My neighbor Steve has a gorges black Lab and he has recently started to notice dandruff on him. He is not really sure what to do nor what caused that skin condition in the first place. I’ve decided to look for answers on this topic and I am glad I can share my findings.
There is a number of reasons for a Lab to have dandruff. Environmental change, stress, allergies, fungal/bacterial infections, poor diet, hypothyroidism, aggressive shampoos, too many bathes…
Although dandruff doesn’t seem like a serious condition, the majority of dogs have some underlying issue so it’s recommended to look for the actual cause of the flaky skin.
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What Is The Cause of Dandruff in Labradors?
As previously said, there are many reasons for a Lab to have dandruff. Some breeds ( including Labs ) are simply more susceptible to this skin condition in comparison to others.
Oily Skin
Dogs with oily skin suffer from dandruff more often. It’s quite common for Labs to have overactive sebaceous glands which further cause oily skin and dandruff.
Hypothyroidism
Another thing that is common for Labs is an endocrine disorder – Hypothyroidism. The symptoms include lack of energy, overweight, pimples, dandruff, hair loss, and oily skin.
Allergies
Allergies (dust and pollen mostly) make your Lab’s skin more prone to dryness and itchiness. Your Lab’s skin becomes a perfect place for skin infections that may look like dandruff to an inexperienced eye.
Fungal /Bacterial Infections
In this case, dandruff is a secondary symptom of the primary infection. If you notice that your Lab is not comfortable, has itchy skin, and smells differently you should check with the vet to find the initial cause of dandruff.
External parasites
Fleas and lice will make your Lab’s skin dry and itchy. Although Cheyletiella mite doesn’t cause dandruff, it’s called ”walking dandruff” for its appearance. It resembles flaking skin so it can be easily confused with dandruff.
Environmental changes
May also influence the appearance of dandruff. When the temperatures are low, the heating systems are on, which affects the humidity. As a result, your Lab might have dry and sensitive skin. Dandruff can appear very easily.
Also if you change the environment, so go from the place which has low humidity and high sea level to the place with low sea level but high humidity ( 50% humidity is ideal), don’t be surprised if you notice snowy flakes on your beautiful Lab’s coat.
Hot and dry summer may steal essential moisture from your Lab’s skin, leaving it in the ”perfect” condition for dandruff appearance.
Stress
Did you know that stress can cause mild dandruff in dogs? This is more likely for puppies that are overwhelmed with many things they do, learn and go through during the day.
Adult Labs can experience stress in case they change the owner/the house if they live in overcrowded, poorly maintained households.
Poor diet
Is another reason why your Lab is struggling with dandruff. If he eats food low in fat, vitamins ( especially A and E), omega 3 fatty acids, his coat won’t be in the best shape and dandruff is one of the issues he might have.
Also if your Lab is dehydrated, if he doesn’t drink enough water on a daily basis, he can easily develop dandruff.
Grooming
Both over-grooming and under-grooming are not recommended.
There are many dandruff cases reported in dogs that were bathed too often ( more than once per month) or were bathed with aggressive, inappropriate cleaning products.
On the other hand, if you don’t care about your Lab, don’t brush him daily, checking his coat and skin, then dandruff can easily develop and become a major issue over time.
When To Visit The Vet About Labrador’s Dandruff?
A few flakes every now and then are not a big issue that you should worry about (although you should be checking your Lab’s coat and skin regularly).
But if any of the following situations happens you should do something about it. Calling a vet is the best possible option.
- All of a sudden you notice a large number of flakes on your furry friend
- You notice a strange, unpleasant smell that is associated with a dandruff
- Poor skin condition – redness, discomfort, itchiness
How To Help A Labrador With Dandruff?
If your Lab doesn’t have an excessive number of flakes that come out, you won’t take him to the vet, still, there is a few things you can do to try to solve this issue.
If you think that dry air in your home might be a problem ( due to the heating system ) you can get a humidifier. Place it in the room where your Lab is spending the most of its time.
Don’t bathe your Lab too often but do shower your dog from time to time. Many vets agree that with a shower you remove many allergens and debris that could be the cause of dandruff, on the other hand, if you bathe your dog too often, you also remove precious oils from his coat that leaves the skin dry and potentially itchy.
When you bathe your pet just be careful to use the products that are appropriate for your dog and that will re-moisturize his skin like :
Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Dog & Cat Shampoo specially designed for dry and itchy skin.
Fresh ‘n Clean Skin & Coat Essentials Dandruff Shampoo specially designed to soothe and nourish your Lab’s skin.
The bottom line,if your Lab has a major issue with dandruff you should find the medicated shampoos that are formulated with coal tar or selenium sulfide and benzoyl peroxide since the Labs have oily dandruff.
There are also some natural solutions you can use like apple cider ( mix equal parts of water and apple cider ) mix and use it for a rinse after a bath or for a spot cleaning with a soft cloth.
The good idea is to mix the equal parts of lime juice and water and then to add it to some good quality oatmeal dog shampoo. This is a great recipe for itchy skin.
Groom your dog with a rubber pet-grooming glove, rub the skin in circular motions to get rid of dead cells and stimulate blood supply to the skin.
Don’t forget to brush your Lab on daily basis. Brushing will permit you to build an even tighter bond with your pet, will distribute precious natural oils through the coat.
Brush your Lab always in the direction of hair growth. You can easily spot any type of changes on your Lab’s coat or skin if you brush him every day. In the end, you can apply coconut oil onto the skin.
Check the diet of your Lab. Be careful with introducing a new food, do it gradually as certain ingredients might cause skin discomfort, allergies, and dandruff.
Also, make sure your Lab is drinking enough water as dehydration may lead to dandruff development as well. It’s good to add some healthy oils to your Lab’s meals like fish oil or coconut oil.
Omega -3 fatty acid is also a very important element as lack of it may cause dandruff. Before you introduce any vitamin or Omega -3 supplement (liquid or capsule form) to your Lab’s diet, talk to the vet.
Of course, if the dandruff problem persists you should seek the vet’s help who will run some tests to discover the cause.
If your Lab is struggling with yeast/ bacterial infection or external parasites a vet will prescribe adequate treatment( usually topical antiseptics, frequent bathing with medicated cleaning products, or oral medication in severe cases).
The same goes for endocrine disorder – the vet will decide if your Lab needs to get thyroid hormones as a supplement.
Conclusion
Dandruff in Labs is not an uncommon problem. They have oily skin and are prone to so-called oily dandruff. If your Lab doesn’t have a severe problem with dandruff caused by parasites, yeast, bacteria or he is suffering from an endocrine disorder you might want to consider his diet, the way you groom him.
High/low humidity, stress, allergies can lead to dandruff development.
If you take a good care of your dog, feed him with high quality food rich in healthy fats, Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins A and E, Zinc, brush him regularly, bathe him from time to time using shampoos created for dogs, there is a great chance to avoid facing this unpleasant skin condition.
