6 Tips To Promote A Healthy Dog Coat

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Just like shiny hair means good health for us humans, a shiny coat on a dog means your dog is in good health. In fact, a nice, lustrous coat is one of the strongest indicators that your dog is healthy. There are several ways that you can promote a healthy dog coat, we are going to share 6 tips to get that shiny, healthy coat.

Things You Can Do To Promote A Healthy Dog Coat

1.Brush Your Dog Regularly

A healthy dog coat all starts with good dog grooming. If you want your dog to have a healthy coat, you should groom him depending on the requirements of his breed. Some breeds need daily brushing, while some are ok with weekly brushing. Find out what grooming tools are used on the coat type of your dog and add them to your grooming kit.

2. Bathe Your Dog

When you bathe your dog, use a hose or a detachable shower head and wet him thoroughly. Afterwards, apply dog shampoo and work up a lather. Start from his chest to the top of his head, down his back and tail and then to his legs. Be careful not to get any of that shampoo in his eyes or ears.

Use a dog shampoo that is specifically formulated for dog grooming. One that is designed to suit the sensitivity of the skin and fur of dogs. For an added sheen and softness to your dogs fur, a dog conditioner also works wonders.

Rinse your dog thoroughly after shampooing and conditioning his fur. Make sure that there are no leftover soap suds on your dog’s skin. Any soap residue may cause some irritation to your dog’s skin.

Bathing your dog will help to loosen and remove any dead coat. Make sure that you have a drain catcher in order to prevent getting your drain pipes clogged with dog hair.

3. Use A Dog Dryer

Once you are done bathing your dog, dry him thoroughly by patting all the excess water out of his hair using a towel. If your dog has short hair, you can leave him air-dry out completely. But if your dog has thick or long hair, you may need to dry his hair with the use of a dog dryer. He may not like the hair dryer at first. If this is the case use a low setting and avoid blowing the dryer in his face. His coat should be dried out completely, though, to avoid skin irritations and hot spots.

A high velocity dog dryer is great for blowing out the dead coat that you might not get with a brush. If your dog is shedding really badly, it may look like a snowstorm of dog hair when you use the dryer on him. Make sure you are using the dryer in a room that is easy to clean up.

Once your dog is dry, he will need to be brushed again. Brushing your dog’s hair will remove the snags and tangles that can happen during the drying process. Not only that, it will get rid of whatever burs, ticks and fleas are making their home in your dog’s hair that you may not see otherwise.

If you are not capable of grooming your dog yourself at home, there are other options. Many pet stores now have a “U Wash” where you can pay a small fee and use their tub, dryer, shampoos, towels, etc to bathe your dog. This cuts down on the mess in your home and they have the proper equipment so it makes the job easier. The other option is finding a reputable dog groomer in your area and booking an appointment for your dog.

4.Provide Proper Nutrition

Remember that a shiny coat is not just for the sake of aesthetics on a dog. A shiny coat for a dog is a strong indicator of good dog health. As much as good dog grooming can do the job, it is not enough by itself.

Good nutrition also plays a large role towards promoting a healthy dog coat. If a dog gets all the nutrients that his body needs, he will get a nice shiny coat. A good qualtiy dog food will cost more but your dog will be healthier. There are some cheap dog food brands out there but they are made up of cheap and low-quality ingredients and fillers. To be sure that your dog is eating good food, do not skimp on quality dog food. Another option is to cook up your own dog food to feed your pooch. This takes time and research to make sure that you are providing a complete and balanced diet for your dog.

5. Keep Your Dog Hydrated

Keeping your dog hydrated is important for many reasons, including a healthy dog coat. Always make sure that your dog has access to plenty of clean, fresh water. This is especially important in the summer when it’s hot but should be done all year round.

Your dog should drink approximately one ounce of water per pound of body weight a day. Of course, some dogs may require more than this if they are active or it is a hot day. So, a 20 pound dog would need at least 20 ounces of water a day.

6. Use Supplements To Boost Coat Health

There are some supplements that can be added to your dog’s meals to boost good overall healthy dog coat. An omega 3 supplement, coconut oil or kelp are all good choices for supplements that are known to be good for dog coats. You can buy coconut oil at the grocery store. Most pet stores will sell omega 3 and kelp.

When Is It Time To See The Vet?

If after implementing these tips your dog still does not display a shiny coat, it means that there could be something else that is wrong with his system. There can be medical reasons for why your dog’s coat isn’t as healthy as it should be. In order to rule out these conditions, you will need to take your dog to his veterinarian.