Skincare is very important for pets in order to avoid infections, rashes, and anything else that can cause a pet to get sick. A healthy coat can be able to prevent matting, cat dandruff as well as a bad odour from dogs.

Winter can bring on more skin conditions when compared to summer and this is due to the fact that the weather is colder, drier and has lower humidity. Skin conditions are one of the most common reasons people take their pets to the vet. However, there are simple ways to help make sure that your pet’s skin is healthy.

A healthy pet’s coat should be able to change according to the weather. This would mean that during the winter, it should get thicker and fluffier in order to keep the pets warm throughout the cold months. During the warmer seasons, such as summer, a pet’s coat should be able to keep them cool. However, coats will still need to be turned over and brushing can help with this. Brushing is one of the easier things to do to keep a pet’s coat and skin health since it can help their fur to grow as well as spread the natural oils from their coats. It can also help to get rid of access loose hair due to shedding as well as help to stop hair from getting matted and tangled up.

The length of the hair can indicate how much care and time needed to brush it. The longer the pet’s hair is, the more often it should be brushed, about every few days especial when they are shedding. Pets with shorter hair can be brushed once a week. If there is matted hair or a spot that cannot become undo with brushing then it would be better to trim it off since these types of issues could end up housing bacteria as well as skin, yeast infections.

Different types of brushes are about to achieve different effects. Undercoat or a Shedding rack can be able to remove loose hairs from the pet’s undercoat while a Slicker brush could be able to loosen matted hair or tangles as well as loosen out dirt and dry skin. A bristle brush can be able to remove a lot of the loose and dead hair from a pet’s coat so that it does not get tangled or matted with the healthy hair. A comb is a good tool to use to brush the ears, tails, feet and the hocks (the joint of the legs that allow an animal to bend their legs backwards in order to walk).

Bathing should be a regular occurrence depending on how dirt the pet can get as well as if it is allergy season. A dog can be bathed about every six to eight weeks. Overdoing it may strip the skin of its natural protective oils which could result in itchiness. This can cause them to scratch which may cause cuts that have the possibility of becoming infected. The dog’s odour can become stronger with too many washes due to the theory that their body is trying to overcompensate for the lack of natural hair and skin oils. A dog owner can use bath wipes for puppies or waterless shampoos in between washes. However, a cat can be washed two or three times a year depending. There are no strict rules only what is required to help make and keep their skin healthy without it losing its natural ability to look after itself.

Their ears should be carefully and gently cleaned before they get into the bath water. A good quality shampoo can be used and owners should speak to their vet or pet groomer about what type and brand they should use for their pets. The different coats could require different types of shampoos. The correct shampoo should be gently massaged onto the body of the pet from head to tail except it must not go into the eyes, ears, and nose. A hair-dryer that is specifically designed for pet use (do not use the hair-dryer that people use since that type of hair-dryer will be too hot for pet’s fairly thin skin. Hair-dryers for pets use more air but less heat) can be used on animals with longer hair or double-coated fur. As for short-haired pets, owners can use a dry towel to dry their hair. Applying a ‘paw projection’ product to the pads of their paws could help keep them strong and healthy. A missing pet that has been recently found can have damaged paws and skin, therefore, they should be taken to the vet to see what can be done.  

A fresh and raw diet can be beneficence to pet’s skins since they can provide the natural oils, vitamins, fats, protein and minerals in order to keep their skin healthy. This type of diet can also be higher in moisture to help their skin not dry out and become itchy. Food that is high in carbohydrates such as grain can be able to dry out dog’s skin so they should be given in moderation or even at all. 

Vitamins and supplements are able to add nutrition to the skin and coats of pets since they have a high level of Omega 3 fatty acids which not only improve the skin and hair but it can also reduce itchiness, shedding, as well as flakiness. Some vitamins are also able to decrease skin inflammations which can occur on older animals. Check with the vet to know what vitamins and supplements can be right for the pet in question as well as what the products can do for the pet.

Skincare for pets should be a regular commitment to ensure that their hair and skin are as healthy as they can be. It would be a good idea to check on their skin and to notice any changes such as rashes, infections, dry skin etc. If these types of cases become too severe then a visit to the vet will be required.