Maintaining Your Pet's Skin & Coat
Living with a pet can bring you a lot of comfort and cuddling with your favorite dog or cat is a great benefit to having a pet. When his coat is clean and fresh smelling, the urge to pet is even more appealing, as no one wants to snuggle up to a greasy companion. Of course, you’ll want to keep your pet squeaky clean, especially since a dirt- and grime-free skin and coat are signs of good health.
A healthy coat should look glossy and smooth without feeling brittle or coarse when you touch it. Healthy skin should appear supple and clear, without bumps or flakes. Good nutrition is the first step to a lustrous coat, and to keep your pet’s coat from tangling or getting dirty, regular grooming and skin care are your next objectives.
To maintain your four-legged friend’s crowning glory in tip-top shape, set up a regular grooming routine and feed a nutritious diet.
Go for the Groom
Your pet may not look dirty, but all dogs and cats benefit from a routine spruce-up. A bath, using appropriately labeled pet shampoo, and some brushing will remove loose hair and dead skin cells and restore natural oils.
Dogs with long coats need daily brushing to prevent tangles from forming, especially at the base of the ears, in the armpits, or on the backside of the legs. Non-shedding or short-coated canines may not need a comb-out every day, but doing a brush job even once a week helps to prevent stray hairs and dander from lingering in your home’s atmosphere.
Cats with short hair need weekly brushing sessions. Comb softly through the entire coat from head to tail, being especially mindful of sensitive chest and stomach areas. Long-haired cats benefit from daily brushing. Take your time to untangle any knots.
While you’re paying attention to your pet’s coat and skin appearance, develop the habit of checking for any unusual lumps, bumps, or reddened areas on his body. If you suspect anything out of the ordinary, ask your veterinarian to take a look.
Rub-a-Dub-Dub
How often should you bathe your dog depends on how dirty his coat becomes or when he develops that doggy odor. A splash through mud or a dip in a dirty pond means it’s time to turn on the tap. His age, coat type, and health issues also determine when you need to get out the towels and shampoo. Always use a shampoo designed specifically for pets, as both cat and dog skin are different from people skin and have different pH levels.
It’s a fact that most cats will groom themselves naturally, but they still benefit from receiving an occasional bath.
Glorious Food
The saying “You are what you eat” applies to your pet, too. A healthy diet supports strong bones, healthy teeth, a sturdy immune system, and a gleaming appearance. To keep their skin and coat vibrant requires a balanced, high-quality diet full of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, minerals and vitamins, and the right amount of calories to match their activity level.
What should you feed your dog or cat? Quality lean proteins and essential fatty acids promote skin and coat health. To support healthy skin and coat, and normal shedding for your dog, try Bio Spot Active Care™ Shed Solution® Skin & Coat Supplement Gravy Formula for Adult Dogs.
Water, Water Everywhere
Make sure your pet has plenty of fresh water available at all times. If he likes to sip from the toilet bowl, nip that habit by either closing the bathroom door or keeping the lid on the toilet down.
Normal Shedding
All cats and dogs will shed some hair on a regular basis. This comes with the territory of a natural life cycle. Most dogs and outdoor cats will spread a little extra hair during spring and fall.. Your furry companion gets rid of his heavier winter undercoat to lighten up when the weather warms up. When things start to cool down, his coat thickens.
Try giving your pet a diet containing a balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to help support normal skin and coat conditions. Use a product like Bio Spot Active Care™ Shed Solution® Chewable Tablets for Dogs to support normal shedding.
Make cuddle time fun time with your pet by keeping him clean, odor-free, and healthy!
Bio Spot Active Care and Shed Solution are trademarks of Farnam Companies, Inc.