Hardly there will be any dog enthusiast who doesn’t adore and appreciate a dog’s shiny, appealing and smooth coat. Dog’s skin plays a major role in protecting them from external dirt, dust, germs, etc., keeping their skin healthy. However, people generally don’t care much for a dog’s coat which can result in several health issues.. Using good quality dog bath products is not only the solution, choosing quality dog food is crucial too.
There is a direct connection between dog skin and their eating habits or the food they consume. As we all know, nutrition plays a major role in enhancing overall health, and your dog’s skin also falls under that. Hence choosing the best pet food builds their coat and skin healthy for a longer duration. Let’s explore a comprehensive guide on the overall impact of food on your dog’s skin and coat.
What is the role of nutrition in your dog’s skin and coat health?
Feeding a dog with a balanced diet loaded with high nutritional values helps your dog’s skin and coat remain healthy. Using external treatment products like shampoos and oils can only enhance the appearance of the coat, whereas for maintaining the health of the skin and coat for a longer period, nutritional values create a larger impact.
Selecting dog food without considering nutritional values can lead to dry, patchy, itchy skin and dandruff with a dull coat. Therefore, feeding your dog with high-nutrition items like goat milk will give them a gleaming coat and keep their skin hydrated and healthy.
Major impacts of nutritional deficiency on skin and coat
Whenever there is a lack of essential nutrients in a dog’s diet, it shows various effects on their body, especially on their skin and fur. So below mentioned are some common signs of nutritional deficiencies that have a direct impact on the skin and coat.
| Dry and dull coat | It generally occurs due to the lack of omega-3 fatty acids and an inappropriate amount of protein in your dog. |
| Itchy and flaky Skin | This is due to the insufficiency of vitamins and fats such as zinc and biotin which leads to dandruff, and dry and flaky skin. |
| Extreme shedding | It can be due to a deficiency of fatty acids and proteins. |
| Bald spots and delicate hairs | It is a major concern if your dog has brittle or weak hairs. It is due to a lack of essential protein and may even lead to a bald spot on their skin. |
If your dog is suffering from such diseases then you need to take action quickly. The aforementioned symptoms can be eliminated by choosing highly nutritive dog food and preventing them from any kind of dog skin disease.
Check The List of Key Nutrients for Dog’s Healthy Skin and Coat
Nurturing your dog by feeding them with certain nutrients plays a major role in enhancing their health and appearance. Acknowledge the important nutrients while selecting healthy dog food:
- Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids: It is one of the most essential parts of nutrition for maintaining shiny, healthy and hydrated skin. It contributes to regulating and production of natural oils in the skin that helps in maintaining itchy-free and soft skin. Feeding your dog with fish oils and chia seeds fulfills the requirement of omega-3 fatty acids. Whereas for fulfilling omega-6 requirements, you can add poultry fats and plant-based oil that keeps your pet’s skin hydrated.
- Protein: It is also a critical nutrient for building a strong and shiny coat. Ensure that your dog’s diet must contain a high amount of protein to avoid problems like brittle hair and dull coats. A dog diet rich in protein supports keratin production, assists in building strong hair follicles and reduces skin infection in dogs. However, always remember to choose the right protein source that suits your dog.
| Animal-based proteins: | If your dog mostly loves to have animal-based food then feed them with chicken, lamb and fish that contain high amounts of amino acids essential for coat health. |
| Plant-based proteins: | These have slightly less protein as compared to animal-based proteins. However, you can still feed your dog with plant-based protein sources like peas and soy as replacements for a short duration or paired with animal protein. |
- Vitamins and Minerals: You should always strive for the fulfillment of vitamins for skin and coat health. Some of the most important vitamins essential for your dog are:
| Vitamin E: | This helps your dog prevent any radical damage and enhances the health of overall skin and proper hair growth. |
| Vitamin A: | It is vital for the production and renewal of skin cells. |
| Zinc: | It is very helpful for hair growth and skin repair. The deficiency of zinc may lead to hair loss and scaly skin. |
| Biotin: | This helps in fat metabolism and maintains the amount of water in the skin. |
Understand the Common Food Allergies and Skin Issues
To prevent your dog from various skin problems, you must know the major culprits behind that. Several dogs are allergic to different food items and become sensitive over time. This may result in rashes, hair loss and itchy skin.
To resolve such issues and prevent your dog from any skin problems, it becomes crucial to identify the common ingredients and eliminate them from your dog’s diet before it’s too late.
- Common allergens that you must know: Before selecting dog food, be aware of some common allergic ingredients that may cause a reaction in your dog. Some of them, are listed below:
- Beef
- Chicken
- Soy
- Corn
- Dairy products
- Wheat
- Diagnosing and Treating Food Allergies: If your pet is allergic to any of the aforementioned ingredients, consult with your veterinarian as soon as possible. They will introduce the proper dog food diet and eliminate any kind of dog illness related to skin or coat. Remove these common allergens from your dog’s diet and enhance their skin and coat health.
Things to Prioritize While Selecting the Right Dog Food for Skin and Coat Health
There is a surplus of food for dogs available in the market, but choosing the accurate one can be daunting. Before you select the right diet for your dog, there are a few things you need to consider for the proper growth and nourishment of the skin and coat of your dog.
- Check the ratio of omega fatty acids: Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are the most important nutrients for your dog. Check the balanced ratio of every food item. If you are seeking some major sources of omega fatty acids such as flaxseeds, fish oils and chicken.
- Give importance to high-quality ingredients: Feeding dogs with proper animal-based protein is more useful than any other plant-based protein. However, plant-based protein can be mixed with other protein sources to increase efficiency but remember to avoid fillers like corn and soy.
- Prioritize Limited Ingredients Diet (LID): If your dog is allergic to some common food items, immediately remove them from their diet which reduces the chance of getting reactions and different types of dog diseases. In such cases, a single protein source is quite beneficial with rarer additives.
- Consult with your veterinarian: Before introducing or removing any food item from your dog’s diet, you can consult with your veterinarian. Take valuable guidance and recommendations regarding the best dog food available for your specific breed.
The Significance of Hydrated skin in your dog
Most people ignore the importance of hydration of the skin. If your pet does not drink enough water, it may lead to dry and flaky skin. Always check whether your dog is drinking fresh and clean water or not.
Alongside, if you feed your dog with kibble food, then you can replace it with wet food items to fulfill the water content in your dog. Increase the intake of moisture in your dog meal to reduce the risk of skin infection on a dog.
Conclusion
The diet of your dog decides the health of their skin and fur. Therefore, it is pivotal to understand your dog’s food requirements and fulfill their nutrition needs like protein, omega fatty acids, moisture and many more.
However, it is essential to understand the quality of dog food items. Additionally, you can add goat milk for dogs to your dog’s diet to nourish them with an overall nutrition package. It contains beneficial probiotics for dogs essential for their skin and coat health. So, understand the importance of nutrition for good and healthy skin and coat of your dog.