5 Ways to Support Your Dog’s Skin and Coat Health
Many dog parents take great delight in their dogs’ shiny, glossy coats. After all, your dog’s skin and fur are visible markers of their health. Thankfully, it’s easier than you might think to maintain skin and coat health for dogs. Continue reading for advice about natural products, bathing, grooming, and more!
1. Bathe Your Dog Regularly Using Hypoallergenic/Natural Products
This will eliminate allergens that cause skin irritation, dirt, debris, and smells from their coat and skin. How often should you bathe your dog? It depends on the length and thickness of their fur, whether they have any skin conditions, and more. Recommendations vary, but generally, look to bathe your pup every two to eight weeks. Giving your dog too many baths can make their coat dry and their skin flaky.
Look for all-natural or hypoallergenic shampoos to use on your dog’s coat. There are also shampoo variants containing shine-enhancing vitamins, minerals, and proteins.
2. Brush Your Dog’s Coat Regularly
Brushing is a great way to spend quality time with your pup! But there are other reasons you should brush their fur every couple of days. Brushing distributes the natural oils on your dog’s skin, which keeps more of their skin and coat lubricated and protected. It also removes loose fur, prevents matting, and promotes blood and air circulation. There are lots of options on the market, including pin brushes, combs, undercoat brushes, and more.
3. Moisturize with Natural Ingredients
You can create a DIY treatment to moisturize your dog’s coat and add luster and smoothness.
You can follow a recipe or create your own, but these ingredients are great for a dog’s skin and coat health:
- Coconut oil
- Honey
- Oatmeal
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
- Aloe vera
4. Try an Oatmeal Bath for Dry Skin
Your dog may have skin troubles any time of year. In winter, skin can get dry and flaky. In summer, allergens and dust can make skin itchy and irritated. Oats contain vitamin E, which can give your pup relief. Here’s how to give your dog an oatmeal bath:
- Process oats into flour with a food processor (you can also start with oat flour!)
- Add the flour to heated water in the bathtub and swirl until foam appears
- Put your dog into the oatmeal bath and let them thoroughly soak in the water
- After five to 10 minutes, rinse them off and pat dry
5. Use High-Quality Food and Supplements to Support Skin and Coat Health
Feed your dog a nourishing diet with quality ingredients that support whole-body health. You can give your dog’s meal a boost by adding a teaspoon of oil, such as fish, coconut, or flax oil. You might also want to consider several supplements to boost the shine and health of your dog’s coat.
Final Thoughts
Supporting your dog’s skin and coat health doesn’t need to be a lot of work. To make your dog’s hygiene easier, research natural oils, combs, and shampoos suitable for pets or speak with a veterinarian for additional advice.
