Many dog owners take great pride in their canines’ glossy, lustrous fur. After all, the epidermis and fibre of your dog are the most important visible indicator of their health. Thankfully, maintaining the health of a dog’s epidermis and coat is simpler than you might imagine.
Bathe Your Dog With Special Dog Products
This will eliminate skin-irritating allergens, grime, detritus, and odours from their coat and skin. How often should your dog be bathed? Well, it depends on the length and thickness of their fur, epidermis conditions, and other factors. In general, you should give your dog a more proper bath anywhere between two and eight weeks. Doing it too often can cause their skin and coat to become dehydrated and flaky. It’s also important to consider mainly using natural or hypoallergenic shampoos on your dog’s coat. There are plenty of natural shampoo varieties that contain vitamins, minerals, and proteins that enhance the lustre and take care of your best friend’s skin and fur.
Use a Grooming Brush
Brushing your dog is a wonderful opportunity to spend quality time together and create a long-lasting bond! But there are additional benefits to getting a grooming brush to use on their fur as often as you (and their vet) see fit. One of these benefits is that the natural lipids on your dog’s skin are distributed by brushing, maintaining more of their skin and coat lubricated and protected. Additionally, it removes errant fur, prevents matting, and improves circulation and airflow. There are plenty of pet brushes available, such as pin brushes, combs, undercoat brushes, and others to help you maintain a lustrous coat and better comfort for your pooch.
Consider an Oatmeal Treatment
Your dog may experience skin issues at any time of year. Winter can cause the skin to become parched and flaking. In the summer, allergens and pollen can irritate and aggravate the skin. Oats contain vitamin E, which can provide alleviation to your dog. Here’s how to administer an oatmeal wash to your dog:
- Using a food processor, grind oats into flour (you can also start with oat flour!)
- Stir the flour into the hot water in the bathtub until froth forms
- Place your dog in the oatmeal bath and allow them to submerge completely
- After five to ten minutes, cleanse and gently dry out their fur
Get Quality Dog Food
Feeding your dog a diet rich in nutritious ingredients that promote whole-body health is one of the best things you can do to prevent your pooch’s health long-term. Not only healthy and natural food, but adding a teaspoon of oil, such as fish, coconut, or linseed oil, to your dog’s food will enhance its nutrition. Additionally, you may want to consider a special diet if necessary or as advised by your vet who will be the one to help you decide the meal plan best for them according to their age and breed.
Add Omega Fatty Acids to Their Diet
The anti-inflammatory effects of omega fatty acids are of tremendous value to humans. Incorporating foods rich in omega-3 and -6 fatty acids into one’s diet provides the body’s cells with the building blocks they need to function properly. As a consequence, our dogs’ skin is better equipped to do its job, and their coats appear healthier overall, just like it does for us.
Massage Your Dog
In addition to reducing stress for both you and your dog, regular pet massage offers several physical advantages that can improve your dog’s skin, coat, and overall health. The benefits of massaging your dog are numerous, and just as humans enjoy physical affection, your furry best friend needs it too.
Dog-Proof Your House
Although last on this list, perhaps the first thing you should do when getting a new pet: dog-proofing your home. And you do this by learning about the plants, drugs, cleaning materials, meals, and other items in and around your house that might potentially be harmful to your dog’s health and skin. Keep an eye out for anything your dog may consume if it were to chew on them. Dogs, like kids, may be very curious, and this might lead them to investigate things they shouldn’t. Define safe zones and place potential dangers out of reach. Always have the contact information for a 24-hour emergency vet and the Pet Poison Helpline close at hand.