6 steps to help keep you pet's coat healthy

Natural ways to promote good health in your pet inside & out.

We all like to pet our pet - and it's certainly most pleasant when its coat is healthy and soft to the touch.

But how do you help your pet achieve and maintain a healthy, shiny coat of fur?

#1. The first thing you can do to keep your pet's skin and coat healthy is to be sure your pet is healthy on the inside via a well-balanced diet. At least one-third of my four-legged patients get rid of their dandruff, grow more hair, and get an extra shine to their fur by getting underlying health problems taken care of and switching to a better diet. Generic diets are sub-standard they're cheap because they have cheap ingredients. A good, healthful diet does not contain artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. Many pets are sensitive to these factors and may develop dandruff and a dull coat when fed diets containing such ingredients over a long period of time. Specifically, sulfur dioxide, used as a preservative, can destroy the B vitamin, thiamin.

#2. Considering that hair is 95 percent protein, the second important factor in a nutritious diet is a good source of protein. Dietary protein should come from meat, like lamb or chicken, not just by-products or gluten meal. A poor protein source can result in sparse hair.

#3. The third important factor in a good diet is a good source of omega-3 and -6 fatty acids. These are needed to prevent dandruff and a dry coat. It is difficult to put enough fatty acids into a dry dog food; also, canned diets, and even homemade diets, may not have enough of the omega-3 fatty acids in them. Fat in a dry dog or cat food will become rancid after six months on the shelf, and this destroys essential fatty acids; canned food lasts for one year before you see the same problem.

Even though omega-3 oils are not considered essential for dogs, adding them to the diet often brings an extra shine to your pet's coat.

Flax oil or fish oil are fine for your dog, but your cat can only assimilate fish oils. Cold water fish, such as salmon and tuna, are also a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, for both dogs and cats.

#4. Supplement with a pet-friendly vitamin E. Increasing the fats or oils in a diet increases the need for vitamin E. Even more vitamin E is needed if you inadvertently feed food with rancid fat. Vitamin E can also help with some skin problems involving inflammation or thickening of the skin.

#5. B vitamins are good for skin health. Biotin, riboflavin, niacin, and niacinamide are some B vitamins that are important for proper skin health.

Pets who are on a vegetarian diet are more likely to have skin problems that respond to B vitamins, but adding a Bcomplex to a carniverous diet can't hurt, either. I,iver is a source of vitamin A and has a lot of B vitamins, also.

A small piece once or twice a week is usually sufficient for skin health.

#6: Don't forget the minerals. A variety of minerals is needed for healthy skin. A sluggish thyroid can cause skin problems, and a good source of iodine can help it to function better. Kelp is a good source of iodine, as well as other minerals.

Some pets just don't absorb nutrients well, even with the best of diets.

For them, some digestive enzymes can do the trick, helping them to absorb just enough extra nutrients to ensure that their coats will fluff and be touch-friendly.

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REFERENCES

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Greek, Jean Swingle, D.V.M. "Update On Dermatologic Therapy," Veterinary Medicine 91(11): 1021-1024, November 1996.

Rothstein. Emily D.V.M., et al. "Tetracycline and Niacinamide for the Treatment of Sterile Pyogranuloma/Granuloma Syndrome in a Dog," Journal of the American Animal Hospital 33(6): 540-543, Nov/Dec 1997.

Steel, R.J. "Thiamine Deficiency in a Cat Associatd with the Preservation of 'Pet Meat'

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with Sulphur Dioxide," Australian Veterinary Journal 75(10): 719-21 October 1997.

Vitale, C.B.. et al. "Vaccine-Induced Ischemic Dermatopahy in the Dog," Veterinary Dermatology 10(2): 131-142. June 1999.

[Author Affiliation]

Dr. Nancy Scanian practiced in a conventional veterinary practice for 10 years, and used nutritional therapy with conventional medicine during that time. She was certified in acupuncture in 1988, and now has a 100-percent holistic practive in Sherman Oaks, Calif.