When it comes to our dogs, their skin and coats often need a little extra TLC to stay healthy and shiny. If your dog’s skin is struggling, what can you do to help? What’s the actual science behind a dog’s healthy skin & coat? Can supplements help? If so, which ones?
Symptoms of Skin & Coat Problems
Like humans, dogs can suffer from many different kinds of skin conditions. It\'s not too difficult to identify skin and coat problems in our dogs. If you notice any of the following, it\'s a good indicator that your pup needs help to achieve optimal skin and coat health:- Dry, flaky skin
- Constant scratching
- Excessive shedding
- Texture changes
- Scabs
- Rashes
- Bumps
- Hot spots (also known as acute moist dermatitis)
- Biting themselves
Although most issues can be safely managed at home, it’s important to rule out any major medical problems. See your veterinarian if your dog is scratching or licking excessively, or if you notice any changes in your pet's coat or skin, including scaling, redness, discoloration, or bald patches.
Common skin problems in dogs can be caused by:
- Allergies (including environmental and food allergies)
- Inflamed hair follicles (also known as folliculitis).
- Ringworm
- Ticks & fleas
- Mange
Once you’ve consulted your vet and your pup gets a clean bill of health, it\'s important to understand the science behind helping your dog achieve healthy skin and coat so you can develop a maintenance program at home.
The Science Behind a Healthy Skin & Coat
The skin and coat form the largest organ in our dogs. A lustrous, shiny coat is a sign of good health! In fact, it's one of the things your veterinarian examines at your regular visits. Not to mention, who can resist petting a pup with a smooth and silky, healthy coat?
More importantly, your dog’s skin and coat play important roles in their overall well-being:
- Protection - Most obviously, it provides an important barrier while protecting internal organs. It also contains countless nerves and nerve endings that help your dog sense heat, cold, pain, and pressure.
- Immunity - Not to be overlooked is the vital role the skin and coat play in your dog’s immunity. If your pup’s skin isn’t healthy, they’re more susceptible to harmful infections.
- Thermoregulation - A healthy coat is crucial to helping your dog regulate their body temperature. A dog’s coat keeps them from getting too cold in the winter, and from overheating in the warm summer months.
- Nutrient Storage - According to one source, up to 35% of a dog\'s daily protein intake is used to maintain their skin and coat! Linoleic acid, a type of omega-3 fatty acid found in plants, is stored in the skin, along with other fatty acids. These fatty acids are key to helping your dog combat inflammation and keep their skin supple and healthy. They help moisturize your dog’s skin, which in turn may help reduce shedding, prevent dandruff, and lessen itchiness.
How to Improve Your Dog’s Skin and Coat
There are several steps you can take to improve your pup’s skin and coat. A great preventative measure is to use a good moisturizing shampoo, especially in the winter months. While external factors can affect your dog’s skin and coat, they’re really nourished from the inside out. That’s why a healthy diet, specifically designed to nourish their skin and coat can also be beneficial.
But above all, a premium natural supplement will ensure that your dog’s skin and fur feels and looks its best.
“Omega-3” or “omega-3 fatty acids” are very specific nutrients found in fish oil. Here’s the science:
Microscopic algae make omega-3s, then tiny creatures called phytoplankton eat the algae, and then fish eat the phytoplankton. Over time, the fish builds up a little storehouse of omega-3s inside itself.
It’s important to know that our dogs can’t produce this vital nutrient on their own. And it’s highly unlikely they’ll get enough of the nutrient from their food source. Many kibble brands include omega-3s in their ingredients. But they are heated to such high temperatures that the omega-3s may likely don’t survive the manufacturing process. Even if your dog consumes a raw diet, they’re likely missing out on their omega-3s if you’re not adding seafood or fish oils to their diet in sufficient quantity.
This pup had surgery in September 2021. By December 2021, after regularly taking Omega-3, his fur grew back full, shiny, and healthy.
How to Choose the Best Omega-3 Supplement for Your Dog
Paws down, Omega-3 fish oils are the best skin and coat supplement for your dog. Even still, you should take great care when choosing the right fish oil supplement for your pup. The best fish oil for dogs should:- Come from fish oils, not vegetable oils
- Be rich in long-chain omega-3s
- Be in the right amounts to prevent overdoses
- Come from the right kind of fish, to avoid exposing your dog to heavy metals
Our Omega-3 supplement contains fish oil from wild-caught, cold-water fish of the South Pacific. Unlike many other fish oil supplements on the market, Pawsomely Healthy’s Omega-3 comes in a powdered capsule to keep it fresher longer and make it easy to give to your dog. No need to worry about messy oils or supplements that have gone rancid!In addition to being the best skin and coat supplement for your dog, Omega-3 provides other powerful health benefits for our canine friends. Fish oil contains essential “good” fats that help our dog\'s bodies and brains throughout their lifetime. They’re key to minimizing inflammation, which optimizes our dog’s health. Meanwhile, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an omega-3 fatty acid that aids in the proper brain and eye development of puppies and may also improve cognitive function in senior dogs.