Keeping your dog's skin and coat healthy and shiny

Your dog’s skin and coat forms the largest organ in their body, accounting for about 12% of their body weight. Apart from its wonderful appearance, a dog’s skin has a huge role to play in their overall health – protecting their body from injury and infection, helping control their temperature and acting as their first line of defence. Their fur insulates the body and protects the skin from trauma and damage due to heat, sunlight and irritants.

Why is a dog's coat so important?

Because it reflects the original purpose of the dog

Many people think of dogs as having one of two coat types – long-haired or short-haired. This is true to some extent but there’s also straight-haired, curly-haired, wire-haired, flat-haired, feathered, not to mention single coat and double coats. The various breeds have many different coat types, quite often reflecting the original ‘working’ purpose of the dog.

Labradors for instance have a short, flat, double coat with a dense under layer that provides them with a high degree of water resistance and insulation – essential for their original role as water dogs.

Many terriers have short, thick, rough coats – providing ideal protection against barbs and thorns which are found in undergrowth and thickets. Whatever your dog’s skin and coat type, it shares the same crucial functions.

High quality animal protein is essential

Best dog food for a healthy coat and skin

A dog’s coat is 95% protein¹so providing food which contains high quality animal protein, such as chicken, lamb and fish, is essential. This provides special amino acids to ensure the dog's skin and coat are properly nourished, supporting healthy structure and function. Dogs use so much energy growing their coats that up to 35% of a dog's daily protein intake is needed just to keep their coat and skin in good condition.

Healthy skin is soft and pliable with the roots of hair deeply embedded in the skin. Fatty acids omega 6 and omega 3 promote the production of vital oils and waxes that prevent dryness and maintain a visibly healthy coat. Other nutrients that are good for the health of a dog's skin and coat are vitamins A, C and E, zinc, copper and biotin.

As well as feeding them the right diet, grooming your dog regularly will help to keep their skin and coat in the best possible condition.

EUKANUBA Dry dog food

To support a healthy coat

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Your reliable partner

Nutritional expertise since 1996

EUKANUBA’s specially formulated dog food, based on years of expertise since 1969, includes all the ingredients critical to help support a healthy coat and skin from the inside. Each life stage formula is tailored to the needs of your dog, so from puppy to junior, adult to senior. You can be assured that your dog gets everything they need to support optimal body condition and a shiny coat.

To further improve your dog’s coat, we recommend regular grooming; using a good quality de-shedding tool once a week is also good for a dog's coat and will help reduce loose hair.

_References:

_{1 DAVENPORT GM, ET AL. THE IMPACT OF NUTRITION ON SKIN AND HAIR COAT. IN: CURRENT RESEARCH IN DERMATOLOGY. PROCEEDINGS FROM PRE-CONGRESS SYMPOSIUM, 4TH WORLD CONGRESS OF VETERINARY DERMATOLOGY, SAN FRANCISCO, 2000; 4-9.}