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How to Keep Your Dog's Skin Healthy
Dogs make wonderful companions for people. Of course
you want to take the best care you can of your canine friend. If
you're wondering about how to keep your dog's skin healthy, you're
in the right place. Good nutrition is at the heart of healthy skin.
A strong immune system is very important to avoiding skin problems.
The immune system is strengthened by vitamins, minerals, and other
nutrients. Grooming is also important to dog skin.
Healthy skin and hair can be characterized by several features. The
texture of a healthy coat is fairly thick and soft, depending on the
breed. An unhealthy coat may be thin, short, dry, brittle, or have
broken hairs, and might look dusty or dull. Healthy hair on a dog
can look shiny. Healthy skin is free of scabs and crusty places. A
final tip-off to unhealthy skin and hair is that the dog will have
an abnormally unpleasant smell.
A healthy nutritious diet for a dog's skin and coat will be protein
based with less emphasis on grain. A healthy meat diet will help a
dog avoid allergies, infections, and parasites. These problems are
all aggravated by a poor or minimal diet. If you choose to add
supplements to your dog's diet, some important nutrients for how to
keep your dog's skin healthy include the oil soluble vitamins A, D,
and E, and the Omega-3, 6, and 9 fatty acids.
All dogs need to be brushed regularly, although short-haired dogs
need it less often. Long-haired dogs need to be combed out often
enough to keep mats from forming. The skin suffers terribly
underneath a mat if it is allowed to remain very long. Bathing is
also an important part of healthy skin. Use a gentle shampoo and
conditioner. The conditioner can be left on to moisturize the skin.
Skin disorders are common in dogs. A correct diagnosis is important
to treatment of skin problems. Parasites, such as the mites that
cause mange, require a different treatment than allergies, and the
types of mange need different treatments, too. Make an informed
decision when treating your dog or visit your vet.
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