Feeding for optimal coat and condition
By Ness Bird – Nutrition Adviser and RVN ©
Moulting is a natural process which occurs several times a year, and can also be
triggered at other times by hormonal or environmental changes. Usually, there
is no cause for concern unless you have noticed your dog scratching, licking
or nibbling excessively; or if bald patches, inflamed skin or ear infections are
evident. If any of these symptoms are present it is important to seek veterinary
advice, as your dog may have parasites or be suffering from an allergic
response (to dietary and/or environmental allergens). If your dog is simply losing
some coat and is a little scurfy then this is likely to be a natural response by the
body to shed and make way for new skin cells and hair follicles. Dandruff is very
much more noticeable in dark coloured dogs.
One of the best ways to promote healthy skin and encourage coat growth is to
increase our dog’s grooming time. Some owners are reluctant to brush dogs
with scurf and/or loose hair for fear of making the problem worse. However, this
hair and skin is dead; and if left, will begin to clog up the pores. Removing it will
help to stimulate the natural oils and create a nice healthy base for new growth.
An individual hair takes between six and eight weeks to grow. Once mature,
the hair enters a resting phase and remains dormant for weeks or even months
before being shed to make room for a new hair. A rubber massage brush is
often ideal for scurfy dogs providing it is suitable for your dog’s coat type. Some
breeds of course require specialist grooming or clipping.
In the event of a heavy moult, most breeds will benefit from several short
grooming sessions per day for a couple of days to ensure everything that needs
to be shed has been removed. After this, the skin and coat can be fed from
the outside with a mild emollient shampoo and conditioner. There are plenty
of natural products on the market with conditioning properties. Washing your
dog frequently (unless your vet has recommended this as a part of a treatment
protocol) can cause the natural oils to be stripped from the coat, but bathing two
or three times a year (more if required) is sensible.
It is wise to look at your dog’s diet, particularly if your current pet food brand
is non-hypoallergenic. Feeding the skin and coat from the inside as well as
the outside is a key factor to achieving optimum coat condition. Protein, fat,
vitamins and minerals have many functions within the body and they all play an
important role in maintaining healthy, supple skin and a rich, glossy coat. The
Arden Grange products all include effective levels of important nutrients, as well
as natural supplements which may benefit the skin and coat.
Key nutrients for healthy skin and coat:
Protein
Protein provides the building blocks which make up hair and is an important
component of the skin cells. Protein sources for dogs need to be of a high
biological value, which means that they are easily broken down into their
constituent amino acids. They also need to be high quality (highly bioavailable)
so that they are easily digested, and nutritionally valuable. Sources of protein for
dogs include: eggs, fish, poultry and lamb.
Fat
Fats are used for energy, but they are also incorporated into skin cells as fatty
acids. Linoleic acid is an omega-6 essential polyunsaturated fatty acid that forms
the lipid component of all cell membranes. Its deficiency can result in symptoms
such as hair loss, dry hair, and poor wound healing. Omega-3s have many
health benefits, and are best recognised for their anti-inflammatory properties
and potential to improve allergy thresholds. Krill and fish are natural sources of
omega-3 DHA and EPA fatty acids, whilst chicken oil supplies good levels of the
omega-6 fatty acids. Linseed (flax) is a good source of both for dogs.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is a powerful antioxidant and controls the genes involved in normal
growth, development, healing and immunity. Vitamin A deficiency can cause
scaly skin and dull, brittle hair. However, too much vitamin A can also cause
problems, and for this reason a high quality commercial complete diet that
contains the recommended daily allowance for dogs is the safest means of
providing this nutrient. Supplementation should only be carried out under the
supervision of your vet if a deficiency has been diagnosed. Sources of vitamin A
for dogs include: liver, meat, and oily fish.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an important dietary antioxidant. It is essential for the synthesis of
collagen and is necessary for healthy bodily tissues. Sources of Vitamin C for
dogs include: cranberry, liver and kidney. The Arden Grange meat meals include
some offal.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E has many functions. Primarily, it is an antioxidant responsible for
protecting the fats from oxidative damage, but is also recognised for its benefits
to the skin. It protects the cell membranes, and ensures the skin remains supple
and heals efficiently in the event of a wound. Linseed is a good source of vitamin
E for dogs.
