Antifreeze poisoning is not just a winter problem, and veterinarians see many cases in the fall and spring. Indoor pets generally have easy winters, but on occasion have problems with dry skin, Tyler said. If a dog has a problem with dry skin, there are products a veterinarian can prescribe. These products, similar to those used for humans, include emollients in rinse water and humectants in sprays. Emollients such as oils or lanolin prevent the skin from losing moisture.
Humectants draw moisture into the skin.
This breaks down the skin's normal defense barriers, and the dogs can get secondary infections. If this happens, the dog would need to see a veterinarian who could prescribe drugs to stop the itching, antibiotics to fight infection and drugs to moisturize the skin. To prevent problems, humidify the house and do not overbathe the dog. Tyler said dogs do not need baths to have healthy skin, and only should be bathed when they smell bad or are dirty. Dry skin is typically only a problem with dogs living indoors and is caused by the dry heat from furnaces.