Pitbulls, and Bully breeds as a whole can be prone to skin problems. As an owner this can be frustrating to witness our Pitbull suffer from dry, itchy, and irritated skin. When left unchecked this mild skin problems can lead to bigger infections and health problems. How do I keep my Pitbull’s skin healthy? There are several ways to keep your Pitbull’s skin and coat healthy. From diet and supplementation, to grooming and bathing routines. Incorporating the proper nutrition, bathing products, and brushing regime can help keep your Pitbull’s skin looking and feeling amazing. As the owner of a Staffordshire Bull Terrier with lifelong skin problems I have picked up some invaluable tips and tricks. Managing my little Pitbull’s skin and coat has been a process of tons of research, along with some trial and error. In this post I will share some of my best tips and tricks to help you keep your Pitbull’s skin healthy. Diet & Supplementation To Keep Your Pitbull’s Skin Healthy Choosing the right food for your Pitbull’s skin health is number one on the list. Nutrition is a vital part of your dog’s skin and coat health. Finding a premium quality dog food that is rich in Vitamin E, and essential fatty acids Omega 3 & 6 will be necessary. Especially if your Pitbull is prone to some skin issues and sensitivities. Tip #1 Feed your Pitbull a premium quality dog food rich in vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids. Especially Vitamin E and Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids. Even the best quality dog foods can be lacking the necessary Omega 3 & 6 oils your dog needs. In the production process of most dog foods much of the essential fatty acids can be rendered less potent. That’s why additional supplementation is highly recommended. I personally love to use Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil with my Staffy. Since introducing it to her diet years ago her coat is always shiny, her dandruff was greatly reduced. Not to mention her skin is much better. I give her a squirt of fish oil every morning, and she loves it too. Tip #2 Supplement your Pitbulls diet with additional Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids. Additional things like chews are also available and just as effective. Not all dogs like the fish oil mixed into their meals, so chews and treats are a great alternative. These are some of the top rated Omega supplements available: Pet Honestly Pet Honestly is one of my personal favorites when it comes to supplements for my dogs. They carry an incredible line of top quality products for everything including skin and coat care. They offer a huge variety of chew, oils, and shampoos to give your Pitbull the best skin and coat care. VISIT PET HONESTLY Zesty Paws Pure Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil Zesty Paws carries an incredible Pure Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil. Rated one of the best products on the market when it comes to Omega 3 & 6 fish oils for dogs. This popular brand is top quality and a great price. Available on both Amazon and Petflow. VISIT PETFLOW What Is The Best Dog Food For Pitbulls With Skin Allergies? There are many great choices for dog foods for Pitbulls with skin allergies, but my top choice is Acana brand. Acana makes an amazing single protein, limited ingredient line of dog foods that has worked wonders for my dog. Before trying Acana I tried several different foods to find the right kind for my dog’s skin allergies, and Acana came through. Tip #3 Try single protein, minimal ingredient high quality dog foods if your Pitbull has skin allergies. The problem with many premium quality dog foods is they contain several types of animal proteins. When dealing with a Pitbull that has skin allergies, this can make determining the cause of the issue difficult. With the Acana brand I was able to drill down and find the protein that works best for my dog. If you have a Pitbull with skin allergies and are looking for a premium quality dog food I would highly recommend Acana. I have had my Staffy on the Lamb & Apple for 7 years now. That protein works best for her, but there are plenty of other choices like duck, pork, and fish. VISIT AMAZON VISIT PETFLOW How Do You Moisturize A Pitbull’s Skin? There are several ways to moisturize a Pitbull’s skin. Choosing the right bathing products, a consistent grooming routine, and the addition of topical treatments. All of these combined will ensure your Pitbull’s skin will be moisturized and feeling amazing. How Often Should You Bathe Pitbulls? As a general rule you should bathe Pitbulls every 8 weeks. If their skin is visibly dirty or oily it is a good indication it is bath time. Over bathing your Pitbull can cause dry, itchy, and irritated skin. Avoid giving your Pitbulls a bath too frequently. By