What Summer Actually Does to Your Dog's Skin
Vet Reviewed by Dr. Jacob Klos, DVM
If your dog seems itchier, flakier, or more irritated in summer, it's not just allergies. Summer is a multi-front assault on your dog's skin barrier, and understanding what's driving it can help you protect it.
The skin barrier under siege
Your dog's skin barrier is their first line of defense against irritants, allergens, and infections. In summer, that barrier faces more simultaneous stressors than any other season.
UV radiation: Dogs can get sunburned, especially those with short coats, light-colored fur, or thin hair on the belly, ears, and nose. Even without visible sunburn, UV exposure can dry out the skin and weaken barrier integrity over time.
Chlorine and salt: Pool chlorine strips natural oils from the skin and coat. Saltwater has a similar drying effect. Dogs that swim frequently without being rinsed afterward often develop dry, flaky, itchy skin.
Increased allergen contact: More time outdoors means more contact with grass, weeds, and ground-level allergens. Dogs absorb allergens through their skin, not just their respiratory system. Belly, paws, and groin are the most exposed areas.
Heat and humidity: Warm, moist conditions promote bacterial and yeast overgrowth on the skin, especially in skin folds, ears, and between toes. This is why ear infections and hot spots spike in summer.
Over-bathing: Owners often bathe their dogs more frequently in summer (after swimming, after mud, after heat). Each bath, especially with harsh shampoos, can strip the skin's natural oil layer and weaken the barrier.
What owners can do
- Rinse after every swim: Fresh water rinse after pool, lake, or ocean exposure removes chlorine, salt, and algae before they irritate the skin. This alone prevents a significant amount of summer skin damage.
- Use gentle shampoos sparingly: Oatmeal-based or vet-recommended shampoos are gentler on the skin barrier. Limit full baths to every 2 to 4 weeks unless your vet recommends otherwise.
- Dry thoroughly: Moisture trapped in ears, skin folds, and between toes creates a breeding ground for yeast and bacteria. Towel dry or use a low-heat dryer on sensitive areas.
- Protect from UV: For dogs with light coats or thin fur, pet-safe sunscreen on exposed areas (nose, ears, belly) can prevent sunburn. Talk to your vet about appropriate products.
- Support the skin barrier from the inside: This is where daily nutrition makes the biggest difference. The skin barrier depends on omega-3 fatty acids for structural integrity and flexibility. Quercetin supports the body's management of histamine and inflammatory responses triggered by environmental exposure. Probiotics support the gut-skin axis, which influences systemic inflammation and skin health.
Why internal support matters most in summer
External steps (rinsing, gentle bathing, sun protection) reduce the damage coming in. Internal support (omega-3s, quercetin, probiotics) strengthens the barrier from within so it can handle what gets through.
Our Allergy & Itch Chews combine all three in one daily chew, formulated to deliver consistent skin barrier support during the months that demand it most. Starting daily supplementation before or at the beginning of summer gives these ingredients time to build cumulative protection.
The dogs that have the most comfortable summers are the ones whose owners protect the skin from both sides: outside and in.
