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Improve Your Dog's Skin and Coat Naturally

10/2/2014

50 Comments

 
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There are many different reasons why dogs can be itchy or have poor coat condition, and often the problem can be easily solved with either proper nutrition or appropriate supplements! Whether your dog has allergies, needs a nutritional boost, or has a predisposition to dry skin and coat - there are several ways you can dramatically improve your dogs skin and coat safely and naturally.

First and foremost, you must ensure that your dog is receiving proper nutrition. If your dog is eating a low quality diet, you should consider switching to a raw food diet, a homemade dog food diet or a high quality grain-free kibble diet. Check your dogs food and make sure there are no bad ingredients such as corn, animal digest, poultry by-products and artificial flavouring.

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Omega fatty acids are "essential" fats that the body cannot produce, so they must be derived from food. Omega fatty acids are required for many functions; From maintaining healthy nerve function to building healthy new cells. Omega fatty acids are essential for thick, soft, luxurious fur and help prevent skin from becoming dry and flaky. Not only are omega fatty acids great for dogs with allergies to help soothe itchiness, but they also act as an anti-inflammatory.

Omega fatty acids can help keep skin and coat in top condition! Dosage is 1000mg per 30lbs of weight!

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Virgin, unrefined coconut oil consists of approximately 90% saturated fats, yet most of those fats are Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTs). The main component of the MCTs in coconut oil is lauric acid; which is antiviral, anti-fungal, antibacterial and helps to balance the immune system.

Coconut oil is very beneficial to the skin and coat. Coconut oil can help alleviate skin conditions such as itchy skin, eczema and allergies. Coconut oil can reduce allergic reactions and improve the overall health of the skin and coat while making fur soft and shiny. Coconut oil can also be used to treat both fungal and yeast infections, including candida overgrowth. Dosage is 1 teaspoon per 30lbs of weight.

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Raw apple cider vinegar with mother is also very good as improving the condition of a dog's skin and coat. Apple cider vinegar acts as a tonic that promotes blood circulation in the small capillaries that irrigate the skin. Being that it is also antiseptic, it can help fight off and prevent skin infections (especially in the ears).

Apple cider vinegar is most well known for dissolving fatty deposits at the surface of the skin and improving scaly or peeling skin. Since vinegar also regulates the pH of the skin, which is why it is so good for dog's with skin issues! Dosage is 1 tablespoon per 50lbs of weight!

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Kelp, especially the Norwegian variety, is a powerhouse multivitamin in natural, whole form! Kelp is packed full of vitamins and minerals, and is often used as a general supplement for dogs.

The sheer nutrient density of kelp alone is the reason why it helps improve skin and coat condition so dramatically. Kelp is a favorite supplement among show dog handlers, and tends to make the fur thicker while adding beautiful shine! For dosage, simply follow the directions on the packaging. I give 1/2 a teaspoon to my two large dogs every other day.

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Raw eggs are protein rich nutritional boosts that are well known for improving a dog's skin and coat condition. The combination of proteins, fats and nutrients can help make your dog's fur thick and shiny! Eggs contain all eight of the essential amino acids in a form that is easily digested.

Dosage for all dogs is one raw egg several times a week, that is often all that is needed to get the benefits for skin and coat improvement!

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Zinc is an essential mineral that is an important component for skin and coat health. A zinc deficiency will often express itself as cracked paw pads, hair loss, lesions around the eyes, ears and mouth, dry flaky skin and even thickened skin.

Natural sources of zinc include red meat and bone, spinach, fish, flax seed, egg yolk. chickpeas and brown rice. You can supplement your dog with a zinc tablet (human grade) but be careful not to overdose. Discuss how much you should be giving your dog based on their weight and current diet with you veterinarian for proper dosage!

Adding the above supplements to your dog's diet will definitely improve their skin and coat! Be sure to rule out allergies and other medical conditions if things are not improving with the addition of the items mentioned in this article.

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50 Comments
Luce Moore
10/25/2014 07:34:54 am

How do you administer the raw apple cider vinegar with mother? Do you add to water or food?

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Barb
1/29/2015 06:36:10 am

put a small amount in drinking water... I pour some on her brown rice... TBL spoon for my 90 lb ROTTIE.....

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Colleen
10/26/2014 12:00:27 pm

Is there a recipe anyone can recommend that includes all this stuff?

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BarbiePierce
1/29/2015 06:39:14 am

cook Brn rice, carrots, green apples, sweet potato,
Mix wth kibble, raw egg, amaga oil

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Mark
12/21/2014 01:54:55 am

Can you mix the raw egg with the kibble dog food?

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BarbiePierce
1/29/2015 06:40:23 am

YES

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Beth
12/21/2014 02:00:28 am

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diana haines
12/21/2014 02:21:11 am

My 127lb Lab/St.Bernard is very yeasty..I have switched him to a good grain-free diet and because he is so yeasty he gets cortisone shots for his ear infections and dry itchy skin..Could I do both the Coconut oil and the Raw vinegar? Do I put them in his food?

