Whether your dog has short or long hair, it goes without saying that its fur requires a minimum of maintenance and this involves different elements that we will discuss in this article!
THE IMPORTANCE OF FEEDING YOUR DOG
One of the first things we tend to forget is the impact of diet on a dog’s health and physical appearance. It’s a bit like us, when our diet is bad, it has an impact on our daily motivation, and also on our health and the state of our hair or skin. The dog is exactly the same: a bad diet can generate a dull and brittle coat, as well as skin problems.
In order to make as few mistakes as possible, here are a few tips, as well as my personal testimony:
Today, there are 3 types of food for dogs: dry food, home-made food and raw food (BARF or RAW). Having been able to test all 3 with my current dogs of different breeds and sizes, I will give you the advantages and disadvantages of each with the benefits that I have observed on each of them.
Kibble is the easy and reliable food if you turn to a good food supplier. In principle, everything the dog needs is concentrated in the kibble, and you will technically not have any risk of nutritional deficiencies. One of the things to check when buying kibble is the protein content, which should be at least 35% and that it does not contain any cereals: wheat, corn, etc.
Advantages:
– Easy to transport
– If the quality is present, no deficiency
– Can be stored easily
Disadvantages:
– Requires knowledge of nutrition to take quality
– Not very appetizing to some dogs
The home-made ration consists of preparing yourself, or having delivered to you, ready-made rations made of food cooked with: meat, rice, vegetables, oil and food supplements. This intermediary is very interesting for dogs that tend to sulk in their food bowl and to see their dog eat with appetite is something gratifying.
Advantages:
– Helps get even the pickiest dogs to eat
– Knowing what is in the bowl and what your dog is eating
– Practical for dogs with allergies
– Better overall dog health: shiny coat, smaller stools,
Disadvantages:
– Requires time to cook
– Is a budget if you want to have it delivered directly to your home
– Requires precision in the preparation of rations in order not to create deficiencies
This way of feeding your dog consists of feeding him mostly raw meat. BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) consists of meat (or fish), offal, raw bones and vegetables, often mixed. RAW, or Raw Food, is made up of raw meat (or fish) and offal only. You can make your own rations or have them delivered to you ready-made.
The advantages:
– Better oral health because the dog must chew to eat.
– Good digestion, better transit, and smaller stools because the food is adapted.
– Helps to make the most difficult dogs eat
– Better breath
– Shiny coat and better body weight
Disadvantages:
– Requires proper preparation of rations to avoid creating deficiencies
– To have a consequent storage place: freezer
– Represent a cost if you have them delivered to your home and requires time if you do it yourself
HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR DOG’S COAT
These 3 types of food are very different and it is up to you to choose and make your own opinion. But know that a good diet will automatically have an impact on your dog’s coat, and therefore, on his long-term health.
GROOM YOUR DOG
No matter how long your dog’s hair is, you can still groom your dog’s hair to keep it clean and in good condition.
You can brush your dog once a week to remove dead hair and maintain the coat. Some dogs will need more maintenance than others because of their thick undercoat (the Samoyed for example, compared to the Pug which has much less).Cutting the hair at the level of the pads also allows a better grip on the ground and it limits the dirt like mud, or weeds that would get stuck at the level of the underpaws.Have different brushes adapted according to the nature of the hair of your dog (wide tooth comb, carded brush, soft brush, scissors, etc.). Do not wash your dog too often, the frequency is about once every 6 weeks, but if your dog is not dirty, you do not have to. It is also important to check your dog’s coat daily to avoid the presence of fleas and ticks.For long-haired dogs, you can also hold the hair during the brushing session to avoid pulling it too much and that it hurts too much.
HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR DOG’S COAT
THE PROBLEMS YOUR DOG CAN HAVE IF HE IS NOT GROOMED
A lack of maintenance of your dog’s coat can develop skin problems.
Flea-related skin diseases. Fleas can cause itching and skin lesions in dogs. Fleas will bite a dog’s skin to feed and the dog may have an allergic reaction to the parasites. This can lead to redness, swelling or spots. Also be aware that ticks can transmit Lyme disease, which is an infectious disease, but not contagious. The dog may report fever, aches and pains, general dejection, and general stiffness up to lameness. The treatment consists of antibiotics but you must react quickly.
Diseases related to food or care products. The symptoms are generally the same as those for flea bites or allergies. This type of problem can also be accompanied by vomiting or diarrhea.
Scabies. Dog scabies is a disease caused by mites. It causes severe pain and is very contagious. There may also be patches, pimples and scabs and the dog may lose weight. The mite responsible for this disease reproduces in the dog’s body and therefore causes very intense itching. It can be concentrated on the ears or on the whole body.
Otitis and gingivitis. Even if it does not concern the dog’s coat, a lack of maintenance and observation of your dog can trigger diseases in the ears and teeth. Grooming allows you to check your dog’s health for abnormal lumps, scabs, sores, etc.
HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR DOG’S COAT
In conclusion, grooming your dog’s coat should be one of your future goals, as it will ensure your dog’s well being and may also strengthen your bond.
Take your time, do it gradually and you will see that this moment will become a pleasant moment between you.
