Your dog’s skin is the largest organ he has, shouldn’t you make sure it stays healthy? Skin afflictions can be painfully uncomfortable for your dog and cost you hundreds at the vet. There are over 160 skin disorders, some of which are chronic, incurable diseases, while others are preventable. Help prevent what you can by following these tips to keeping your dog’s skin healthy.
1. Sun Protection
Just like humans, overexposure to the sun is bad for your dog’s skin. And, just like humans, the “paler” your dog is, the more sensitive he is to the sun. If you have a white dog or a dog with pink skin, take these precautions to make sure they are not getting too much sun, which can cause burns or cancer.
- Limit the amount of time your dog is in the sun
- Put a pet safe sunblock on your dog. EPI-PET Sunscreen is the only FDA-approved sunscreen for dogs.
- Watch for signs of burning. If it looks like your dog might have sunburn, take them to the vet immediately.
- Put a shirt on. If you have a short-haired breed that won’t get too hot, you can but a shirt on them to cover some of their body. Reflective jackets that help cool your dog are a good choice as well.
2. Diet & Supplements
You can also help keep your dog’s skin healthy with a daily regime of vitamins and supplements. Products rich in fatty acids, oils, and vitamins are essential for healthy skin. Raw goat’s milk is not something that probably comes to your mind, but it’s great for your dog. It’s packed with active pre and probiotics, vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, enzymes, protein, and fatty acids and helps reduces inflammation and allergies. It really packs a good punch when it comes to overall health for your dog.
3. Grooming
Not only does it make your dog’s coat look nice, grooming helps keep the skin healthy. Mats can cause hot spots and other skin irritations. Brush your dog daily (even short hair breeds need their cells stimulated) and bath them on a regular basis, but not more than once a week or you can actually cause skin irritation.
