Tips on Maintaining a Healthy Coat
There is more to your dog's coat than meets the eye. If you have a furry friend, then you know exactly what we are talking about. It is a difficult yet vital job to understand their shedding characteristics.
Here is some fun but poignant facts. Your dog's fur:
is more than eight times warmer than wool
helps in warding off dirt and dust
is actually fire resistant
helps protect from parasites
Now that you know the benefits of maintaining a healthy coat, let's find out how you can make this happen year in and year out. When it comes to maintaining that shiny coat, natural dog shampoo can be essential and this will be mentioned later on but we have some other points here to make so let’s get to it.
Healthy Diet
You must have heard the famous line: you are as healthy as you eat or you are what you eat. The same is also true for dogs. They are as healthy as they eat and it is your responsibility to make sure that they stay healthy. It is all too easy to visit your nearest pet store and buy a sack of dog food. But that is not how it is supposed to be done. There are two main points that you need to keep in mind:
Protein: protein is the building block of muscles, and some scientists also say that they are the building blocks of life itself. In either case, it is a vital nutrient and if your dog is not getting enough of it, its fur and skin is going to get dry and dull making it lackluster. The next time you are in the store looking for dog food, make sure it is rich in protein.
Omega 3 and Omega 6 Fatty Acids: these acids will help with your dog's coat so it can be healthy, lustrous, and thick. Omega acids are also known to fight itching, dandruff, allergies, and other skin related problems that can be a detriment to the happiness of your dog. When buying dog food, you should be looking for fish oil and flax which are rich in omega acids.
Exercise
Man or dog, we all need exercise to keep ourselves healthy, fit, and fine. It is necessary that you take your dog out on regular walks at least once a day, twice is recommended though. Let it stretch its legs. Regular exercise and walking your pooch will not only help him keep slim, but it will also help keep its coat shiny and healthy. You can use this time to exercise yourself as well.
Your dog will smile more too since your dog loves spending time with you.
Grooming
Shedding is a natural process and there is nothing you can do to stop it from happening. In fact, since it is a natural process, it is healthy. So what can you do to keep your dog's coat healthy and shiny as much as possible?
There are certain products available in the market that will help you with this situation. It is imperative that you take excellent care of your dog's coat. This is where these two activities should be a part of your routine.
Brush: brush your dog's mane at least once a week to keep it manageable, otherwise your dog’s coat can have issues and when you brush your dog’s coat you can search for certain maladies, ticks, and so on. There is a special brush for deshedding that will help with the undercoat. The best way to do it is to part the hair, and brush from the skin outwards. This will help you avoid matting, buildup of heat, and moisture. Failure to do this can result into bacteria and yeast. Brushing everyday will give it a slicker look.
Bathing: whether your dog has a sensitive skin or not, there are natural shampoos and conditioners available in the market that are made specifically for dogs. It is recommended that you wash your dog every four weeks.
Last but not the least; take your dog for annual medical checkups. If you notice that your dog is shedding more than natural, suffering from continuous itching, or showing signs of fever, take it to your nearest veterinarian. And if your vet is named Napoleon Dynamite, you may want to find another vet! Just kidding! It is very difficult to become a vet and their advice should be obeyed and respected.
Dogs are not only loyal, but also amazing friends. Take wonderful care of them. We all know they take care of you.