Biotin
Biotin is a member of the vitamin B family, and is of importance to the skin and
coat since it is involved in the synthesis and metabolism of both amino acids
(the building blocks of protein) and fatty acids. This safe vitamin has no known
side-effects and has been found to improve the condition of dry, itchy skin. A
deficiency in biotin can result in alopecia (hair loss). Sources of Biotin for dogs
include: meat, liver, oily fish, and egg yolk.
Riboflavin
Riboflavin is also known as vitamin B2. In the context of dermatology, it is
involved in the formation of the hair, skin and nails. Riboflavin is found in
wholegrain cereals (such as rice and maize), dairy products and green leafy
vegetables, but the best sources for dogs are liver and eggs.
Copper
Copper is a mineral which plays an important role in the synthesis of collagen
and is involved in the maintenance of hair and skin. It helps to ensure the
elasticity of the skin. Sources of dietary copper for dogs include: crustaceans
(such as krill), and wholegrain cereals.
Zinc
Zinc is essential for the proper function of many of the enzymes, but in terms of
your dog’s skin and coat health, it is vital to aid wound healing. Deficiencies of
zinc may result in poor hair growth and alopecia. Zinc is found in wholegrain
cereals, pulses and cheese, but the best sources for dogs are red meat,
seafood and eggs.
Supplementation
Care should be taken when adding extras to an already complete and balanced
commercial pet food. Our general advice is to ensure that at least three quarters
of a puppy’s total daily calorie intake per day is from the complete food, and of
course avoid adding mineral rich additions. At least two thirds of an adult dog’s
calorie intake should be derived from the complete food. Be careful what you
are adding too, as you will defeat the object of a healthy main diet if the extras
are laden with additives and/or contain less nutritionally valuable ingredients or
those which are common dietary allergens.
Dogs with dry skin and poor coats can benefit greatly from essential fatty acid
supplementation, and this can be achieved either by using a commercial diet
which includes them at effective levels and at the correct ratio, for example, the
Arden Grange Adult Salmon & Rice; or by adding a safe proprietary supplement
such as Lintbell’s YuMEGA; which contains a very effective blend of plant and fish
body oils.
Cod liver oil is a reasonable source of omega-3 fatty acids, but is also very high
in vitamin A and D. Excessive amounts of vitamin A can cause itchiness and
dry skin which is the opposite of what you want to achieve. Too much vitamin D
causes general weakness, diarrhoea, vomiting, and calcification of soft tissue,
excessive mineralization of long bones, dehydration, and brittle fur. If you are
using cod liver oil, we suggest you use it only on alternate weeks, or to limit
consecutive use to a maximum of six weeks.
We recommend using products made especially for dogs, as human
supplements can be difficult to dose and may not include the added vitamin E
which is needed to counteract the decreased levels that supplementation with
omega-3s can cause.
Commercial complete dog foods will always contain the correct levels of
vitamins and minerals your pet needs in accordance with the “Nutrient
Requirements of Dogs” published by the National Research Council (NRC).
However, not all nutrients are the equal in quality. Look for diets like Arden
Grange that contain naturally derived vitamins where possible (these have
the best bioavailability) and chelated organic minerals. Chelation is a special
process which ensures efficient absorption from the gut and efficient transfer to
target tissues.
There are a wide range of natural remedies that may be used to help ensure
healthy skin and a shiny coat in the event that a helping hand is needed.
Choose a company who is licensed to supply to animals such as Dorwest
Herbs.
As a responsible and ethical company, Arden Grange fully appreciates that
caution must be taken when discussing the potential benefits of nutritional
supplements. It is against the law to make medical claims. Whilst the food,
ingredients and supplements discussed are safe and natural, and may be
beneficial to some dogs, we must highlight that they are not a substitute for
veterinary intervention in the case of a sick animal.