giving your Pitbull a bath too often you are striping away some of the natural oils that help moisturize their skin. Simply avoiding bathing too often can help tremendously if you are noticing dry skin. Tip #4 Bathe your Pitbull with a gentle, oatmeal based shampoo. Avoid overbathing. When you are bathing your Pitbull it is important to choose the right shampoo and conditioner. A good hypoallergenic and oatmeal based shampoo is perfect. These kinds of shampoos will help keep your Pitbulls skin moisturized, healthy, and clean. I have used a bunch of different shampoos with my dog to keep her skin healthy and moisturized. Among the best is the Wahl Dry Skin & Itch Relief Pet Shampoo for Dogs. This shampoo is fantastic for your Pitbull’s skin health, and smells fantastic. Check out some of my other shampoo recommendations over on my Grooming Resources & Reviews page. How Often Should You Brush A Pitbull? As a general rule you should brush a Pitbull at least once weekly. By brushing your Pitbull at least once a week you help to maintain skin and coat health of your dog. Brushing removes loose hair, dirt, and allergens that can make your dog itchy and smelly. Brushing also helps to distribute your Pitbulls natural oils to help moisturize skin and give their coat a healthy shine. Tip #5 Brush your Pitbull at least once a week. I make brushing my Staffy, and my new American Bully puppy a habit each week. For my Staffy this has helped keep her coat looking fantastic and her skin has benefited a great deal also. My Staffy has seasonal allergies, so I tend to brush her more often in the spring and summer to remove those allergens. Keeping a good grooming brush on hand that is quick and convenient to use and clean makes life much easier. Check out my Best Dog Grooming Brushes page to see my top recommendations. Resources & Reviews – The 15 Best Dog Grooming & Bathing Products Is Coconut Oil Good For Pitbulls? There are several good benefits of coconut oil for Pitbulls, primarily topical for health skin and coat. Coconut oil is a great way to moisturize a Pitbulls skin, and keep their coat sleek and shiny. It can also be used for certain skin conditions like hotspots when applied topically. I use a good organic cold-pressed virgin coconut oil on my Staffy’s skin. This can be a bit messy if you over do it, so it’s always best to start with a small amount. For my dog I use about a teaspoon of coconut oil and warm it up really well by rubbing my hands together. Tip #6 Use coconut oil as a topical moisturizer and as treatment for skin issues. Once I have a good consistency I rub it all over my Staffy’s body and legs. Avoid the eyes and ear when doing this. After I have it applied I take her brush and give her a good brushing to distribute the oil evenly everywhere and really get it worked into the skin and coat. This will leave your Pitbull’s skin and coat looking and feeling amazing. Not to mention smelling fantastic. Remember to start with a small amount. This can get messy with too much coconut oil, and you also want to avoid build up. Coconut Oil In Your Pitbull’s Diet Coconut oil is good for Pitbulls as a dietary supplement as well. Adding a little bit of coconut oil to your Pitbull’s diet can help with metabolic function, weight loss, arthritis and bone health. There are some cognitive benefits coconut oil provides for your Pitbull’s brain health. Always introduce new foods slowly in your Pitbull’s diet. One common sign you are giving them too much coconut oil in the beginning is loose or runny stool. A little bit at a time and gradually work up to a teaspoon or two depending on the size of your dog. For both topical and dietary use I give my dogs Nutiva Organic Cold-Pressed Virgin Coconut Oil. This is the top of the line, yet affordable human grade, USDA approved coconut oil. VISIT AMAZON Are Pitbulls Prone To Skin Allergies? As a whole Pitbulls are prone to skin allergies more than many other breeds. This is unfortunately a fairly common occurrence with Pitbulls and other bully breeds like Staffies. Pitbulls have sensitive skin and they can react to food, insect bites, and environmental allergens quite often. Tip #7 Talk to your vet about treatments and medications for chronic skin conditions. The good news is that skin allergies can be managed. Finding the proper diet that suits your Pitbull, treating bug bites, and in some cases using medications such as Atopica or Cytopoint. Talk to your vet about what steps you should take in addressing potential skin allergies. Finding the right food, treatments, and medications can provide some much needed relief to your Pitbull. That doesn’t mean the other tips mentioned above need not apply. Use them all. Skin allergies or not, these tips and tricks will all help in maintaining your Pitbulls skin health.
