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Easy Steps to Dog
Skin Care and Treatment
Your dog's skin is an indicator of his health. Unfortunately, a lot of owners learn about dog skin care only after a problem becomes visible.
Many conditions can affect your dog's skin, from poor hygiene to contagious skin diseases, causing loss of hair, itching, infection and discomfort.
To keep your dog healthy and looking good, you need to learn how to maintain his skin and coat.
The good news is that maintaining your dog's skin and coat is not difficult and you can easily prevent most dog skin problems.
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Here are some of the signs of skin problems in a dog…
- Dry, itchy and flaky skin
- Hair loss
- Rashes
- Greasy skin or coat
Dog Skin Care Basics
Dog's skin forms a protective barrier against germs and other parasites. It also helps a dog to maintain body temperature.
Covering skin is a protective layer of hair that protects dog's skin from cuts and scrapes. Hair also protects dogs from cold and heat.
Here are couple of tips on the basics of dog skin care…
- To keep your dog's skin and hair healthy, make hygiene and grooming an essential part of dog skin care.
- Use shampoos formulated especially for dogs.
- Did you know that brushing will not only remove loose hair but will also distribute natural oils through dog's coat, adding more shine? Even shorthaired breeds need an occasional brushing to stimulate the skin and spread the coat oils.
The Diet
Dog skin care begins with a… diet.
The easiest way to keep your dog's skin and hair healthy is to feed him a balanced, nutritious diet high in quality proteins, vitamins, and minerals. In addition to a solid diet, I also recommend supplements that come in many forms.
To build and maintain healthy skin and hair, many veterinarians recommend lipid fatty acids (Omega-3).
Learn more about How to Care for your Dog
Nordic Naturals Omega-3 is a high quality supplement that was ranked #1 out of the top 10 fish oil brands in Norway for the highest concentration, purity and freshness.
To help protect the skin against damaging free radicals and external pollutants, supplement your dog's diet with antioxidant vitamins, such as
Evsco Select Full Spectrum Antioxidant.
Dog Skin Care Products
There are three types of dog skin care products designed to fight specific skin problems:
- Topical allergy relief
- Shed control
- Shampoos
Let's review them…
Allergies
Most of the skin problems in dogs are due to allergies. And the most common symptoms of allergies in dogs are excessive licking and scratching.
If you notice that your dog is constantly scratching, check for signs of fleas and ticks (visit dog ticks and flea medicine pages to learn how to deal with these parasites).
If ticks and fleas are not the problem, chances are your dog is allergic to something. Contact your veterinarian and describe the symptoms.
Shed Control
Like I mentioned earlier, all dogs shed. It's a normal process and no product will completely eliminate shedding (sorry for the bad news!). Some of the best tools to fight shedding are… a vacuum cleaner, a broom, and Pet Hair Pic Up Adhesive Roller.
Having said that, most products designed to keep your dog's skin and hair healthy will reduce shedding. And like I mentioned earlier, good nutrition plays a major part in keeping your pet's coat healthy.
Learn more about How to Care for your Dog
Shed Terminator For Dogs chewable tablets are formulated from a blend of vitamins and minerals. They will not only reduce shedding but will also keep your dog's coat vibrant and healthy-looking.
Make brushing a regular part of dog skin care, and you will greatly reduce shedding. Don't use a regular brush, though.
To remove the most hair, use a special brush that will reach your dog's undercoat, such as this
FURminator Deshedding Tool.
You can use it on both long and short-haired dogs (and cats) and it reduces shedding by up to 90%.
I use FURminator once a week and am amazed how much hair I remove from Bo.
Shampoos
Shampooing your dog with the right shampoo will have a positive impact on his skin and coat health. It can also make your dog look and smell nicer!
There are shampoos that will fight allergies, skin infections, reduce dandruff, and improve the shine and vitality of your pet's coat.
Here are 2 dog skin care products that I am familiar with. They will fight 2 common conditions that distress many dogs -– itching and dry skin.
Oatmeal & Tea Tree Oil Infuser is a veterinary formula treatment and shampoo that treats dermatological allergies, irritations, and sensitive dry skin.
Oatmeal helps heal skin irritations fast, relieves itching of dry skin, and works as a natural moisturizer and anti-itch agent.
The medicinal tea tree oil is effective against bacteria and fungus infections and leaves pet smelling clean.
Epi-Soothe Cream Rinse & Conditioner is formulated to relieve dry and sensitive skin (as well as provide relief from itching).
It will also make the hair coat more manageable and helps prevent tangles.
Proper dog skin care will help prevent numerous skin problems in your dog. But no matter how well you look after your pet, problems may develop. If your dog feels uncomfortable due to a skin condition, and the problem doesn't go away in a day or two, contact your veterinarian.
As a dog owner, you are responsible for your puppy's health. A good source for dog health information, including puppy care and preventive medicine, how to protect your pet from worms and ticks, dog food, and how to recognize if your pet needs immediate medical attention, is the Ultimate Guide to Dog Health.
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I hope you will find this information useful and it helps you to recognize some common dog health problems your pet may be experiencing. However, if you suspect your pet is ill, immediately contact your veterinarian. He or she will be able to help you decide the best course of action when it comes to caring for your pet.
