Winter weather presents special problems for your dog. Dry air, cold, salt, all are damaging to your dog's skin and fur. Here are some tips to help keep your dog's coat and skin healthy through these difficult winter months.

PROBLEM: Many owners neglect their dog's coat during winter, allowing it to grow, in an effort to keep him warm.

ANSWER: Dogs that live indoors do not need extra coat to stay warm. Maintaining the coat at its normal, year round length will help keep you dog comfortable indoors.

If you prefer a longer style, have your dog groomed more often during the winter to keep the longer coat healthy and mat free.

PROBLEM: Many owners neglect bathing the dog during the winter thinking that bathing will dry out the coat or the dog will get chilled.

ANSWER:Many of today's shampoos do not dry out the coat like the shampoos of yester-year. Click here for shampoo products that help keep your dogs skin healthy and coat shiney and manageble.

PROBLEM: Not rinsing the coat thoroughly after a bath is the #1 cause of dandruff and itchy coat.

ANSWER: Having your dog professionally bathed between groomings will ensure that the coat is clean and healthy.

PROBLEM: No matter what the owner does, the dog's coat still gets dry and itchy during the winter.

ANSWER: The culprit is that your central heating system is drying out the air in your house.  Running a humidifier in you home during the winter will not only help maintain your dog's coat, it will help you and your dogs breath easier.