How to make your dog's coat shiny? We've said it many times: a dog's coat is the very first thing that gives us a visual clue about our dog's physical and mental wellbeing. All of us dog lovers enjoy seeing our friend with a beautiful shiny coat, clean and well-groomed — it gives us a sense of satisfaction, because it's clear that our dog is well cared for and in good health. Sometimes, however, a dog may develop a dull coat; the colour becomes a little washed out and the fur looks worn — much like what can happen to our own hair. The important thing is to quickly understand the cause of this change in your dog's coat and find a solution. Let's find out how to make your dog's coat shiny!
Causes of a dull coat in dogs
The first thing we should do — and by now we'll have learned this lesson — is to speak with the veterinarian who looks after our beloved dog. It will be their job to determine whether this loss of shine in the dog's coat has been caused by an illness, and to prescribe the most appropriate treatment accordingly. In most cases, however, a dull coat in dogs is not a symptom of illness; rather, it is a sign that our four-legged friend is not feeling his best. Stress could be making the coat less shiny; perhaps our dog needs more attention from us, or a few extra walks — maybe he is suffering from loneliness or boredom.
In these cases it's clear that there is no medication to prescribe; we simply need to work out how we can improve our relationship with him. That might mean learning to bring him along when we pop out to run a quick errand, or perhaps buying some dog toys that can help him feel less alone when we have to go to work.
If your dog is scratching and losing fur
A dull dog coat can also be caused by other factors — your dog may have picked up mites, or, most commonly of all, may be experiencing a dietary issue. If mites are the problem, the dog will scratch constantly and won't stop, because mites are a genuine torment for dogs. As a result, all that scratching will wear down the coat, making it look visibly poor — and not only that: persistent scratching can cause skin redness or wounds that may lead to infection.
Acting decisively is therefore a priority. The vet will recommend a suitable anti-mite product for your dog, which you will apply to his coat. Be sure to brush him very frequently — daily if possible — so that the natural oils produced by your dog's skin can restore shine to the coat and make it stronger. Remember to use the right tools and techniques for brushing and grooming, appropriate to your dog's breed, so that you can also work through the undercoat.
How to make your dog's coat shiny: Nutrition
The most likely cause, however, is that a dog with a dull coat has some kind of dietary issue. It could be an intolerance to a particular food, which would make the skin either dry or excessively oily — and as a result, the coat would deteriorate. In this case, following veterinary advice, we will need to use an elimination approach to identify the problematic food. Once it is removed from the dog's diet, the coat will return to being shiny and lustrous. That said, it may not be a food intolerance at all — it could instead be a deficiency in proteins, minerals or fats.
A dog's coat is made up of 90% protein; a deficiency in these substances therefore weakens the coat, making it brittle and worn — and consequently dull. The most important proteins are methionine and cysteine, which, together with iron, zinc and copper, determine the thickness of the coat as well as its colour. It is not uncommon for a weakened coat to turn grey.
Supplements for your dog's coat
To help our dog regain a lustrous coat, we can give him vitamin and polyunsaturated omega-6 fatty acid supplements. Vitamin A will support the synthesis and keratinisation of the coat, helping to counter problems such as dandruff and seborrhoea in dogs, which are common causes of a dull coat. Vitamin B, on the other hand, will provide the right amount of folic acid, which strengthens the coat, making it thicker and smoother to the touch. In summary, what can we do to make our dog's coat shiny?
We can improve his diet by varying it and supplementing it with cod liver oil for dogs. In addition, a dog's diet should absolutely include fish, which provides omega-3s; olive oil, which contains omega-6s; eggs and dairy products for a greater intake of vitamin A; brewer's yeast for vitamin B; and all of this rounded off with vitamin E, which prevents oxidation.
How to make your dog's coat shiny
To sum up: if we notice that our dog's coat is no longer as full and glossy as it once was, the first step is to speak with the vet, who will rule out any underlying conditions. The second step is to improve the dog's diet — again, asking the vet for guidance — and to make sure he has an adequate intake of water, brush his coat daily with a suitable brush, and use gentle, purpose-made products for his regular baths. The improvement will be swift and remarkable, and if you follow these simple tips on how to make your dog's coat shiny, you'll find that your four-legged friend's coat stays in excellent condition at all times.
Let's not forget to take our friend out for walks and to provide him with toys to keep him entertained when we're not around — dogs are sensitive animals, and stress can all too often take a real toll on them.
