Pet The World

What you feed your dog directly influences the dog’s coat. Dry, complete foods have many advantages:

They are easily stored

They are quick and simple to feed

They are clean

They provide a nutritionally complete diet

All the hard work of providing a nutritionally complete diet is done for you

Among the several types of dry food on the market today, a dry food with excess protein has been known to make some dogs aggressive or hyperactive. Take the advice of your breeder and vet if you have concerns.

If your dog has worms, the coat will suffer. It is very important to keep your dog wormed according to your vet’s recommendations.

A fit and healthy dog will be recognized by the gleam of his coat. Exercise, walking, free-running and visits to new areas stimulate good health. Each breed of dog varies in their exercise requirement. Regular exercise is essential for keeping a dog in good health and a good coat. Check your dog’s feet regularly. In cold weather, check the pads for packed snow, ice or other debris which can cause problems.

The type of bedding and housing your dog has will have a bearing on the dog’s coat. A dog constantly lying on concrete will wear the hair off. A dog lying in the grass all the time may get bitten by insects and develop skin irritations. Scratching at the bites can destroy a beautiful coat in a short period of time.

Bedding should be washed regularly with Clorox bleach and a good laundry detergent. Floors should be kept clean. Strong disinfectant can be dangerous if it comes in contact with the coat or the dog licks the disinfectant off the coat.

A regular grooming routine can help you detect problems like runny eyes, bad breath, skin disorders and allergies. Early treatment of these problems is essential. If you see one flea, there probably are many more. Please use a good flea and tick preventative especially if your dog spends a lot of time outdoors. It may be necessary to apply flea and tick prevention year round according to the climate in which you live.

In conclusion the healthiest dog coats are a result of a high quality nutritionally complete diet and regular grooming routines. Genetics can lay the groundwork for a good coat, but diet, exercise and grooming will maintain and/or improve the dog’s coat.

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Our dogs add so much to our lives, giving us unconditional love and affection. Here are some suggestions to help your dog live a comfortable, happy life.

1. Regular exercise and fresh air helps your dog’s immune system function at its peak. The exercise doesn’t have to be strenuous in nature, but a consistent walk or friendly play at a local park can work wonders for a dog’s mental as well as physical health.

2. Regular check-ups with your veterinarian are a must. Ask your doctor about the dangers of over-vaccinating and the possibility of checking your dog’s immune system with a blood titer test. A yearly visit with your doctor will give you a chance to ask any questions you may have, and will give your veterinarian an opportunity to catch any problems before they develop into something serious.

3. Provide a clean, safe environment for your dog free of second-hand smoke. Give him or her a quiet, comfortable place to sleep. Most breeds of dogs prefer to live indoors with their family. Only a few large breeds meant to live outdoors to protect sheep are suited to a life in all kinds of weather away from human contact.

4. Give your canine easy access to a fenced backyard or other suitable place so that they can relieve themselves during the day if you are going to be gone for long stretches at a time. A doggie door is ideal, but if this is impractical for your home, there are professional dog walkers who would love to stop by to give your dog a much needed walk during the day or evening.

5. Plenty of fresh, wholesome food and fresh water are key to maintaining a dog’s health. Raw food diets are gaining popularity, but if this is not something you or your dog would enjoy, there are other high grade alternatives. Read the labels of any product you purchase for your dog and steer clear of products with artificial colors, sweeteners or preservatives. The Whole Dog Journal is an excellent source of information and suggestions for which foods are the most nutritious and beneficial for dogs.

6. Daily grooming is important for all dogs, especially those with long coats. A quick brushing before bedtime is important for two reasons. It will remove any loose hair and skin and also will give you a chance to check for ticks or other problems your dog may have developed. Brushing your dog’s teeth is also vital to their oral health. There are special canine formulas and toothbrushes made especially for this purpose. (Never use human toothpaste on your dog.)

7. Positive, enjoyable training is available from reputable professionals for you and your dog. Training should be fun for both of you. Steer clear from any dog training classes that use punishment or adverse methods. Clicker training and reward based training can help guide you and your dog to a happy understanding of what you are requesting of your dog.

Many enjoyable dog-loving years await anyone who sincerely desires to create and maintain a positive relationship with their dog.

© Connie Bowen

Note: this article may be re-published freely as long as the following resource box is included at the end of the article and as long as you link to the URL mentioned in the resource box:

Pet Portrait Artist, and Professional Illustrator Connie Bowen creates stunning pet portrait paintings on canvas from photos. Specializing in capturing the spiritual nature of dogs, cats, horses and other animals in a realistic fashion with impressionistic backgrounds as seen on Oregon Public Broadcasting’s TV show, Art Beat. Over 200 pet portraits completed and counting! Visit http://www.conniebowen.com to view exquisite samples.

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What influences the condition of a dog’s coat? There are many factors that influence a dog’s coat. Below is a list of some of these factors:

Genetically, a dog can inherit coat quality

Diet

Exercise

Housing and bedding

Grooming regime

All coats can be improved with effort and consideration of the dog’s individual needs.

Feeding

What you feed your dog does influence the quality of your dog’s coat. It is always advisable to listen to your breeder’s advice about feeding. A reputable breeder is careful to give new puppy owners a diet instruction sheet to follow through from puppy hood to adult age. Excellent breeders will support the new puppy owner and provide after-sales advice throughout the dog’s lifetime.

It is possible for two pups from the same litter to have completely different dietary needs. This is unusual, as dogs are basically scavengers. Some dogs do, however, have special needs. Your breeder should be able to suggest a suitable diet. Your vet would be the next logical advisor about diet for your particular pup or dog.

What does being a scavenger mean? Dogs retain many of their original characteristics from when they were living in the wild. They are largely resistant to food poisoning. They have large teeth for cutting meat and tearing tough tissue. Even a small dog will relish a good meaty bone or a chunk of chewy meat.

Natural Diet

Many people believe the more they spend, the better the results, which is not necessarily always true. Dogs are what they eat. Feeding the dog is important to skin and coat care. It is essential to point out that needs of individual dogs can and do differ. No matter what your preference is for dog food, not all dogs are suited to your personal preferences. If a natural diet is fed, there is far less likelihood of adverse reaction. The coat of your dog will tell the story of the quality of his diet. A meal made from brown rice and chicken is a healthy, natural diet for a dog that can be fed two or three days a week to enhance the quality of the dog’s coat.

Some dogs may benefit from additives such as evening primrose oil, flaxseed oil or starflower oil at a dose of 500 mg daily. This is especially beneficial when the coat is poor from a previous diet, if the dog has a flea allergy problem or has suffered inherited or environmental effects that leave the coat looking far from good. Natural food also rarely attracts fleas. The dog’s skin is less pleasant for parasites.

Cheese has many essential nutrients and is a good source of calcium. Most dogs love cheese. Vegetables can be given to a dog as treats. Packs of mixed vegetables from the freezer at the local supermarket are easy to feed occasionally and as a treat. Most dogs love mixed vegetables. Feed in small amounts to small dogs only 2 or 3 times per week.

Dogs also love fruit, even raw cabbage and raw broccoli. Avoid grapes. Grapes are toxic to dogs. Fiber, such as oat bran, will help to prevent anal gland trouble. Cider vinegar is useful in helping the immune system.

Avoid raw meats.

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