The Dog Bible Q&A
Tracie welcomes any and all questions about cats AND dogs on both her live radio shows. Call in to DOG TALK on Saturdays from 11-Noon (EST) to 800-394-8830 or Wednesdays 8-9 PM (EST) to CAT CHAT 866-675-6675. (You don't need to have Sirius to call in!)
Winter Itchy Skin
My Lhasa Apso seems so itchy and I don’t know how to give her relief. Since it’s winter and she is indoors only, I doubt that it is fleas since I have seen no sign of them.
Beside itchy skin, the dryness of winter can also cause sneezing and drippy noses and eyes in dogs and cats. The air is very dry in winter when you are indoors with the heat on – or outside in the cold, dry air (at least in many geographical areas). If you experience static electricity when touching certain surfaces that’s a good sign of general dryness in the environment. With such low humidity it can really dry out her skin (and yours!).
Get a humidifier and crank it up to at least 45% humidity. Try to put a humidifier in every room where you and the dog spend the most time – even just putting out containers of water on windowsills or on top of old-fashioned radiators – will disperse the humidity into the air.
You can treat the skin from the inside-out by giving some high quality fish oil in the diet, since Omega 3 fatty acids can be very good for the skin.
Tracie
Tracie welcomes any and all questions about cats AND dogs on both her live radio shows. Call in to DOG TALK on Saturdays from 11-Noon (EST) to 800-394-8830 or Wednesdays 8-9 PM (EST) to CAT CHAT 866-675-6675. (You don't need to have Sirius to call in!)
DISCLAIMER: Please be aware that the advice I give on the air or in emails – or those you see posted here – are not intended to take the place of a veterinarian's advice or expertise. I say this to protect myself from being misunderstood or from your over-reliance on my advice in situations where your pet may be seriously ill and you would mistakenly delay seeking medical intervention. While I am confident in the research-based facts and common-sense advice I can offer, it is never meant to be used at the exclusion of trained, accredited and board certified professionals. But I also have this disclaimer to protect your dog – because what you learn from me is not intended to take the place of medical care or professional evaluation – on the contrary, my desire is to equip you with information that will allow you to enjoy your pets to the fullest, and also to encourage you to seek professional medical attention whenever there are physical symptoms or an overall change in your pet's attitude.
The information contained in the answers posted on this board comes from THE DOG BIBLE: Everything Your Dog Wants You To Know, and from DOG TALK® The Radio Show, broadcast live, Saturdays, from 11-12 noon EST, on your local NPR affiliate. All emails are answered personally and then posted, sometimes in abbreviated form.
