492-7148, 3793 Hwy 64 West in Mocksville www.farmlandvet.com |
