I was petting my chihuahua the other day and noticed he had a lot of dandruff. He’s black so it’s very noticeable. Basically, there were white flakes everywhere. I tried brushing him but it just gets rid of some of it. How can I get rid of his dandruff?


Dog dandruff is like human dandruff, it’s the excessive shedding of dead skin cells. A little dandruff is normal, but if you notice more dandruff than normal, the cause could be dry skin, dermatitis, skin infection, or parasites. If your dog is itchy and the skin looks red and raw, consult your vet to rule out a more serious condition. If the skin looks normal other than the dandruff, try this natural remedy:

First bathe your chihuahua with a moisturizing dog shampoo, preferably soap-free and artificial-fragrance-free. Do not use human shampoo, including baby shampoo, because human shampoo is more acidic and contains harsher detergents that can further dry your dog’s skin. Use tepid water to wet dog thoroughly, then massage your dog from head to tail for a few minutes to get down into the fur and loosen up the dead skin cells. Rinse thorougly with tepid water.

Important part: For a final rinse, make a 50/50 mixture of apple cider vinegar and tepid water, slowly pour the diluted vinegar all over your chihuahua. Massage to get the vinegar rinse into the fur and skin, rinse with water thoroughly (until your dog no longer smells like vinegar). The apple cider vinegar rinse will prevent shampoo build-up and remove residual dandruff. Your chihuahua’s hair will be smooth, shiny and soft.

Too much bathing can dry out the skin. If your dog looks and smells clean, just brush regularly to keep the fur clean. Only bathe your chihuahua when noticeably dirty.

I recommend feeding your dog a good brand of dog food that is made with human-grade (USDA-inspected-and-passed), all-natural ingredients that do not contain preservatives like BHT, BHA and ethoxyquin. The food you feed your chihuahua is important in maintaining healthy skin and coat. Here are some foods that I recommend based on my own research and testing, recommendations by other chihuahua owners, and the quality ingredients list: Solid Gold, California Natural, Innova, and Beowulf Back to Basics.

To ensure that your chihuahua is getting enough Omega fatty acids which are essential for skin and coat health, I recommend Missing Link. Missing Link reintroduces natural, unprocessed food into your dog’s diet by providing essential fatty acids, enzymes, phytonutrients, vitamins and minerals. It’s a great all-around supplement for your dog. It’s easy to use, just sprinkle some on the dog food at each meal. Many chihuahua owners have seen wonderful results with this holistic supplement.

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Tags: Allergy, Bath, Dandruff, Grooming, Health, Itchy skin