Your Pet's Most Important Organ- Keep it Healthy!

Beauty isn’t just skin deep, it begins on the cellular level…with the skin cells, to be exact. Your pet’s skin is the largest and one of the most important organs in his body. The exterior coat is not just there for us to admire, it provides him with protection from the sun, wind, cold and pollution. It needs to stay in tip-top condition and is a reflection of overall health. When the skin cells are not being over-turned or made properly, a host of problems can happen, predisposing the skin to disease. The hair will lack a lustrous sheen and can become brittle and break. If your pet’s coat has any of the following issues, veterinary evaluation and a few changes at home are needed:

• Frequent scratching
• Scaly, dry skin
• Sticky, oily skin
• Skin discoloration
• “Acne-like” eruptions, especially in the groin or armpit areas
• “Hot spots”
• Skin infections
• Thinning hair coat
• Balding
• “Moth-eaten” appearance
• Dry, brittle hair that breaks easily

You can prevent and help correct these problems in just a few simple steps:

• Omega-7 supplementation
The majority of “Western style” diets for humans and pets alike are lacking in essential fatty acids. They tend to be too high in omega-6 and too low in omega-7 and omega-3 fatty acids, which are the most important for maintenance of healthy skin and hair. Also, the manufacturing that dog and cat food undergoes can damage or degrade these essential nutrients.

Omega-7 is an essential building block for the fast-growing cells of the hair, skin and nails. They have also been shown to boost collagen production. Collagen is the tissue ‘fiber’ that gives skin it’s stretch and is important for the normal healing process of damaged skin. The best source of this omega comes from whole-fruit preparations of sea buckthorn.  Sea buckthorn not only provides the omega-3 and omega-7 necessary to moisturize and support healthy skin repair, it contains a host of other nutrients to aid the process. The skin is constantly being bombarded by UV radiation, pollution and harsh environments. This ‘wear and tear’ exposes skin cells to damaging free-radicals. The free radical-fighting antioxidants in sea buckthorn compliments omega-7 in protecting your pet’s skin cells.

•Regular Grooming
You don’t have to be an expert groomer or spend your weekends at the pet salon to take proper care of your best friend’s coat. Most pets benefit from daily brushing. Brushing not only gives you an opportunity to bond, but it stimulates the skin.  Brushing allows for the dead, top layer of skin cells to be removed, allowing new cells to take their place. Hair is constantly growing and will fall out periodically.  If loose hairs get stuck too close to the skin, especially the dense ‘undercoat,’ it can trap moisture, bacteria and dead skin cells, leading to “hot spots” or skin infections. Daily brushing will keep this from happening, as you’ll help your pet consistently remove their loose hair.  Does your cat (and carpeting) suffer from hairballs?  Daily brushing will remove the loose hair that could end up irritating your cat’s stomach.

• Exercise
Exercise not only stimulates and tones the muscles, but the skin too. It helps promote skin’s natural elastic qualities and hair production. You don’t have to put your dog on a “couch to 5K” regimen, a simple brisk walk for 10-15 minutes a day is sufficient to help him look and feel his best. When these things are done regularly, you will notice a major change in your pet. They’ll be the envy of the dog park, and most importantly, they’ll feel better than ever.

What skin and coat issues are your pets dealing with? Share your comments and questions with our guest Veterinarian Deborah Shores.