A method for treating a skin condition of an animal includes identifying an animal skin treatment area having a wound, a scratch or other adverse skin condition optionally making a determination that the treatment area is at risk for skin maceration and, in response, applying a skin treatment composition to the treatment area. In certain embodiments, the composition comprises a solid particulate material such as zinc oxide, water and a fluid base material selected from the group consisting of mineral oil, silicone oil, plant-based oil and mixtures thereof. The composition may further include additives such as lanolin, petrolatum, and paraffin, among others. In a preferred embodiment, the applying includes spraying the composition on the treatment area, for example by using an atomizer.
