Not only is a dog's coat condition is a phenomenal indicator of their general health, but there isn't anything quite like petting a dog with a thick, shiny coat that doesn't leave your hands stinky! Pet owners pride themselves on taking excellent care of their furry family members, and doing so is easier than you think! There are many excellent ways to supplement your dog's current diet and see dramatic improvements to your dog's skin and coat condition.
Dry skin, dandruff, course fur, and poor coat pigment can all be helped through proper diet and supplementation of specific nutrients. Diet can even effect the colour and clarity of your dog's eyes - that is how dramatic the impact of proper nutrition is on our pet.
Here are several things you can add to your dog's diet to improve their coat colour, texture and condition!
Dry skin, dandruff, course fur, and poor coat pigment can all be helped through proper diet and supplementation of specific nutrients. Diet can even effect the colour and clarity of your dog's eyes - that is how dramatic the impact of proper nutrition is on our pet.
Here are several things you can add to your dog's diet to improve their coat colour, texture and condition!
Omega fatty acids have many incredible health benefits, but their most notable benefit happens with a dog's coat! Omega fatty acids can be found in fish, hemp seed, borage seed, fish oils and flaxseed oil. Concentrated capsules found in bottled supplements contain theraputic amounts of omega fatty acids. Most people prefer to use fish oil or hemp seed oil for pets, as they tend to be the most readily available. Omega fatty acids have been shown to improve coat condition, heart health and brain function. They can also be used to reduce inflammation and decrease the symptoms of allergic reaction. Since omega fatty acids deplete vitamin E in the body, it is always good to supplement the diet with vitamin E too.
Coconut oil is another great choice for improving the skin and coat condition of your dog. Coconut oil is a healthy, very easily digested oil that has anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties! Coconut oil can be used internally or topically and can also help alleviated symptoms of allergies in pets.
Coconut oil is another great choice for improving the skin and coat condition of your dog. Coconut oil is a healthy, very easily digested oil that has anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties! Coconut oil can be used internally or topically and can also help alleviated symptoms of allergies in pets.
Beta-carotene plays a significant role in the intensity of a dog's coat colour. The build up of beta-carotene influences the coat colour the same way it gives various fruits and vegetables their colours. I have found significant improvement in the red tones of my German Shepherd's coat with the addition of some mashed up, boiled baby carrots. On top of the benefits to coat colour, beta-carotene is an excellent antioxidant with additional benefits to eye health. Carrots, pumpkin and sweet potato are the most ideal sources for beta-carotene to be added to your dog's diet. Remember to boil carrots and sweet potato, and buy only pure pumpkin puree - not the pie filling!
Zinc is a vital mineral for skin and coat health and often dogs suffering from a zinc deficiency will exhibit poor skin and coat condition - such as cracked paw pads, hair loss and lesions around the mouth, eyes and ears. Zinc, in addition to other important minerals such as copper, will certainly improve a dog's coat if they are not getting enough in their diet. In terms of natural sources, zinc is found in red meat and bone.
Zinc is a vital mineral for skin and coat health and often dogs suffering from a zinc deficiency will exhibit poor skin and coat condition - such as cracked paw pads, hair loss and lesions around the mouth, eyes and ears. Zinc, in addition to other important minerals such as copper, will certainly improve a dog's coat if they are not getting enough in their diet. In terms of natural sources, zinc is found in red meat and bone.
A raw food diet is an excellent way to dramatically improve your dogs health and physical condition, but a high quality grain free kibble can also result in significant improvement in skin and coat condition. Lots of meat and whole, real foods are essential. Removing useless ingredients such as wheat, corn and meat by-products can result in a significant improvement in skin and coat condition.
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Want to make dramatic positive changes with your dog's nutrition? K9 Instinct provides nutrition consultations and a collection of great canine diet and nutrition eBooks to help you keep your dog healthy and strong!
Angel
K9 Instinct
Want more great information like this, or don't want to miss any of these great articles? Click here to sign up for the monthly K9 Instinct newsletter. Free treat and homemade dog food recipes, tons of information, important recall alerts and so much more are available in our newsletter!
Want to make dramatic positive changes with your dog's nutrition? K9 Instinct provides nutrition consultations and a collection of great canine diet and nutrition eBooks to help you keep your dog healthy and strong!
Angel
K9 Instinct
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