Do you have recommendations for Nutrition for shiny coat?

Our question this week was:

Dr. Debra – do you have any suggestions for Nutrition for shiny coat? I have a dog with a dull coat – he sheds a lot and didn’t know if there was a good diet that he could go on that would help.

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Michael H. – Buffalo, NY

Answer

Hi – thanks for your email. You wrote asking for recommendations for Nutrition for shiny coat. You mentioned that you have a dog with a dull coat. The best thing you can nutritionally is ensuring that your dog has a good quality diet – that you are feeding a balanced premium dog food for his life stage.

Also, good bathing, brushing, combing are essentials. Comb and brushing can help remove dead hair and stimulate circulation to the skin helping to create a healthier coat. An article that might be helpful to you is Essentials for a Shiny Coat in Dogs.

Another thing some people do is add some essential fatty acids to the food – and the easiest way to do that is to add about 1 tbsp of olive oil to the food pet 50 pounds of body weight once a day.

There are also medical problems that can cause a dull coat. It would be worth a visit to your veterinarian to determine any underlying illness such as thyroid problems or other underlying diseases.

Some veterinarians recommend omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids that may improve the condition of the haircoat. One product called Dermcaps® is very popular.

Best of luck!

Dr. Debra

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