How to support your dog’s sensitive or allergy prone skin

As the largest organ in our body, our skin plays a vital role in keeping us safe and healthy. There’s lots of things we do every day to look after our skin — like wearing sunscreen to protect from UV, using gloves while we’re gardening, or washing with gentle soaps and detergents to clean dishes.

The skin barrier is like a force field — fatty acids, ceramides, and proteins link up to keep moisture in and nasties out. Disruption to this protective barrier can lead to irritation, allergies, and infections. If you’ve ever felt itchy or irritated after trying a new skincare product, laundry detergent, too much time in the sun, or encounters with mystery garden weeds, you know the feeling!

Just like it does for us humans, the skin barrier plays a critical role in keeping our dogs healthy and happy.  When the skin barrier is working well, it protects our dog through all of the types of environments they might encounter — grass, dirt, sand, salt, mud, and your couch, although hopefully not in that order! Any disruptions to this protective barrier (think: allergens, environmental irritants, or infections) can lead to dry skin, irritation, allergies and infections.

Let’s recap some of the signs of a damaged skin barrier:

- Dry, flaky skin

- Itching/chewing/licking

- Hair loss

- Redness

- Oozing

- Abnormal odour

Pretty uncomfy! But don’t worry, skin allergies and irritations are easily managed most of the time, and there are plenty of ways you can help support sensitive skin and strengthen your dog’s skin barrier.

Choosing the right bathtime routine:

We know — not every dog looks forward to bathtime! But keeping wash day free from harmful chemicals is a key step in supporting your dog’s sensitive skin. 

Thinner and more delicate than human skin, our dog’s skin also runs a little more alkaline than ours. This pH difference means that shampoos and soaps that work well for our human skin and hair are too acidic for our doggy counterparts, and can strip away natural oils — compromising the all important skin barrier and causing itch and irritation. 

Choose products that have been specifically formulated for dogs with skin sensitivities. Our Sensitive Skin Range is designed without the harmful chemicals you might find in regular shampoos and cleansers — plus, it’s pH balanced specifically for dog skin, with moisturising and protective ingredients to help hydrate and soothe. 

Go with your gut!

There’s also plenty you can do to make sure that your dog’s sensitive skin is protected from the inside out. For example, supplements like Omega fatty acids can be helpful in soothing dry, flaky, allergy-prone skin and enhancing your dog’s coat texture and shine. Our plant-based Omega-6 Drops contain a good balance of the essential fatty acids that play a vital role in supporting the skin barrier.

A word of caution: there’s lots of supplements on the market with lofty claims. Often, pet supplements are packed with unnecessary fillers, confusing dosages, or poor labelling. However, supplements can be a valuable tool to support your dog’s health when done right — always talk to your vet about what will be suitable for your dog. 

Remember, allergies and sensitive skin are extremely common for dogs and usually easily addressed — always talk to your vet if you have concerns about supporting your dog’s skin.