Going Green How Organic Eating Can Improve Your Dog s Quality of Life

9 Ways to Improve Your Dogs Skin and Coat Health

Your dogs skin and coat obviously serve important functions such as providing warmth, offering protection, regulating body temperature, and providing and enhancing sensation. Skin and coat can both also serve as a great general indicator of your dogs overall health. So let's talk about not only keeping it in tip-top shape but also improving the condition of dogs' skin and coat health.

The Dog's Skin and Coat

Just as our skin serves to protect us against environmental damage from toxins, bacteria, weather elements, etc., our dogs skin does the same. It also helps to maintain body temperature, allow for feelings of sensation, and prevent fluid loss.

This protection is afforded by the dog's skins collaboration with other connected structures, such as the underlying fat layer, the hair, and the blood vessels. Unfortunately, because the skin functions with so many other parts in the mix, it often means that when our dogs have signs of skin problems, these other structures can suffer as well, so its important to treat these canine skin issues as soon as they occur.

Like the skin, our dogs coat serves to enhance feelings of sensation and maintain a healthy body temperature, but again, the coat also relies on other underlying structures to perform its duty. For example, the hair of your dogs coat sits in a hair follicle that lies under the epidermis. This follicle ensures that the hair is supported and anchored into the skin. If the hair that sits in this follicle consistently grows inward, it can lead to an infection of the follicle.

Reasons Why Your Dog May Have Skin or Coat Problems

There are so many reasons why your dog may be experiencing coat or skin problems or one of the more known skin conditions. It can often be difficult to distinguish the cause of a skin or coat problem in dogs because of the complex interaction between the different layers of their skin and coat system. That said, some of the most common causes of skin and coat problems in dogs include:

• Malnutrition
• Eating food that contains poor-quality ingredients
• Naturally dry skin
• Naturally oily skin
• A lack of omega fatty acids
• A failure to properly groom your dogs coat
• Over-bathing or under-bathing your dog
• Using products on a dogs skin or coat that are designed for human use
• Allergies
• Emotional/Psychological Concerns

Being aware of these causes makes it easier to look into the source and try to eliminate the issue from there instead of attempting to treat the symptoms on the surface alone.

ALSO READ:How to Use Coconut Oil for Dog Skin Problems

9 Ways You Can Improve Your Dogs Skin and Coat Health

1. Feed them a Better-Quality Food

One of the first things that you can do to improve your dogs skin and coat health is to take a look at the diet that you are feeding. If that diet is filled with plenty of fillers, poor-quality protein, more artificial ingredients than you can pronounce, and not very much nutrition at all, you may have found your culprit without going any further.

Think of how dull your skin and hair would be if you were to eat a diet of fast food all day, every day. While you would presumably be able to survive on this diet, its certainly not doing you any favors and is likely neglecting crucial vitamins and minerals that are necessary for skin and hair health.

Also, keep in mind that you dont have to spend a fortune each month on dog food to get good quality food. Good food is about the ingredients and the balance of those ingredients in the food. Learn to read the label on your dogs bag of food and find a food that offers more than that, and youre making a step in the right direction.

2. Supplement Their Diet with Omega Fatty Acids

Omega fatty acids are of great benefit to us all because of their anti-inflammatory properties. When incorporated into a diet plan, omega-3 and -6 fatty acids feed the bodys cells with healthy nutrients that they require to create healthy cell membranes. In people, this results in better and younger-looking skin, and in our dogs, it means skin that is better able to do its job and a coat that looks healthier overall.

3. Eliminate Junk Food (This Includes Unhealthy Treats)

Just like us, our dogs require a balanced and healthy diet to have a body that performs at an optimal level. When we load our dogs diet up on junk foods that have little nutritional value, like treats with plenty of artificial ingredients we are not providing the body with the nutrients it requires to maintain healthy function.

