If you have a corgi with dry skin you’re probably wondering if it’s serious, and of course how to quickly solve the issue.
Dry skin is a common problem with all breeds, so thankfully there’s a lot of research and solutions available. And that’s exactly what we’ll discuss in simple terms below!
Dry skin in corgis can be caused by allergies, weather, overbathing, fleas & ticks, skin infections or other health issues. Thankfully there are many solutions to dry skin.
Is Dry Skin Common In Corgis?
Simply put, yes! Dry skin is super common with most breeds especialyl corgis.
So if you notice your corgi having dandruff in their coat, or see a lot of flaking when they scratch, you definitely arent alone with this.
However, despite dry skin being common it should never be ignored. Dry skin is both a symptom and cause of many health issues, so owners should pay attention.
Signs Of Dry Skin In Corgis
Let’s clarify all the signs that indicate your corgi has dry skin. While seeing visible dandruff is the obvious sign, it’s not the only sign.
Signs of dry skin in corgis:
- Dandruff
- Constant scratching
- Biting or nibbling at the skin
- Red or irritated skin
- A dull or greasy coat
- Increased shedding (more than usual)
- Inflammed skin
- Sores on the skin
- Bad smell coming from their coat/skin
Dry skin causes a lot of symptoms so it’s important to consider the above and give your corgi a thorough inspection.
Corgis have thick coats so it’s essential to try and look through this to see the conditions of the skin (especially in areas they seem to be scratching and focusing on).
6 Common Causes of Dry Skin In Corgis
If you suspect your corgi has dry skin, then consider the following causes. Dry skin is practically always caused by at least one of the following.
1. Allergies
Like us, our cute corgi friends can also suffer from various types of allergies that can affect their daily lives. Corgis can experience environmental, contact, and food allergies. Let’s explore the most common irritants in each category.
🎯 Environmental allergies: Common environmental allergens for dogs include pollen, dust, plants, mold, perfumes, smoke, and pet dander.
🎯 Contact allergies: Corgis can develop contact allergies from new shampoos, flea collars, specific laundry detergents, essential oils, or any other substances that come into contact with their skin.
🎯 Food allergies: The most common food allergies in dogs include chicken, beef, lamb, eggs, and soy. Despite the common belief that grains are the main cause of food allergies in dogs, proteins are the actual culprits.
Different from human allergies, canine allergies primarily affect their skin. Corgis with allergies may show symptoms such as dry, flaky skin, redness, itching, excessive licking or biting, hair loss, eye discharge, runny nose, sneezing, and digestive issues. If you suspect your Corgi has allergies, then it will be necessary to contact your vet for tailored help.
2. Parasites (fleas & ticks)
Ectoparasites like fleas and ticks can cause major itching, leading to peeling and flaky skin. The more your Corgi tries to relieve their itching with scratching and biting, the drier their skin may become.
Not only do fleas bring on the initial itching, but they can also cause a secondary skin issue called flea allergy dermatitis. This happens when your Corgi is allergic to flea bites and leads to a bunch of skin problems.
If your Corgi has fleas or ticks, they may show signs such as dandruff, red skin, excessive scratching, biting or licking, skin sores, skin odor, and even skin infections. If you suspect your Corgi is suffering from ectoparasites, it’s important to have a chat with your vet about the best treatment options.
3. Weather
Your corgi could be momentarily suffering from dry skin due to the changing weather conditions. This is a common problem in areas that experience drastic changes from hot to cold.
Something that plays havoc with our pup’s skin is when it’s cold outside, and we crank up the heating inside. While this is necessary to stay warm, it really dries out the skin on our dogs (and us for that matter!)
It’s a good idea to use a humidier periodically throughout the day, brush your corgi more to distribute their natural oils, and consider adding an omega 3 to help their skin remain moisturized. And of course encourage plenty of drinking!
4. Skin infections
Skin infections are another known cause of dry skin in corgis.
Skin infections often start with an initial irritation to the skin, which then allows bacteria or fungus to enter through scratching or biting.
When this happens, our Corgis may experience several unpleasant symptoms like dry skin, redness, hot spots, skin odor, and fur loss. These symptoms are impossible to ignore and can make our Corgis very uncomfortable.
