Nutrition plays a huge role in a dog’s skin and coat health. Proper nutrient intake supports skin renewal and helps maintain moisture balance—reducing redness and itching on the skin and paws. The coat also grows and shines when the diet is right. We turned to our Veterinarian Henna for advice on feeding a dog with sensitive skin!
A proper diet can help address various special needs and sensitivities. If your dog has dry skin, its coat is flaky, or the dog is licking its paws, checking the diet might be a good idea. However, if the symptoms persist or are clearly bothering the dog, the first step is always to consult a veterinarian to rule out any health-related causes.
Supporting Skin and Coat Health Through Nutrition
Once any potential illnesses are ruled out, it’s beneficial to nourish dry and dull coats, as well as flaky skin, with high-quality food. The food should include the following:
✔️ Plenty of Protein to Support Coat Growth and Skin Renewal
Up to one-third of a dog’s daily protein needs go towards skin renewal and coat growth. Therefore, the food should have an adequate amount of protein to support skin and coat health.
Among the individual amino acids, especially methionine and cysteine are needed for the synthesis of keratin, the key protein in hair and skin.
✔️ Omega Fatty Acids to Improve Moisture Balance and Alleviate Skin Irritation
Omega fatty acids help maintain skin elasticity, moisture, and the shine of the coat.
Omega-6 fatty acids are an essential part of the skin’s structural fats, and linoleic acid, together with the trace mineral zinc, can increase coat shine. Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil, particularly EPA and DHA, can help reduce skin irritation due to their anti-inflammatory properties.
✔️ Vitamins and Antioxidants
Vitamin A supports skin renewal and reduces flakiness, B vitamins help renew the skin’s fat layer, and antioxidants protect skin cells from oxidative stress.
These nutrients naturally come from various raw materials, such as brewer’s yeast, which is rich in B vitamins, and berries and herbs, which contain carotenoids, the precursors to vitamin A.
✔️ Minerals Supporting Skin and Coat Health
Trace minerals like zinc are needed for skin healing, while copper is involved in the production of coat pigmentation. Copper supports the formation of pigment in the hair. Alvar’s kibble is supplemented with added vitamins and minerals, such as zinc, which is present in the highly absorbable form of zinc chelate in our recipes.
Finding the Right Food
It’s easiest to choose a high-quality ready-made food that is specifically formulated with skin health in mind. Occasionally, additional benefits from fish oil can be added to support the skin.
It’s important to note that changes in diet will reflect on the dog’s skin with a delay. Visible changes are usually seen after about two months of use, when the skin renews and new hair starts to grow.
