How to Achieve a Glossy and Healthy Pet Coat

Your dog's coat serves as a critical indicator of their overall health and well-being. When you notice their fur losing its luster and becoming brittle, it's a subtle yet essential signal that something may require your attention, possibly calling for a timely visit to the vet.

However, fret not! If your furry friend is already in excellent health, and you aspire to maintain a magnificent and glossy coat for them, we've got your back with some expert tips.

5 Grooming Tips for Achieving a Glossy and Healthy Pet Coat 

Diet Changes 

These days, there’s a wide variety of commercially available canine diets. You can pick whichever suits you and your dog best - whether it be based on age or health conditions. There are also many kibble options that are focused on skin and coat health.  

But the truth is that most cheap choices are not even species-appropriate. They are filled with artificial preservatives, binders, colours, and all sorts of additives that not only do they not benefit your dog, but they might actually be detrimental to their health.  

Always choose a high-quality dog food that’s free of all these ingredients and that allows your pet to get the nutrients they actually need. Making your dog food at home is an option if you consult a veterinary nutritionist, and meal delivery kits for pets are widely available as well.  

Omega-3 Supplements and Snacks 

Essential fatty acids like omega 3 and omega 6 are crucial when it comes to maintaining a healthy and glossy coat. If your dog doesn’t get enough fat in their diet in general or you’re not supplementing it with essential fatty acids, you can’t expect their fur to look good.  

Fortunately, you can get supplements with these nutrients. If your dog is a fish lover, giving them treats such as our own Reel Fish Crunchers every now and then can also add to their essential fatty acids necessities.

Maintain a Grooming Routine 

Unlike cats, dogs don’t tend to groom their bodies as often or even at all. It’s fun to go out walking in the rain, but those puddles will give you a hard time when you come back home. 

But cleanliness isn’t the only thing that should be on your mind when it comes to grooming. Some breeds have coats that can get tangled and matted easily, so you need to keep a grooming routine in place. Skip a brushing session at the end of the week, and by next weekend, a Chow Chow’s coat might already call for the use of a Detangling Comb or an SOS to the groomer.

A 4in1 Detangler & Pamper Spray can do wonders if your dog’s coat is becoming a little dull and is predisposed to becoming tangled. This one deodorises the coat and gives it an overall brilliant shine while reducing static.

Give Your Dog a Bath Every Month

As your veterinarian will advise you, it’s not a good idea to give your dog a bath once every couple of days or even once a week. Unfortunately, the lather from shampoo products usually removes the natural oils that your dog’s skin produces.  

Therefore, if you bathe them too often, you might inadvertently cause them to experience skin health issues like dandruff or, worse, dermatitis.

However, because dogs don’t clean themselves, it’s quite necessary for their owners to take care of this task instead. Once a month (for extreme situations, once every three weeks), use a 2-in-1 Oatmeal & Aloe Wash to get their coat cleaned and conditioned. If your dog suffers from itchiness, our Itch Relief might be a good alternative since it’s pH-balanced and minimises flaking, irritation, and itching.

Finally, while fleas aren’t that big of a problem during the cold season, they can get out of hand when it’s warmer. Flea Flee is a treatment shampoo you may want to try out as it protects dogs against fleas, ticks, and lice, and it’s made with natural pyrethrins, too. Remember: postponing flea treatments in dogs can lead to severe dermatitis, so use all the prevention options you have at your disposal.

Keep Your Vet in the Loop 

Taking your dog to the vet for general check-ups once or twice a year is a great idea. It allows you to find out if your dog has an inapparent condition that might be affecting their health in general and their coat health in particular.  

Some skin and coat conditions, such as atopic dermatitis, are more complicated to diagnose and treat. Making sure that your dog is seen by a veterinarian as soon as you notice some symptoms. Early detection goes a long way in ensuring your pet's overall health.

Small Changes Go a Long Way 

Even though it seems a little complicated, if you create a schedule and stick to it, caring for your dog’s coat isn’t all that challenging. Just make sure that they have the right diet, they’re getting enough essential fatty acids, you’re grooming them on a regular basis, and that your vet is kept in the loop.

Resources:

Impact of Nutritional Supplementation on Canine Dermatological Disorders, Andrea Marchegiani et al, Vet Sci., 2020: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7355824/ 

Homemade Diets: Attributes, Pitfalls, and a Call for Action, Rebecca L. Remillard, Top Companion Anim Med., 2008: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18656841/