Vets Corner – How To Keep Your Dog’s Skin and Coat Healthy The Natural Way

This is a guest post by Dr. Peter Dobias well known veterinarian practicing in natural pet care. Dr. Peter Dobias is a wealth of knowledge with over 20 years experience.

Read on….

No matter if you have a long haired dog that needs a hair cut on regular basis or a short haired one,  there are a few things that  you should know.  Here we have how to keep your dog’s skin and coat healthy the natural way! 

Some people believe that dogs should not be bathed at  all and  others would put their dog through a shower every time they come from a walk.   So what is the right frequency of bathing and grooming? What products should one use? Do dogs like grooming and how to choose a good grooming salon?

While there will always be many opinions on this topic, here are a few basic principles that you can follow to make your dogs smell like a grass meadow and sandy beach instead instead of smelling like dirty socks.

• Remember that the most important part of  achieving healthy skin and coat is the right nutrition.  Processed food, poor quality and species inappropriate  ingredients  are the main reasons why some dogs do not smell exactly like roses. If your dog has a  “doggy smell” it is a possible sign of cleansing or a nutritional imbalance. In other words, natural, ideally non-processed raw or cooked diets are the best way go.
• Even the best organic wholesome food is likely to be deficient at least in some essential nutrients such as minerals,  amino acids and omega oils.  Soil depletion has led to  depletion of the whole food chain and selecting  the best natural supplements will make a huge difference in your dog’s life and health including skin.
• Environmental toxins are every present and it is wise to wash your dog at least once a month as part of the detox and preventive health plan.  Some people do not realize that skin in fact is permeable and toxins can readily penetrate it and accumulate in the body and that unlike our dogs’ ancestors, modern canines live in environments that are polluted and toxic.
• I recommend always using  simple products made of plant based soaps and herbs. If your dog’s shampoo label contains chemicals and words that suggest  artificial ingredients,  exchange it for a reputable all natural  product that preserves natural oils such as Quadruped.
• If your dog likes to swim in the ocean, a good rinse EVERY TIME after a swim will prevent coat from bleaching out and getting dry and brittle. If your dog swims in fresh water, carefully evaluate the levels of possible pollution and rinse your dog when needed.
• Regular combing as often as possible, ideally on daily basis,  will promote flow of skin and body energy.  I strongly believe  that regular combing promotes energy flow  in the whole body which invigorates the skin,  spine, organs and every cell of the body.
• A careful selection of a grooming facility is the key to creating a positive experience for your dog. Not all groomers are the same and not all grooming places have facilities that provide a stress free environment.  Over heated and crowded cages, excessive noise, constant barking and  stressed and hurried staff of some facilities can often turn your dog’s visit into torture.

I love the idea of mobile grooming which is currently gaining more popularity. I love the idea of Aussie PetMobile Mercedes Benz solar powered grooming units.  Instead of taking your dog to a groomer, spending time in traffic and your dog being stuck in cages sometimes for hours before it is his or her turn,  Aussie PetMobile will  park right in front of your  house or apartment and your dog will be groomed in the comfort of a large heated mobile unit that needs no electricity or water hook up!

Considering that one of my basic values is to improve the lives of animals around the world, the services of Aussie Pet Mobile fit right in.  “Wagging tail up” for this great  idea.

Dr. Peter Dobias, DVM

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