Hi, hope someone can help. I bathed Harvey (17 week old CKCS) on Christmas Eve using Johnson's baby shampoo and since then I have noticed that his skin has gone very dry and he has little white flakes in his coat - I rinsed him thoroughly so doubt it's soap residue. I did a search here on CD and Cheyletiella mites keep popping up. This has freaked me out a little and I'm sat here all itchy now!! We have two house bunnies you see - (I've checked them both over and they have nothing on their skin or in their coat) Harvey is up to date with Advantage flea treatments (does this work against Cheyletiella mites as theirs nothing in the information leaflet) and he isn't itchy - except when he has his collar on at walk time but thats normal with him. His skin isn't inflamed, red, patchy ect....just very dry. We feed JWB which he is doing well on and has a gorgeoous shiny coat. Do you think it's the shampoo thats caused this or could he be infested?? OMG I hope he isn't.

Think a visit to the vet is in order but thought I'd ask here first.

Hayley x

Cheyletiella is also known as walking dandruff because it moves. If you puppy's dandruff doesn't move I wouldn't be too worried

I only use natural dog shampoo on my cavaliers & always use a natural leave in conditioner/detangler My dogs always have shiny glossy coats & they never have dry skin. I don't bath them more than once a month unless we have a show. It could be that you need to condition his coat as bathing removes all the natural oils in the coat & on the surface of the skin

My BC puppy does get stress related dandruff but it goes as quickly as it appears

There's nothing moving moonmaiden. would you bath him again using something different or take him to vet just in case? What shampoo and conditioner do you use on your dogs?

Thanks

Personally I wouldn't bath him again (unless he gets absolutely filthy rolling in something!). Baths usually do a dog's skin more harm than good.

didn't think it would be wise to bath him again so soon as this appears to be the reason behind the dry skin. Does anyone know of anything that i could massage into his skin to moisturise without making his coat greasy?

I'd give him a good brushing to remove the loose flakes and then leave nature to repair it. :)

Yes, will do. Would a little olive oil in his food for a few days help? I've read it can.

It can certainly work in the longterm, but dietary changes take some weeks to have a beneficial effect on the skin and hair. In the shortterm extra oil can cause digestive upsets ... :(

I use Doreen Paige Peach Oil Shampoo & her leave condition/detangler. Leaves the coats sparkling & smelling so nice too. All natural products BTW

I do have one boy who has a yukky skin sometimes & then I use Quistel(anoth natual product)shampoo & spray & with Quistel it doesn't matter if you don't rinse it all out(I use the spray in between shampoos for him)

I wouldn't bath him again unless he gets rea;lly pongy(as boy cavaliers can :D;) )

I wouldn't take him to the vet unless it is still there in a few days time. Like JG says a good brushing every day will help the skin product natural oils & return to normal

He's a bit young to start giving anything in his diet for his coat, my BC has a lovely smooth coat & I use a grooming glove with him-it has rubber "pimples"on one side & velvet on the other-it acts like a massage glove

MM I've seen Cheyletiella many, many times (confirmed) and I have never understood why they call it walking dandruff because it usually doesn't move. :) The characteristics are really small scabs, you hardly ever see dandruff either. Lots of little red scabs, some animals itch, some do not, usually around the head and all along the back. Have had it in cats more times than I can remember (seems to be more common in longhairs than shorthairs, and despite strict vetting in and disinfecting by judges ec, it's easily picked up at shows) and I've also had it on the cavaliers a few times (from the cats) but never on the big dogs, plus that my oldest daughter caught it off a cat once, LOL.

no sores or redness here just really dry, flaky skin

See what it's like in a few days, unless he starts scratching badly. Skin is marvellous at self-repairing. :)

The cases I've seen(not on my dogs BTW)do move it you brush it on to paper or a slide. I should have said it's the mite that moves not the dead skin ;) I think it was originally called walking D because it moves on the slide

It's highly unlikely this young puppy has it more likely the "dandruff"is natural dead skin produced after bathing.

I forgot to ask if you used a hairdryer or let him dry naturally Since I stopped using a hairdrier & bought a blaster I've not seen any dandruff on any of my dogs

I think it was originally called walking D because it moves on the slide

That makes more sense! :) Yes I fully agree it doesn't sound at all as if this is Cheyletiella.

No, hairdryer wasn't used but I have the central heating pretty much all the time at the moment as it's so cold......I bet this could be contributing to drying out his skin as I know it plays havoc with mine:rolleyes:

Just give him a thorough brushing maybe twice a day it should simulate his skin to produce natural oils which should return it to normal I wouldn't worry too much

I would say the dryness has occured because of the shampoo you are using.  Dogs have a different skin PH to humans, therefore using a human shampoo on a dog gives them dry skin.

I would recommend getting a good quality natural shampoo for dogs and/or oil.

This website has a good range:  www.groovypets.com

I prefer to use more natural dog grooming products, as the normal doggie shampoos smell awful and rather disinfectant like. Not to mention I am rather sensative to chemicals myself and get eczema.

Spitzed x

Hi.

I took Harvey to the vet for a check after I posted and she confirmed that he didn't have any mites ect just dry skin. I haven't bathed him since, just a good daily brushing has almost cured him....will need a bath soon though as he's getting a bit wiffy! Will use the tea tree puppy shampoo that the vey recommended.

Hayley