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Dry Skin

Yorkshire Terrier Dry Skin

Overview

Dry skin on a Yorkie will appear as small white flakes of skin; there may be some irritated areas and there is often some itching when the issue has been ongoing for some time. Top causes include cold arid air that causes the skin to lose moisture, inferior bathing products and/or incorrect techniques, a diet lacking in healthy fats, and overexposure to the summer sun.

Separate from that, is dry skin that is turning black and of which there are several possible causes.

Since dry skin can quickly spiral into cracked skin and often does not repair itself without intervention, this is not something that you'll want to ignore. This section will cover the details of dry skin triggers and exact steps to heal skin back to a healthy, moisturized state.

Top Causes of Dry Skin with Yorkies

Please note dry skin that has become black is covered in the next section.

#1 Wintertime air.

Unless you live in an area that has very mild winters, this is a top time for dogs to develop dry skin even if they spend very little time outside.

Though you may notice dry skin on your Yorkie starting in November or December, it is often toward the end of the season or even the beginning of spring that dry skin may reach the point of becoming very noticeable.

Cold air is significantly drier than warm air; it has a much lower humidity level, meaning that it holds less water. In turn, moisture in a dog’s skin evaporates much faster than otherwise. And this in turn, can cause a Yorkie’s skin to become tight and dry, often eventually flaking or scaling.

The fact that your Yorkie spends the majority of the time inside doesn’t help in this regard, the air inside the house is the same dry air as outside. Your furnace heats that air, but does not add moisture to it.

#2 Inferior bathing products.

Everything that touches your Yorkie’s skin will be beneficial or detrimental to it. With dry skin, the top two shampoo-related causes are products with the wrong pH and those that have soap agents.

pH is the measurement of how acidic or basic something is; it applies to both skin and hair products (for both humans and canines). Pure water with nothing added has a pH of 7. Anything less than this is acidic. The pH of a dog’s skin is about a 7.5 (very near that neutral point). Yet, the pH of a human’s skin is about 5.5 (acidic).

Inferior dog shampoos copy their formulas from human products (it’s cheaper than formulating their own), so these will often have the wrong pH of 5.5, which can easily cause a Yorkie’s skin to dry out. A low pH can also strip off the protective cuticles from hair shafts and leave the coat exposed to damage.

In addition to this, is the issue of soaping agents that are commonly found in inferior coat products. This includes sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), and ammonium lauryl sulfate (ALS), which can all cause dry skin.

#3 Bathing techniques.

If shampoo is not thoroughly rinsed from the coat, residue that remains can cause issues. If the product has heavy oil-based ingredients, it can block skin pores, cause oily skin, and eventually lead to a bad smell. If the product has soap or other abrasive additives, it can cause dry, irritated skin.

#4 A diet that is lacking proper levels of healthy fats.

Dietary fat is the most concentrated source of energy for a dog. It also aids in how nutrients are transported and used by the body, and it provides essential fatty acids which are important for skin and coat health.

Skin cells are encased in lipids (fats) which keep them healthy, moisture, and flexible. If a dog is not receiving enough fatty acids to maintain these functions, the skin will dry out. In addition, the coat may develop a poor texture as well.

#5 Sun exposure.

Of course, a dog’s coat offers some level of protection from the sun; however, especially applicable for breeds with hair (not fur) like the Yorkshire Terrier, summer sun exposure over the course of several months can have a drying effect. Because the sun’s rays can reflect off of the ground, dry skin may be more apparent on the tummy.

#6 Possible health issues.

There are some conditions in which dry skin is a sign; however, there are often more pronounced symptoms as well. This includes thyroid issues in which other signs include excessive shedding, lethargy, darkening of the skin, and/or weight gain.

How to Fix Dry Skin Issues with a Yorkie

Fortunately, since dry skin is most often caused by the previously mentioned known factors, most instances can be resolved relatively quickly.

Less common, but possible are:

• Any certain protein. Though rare, canines can be allergic to chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, rabbit, bison, duck, or fish.

• Eggs

• Dairy (though technically this is an intolerance, because canines have trouble digesting milk products)

What to do:

1. First, note that when a dog is suffering from a food allergy, and a switch is made, it can take 8 to 12 weeks to see significant improvement. So, choose wisely, do not veer off course, and be patient for those 2 to 3 months. As your Yorkie is making his way to be free of the allergens, you can also be treating symptoms (and we'll cover that ahead in Step 2).

2. If food allergies have caused your Yorkie to have vomiting and/or diarrhea, it can help to withhold food for 12 hours (making sure that your dog stays hydrated), then place your puppy or dog on a bland diet of just 1 protein and 1 starch for 3 days before changing to a new, regular diet.

The most gentle proteins are lean beef or white skinless chicken. Good choices for the starch include plain white rice or sweet potato.

#1 If it is late autumn through early spring, work to increase humidity levels in the house.

When the air is dry, the easiest, fastest, and most reliable method of ensuring good humidity levels is to use humidifiers. Ideally, you will want to have several that cover the square footage of your home. However, if you only have one, place this near your Yorkie’s resting/sleeping area.

If you are looking for a good humidifier, the MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier is an excellent choice. This is extra quiet, runs for up to 25 hours (it’ll shut off when the water is low), and works for a medium sized room. This is extra quiet, runs for up to 25 hours (it’ll shut off when the water is low), and works for a medium sized room.

And, if you’re looking for a larger one, the MistAire XL Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier for Large Rooms covers 500 square feet, is also super quiet, and also has automatic shut-off.

If you can’t cover the entire house, at least set one up near where your Yorkie rests and sleeps.

