Does your pet have flaky skin or a dull coat? This could be due to weight issues, the results of aging, or an underlying health problem, such as diabetes, an infection, allergies, or more. Sometimes, both the problem and the solution can be found in your dog or cat's diet. It is vital that you consult a veterinarian about this symptom so that you can understand how to restore your pet to health. Sometimes though, all it will take is a balanced diet, and nutritional supplements. Read on to learn some tips from veterinary experts about your pet's coat health and how the right diet might be able improve this in some cases.
It is mainly cats who could have coat problems due to age or weight. This can be a prominent problem in fact, because estimates say that 57 percent of cats are overweight or obese in the United States. Perhaps your cat's diet is imbalanced, or maybe it is getting too many baths. Some owners are overzealous when it comes to fighting fleas or dander. Of course, health issues could be behind the unhealthy skin and coat. Consult with your veterinarian to determine if this is the case, or if all your cat needs is a diet to lose weight and/or increase their intake of vital nutrients.
The good news is, many of the dog foods out there are very good for your pet, and it is hard for them to not be fed well. Their food will normally have a good amount of omega-6 fatty acids included. Of course, there are dog foods of cheaper quality, and even home diets can result in a nutritional deficiency. For example, if you are mainly feeding chicken to your dog, there are likely important nutrients that are being left out.
You also should think twice about putting your dog on a low-fat diet. This can deprive your dog of omega-6. This is especially true for puppies. If their foods are extremely low in fat, then their coat can grow dry and rough. This could also produce skin lesions that open up the puppy to infections. And then perhaps your dog scratches itself too much, or perhaps they are given baths too often. This takes away vital oils from the skin. What these dogs might need are certain nutritional supplements.
What to Feed Your Cat
Your cat will need more protein than a dog would. You also need to feed your cat complex carbs and the right types of fat. Generic brands or low-fat diets could be the culprit behind a poor coat. You might want to give your cat foods that contain fatty acids and additional fish oils. If your cat is getting on in years, then brushing them with a fine-toothed comb can help. So can omega-3 fatty acids. Ask your vet about adding this to your cat's diet.
If your kitty has packed on some pounds, then the solution to a dull coat and a host of other health risks is to lose weight. You and your veterinarian can come up with a plan to feed your pet fewer calories, but also to keep from losing weight too fast, which could cause liver disease. A healthy solution to obesity and its symptoms will take a months-long regimen.
What to Feed Your Dog
While your typical dog food will contain the omega-6 your dog needs, dog food can lose fatty acids if you do not properly seal the container. Fatty acids can oxidize, practically disappearing into thin air. You do not want to leave dog food out for months on end.
If your dog has certain skin conditions, then giving them zinc or vitamin A could help. But if you consistently feed them too much of these, this can cause further health issues.
In some cases your dog's coat will require additional vegetable oils, or something like sunflower or safflower oil added to their diet. About a teaspoon or tablespoon of this supplement can be added to a meal, depending on the size of your dog, adding omega-6 to their diet. Omega-3 might be another thing you want to add. This can be found in flaxseed oil and fish oil, and this can further help with allergies and skin problems. They can come as a liquid supplement, or in capsules. You can mete out liquid supplements to the exact dosage you want, and a capsule can preserve the fatty acids better. Do not feed your dog too much of these supplements, however, as this could cause your dog to vomit.
Bear in mind that it could take four to six weeks for a diet change to take effect on your dog or kitty's coat. Before you make any changes to your pet's diet, be sure to consult a veterinarian first.