We all love patting our pets and love to feel and see their healthy and shiny hair. These tips, from For the Furry, will help your pet have the best hair possible…
7 Tips for Keeping Your Pet’s Hair Healthy and Shining
Keeping your pet’s coat of fur constantly healthy and shining isn’t just about a good-looking pet. It’s also important for your pet’s health and overall well-being. Whether your dog or cat has skin issues or not, you should consider the seven tips from For The Furry below to make sure you’re doing things that are in the best interests of his or her hair.
1. Check What’s in Their Food
Pets that eat homemade diets or low-quality commercially formulated pet food that hasn’t been well balanced in terms of nutrients may not be getting the right balance of nutrients that they need for a shiny and healthy coat. If you feed your pets diets that are low in fat, then you are exposing them to an omega-6 deficiency, which will result in dry and coarse hair. Make sure you check the labels to ensure omega-6 is included in the nutrient profile of the food. Sometimes, grains aren’t good for your pets, especially those that have been genetically modified. They may even cause skin problems.
2. Feed Your Pet Fresh Food
The best food for your pet should have a healthy amount of essential fatty acids. These are what contribute to a healthy and shiny coat. They do, however, come with a caveat. They will oxidize and turn rancid when exposed to air. You should, therefore, not keep your pet’s food out in the open for too long to ensure it stays fresh when your pet eats it.
3. Include Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Your Pet’s Diet
Omega-6 fatty acids aren’t the only essential oils your pet needs, especially if you’re keeping a dog. Dogs also need omega-3 fatty acids to maintain a shiny and healthy coat. You should, therefore, include supplements that contain omega-3 fatty acids in your pet’s diet. These include fish oil and flaxseed oil. Be careful not to feed your pet too much of these supplements as they can cause a stomach upset and gastrointestinal issues.
4. Bath Time Is Important
Depending on the breed of your pet, especially if you’re keeping a pet, you may need to carry out a different bathing schedule as compared to other pets out there. Some dogs, for example, have skin that should only be bathed and shampooed once every couple of months. Meanwhile, there are dog breeds out there that need a good bath every week. You should consult your vet to find out more about this.
5. Don’t Use the Wrong Shampoo
Just like with humans, the kind of shampoo you use on your pet should depend on the condition of its skin. If your pet has dry skin, then use shampoos that have oatmeal or aloe vera in them. You should also consider any allergies your pet might have and go for hypoallergenic shampoos that cater to certain fur and skin types.
6. Make Time for Regular Brushing
It doesn’t matter whether your pet has short or long hair. Most pets, especially younger ones, shed quite regularly and have coats that are affected by the season. You should, therefore, regularly perform maintenance on your pet’s upper and undercoat by brushing to ensure it remains healthy and clean.
7. Give Your Pet an Oatmeal Bath
This one is especially important for dogs. There are plenty of oatmeal doggy shampoos out there. However, a bath that you prepare yourself could go a long way in helping your dog to keep its skin and coat of fur healthy in a cheap and easy way. Oatmeal moisturizes and soothes the skin and can be a good alternative for dogs that are allergic to shampoo.
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