How to Get a Dog's Hair Healthy

Your dog's coat can tell you a lot about its general health. If the coat is rough and dirty as opposed to smooth and shiny, your dog might not be getting the protein or essential fatty acids he needs. If your dog is shedding more than usual or rashes appear, it may be exhibiting signs of allergies, mites or other infections. To keep your dog and its hair healthy, you need to feed it properly, bathe it only when necessary, brush it and take it to the veterinarian regularly.

Things You'll Need

  • Brush
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Instructions

    • 1

      Brush your dog regularly but gently to remove excess hair and dirt that can cause rash and infection. Brush from the base of the dog up, lifting hair as you go. Then brush the hair down in the direction the hair grows. If a part of the dog's hair is tangled, brush from the outside of the tangle to the inside of the tangle.

    • 2

      Feed your dog with a dog food that has at least 21 percent protein. The dog food should have some essential fatty acids, meat and vegetables in it. Avoid giving your dog human food.

    • 3

      Bathe your dog only when absolutely necessary, such as when his coat is covered in dirt and mud. If you bathe your dog too frequently, he could develop skin allergies, dry hair and even hair loss. A dog's coat has natural oils in it that cleanses the hair and protects it.

    • 4

      Take your dog to your veterinarian regularly. You may not notice when your dog's coat is unhealthy, but your veterinarian will. When you visit your vet, tell him or her what you feed your dog, your grooming habits and whether you've noticed your dog scratching or chewing his coat. If your dog has an unhealthy coat, your veterinarian can recommend dietary and grooming changes in addition to prescribing supplements such as essential fatty acid.