Dogs are truly beautiful creatures that crave attention and want you to spoil them. One of the best ways that you could show affection is by petting them. Nevertheless, not all dogs have the softest fur. Let’s see some ways in which you can make your dog’s coat healthier, softer and shinier.
Nutrition
Having a proper diet is the most important aspect of your dog’s health and appearance.
If he gets all the nutrients that he needs, his beautiful and shiny cloak will be the proof of it. If you truly care about your dog, then skip on the cheap food and go for something more trustworthy.
That’s not to say that all cheap brands aren’t good for your dog, but they are most likely made of cheap ingredients and lots of them are unhealthy.
Essential Fatty Acids
Healthy fatty acids play a key role in the health of your dog’s fur.
Proper nutrition is vital and, more than often, the effects of nutritional deficiencies are first seen on the skin and fur.
Usually, typical dog food has enough nutrients and fatty acids to meet his nutritional needs. Some chicken-based foods are best avoided because they don’t carry all the essential nutrients that your dog needs in order to stay healthy.
Diets that are low in fatty acids are very risky for dogs. Thus, dogs that don’t get enough fatty acids in their body exhibit dry fur and dandruff.
In more extreme cases, the dog might start having skin lesions which are very susceptible to infections.
Omega 6 Fatty Acids
Most dog food is rich in omega 6 fatty acids and pet shops generally have Omega 6 supplements as well. Also, it’s good to add a tablespoon of quality vegetable oil to your dog’s food.
Additionally, it’s best to check the quality of the food that you’re giving your dog. Be mindful of oily foods because it can lose its nutritional value if stored unproperly.
Omega 3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 is a very important part of a dog’s diet and, if your dog is deficient, you might see some symptoms: prolonged healing of wounds, hair loss, ear infections, hot spots, excessive itching and excessive licking are all signs that your dog might be deficient of omega 3.
These fatty acids are especially beneficial for the skin and for dogs that suffer from allergies or other inflammatory skin conditions.
You can find lots of omega 3 fatty acids, which come in the form of capsules and liquid.
The source of the omega-3 is very important.
One of the most common omega-3 fatty acid you’ll see are the ones that come from salmon. While salmon is high in omega-3, it can also be high in toxins such as lead and mercury.
In general, the bigger the fish, the worst the fatty acid is going to be. Large fish like salmon consume smaller fish and all the time they are alive, they are building their reserves of toxins.
Therefore, the best solution to this problem is to buy omega-3 fatty acids that come from the lowest fish on the food chain.
Anchovies, for example, are one of the lowest fish on the food chain and have one of the highest content of omega-3. Also, anchovies are low in toxins.
When you give your dog supplements like these, it’s best to not exaggerate. Your dog might end up with nausea and stomach aches.
Omega-3 is a very important part of a dog’s diet and, if your dog is deficient, you might see some symptoms: prolonged healing of wounds, hair loss, ear infections, hot spots, excessive itching and excessive licking are all signs that your dog might be deficient of omega 3.
If you notice any of these symptoms, it may be a sign that you need to include more omega-3s in your dog’s diet. Usually, a dog’s fur becomes better looking after six weeks of taking omega-3 fatty acids daily.
Brush and De-shed Your Dog
Brushing your dog should be a daily task in your dog’s grooming schedule, but you might not have time for that, so try and not go below 3-4 times a week.
Brushing is not only great for your dog’s hygiene, it’s also great for your dog’s circulatory system and it removes dead cells and impurities. Make sure you brush both in the direction in which the hair grows and in the opposite side.
Check Your Dog’s Bathing Routine
The frequency of baths is important for the health and appearance of your dog’s fur. Some breeds need to be bathed only once every few months while others might need weekly showers.
Bathing a dog can be difficult but can also be fun once it becomes a habit.
Use a sink if your dog is small and a bathtub if he’s big. You can also bathe him outside.
Make sure he’s as wet as he can be and apply dog shampoo, being careful not to get any in his eyes or ears. Rinse thoroughly so as to not leave any leftover soap suds on your doggy’s skin. Soap suds can irritate the skin and your doggy might end up licking the soap off his skin, which would then be a concern worthy of a trip to the vet
Use The Right Shampoo
For dogs with dry skin, shampoos that contain aloe vera or oatmeal are recommended. Again, different breeds have distinct types of fur. There is no one-size-fits-all type of shampoo when it comes to dogs.
Check what goes well with his type of fur and your dog will thank you for it. Under no circumstance should you use shampoo for human hair on your dog because it will irritate his skin.
Oatmeal Baths And Sprays
Oatmeal has a moisturizing and soothing effect on the skin. You will find lots of types of shampoos with oatmeal that you can use while bathing. Also, oatmeal sprays are good to use right after bathing, clipping or after going outside.
All in all, these are the most common solutions to preventing unhealthy fur and skin and improving appearance in already healthy dogs. If your dog exhibits flaky fur or irritated skin, then the best solution would be an immediate trip to the vet to properly determine the exact cause of the issue.
Credits
This article is contributed by Troy. Troy works for PremierPups, a dog adoption service that helps small breed pups find an owner. He has a Pomsky, which he loves very much. He also enjoys researching and writing about dog’s health.
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