The Magic of Moisture

Winter brings fun holidays, cooler weather, and some grooming challenges. Depending on the climate you live in, you may find that your dog's skin looks and feels dry. It may even be itchy and flaky. Time spent indoors in artificial heat and outside in cold weather can take a toll on our pet's skin.

There is a wide array of conditioning products that can help. Skin and coat conditioners come in several forms. The one most people think of first is the type that we use after a shampoo. It is worked through the coat, then rinsed off. It's a simple but effective process. 

Using a conditioner helps replace the natural oils and sebum we wash away with shampoo. It soothes dry skin and makes the coat easier to brush and comb. Depending on your pet's needs, you can choose products that offer light, medium, or heavy moisturizing properties. Most professional groomers follow every shampoo with some type of conditioner to counteract the drying effects of the shampoo. Because we saturate the coat with conditioner when it is wet, this is the best way to distribute soothing emollients right down to the skin. Although the product is rinsed off, the benefits remain.

Did you know that some conditioning products are designed to be left in the coat? Most can be used on a damp or dry coat, and they are intended to smooth the fur with light emollients. The skin can also benefit from leave-in products, as some of the moisturizing properties will reach the skin as it is worked through the coat. Also, because moisture can attract moisture, offering a humectant benefit to the skin. (examples: Chris Christensen Quench, Artero Keratin or Protein, and SOOS)

The third type of conditioning product is lighter still and comes in a spray form which is misted over a damp or dry dog to facilitate brushing and combing. This type of spray would be used every time a dog is brushed in an ideal world. These products reduce damage to the fur from everyday environmental conditions (like running through underbrush or rolling on rough surfaces) as well as the damage that is done when we brush out dead hair and tangles. When used while brushing, some product will reach the skin and leave their beneficial moisture behind. (examples: Crown Royale, iGroom Squalane, iGroom 3-1, Artero Mix, Best Shot Ultra Vitalizing Mist)

Winter weather does not have to leave dogs with itchy, dry skin. Instead, choose the conditioning product right for your pet's skin and coat and enjoy the soft, healthy sheen left behind.