A diet that's high in treats and low in quality nutrients often results in a lack of the necessary vitamins and minerals needed for skin and coat health, including EPA, DHA, vitamin E, vitamin C, and biotin. Dogs are exposed to vitamin deficiencies and other potential health issues that will often be tied to dogs' skin and coat health.

4. Create and Maintain a Regular Grooming Schedule

A regular grooming schedule is a critical part of ensuring that your canine has and maintains a healthy coat. Brushing your dog regularly (even if they are a short-haired breed) does more than make their coat look presentable. Brushing also helps to:

• to remove any debris buildup
• to identify any areas of concern
• to notice any parasites
• to stimulate oil production by the hair follicles

The frequency with which you should brush your dog depends on their breed and coat type, but a couple of brushing sessions a week will go a long way in keeping your pup's coat looking good.

5. Bathe Your Dog, But Do it Sparingly

Bathing your dog is another way to keep your dogs coat and skin healthy by eliminating dirt and debris buildup. Bathing also helps to keep skin hydrated and supple. However, bathing too much or over-bathing a dog can produce the opposite result, too.

When combined with regular grooming, most dogs require a bath only every two to six months, depending on their lifestyle. Over-bathing your dog will generally lead to drying of the skin, which causes the oil glands to go into overdrive, and your pet will wind up with a very oily coat at the least.

6. Do Not Use Human Products on Your Dogs Coat

While we are talking about grooming and bathing, always be sure to use canine-formulated products when caring for your dogs skin and coat. If you are currently using human-formulated products, it may be the reason that your dog has a dull coat and itchy skin.

The natural pH of your dogs skin (6.5 to 7.5) is not the same pH as the natural pH of your skin (5.5).

Compared to our skin, our dogs have a neutral pH level, whereas we have a much more acidic pH level. Beauty and grooming products are formulated to help to maintain a natural pH of the skin so that a shampoo formulated for human use is going to have a more acidic pH and if used on your dog, it will create a good degree of irritation and drying.

If your dog has skin and coat issues, try using a gentle dog shampoo that is free from artificial ingredients and additives the next time you give them a bath; it certainly wont hurt.

7. Treat the Source of Allergies Rather Than Just the Symptoms

Often, our dogs exhibit skin and coat problems when they are experiencing allergy symptoms. Two of the most common symptoms of allergies in dogs are dry and itchy skin, and many pet parents treat those symptoms with creams, sprays, lotions, oils, and shampoos, but when the symptoms have disappeared, they stop treatment.

The problem with this is that because the allergy itself has not been identified and is not being treated, the symptoms are going to return eventually, and you're going to be back to using grooming products again if you haven't gotten to the source of the issue. Sometimes treating a skin issue such as itchy skin, for example, is as easy as switching to a different itchy skin diet or even trying a homemade recipe.

When your dog has skin and coat symptoms that appear to be related to allergies, its important to do more than just treat the symptoms alone. Take your pooch to their veterinarian and have them undergo allergy testing. Once you determine what they are allergic to you will be able to prevent future skin and coat problems by avoiding it altogether or through regular preventative medication.

8. Massage Your Dog

Regular pet massage isnt just a great stress relief for you and your dog; it also has many physical benefits that can change the appearance and health of your dogs skin and coat (and other organs, too!).Giving your dog a massage is extremely beneficial on all fronts.

When we receive a message, we increase blood flow to various areas of our body, including the skin. As the flow of blood increases, more nutrients are carried to these areas, which helps reduce pain and inflammation. This improved blood flow also helps the immune system function by promoting the flush of toxins from the body through the bloodstream. Combined, these exact same pet massage benefits leave our dogs looking and feeling healthier, too.

If youre unsure of how to begin with canine massage, please dont just jump in feet first you wouldnt do that with human massage, and its not advised for canine massage either. Instead, we recommend that you at least look at this guide or, better yet, look into local canine massage services or classes that can help guide you through the process. They are not as difficult to find as it may sound and they can really improve your dogs quality of life, particularly if your pup is older or ailing.

