Sensitive Skin

Answered by Stuart Simons and taken with permission from Dogs Monthly.

Q: I’ve recently rehomed a short-haired mongrel whose skin is in a terrible state. He was riddled with fleas when we got him and had been clearly scratching and biting himself for some time. He is now flea-free but his skin is still rather sore-looking in places. Is it just a case of waiting for it to calm down or is there anything I can put on it, like a soothing cream or something natural? 

A: It's really hard to advise on what the best thing to do for the skin would be without seeing it. Sometimes a salt or sugar scrub can help and other times just a massage with a sensitive shampoo & conditioner can help. Even a good brush can really encourage the skin to rejuvenate. There is an amazing product that many groomers offer called Nagayu, it’s a tablet that goes into the shower and releases micro bubbles that penetrate through the coat to the skin. Regular use has amazing effects on dogs with skin problems. To find a groomer local to you that offers Nagayu treatments, go to our 'search' I would, however, consult your vet before you do anything to make sure that there is no other underlying problems which could be affecting the skin.