My cat has terrible dandruff… at least I think it’s dandruff! She’s always got flakes on her skin and in her coat. What can I do to clear this up? This is a conversation I get to have often at the cats-only boarding facility where I work. As part of our check-in process, we give each cat a quick brushing with a very fine-toothed comb. Our goal is to check for fleas, but we often end up talking to owners about skin and coat care… and dandruff. Dry skin can be a seasonal problem, especially in the winter months when … Continue reading →

My dog Moose is in need of a bath. He’s the kind of dog who needs a bath every few months to keep dander down and coat grease-free. He’s generally good in the bath; I’m not worried about the bath itself. What I’m worried about is the aftermath: drying off. While the temperatures outside are above freezing at the moment, it’s still cold enough that I don’t want to take him out to potty when he’s wet. And it tends to take him a few hours to air-dry. The way I see it, I’ve got two options: Bathe him at … Continue reading →

My cat Chrestomanci is flaky. I don’t mean that he isn’t reliable or backs out on obligations (though I’m sure that too – he is a cat, after all), but that he has a dandruff problem. He’s had it ever since I’ve known him, even back when he was still just one of the cats kept by the rescue for which I volunteer. I’ve never been too concerned about Chresti’s dandruff, though I guess it’s a little gross. When I took him to the vet in February I asked about it, more out of curiosity than out of concern. At … Continue reading →