9. Address Emotional Licking or Scratching Before it Gets Out of Control

Lastly, some dogs will exhibit physical symptoms of poor health as a result of emotionally driven behaviors. For example, anxious dogs often chew at their paws as a nervous habit. This chewing can quickly lead to open sores and infection which creates a bigger problem.

Rather than brushing off your dogs unusual behaviors, we recommend analyzing your and your dog's current lifestyle and any changes that you have made that could be contributing to your pet's behavior.

If you are at a loss for why your dog may be taking their emotional stress out by self-harming or with neurotic behaviors, we recommend consulting with your vet or a canine behavioral trainer about how your dog is behaving.

A professional trainer will be able to help you to understand these behaviors as well as teach you how you can help your dog to overcome them.

READ NEXT:The Best Dog Food for Sensitive Skin

Raw Diet For Dogs: Will It Improve Your Dogs Health?

Raw dog food diets are controversial. While some think this is the way dogs were meant to eat before dogs became pets, others think dry dog food is the correct diet for our four-legged fur balls. Is raw food good for dogs? Lets dig into raw dog food diets a bit more so you can draw your own conclusion about whether this diet lives up to the hype.

What Is A Raw Food Diet For Dogs?

Araw dog food diet emphasizes uncooked meat (often muscle and organ meat), whole or crushed bones, fruits, vegetables, raw eggs, and some dairy.

The raw dog food diet started with racing Greyhounds and sled dogs. In 1993, Australian veterinarian Ian Billinghurst proposed extending the diet to family dogs. He called this the BARF diet for dogs, which stands for Bones and Raw Food or Biologically Appropriate Raw Food.

Billinghurst suggested dogs would flourishon BARF dog food since this is how they ate prior to being domesticated. He also argued that commercial pet foods were harmful to the health of dogs. However, many vets and the FDA disagree with Billinghursts views.

What Are The Claimed Benefits Of Raw Food Diets For Dogs?

Billinghurst and his supporters say the benefits include:

• Shinier coat
• Healthier skin
• Cleaner teeth
• More energy
• Smaller stool

Potential Risks Of Raw Diets

While there are potential upsides and some veterinarians may recommend it, theAmerican Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)is not on board with BARF. Citing a number of studies, the AVMA discourages feeding raw food or undercooked animal proteins because they can contain potentially deadly pathogens and harmful bacteria like Salmonella and E. Coli that can sicken your pet and possibly be transmitted to humans. Yikes!

Other possible disadvantages of the raw diet for dogs include:

• Harmful bacteria in raw meat pose a threat to the dogs and human health.
• Giving whole meaty bones to dogs presents a risk of choking, broken teeth, or internal punctures (learn more aboutif dogs can eat bones).
• Nutritional deficiencies can occur from raw dog food diets if they are not properly balanced. Low calcium and phosphorus levels, as well as inadequate vitamins and low levels of EPA and DHA, are some nutritional deficiencies that can develop.

Transitioning Your Dog From Dry Food To Raw

Its important to remember thattransitioning your dog to a new dietis aslow process. Below is a rough schedule you can use for this dietary shift.

If you notice your dog isnt feeling well, you should go back a day in the transition plan and proceed at a slower pace. For example, if your dog struggles with 50% serving, shift back to 40% serving for another day or two before moving forward.

Another thing wed like to mention is that raw diets are only safe for dogs 12 weeks andolder.

• Day 1:Feed 75% of your current (old) food and mix in 25% of the raw food in each serving to start the adjustment period for clean digestion.
• Day 2:Adjust to feeding 60% of your old food and mix in 40% of the raw food in each serving.
• Day 3:Feed 50% of your old food, mixed with 50% of the raw food per serving.
• Day 4:Feed 40% of your old food, mixed with 60% of the raw food per serving.
• Day 5:Feed 25% of your old food, mixed with 75% of the raw food per serving.
• Day 6:Feed 90-100% of the raw food at this point, you should be very close to a clean digestive transition period.

