How to Improve My Dogs Coat? 

Dry and itchy skin is often caused by the weather, especially during the dry winter season. But in some instances, it may be an infection or an allergy that has just not been diagnosed yet or a low nutrition diet that causes the itch.  

Other fur problems such as hair loss, on the other hand, may also be linked to a more severe health condition as it indicates a weak immune system.  

Though coat issues aren't that serious all the time, it would still be helpful to know the natural ways to improve and soften your dog's coat. 

Here are some basic yet most important things to look out for when taking care of our dogs: 

  1. Keep their skin soft and moisturized. 

  2. Give them proper and nutritious food.

  3. Bathe them regularly 

  4. Although optional, could give them supplements. (Just make sure to consult your vet first.) 

 

How To Soften a Dog's Coat 

Before anything else, remember that we'd like to achieve to maintain a soft and shiny dog fur, and these are perfect examples of how: 

  1. Brush regularly - brushing their fur regularly could help them get rid of tangles and dead skin cells. 

  2. Proper bathing - set a regular time of bathing and how frequent it depends on their breed. 

  3. Balanced diet - It won't be easy to tell the best dog food for fur without consulting a vet. However, there are healthy food ingredients that can aid in restoring their coat's natural shine and soften their fur.  

 

Best Dog Food for Healthy and Shiny Coat 

Here are some of the natural ingredients you should keep in mind when choosing what food or dog treats to give your dog.  

Good Fats

Omega-3 and Fatty Acids  

Help a lot in locking in the moisture on the dog's skin. This gives them a more hydrated skin, resulting in a healthier, softer, and softer coat. They also help reduce risks of parasitic infection since they also have immune-boosting properties.  

Foods rich in Omega 3 and fatty acids are Salmon which is also rich in protein. Sardines that are more cost-friendly, Anchovies, and Chia Seeds are known to be a good source of other vitamins, such as fiber, Zinc, Calcium, phosphorus, and Protein.   

Flaxseeds  

Are full of Omega-6 that moisturizes the dog's skin from the inside, making it soft and shiny from the outside.  

Coconut  

Applying coconut oil on the dog's skin is a great natural way of softening dry and flaky skin. It has anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce yeast infections and fatty acids that help promote soft and healthy skin while keeping mites and fleas away as a side job. And just like coconut oil, coconut meat has a lot of great benefits to offer too for your dog's skin. It is full of antioxidants and rich in lauric acid that helps the body form an added defense against viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites.

Fat-Soluble Vitamins  

Vitamin E  

It makes the dog's skin less susceptible to lots of different skin diseases such as allergy dermatitis, spots, and rashes. It is an antioxidant that helps in fighting skin radicals.   

Vitamin A  

It plays a role in repairing the skin. It has antioxidants that help soothe skin irritation and reduce inflammation.   

Vitamin B Complex  

B Vitamins also play a part in keeping the dog's coat shiny and healthy. They all work together in promoting hair growth and healthy dog skin.  

There are lots of foods that you may include in your dog's diet to provide him with sufficient amounts of these fat-soluble vitamins that he needs.   

Spinach is a great example. Not only is it rich in vitamin E, A, B, and K, but it is also rich in iron and full of antioxidants.  

Carob is also a great source of fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins, like vitamin E, vitamin A, Vitamin C, and vitamin B. High in protein but low in fat and has the essential amino acids that promote a healthy coat and skin.   

Kelp  

Known as a superfood as it provides a lot of positive effects to both human and dogs bodies. Kelp contains iodine essential for hypothyroidism (which can cause skin problems such as hair loss, scaling, dry and dull coat, and alopecia), natural amino acids, and protein that work together to repair damaged tissues a lot more. Kelp also helps reduce itchiness and skin irritations, which leads to improving the condition of your dog's coat condition.  

Protein  

As we all know, both human and animal hair is mainly made up of protein. Thus, protein plays an essential role in keeping your dog's coat in good condition. A dog that lacks protein intake may show signs of skin and hair depigmentation.   

You may give your dog high-protein meats such as LambChickenBeefTurkey, and Duck as they are the healthiest and best source of protein kind of meal.  

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Best Dog Food for Healthy and Shiny Coat 

Collagen Sticks 

Collagen for dogs is a great option to keep their skin and coat shiny and smooth. Collagen is known to promote more elastic skin, which will help it stay soft and avoid cell breakage and that itchy dry feeling. Collagen promotes a shinier coat while strengthening nails that may become frailer with age. 

Our Collagen Sticks are grain-free and created to help support dogs' joints, digestive health, skin elasticity, nails, and coat softness.  

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Grooming and Bathing  

You might have already heard before that it is not a requirement to bathe your dog every day, but the answer to how often would depend on a few things, especially on their type of coat. Although regular Bathing is essential, there is no general rule that applies to all breeds of dogs, and on that note, it is still your vet who will indeed have the best advice to give.   

Bathing once a month works for most dogs; however, it is recommended to do it a little more regularly for those who have oily coats. On the other hand, short-haired breeds with smooth coats require less frequent baths.    

Some breeds, especially those with water-repellent coats, should be bathed less often to help them preserve their natural oils. Dogs with thick, double coats are also better off having just a few baths though they need some extra brushing to get rid of the loose dull hair and distribute the natural oils essential for their coat's condition.   

Aside from the frequency of bathing, it is also necessary to choose the right shampoo for your fur baby. A great way to keep your dog's coat shiny is by making it well-moisturized, and using shampoo with too many chemicals might compromise the ph-balance on their skin. It would be best to choose sulfate-free (since sulfate is commonly used as foaming agents nowadays) to avoid drying out their skin.    

Some of the natural ingredients that you might want to look out for in dog shampoos are oatmeal, vitamin e, aloe vera, and rosemary oil, as they help in soothing the skin and softening the hair.    

Brushing the dog's hair also provides them with lots of benefits. Not only that it could keep the hair's natural shine, but it also allows you to take dead hair and mats off their skin, reduce shedding and stimulate the hair follicle (which would help in the production of their skin's natural oil) and distribute their skin's crude oil evenly.    

Going back to your dog's coat type, it is also advisable to choose the right brush depending on their coat type.    

It could be a bristle brush, a comb, a curry brush, a pin brush, or sometimes you will need a mat and tangle remover or a shedding blade.    

As part of maintaining your pet's hygiene, you should also look out for the possibilities of flea attacks. In any case, make sure to consult your local veterinarian on how to address it.   

Give your dog at least one collagen stick a day for optimal results.

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Being a dedicated dog owner often involves:
  • Asking the right questions.
  • Seeking the right advice, and, most importantly.
  • Checking in with your pup to make sure that it's healthy and happy.
We are in line with you on this, so if you have questions, you may head to our FAQs page for more answers to dog treat-related queries or send us a message, and I would love to chat with you. More than anything, it is my priority to keep you informed and empowered.   

 

 

September 06, 2021 — Arianne Sackville