5 NUTRIENTS FOR HEALTHIER FUR COATS

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Worried about how to maintain that luxurious and luscious mane? With all the playing and mischief that your dog gets in to, their fur can be quite the mess. Help keep their coat at its best by making sure they get the proper nutrients, such as…

1) PROTEIN
The best dog food should be at least 20-25% protein. Avoid any foods that list corn as one of the first ingredients. In fact, avoid corn all together. Food allergies can cause coats to become less than shiny and corn is a very common dog allergy. So make sure that beef, lamb or chicken is at the top of the list.

2) OMEGA-3
As an anti-inflammatory, these help with allergies or skin diseases. Flaxseed and fish oils are the best place to find omega-3s and can easily be added to puppy’s food.

3) OMEGA-6
These fatty acids add shine to your dog’s coat by helping replace oils in their skin. Sunflower or safflower oils are a great place to find these. Small dogs only need one teaspoon stirred into their food while larger dogs would need a tablespoon.

4) VITAMIN A
If your dog suffers from scaly skin, then add some extra vitamin A to their diets. Some crunchy carrots should do the trick.

5) ZINC
This mineral will help with any crusting on the skin that can occur. It’s found in chicken which makes it easier for both you and puppy.

Remember
It is important to always check with your vet before adding any nutritious dog-friendly supplements to a canine diet, as unbalanced nutrition can cause more problems than good. For example, over zincing is cause for concern.

Also remember that proper grooming is important for maintaining that shine and gloss. Regular brushing helps to stimulate the oil follicles and increase oil production to add shine. Don`t shampoo puppy too often as that will remove the oils that make his coat look so good, as long as you don’t let them get too greasy either.