The Importance of your Dog's Skin and Coat

Keeping your dogs' coats and skin healthy is not just important for those soft nightly snuggles on the sofa in front of Netflix, it is essential for their general health too. A dog's coat and skin make up between 10% and 15% of its entire body weight and is the biggest essential organ of your canine companion's body. Your dog’s skin and coat are also a great indicator if there is a problem and is often the first thing a vet will look at when examining them. 

Thankfully, there are a few very easy steps you can take in order to keep your dogs’ coats and skin healthy, so you can help to protect them and their precious pelts. In this article, we will be highlighting how the skin and coat are essential in keeping your dog healthy, and how to maintain them with some simple treats and treatments. 

How Does My Dog’s Skin & Coat Help to Maintain its Health?

As we alluded to above, the health of your dog’s coat and skin is of paramount importance, but why? There are three major factors in how your dog's skin and coat help them to stay healthy and we’ve highlighted each of them below. 

Body Temperature Regulation

The most important thing your dog's coat and skin does is to help with thermoregulation in your canine companion's body. A healthy coat helps to maintain the temperature at the right level by moving hairs to either insulate or allow in the air in order to aid warming or cooling. Healthy skin also helps with this by storing fats, which creates a layer of insulation for your dogs and aids in temperature maintenance.

Hydration

Although you may not think it, the skin has a major role in keeping your dog hydrated. The skin retains water and helps to keep your dog properly hydrated thought the day. Water loss through the skin can be a sign of a serious issue as dogs do not have sweat glands in their skin, however, healthy well maintained skin can help your dog stay hydrated, happy and healthy for many years to come.

Protection and immunity

The skin and coat also act as protection for your dogs. These amazing organs are responsible for protecting your dog from problems like cuts and scratches, chemicals and extreme temperatures. The skin is full of nerve endings that help our dogs to react to these potentially dangerous situations and protect themselves accordingly. The skin and coat are also important in maintaining a healthy immune system and any skin or coat issues can potentially lead to infections and more serious issues.

With all this in mind, it becomes abundantly clear that keeping our dogs skin and coat healthy and well maintained is important for a number of reasons and as such, we should always have regular grooming and skincare as part of our dog-care routines. 

Our Favourite Skin and Coat Friendly Products

In order to maintain a healthy skin and coat, there are a few simple steps you can take that will ensure your dogs’ outer layers will be shiny, soft and as healthy as can be. Regular grooming and washing with natural soaps and shampoos, alongside treats and chews that are loaded with skin and coat friendly nutrients, is a good place to start. So, we've collated a few of our favourite products for keeping your furry friends feeling like a million dollars.

True Hemp Skin & Coat Dental Sticks

These fabulous denial sticks are loaded with Omega 3 which plays a vital role in maintaining the health of your dogs’ skin and coat. They are all-natural, a rich source of a variety of skin and coat friendly ingredients, and are all wrapped up in a delicious dental stick so your furry friends can keep their teeth and gums clean too! What more could one ask for!

The Pets Larder - Salmon Oil for Dogs & Cats

Our very own Salmon Oil for Dogs & Cats is made from 100% ethically and sustainably sourced Scottish salmon and is stuffed full of Omegas 3 & 6 which deliver a whole host of brilliant skin and coat benefits. Salmon oil also contains EPA and DHA both of which are essential in keeping your dog's hair healthy, helping in protection from cracking and shedding.

Wildwash Shampoos and Conditioners

Wildwash was developed as a range of natural grooming products that have your dogs’ skin and coat needs at their very heart. Their shampoos and conditioners are handmade using a holistic mixture of plants, essential oils and botanicals that combine to create gentle but effective products that are efficient, planet-friendly and fabulously fragrant too.

So when it comes to your dogs’ skin and coats, it is of paramount importance that we all make an effort to look after them. With a few simple snacks, some wonderful washes and glorious grooming products, it’s easy to keep your dog’s skin and coat looking and feeling at its very best.