Shea Butter provides a safe and deeply moisturizing solution for dogs’ dry, irritated, and itchy skin. How can you help your dog’s dry skin with shea butter? Easily! Here’s everything you need to know about how shea butter helps your fur baby and how to use it safely.

As seasons change, so does its effect on my dog’s skin. Seasonal allergies in spring causing itchy eyes and paws. Winter, on the other hand, brings dry, chapped skin, paws and noses.

Before you reach for your trusted favorite lotion…stop! Moisturizers made for humans may contain harmful chemicals, scents, and ingredients, so you can’t just use your own lotion on your dog.

Since dogs typically lick topical treatments off of anywhere they can reach, any skin-soothing product you use has to be 100% dog-safe. If that makes you go looking for natural moisturizing alternatives, you’re not alone.

If you have been searching for a natural moisturizing solution to your dog’s dry, irritated skin, you might have heard about shea butter for dogs. It’s safe to say that shea butter works great for human skin…but is shea butter safe for dogs?

The Most Common Causes of Dry Skin in Dogs

Before I tell you more about Shea Butter (hang tight…it’s coming), it’s necessary to learn about what causes dry skin for dogs. 

Dogs’ skin is 3 times thinner than human skin and much more sensitive. Despite all the fur covering their skin, dogs aren’t immune to the effects of environmental stressors either. Also, many breeds are just naturally prone to skin problems including:

• Irritated, rough skin
• Itchy skin
• Red bumps
• Dry skin
• Scaliness

Once skin problems arise, dogs often make them worse by scratching, biting, and licking irritated areas. Poor babies!

Many dogs experience dry or flaky skin at some point in their life, and it’s common in the winter when the humidity drops. 

If having dry skin is new for your dog, try to figure out what’s causing your dog’s dry skin (dry skin is a symptom, not the cause). I recommend having your veterinarian examine your dog to help rule out any medical issues.

Common Causes for a Dog’s Dry Skin Include:

• Allergies – both food & seasonal
• Skin Infections
• Mange
• Sensitivity to grooming products
• Stress or Hormonal changes

If your vet suspects that your pup’s dry skin is seasonal or weather related, moisturizing her skin with shea butter may be the perfect, natural solution for you. 

What Is Shea Butter?

Shea butter is a natural plant butter that is extracted from Shea trees, which are only found in Africa. In order to extract shea butter, the Shea nuts must be dried then pounded and boiled to release the butter that is packed and sold. 

Can I Use Shea Butter on My Dog?

You may find yourself wondering “Is Shea Butter toxic to dogs?” 

No, it’s not! It’s actually very safe (even edible) and can help a wide variety of skin problems including:

• Cracked paws
• Itchy fur
• Red bumps
• Irritation
• Dry scaly skin
• Dull fur
• Small cuts and wounds

Here’s the good news. Pure shea butter is one moisturizer both you and your dog can both use. Humans use pure shea butter to soften dry, cracked elbows and heels. For your dog, use shea butter to nourish hair and soothe dry paws, noses, elbows, and other dry patches.  

Shea butter soothes, softens, and hydrates skin. In addition, shea butter is a natural sun protectant and moisturizes and conditions the fur to maintain and boost shine all while being totally 100% dog-safe. In fact, Shea butter is so safe that you can go ahead and slather some right on the affected areas (and it doesn’t matter if Rover licks it right off). 

Known for its moisturizing and emollient qualities, shea butter is rich in vitamins and fatty acids that penetrate deeply and leave a smooth, silky finish. This creates a protective layer that can minimize or stop itching, moisture skin and heal inflammation. 

Does Shea Butter Repel Fleas?

If you are interested in learning about shea butter, then I’m guessing that you try to use organic and natural solutions in your everyday life. Since natural living is important to you, there’s a good chance that it is part of your pet care routine. 

You may be wondering what to do if your dog has fleas. There are definitely natural, safe ways to repel and kill fleas! While shea butter *may* help kill or repel fleas, olive oil and coconut oil are more effective remedies for a flea problem.

Where to Get Shea Butter

You can purchase 100% pure, USDA certified organic shea butter on Amazon. Or better yet, you can use MuttScrub products, which contain shea butter along with other natural, soothing ingredients for an all-around effective skin treatment system.

Check Your Dog’s Skin Regularly

It’s easier to deal with dry skin if you treat it when you first notice it. Keep an eye out as you pet your fur baby for flakes and patches or irritation. If you find any begin using shea butter right away as needed and supplement by bathing your pup with a nourishing shea butter shampoo. 

MuttScrub Products Provide The Perfect Calming Blend 

Use shea butter along with our calming MuttScrub products for a routine that soothes and heals your dog’s skin naturally. There is no diluting or mixing required since we’ve done the hard work to develop the perfect blend of cleansers, moisturizers and essential oils for you!

Treat your dog’s skin only with pure ingredients that support overall well-being and aid the healing process. MuttScrub products are made of all-natural substances, including shea butter, to give your dog instant relief from ailments and anxiety.

All three of our products work best when used together in the Pawsitively Soothing Itch Relief Kit For Dogs. We have several great reviews of the product over on our Facebook page…check them out!

Tell us in the comments: have you ever tried using olive oil to relieve your dog’s dry, itchy skin?

Just like people, dogs can be prone to dry, irritated, itchy skin when the weather turns cold and the humidity drops. As long as your pup’s dry skin isn’t a symptom of a health concern, try using natural, 100% safe shea butter as a moisturizer for dogs’ skin and hair.