Break the daily serving size into two meals per day: one in the morning and one in the evening.

As a general rule, dogs on a raw food diet need to eat 2 to 5% of their body weight in raw food. You must be careful to ensure they get enough to eat, as many dogs drop a good amount of weight on a raw food diet. Maintaining a healthy body weight is a priority because you do not want your pup to lose too much weight too quickly.

Raw Dog Food Recipes

Want to get your dog started on a raw dog food diet? Here is a recipe you can try out using ground meat. We should note that the nutritional balance varies based on the breed and size of your dog, so talk to your vet about the best option for your pet. Or better yet, get one of the commercial pet food brands we recommend to ensure they get all the nutrients they need.

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 lbsground beef
• 4 ozchicken livers
• 1 carrot, chopped
• 1 small apple, cored
• 1/2 cup baby spinach
• 2 whole eggs (including shell)
• 1/2 cup plain yogurt
• 1 tbspground flaxseed
• 1 tbspolive oil

Note: It is critical that you use high-quality grade ground meat and understand that there are risks associated with consuming uncooked meat. In addition, there are severalfoods your dog should never eat,so plan your recipe accordingly.

Directions

1. Put carrot, apple, and spinach in a food processor and process until finely chopped.
2. Add remaining ingredients except for beef and process until well combined.
3. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and add the beef until well mixed.
4. Form into patties the size of your palm and place on parchment lined baking sheet.
5. Freeze patties and transfer them to a storage container to keep them frozen.
6. The night before you wish to feed, remove the patties from the freezer and place them in the refrigerator to thaw.

Best Raw Dog Food Brands

Billinghursts book, Give Your Dog A Bone, has sparked commercially processed raw dog food diets to help pet parents who are short on time.

Shopping for ingredients, grinding, chopping, measuring, and mixing may not be something you have time for. Thats why these ready-made raw dog food delivery services can be so convenient for busy families who have an interest in feeding raw food to their pups.

Read our comparison of the best raw dog food delivery optionsand check out our rankings on the right. These food products are freeze-dried or frozen to maintain their nutrients and consist of meat, grains, vitamins, and vegetables.

Freeze-dried options can be convenient for traveling, but frozen is typically less processed than freeze-dried. So keep that in mind when youre purchasing raw food for your dog.

Some pet parents choose to serve these raw food packages on top of some kibble to help dogs adjust to a raw diet.

Video: How To Determine Serving Size

Wondering how much to feed your pup on a raw diet? Learn more in this video:

Myths About Raw Feeding Dogs

There are certainly risks and reservations with valid reasons behind them about raw feeding dogs. That said, there are also several myths and misconceptions that we can clear up.

• Raw feeding does not make dogs aggressive.
• Raw food will not automatically make your dog sick.
• The raw dog food diet is not only made up of raw meat.
• Dogs can eat both raw food and kibble. No rule says your dog must be exclusively on one diet.

Bottom Line: Every Pup Is Unique

Just because your furry friend gobbles up a raw meat diet, that doesnt mean its right for all dogs. Some animals might never be able to switch due to food sensitivities or other health issues. We strongly emphasize discussing your dogs specific needs with your vet before making any dietary changesand being patient in the process. Remember that any diet change can cause some stomach issues.

If your dog does get sick or needs medical attention, see a vet right away and consider getting pet insurance now so that if a need arises, your medical costs could be partially covered for any exams and medications for issues that exclude pre-existing conditions. Learn more about the benefits and if pet insurance may be a good fit for you. You might also check out these other homemade dog food recipes that contain cooked food as an alternative to raw.

Why Trust Canine Journal

At Canine Journal, we write about every type of diet to help pet parents decide whats best for their dogs. Raw diets can be controversial, which is why Kimberly consulted with many dog food experts to provide this content to our audience. She also has experience with various dog food brands and diet types, including raw.