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V
12/21/2014 03:55:19 pm

I soak my dogs treats in te brags vinegar. I brush her teath with the coconut oil. So she eats enough if it that way . I use a coconut oil rinse after I bathe her in Ketochlora So she eats enough if it that way . I use a coconut oil rinse after I bathe her in Ketochlora shampoo from vet and totally rinse off then do the coconut oil rinse. We also use the coconut oil straight up on hot spots with doTERRA lavender essential oil.

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Lorrie McClain
3/1/2015 09:28:31 pm

The cortisone has its own side effects. I would put him on a raw meat diet, add the coconut oil and fish oil to his food. I clean my dogs ears once a month with a 50/50 solution of apple cider vinegar and warm water. I've never added vinegar to my dogs' food, but they have beautiful coats and no yeasty ears with the raw food, coconut oil and fish oil. I live near a lake and my dogs swim several times a week with no ear infections and they have beautiful coats.

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Alisha
12/21/2014 02:48:49 am

I use acv externally during my dog's bath. I pour out on him and massage into his skin after shampooing.

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Maggie
12/21/2014 10:01:10 am

I give my dog a fish oil tablet 2 times a week.

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Ashley
12/26/2014 05:51:26 am

I don't mix any kind of raw food, including eggs, with kibble. Manufactured kibble digests at a different rate then any raw food.

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Ruth Demandt
1/10/2015 02:13:44 am

I have been using fish oil, coconut oil in my GS's diet for a while now. She has amazing skin and hair but is still very itchy. Diet does not seem to be the issue either. Seems it get worse in the winter with the heating.

I found what worked good is topical oil (she has very itchy arm pits). Organic sweet almond oil, organic caster oil and a little Shea oil. I use it on my face so figured it might work and it did. Just really hard to put anywhere else because she is a plush and it makes her fir greasy. I would recommend a test spot first to make sure your dog does not react. Anyone else have any experience with topical oils for dogs?

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Danielle
3/28/2015 09:37:28 pm

I have a 2 year old pit bull with what sounds like the same issues. I give her grain free food but she still suffers from itchy skin. Her arm pits especially. The topical oils you mentioned, do you buy these separete and mix them before administering?

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Erin
5/21/2015 03:57:36 am

6 month old pitbull has terribly itchy skin, but once I started putting coconut oil in his food twice a day the change is huge. We've started it about 2 weeks ago and he is so much smoother and shinier. His itching has gone down a lot. I definitely recommend trying it.

Carole
2/22/2015 08:04:44 am

Why can't I print some of the pages so I can make a list for the grocery store ?

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stacey wheatley link
3/1/2015 01:18:19 am

At the beginning of this month i switched over to costco brand dog food. It reacted wrong to my gs skin. Now gehas bald spots losing hair and his skin is very iirratated. What can i do. I give him raw egg every week just once a week. I switched him over to blue wilderness. I give him coconut oil in his food.

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debbie
3/1/2015 03:28:25 am

How do I use the vinager on the ears r you sure this works

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Desiree link
3/1/2015 06:42:49 am

will any of these remedies work for cats?

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Brittany
3/3/2015 01:24:46 am

How much apple cider do I put to a gallon of water for my dogs

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jennet
3/29/2015 03:26:58 pm

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April
3/8/2015 07:47:27 am

Ive went and went and bought some Apple Cider Vinegar with the Mother and virgin coconut oil. Understand to just add ACV to water. But how much coconut oil for 90 # Lab? It's in a solid form in a jar. Can I just let her lick it ? Or do I need a liquid form to add over foo

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Lorrie McClain
3/8/2015 11:06:07 am

1 tsp. of coconut oil per 10 lbs. of body weight per day. I give my 73 lbs. boys a tablespoon in the morning and a tablespoot in the evening. My dogs are raw fed, so I pour boiling water over the coconut oil which is on their food, then stir it up. In the summer, the coconut oil will become liquid so it's easier to mix with their food.

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Lindz Parks
5/24/2018 09:54:55 am

Do not givd your dog too much coconut oil start small google it

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Ann
3/28/2015 06:50:02 am

So I give my German Shepherd coconut oil, salmon oil, zinc, probiotics and vitamins and he's still scratching his sides. I tried the raw food and he scratched and scratched his face after eating even after I would wipe his face off so I went back to dry. His face is normal but his sides he still scratches. Any suggestions?

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Teresa
3/28/2015 12:06:26 pm

What is the food you are feeding him?

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Sheila
3/28/2015 02:29:49 pm

I use a grain free food. It is pretty expansive but well worth it.

