There’s nothing like a shiny, healthy dog ​​coat. Keeping your dog’s coat healthy can also reduce future skin and coat problems.

The coat grows in 3 phases at different times which, in turn, means that a dog never goes bald. Your dog’s coat should be brushed once or twice a week.

For a healthy dog ​​coat, add a teaspoon of soybean, corn, or cottonseed oil to your dog’s food every day. This can also reduce shedding.

Long-haired dogs or dogs with thick coats may need more brushing than short-haired dogs because their hair tends to mat. Mats can cause your dog to irritate his skin or possibly retain odor in his coat. The mat can be easily removed with a paring knife. If your dog has a thick, heavy coat, the stripping knife may not work, in which case you can use scissors to cut through the mat. Be sure to use blunt-tipped scissors to avoid piercing the skin. You can also try removing the mat between your fingers with a human hair conditioner.

For a dog’s coat that is short, it is best to use a uni-groom, which is a handheld device made of rubber with very short bristles and lies flat in the palm of the hand. You can find this device at PETSMART. You run your finger through a loop and run your hand through the fur as if you were stroking it. This needs to be done outdoors because there is an incredible amount of hair that comes off the dog’s coat and you don’t want it all over the house.

Shedding is a problem that most people don’t mind dealing with. Unfortunately, many of us dog owners don’t have a choice. The shedding comes with the change of the seasons. Some dogs shed a lot, some a little, and some not at all. I wish I had done my homework before buying two cocker spaniels (who I love to death). Having doghair tumbleweeds hanging around your kitchen is not a pretty sight. My solution to this problem is to keep them in a short skirt and groom them every 6-8 weeks.

Brushing your dog’s coat outdoors also helps the coat situation in the house. Never brush your dog’s coat when it is wet, it causes tangles and hair loss. You can try putting a no-spill solution in your dog’s food. Although this works most of the time, be prepared for very light bowel movements.

Shedding can also be hell for people with allergies. Try not to let your dog lie on top of you while he watches TV while he is going through a molting phase. This could be torture for you. Take your medications or injections and avoid too much physical contact with your dog until shedding subsides. Don’t be harsh with your dog, it’s not something he can control.

Caring for your dog’s coat is important to both you and your dog. It will keep him sporting a healthy shiny dog ​​coat and reduce the chances of acquiring any coat or skin related disorders.