Hairless Care and Keeping Guide:
For Happy Hairless Dogs
The “Hairless Care and Keeping” guide seeks to help hairless dog owners learn how to take better care of their special-breed dog. We recommend related products that are helpful for the issues we write about for your convenience. All products are sold through Amazon.com. We don’t sell anything on this website.
The Skinny on Hairless Dog Skin Types
After reading many articles about hairless dogs, I’ve found that the authors tend to generalize hairless dogs as having one ‘skin type’ or another. Some say hairless dogs have dry skin, while others say they have oily skin. Here’s what I’ve learned from my experience as an owner and foster parent for many hairless dogs: Hairless dogs can have any skin type ranging from oily to very dry.
Semi-hairless dogs, meaning those with some hair growing on their bodies, tend to have more oil whereas those with no hair at all tend towards drier skin. This makes sense because the genetic mutation that causes hairlessness in three of the four AKC recognized breeds (Crested, Xolo and Peruvian) causes hair follicles to be absent or underdeveloped. A lack of follicles also means inefficient oil glands. This in turn leads to dry skin.
Oily Skin Issues
The hairless dogs with more oil on their skin are those with enough sweat glands and sebaceous glands to lubricate the skin with an oily substance called sebum. These dogs often have a sparse amount of hair on their bodies. Wherever there are healthy follicles, and the consequential oil secretion, oil builds up on the skin. This oil in turn causes some hairless dogs to develop a musty odor. Warm weather may make the musty smell stronger. Keep your dog, their bedding and their clothes clean to minimize odor. Between baths, consider using a deodorizing wipe on your dog’s skin to further reduce odors.
Dry Skin Issues
Hairless dogs with dry skin get itchy just like humans do. They end up scratching a lot. Of course, too much scratching leads to raw skin, frequently scratched to the point of bleeding. These pooches need to be monitored carefully. Daily skin checks are required to prevent infections. Anti-itch products for dogs include shampoos, moisturizers, sprays, and wipes. You may need to try multiple products until you find a system that works for your pet. If itching persists, have your vet investigate if your dog may have allergies.
Covering itchy dogs in dog pajamas provides some protection for the skin especially the “post-surgery” dog wear designed to stop licking and scratching injuries. If your itchy dog wears clothes, you should remove them and check the skin underneath every day. I’ve had a few dogs that were clever enough to understand they were not allowed to scratch since I would interrupt the behavior. These dogs would wait until I wasn’t looking and then scratch like crazy. Later, I would find the evidence in the form of skin scratched raw underneath their clothes. Don’t let your pet’s itching get out of control and keep a close eye on the condition of his/her skin.
Takeaway: Pet parents need to evaluate their dog’s skin and care for it accordingly. Daily skin checks and treatment work best to prevent problems.
Next Up: Bath Time for Hairless Dogs
Related Articles: Moisturizing for Hairless Dogs, Acne Treatment and Prevention in Hairless Dogs
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