There are some DIY ways to increase humidity that work to lesser degrees including leaving the bathroom door open when you take a shower, keeping houseplants, and leaving out bowls of water.

#2 Use moisturizing shampoo and conditioner.

While it’s important to use a great shampoo at all times, it’s more vital than ever if dry skin has developed. As covered previously, be sure that the pH level is correct, and that it has no soaping agents or additives. Look for a plant-based cleanser.

In addition, there are several moisturizing elements that can be of great help. Colloidal oatmeal is excellent for hydrating skin and soothing irritation. Aloe vera, with its proven healing properties, is another element that is great for combating dry skin.

A shampoo like Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Shampoo, that has coconut-based cleansers, is a great choice for both regular prevention of skin and coat issues, and to use if your Yorkie has dry skin. Follow this with their matching conditioner, leaving it on the coat for 5 minutes.

#3 Good bathing techniques.

Give your Yorkie a bath every 3 weeks (don’t worry, tips for treatment of dry skin round-the-clock is up ahead, #6), being sure to rinse thoroughly both after the shampoo and after the condition, patting the coat dry (don’t rub).

#4 Protect from the sun in the summer and cold harsh air in the winter.

Spritzing the coat with a leave-in conditioner very few days can add a layer of protection to the coat, and in turn, the skin, which has benefits year-round. A leave-in is also great for preventing tangles, static, split ends, contact friction, and keeps a dog smelling nice.

Be sure to not overdo it, or the product can end up accumulating too much. Year-round, a light misting with something like Nootie Daily Spritz while you brush the coat is all that’s needed; it’ll wear off by the time you brush again in 2 or 3 days. A big plus with Nootie is the fragrances including warm vanilla cookie and cucumber melon.

In the summer, you may want to opt for a spritz like Chris Christensen Ice on Ice with Sunscreen.

#5 Temporarily increase omega-3.

When the skin is in good shape, and if you are offering a high-quality kibble like Wellness CORE for Small Breeds, your Yorkie will already be receiving good levels of fish-sourced omega-3 and an additional supplement is not needed. However, in cases of skin or coat problems, extra omega-3 can be advantageous. And as long as you are giving your puppy or dog a good food, it only needs to be given for a short while as the skin repairs and restores.

Note that omega-3 can be plant or fish-based, with fish base winning out as the better of the two. And with fish, choices are farmed or fresh, with farmed being preferred.

For this, Zesty Paws Pure Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil is recommended. This comes in an easy-to-use pump. Most Yorkshire Terriers needs just 1/2 pump per meal. Be sure to mix this into the kibble very well; if not, your Yorkie may just pick out the pieces with the oil on them since this is a highly-craved taste for most canines.

#6 Directly treat the dry skin.

While the previous steps are all important to create a healthy foundation for fixing dry skin on a Yorkie and preventing it from coming back, no doubt you’re looking for an immediate remedy. And, this is where a restorative, healing lotion comes in.

By far, the best product for dry skin on dogs is ResQ Organics Pet Skin Treatment. This amazing cream is power-packed to resolve a wide range of skin issues. It has organic aloe vera, Manuka honey (which is a specific honey produced in New Zealand by bees that pollinate the native manuka bush; it’s proven to have incredible healing properties), coconut, shea butter, olive oil, hemp seed oil, and blue green algae.

It’s 100% all natural, and can even be used on the nose and the paws. It works to resolve dry skin, itching, irritation, hot spots, small cuts, and even can help restore the coat when it’s been affected as well.

This can be applied twice per day. If needed, lift sections of the coat to massage near the roots of the hairs. Take time to massage it in, and one of those applications should be at night when your Yorkie is ready to settle down and go to sleep.

Improvement is often seen as soon as the next day and even with very dry cracked skin, complete healing can be seen in about a week, as long as contributing factors (lack of omega-3, arid air, etc. are not at play).

If a Yorkie has Dry Skin That is Turning Black

In some cases, areas of excessive dry skin can develop black patches. These areas may be thickened and there may be scaling And, in many cases, the area will be itchy. There are a few possible reasons for this:

Darkening of the skin due to sun exposure. Skin on a dog, particularly the stomach, can develop round dark spots over time due to sun exposure. The skin will not be thickened, however, and typically the spots themselves are not itchy. This is an atheistic issue only; though, it is a sign that the area should be protected with a canine sunscreen since excess sun can eventually cause skin cancer. In many cases, these spots will fade.

Atopic dermitis. This is an inflammatory, chronic skin disease associated with allergies. In some, but not all cases, the skin will turn black. There may be other signs of allergies including watery eyes, sneezing, nasal drip, wheezing, and more. The black patches may be excessively itchy.

Black skin disease. This is a disease that researchers are still trying to understand; it is believed to be linked to hormone levels, at least in some cases. With BSD, there is significant thinning of a dog’s coat, the skin turns black, and those areas eventually become completely bald. This can affect any areas on the body; however, normally the head is untouched.

Other, less common health issues. There is a range of other possible causes including thyroid issues (often seen alongside weight gain, lethargy, and shedding) and fungal and bacterial infections (there is often a strong, musty odor).

Resolving Dry Skin that Turns Black

#1 It will be important to have the veterinarian determine the cause, since it can range from sun exposure to more serious skin issues or conditions that require professional care and treatment including prescribed medications.

#2 Follow vet instructions since treating the underlying issue is vital. In addition to that, if the cause is unknown or is linked to allergies, the previous steps of good skin care (moisturizing shampoos, protection, omega-3 supplements, and a healing lotion) can help resolve the issue alongside any other vet recommended treatment.

Note that once you massage the lotion onto the blackened skin, it may start to slough off; some equate this to wet paint peeling off and it may gradually resolve over the course of weeks or months.

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