If you think your Corgi is suffering from a skin infection, it’s important to reach out to their veterinarian as soon as possible. Your vet will be able to diagnose the cause of the infection and provide appropriate treatment to help relieve your Corgi’s discomfort.
5. Overbathing
I’ve made the mistake with this many times over the years!
Overbathing is one of the biggest and most common causes of dry skin.
The problem is that we want to keep our dogs healthy, clean and smelling fresh so we naturally turn to bathing to do that.
The issue is that using too much of the wrong shampoo, too frequently can strip away the natural oils that are found on the skin and in the coat. And these oils are essential to keeping the coat moisturized and healthy. Our favorite shampoo for corgis
Many serious issues happen when these natural oils are removed excessively via overbathing.
Always stick the correct bathing frequency to keep your corgi clean.
6. Chronic Skin Conditions
Corgis, just like us, can sometimes suffer from skin issues that don’t seem to go away. These types of skin problems are called chronic conditions and can cause ongoing itching and discomfort.
Some Corgis can develop skin conditions that result in dandruff, while others may have skin troubles due to metabolic problems.
If your Corgi’s skin is dry and irritated, no matter what you do, it might be time to have a chat with their vet about the possibility of a chronic skin condition.
In some cases, a visit to a veterinary dermatologist might be needed to get to the bottom of your Corgi’s skin troubles. These experts are skilled in diagnosing certain skin conditions and will work with you to help your Corgi feel comfortable and happy again.
Extra Vet Info: MSD Vet Manual
Do You Need To See a Vet?
Although dry skin might not seem like a big deal, especially if it’s just some dandruff, it’s still important to take it seriously and be ready to schedule a vet appointment if it doesn’t improve.
As I mentioned earlier, dry skin can be both a cause of further health issues, and symptoms of one that’s already existing. So it should never be ignored.
Seek help from your veterinarian right away if any of the following apply:
- You’ve already tried various things to improve the dry skin and it hasn’t improved or only gotten worse.
- Your corgi has very red, inflammed, or wounded skin.
- Your corgi has a visible skin infection (puss or yellow skin)
- Your corgi has a strong foul odor coming from certain areas in the coat/skin
- Your corgi is excessively scratching and you simply cannot stop them
- Your corgi has had dandruff or “skin issues” for a very long time already (signifiying a chronic internal problem).
In those cases, it’s best to speak to your veterinarian as it clearly indicates there’s something more going on with your corgi’s dry skin.
Extra Dry Skin Info: Yahoo
Best Ways to Treat Dry Skin In Corgis
Let’s not explain the best way to solve dry skin based on the issues given above.
Allergies:
If your Corgi’s dry skin is due to allergies, it’s essential to establish an allergy management plan.
This could involve:
- Daily antihistamines when needed
- Monthly allergy injections
- Medicated shampoos
- Elimination diets if the cause is related to food.
The best approach will depend on their specific triggers, so it’s recommended to work with your veterinarian to develop a customized treatment plan.
Fleas and Ticks:
If your Corgi’s dry skin is a result of fleas and ticks, it’s important to eliminate and prevent further infestations.
This will include:
- Treating their current infestation,
- Starting monthly flea and tick prevention,
- Removing these pests from their environment.
Weather:
To maintain skin health during dry weather consider:
- Frequent brushing
- Daily omega fatty acid supplements
- Using humidifiers in your home
- Ensuring they have access to fresh water (and encourage them to actually drink it)
Overbathing:
If your Corgi’s dry skin is caused by over-bathing, it’s time to reduce the frequency of their baths and switch to a natural ingredient shampoo.
Skin Infections:
In case your Corgi has a skin infection, reach out to your veterinarian immediately.
Skin infections typically require systemic or oral antibiotics and can’t be resolved without veterinary intervention.
Your vet will also investigate the underlying cause of their skin irritation, as skin infections often stem from an underlying skin condition.
Chronic Skin Conditions:
If your Corgi has had persistent dry skin for weeks or even months then it’s possible that they have a chronic skin condition.
This may require a close partnership with your veterinarian or the support of a veterinary dermatologist.
Last thoughts
It’s important not to ignore your corgis dry skin issues.
Dry skin can be both a symptoms of existing health issues, but also the cause of future ones.
If the dry skin is persistent and isn’t improving despite your efforts, then it’s essential to get help from your vet.