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katie
5/11/2015 07:17:00 am

If ingredients have rice or.patatoe on them try and avpid them. They r hard to fimd tho. U cud.put him back on raw but start by feeding.just chicken for a week then.slowly introduce other meats.amd hopefully u can.determine what makes him itchy

christine hancock
3/28/2015 08:41:24 pm

Put him on skinners duck and rice /or salmon and rice it has the identical ingredients as burns but not the price ! An excellent all round food and great for itchy dry skin good luck !

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Donna
5/21/2015 10:12:47 am

Limit color and ingredients had a friends dog tested for allegedly and he was allergic to beef. Maybe try lamb and rice food

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Lauren
3/28/2015 02:04:52 pm

My Golden Retriever is very yeasty...he has itchy, flaky skin and gets bad ear infections. We've always fed him high quality grain free food and are now giving him a raw diet but there hasn't been any improvement. His ears are actually really bad again. We've tried salmon oil and coconut oil. How do I administer the raw cider vinegar? What's raw cider vinegar with mother? Thanks!

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Nick
5/21/2015 02:46:11 pm

How long has the dog been on the raw diet? Are you avoiding potatoes? What treats is the dog eating? Any supplements?

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Stina
3/28/2015 10:49:50 pm

I have apple cider vinegar but what on earth is apple cider vinegar with mother? ?

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Megan
3/28/2015 11:06:20 pm

Apple cider vinegar with mother means it isn't filtered. Bragg I the brand I found. Those of you with dogs that are still itchy, go to a really good dog groomer and get them a good mild and soothing bath and bring a quart or more of vinegar for them to pour on the dog after. Make sure they use not hot water and lightly blow dry with no heat. Ask to bring the dog home damp. Or find a self-serve dog wash. Monthly to weekly baths may help. Also could try coconut oil in warm water as a rinse. It will be oily after, which can cause dirt and allergens to attach to the fur more easily.
(Good luck with the groomers. I am one and would do this if requested, most will not.)

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Stina
5/22/2015 12:18:05 pm

I'm in Australia and have no idea what Bragg is or apple cider vinegar with mother

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Debbie
5/8/2015 10:36:41 am

the Omega Fatty Acid ...is that a pill and where do I get it ?? and the coconut oil.....what is the best brand to get. ??

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Debbie
5/8/2015 10:38:48 am

sorry when I filled out my questions just as I hit send I saw that my email address didn't complete......so I am redoing it.......... thank you

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gwen
5/8/2015 01:14:27 pm

I wouldn't rinse with coconut oil, but my GSD eats it and her coat feels like rabbit fur. The former said you must brush her daily she hardly sheds. I don't brush her unless she's blowing coat 2 x per year.

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Debbie
5/9/2015 04:13:49 am

what kind of Coconut Oil do you use ? I have some 100% pure LouAna coconut oil that is for cooking . would that work ? if so would I heat it up then put it on the food or just mix the food in it ?

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katie
5/11/2015 07:19:20 am

I got my coconut pil off amazon for about £15 dont.think it matters what brand

Debbie
5/11/2015 10:27:34 am

thank you Katie !! good to know

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Robynne Catheron
5/21/2015 02:24:28 am

I've been adding Bragg's organic ACV to all my animals' water for years, including my dogs, cats, horses and chickens. We've replaced most of our cooking oil and lotions with organic coconut oil, and all my animals get a bit of that, too.

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Linda McMullen
5/21/2015 08:15:07 am

I give my Australian Shepherd a can of sardines per week, one sardine per day, also an egg or two per week, however, I do cook the egg, not a favorite of raw...... Also, we eat salmon once a week and she gets that also, plus veg and potato, whatever, we have, beside her dry kibble........ She is 11 years old and has always had a beautiful coat.......

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Nick
5/21/2015 02:44:07 pm

Give hempseed oil a try. You'll see a HUGE difference.

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Clare
9/1/2016 02:08:26 am

Hi there! I've been looking at all of your comments, and it's made me wonder! Coconut Oil? Where and how do I get it from? Do you mean the coconut oil that you can get in the supermarket via oil? This looks really good! If it FINALLY clears up my poor dogs ears? - then I'm turned!! 😉

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Lorrie McClain
9/8/2016 08:19:54 pm

I purchase my coconut oil at Costco. Make sure you buy the virgin organic coconut oil. Costco has the best price.

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Jolene Jackson
9/30/2016 01:00:46 pm

I've seen a lot of questions on how to administer the acv into the dogs ears, but haven't seen any answers. What do you use to get drops in there? Thanks in advance.

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Gary & Daisy
5/7/2018 05:27:15 pm

Raw eggs for my dog: Egg white or yolk or both? Whip it up before the egg goes on her food? Or just add the whole egg to her food and that's it?
I use 4Legger dog shampoo which I assume is very good for Daisy. No?

Thank you....

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Genuine Haarlem Oil link
8/31/2021 07:20:41 pm

Thank you for sharing this very informative content I read a lot of importance's to live longer by taking self care by drinking food supplements daily. I also recommend Haarlem Oil made from France. It can help to boost your immune system to fight against viruses.

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