Does Olive Oil Make Your Dog's Hair Shiny?

Does Olive Oil Make Your Dog's Hair Shiny?. Olive oil contains omega 3 and 6 essential fatty acids and is a critical element in your dog’s healthy, balanced diet. A dog doesn’t naturally produce these fatty acids, so they must be added to your dog’s food, offered in supplement form or applied directly to the skin and hair. Olive oil is an effective treatment for a dull coat and will make your dog’s hair shiny, as well as stimulate other key health benefits.

Health Benefits

Using olive oil as a part of your dog’s everyday diet, supplement or topical ointment produces multiple health benefits, producing a glossy coat, healing dry or irritated skin, smoothing matted or knotted hair, minimizing hair loss, protecting eyesight, alleviating cognitive dysfunction, strengthening immunities, reducing inflammation associated with arthritis and curing allergies. Symptoms such as a dull coat, dry skin or hair loss often indicate your dog isn’t receiving the right vitamins and nutrients in its diet, which includes linoleic acids that make up the essential fatty acids found in olive oil. A long-term deficiency in these nutrients may lead to more serious health problems, such as skin rashes or eruptions, heart problems or degenerative arthritis.

Nutrition

Your dog’s nutrition is a determining factor in whether its coat is healthy and shiny. Its diet should be begin with high-quality, meat-based food and include omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, which are found in olive oil, as well as flax seeds and fish oil. Omega 3 and 6 in combination with a balanced diet of rich proteins, such as boiled eggs, fish and lean meats, will promote a naturally shiny coat. You can also feed olive oil to your dog by mixing it into its regular food once a day. Add one teaspoon for a dog under 50 pounds or one tablespoon for a dog that weighs 50 pounds or more.

Olive Oil Supplements

Canine supplements that contain linoleic and arachidonic acids found in omega 3 and 6 fatty acids can be given to your dog orally. Olive oil contains a small amount of omega 3, while the majority of it is composed of omega 6. Consult with your veterinarian to choose a quality olive oil supplement and to determine the correct dosage requirements for your dog. By choosing a product recommended by your veterinarian, you will take precautions to avoid those which may contain dangerous contaminants, such as PCBs or mercury.

Topical Olive Oil

Apply olive oil directly to your dog’s skin and hair for deep conditioning and extra shine. It rehydrates the hair and protects the skin. Wet your dog’s hair and rub a generous amount of olive oil into its skin and pull it evenly through the coat. Allow it to penetrate the hair for 20 to 30 minutes and bathe your dog to remove excess oil. Canine conditioning sprays soothe the skin and coat the hair. They are intended as leave-in conditioners that contain olive oil and other natural ingredients, such as macadamia, coconut and sweet almond oil, aloe and green tea leaf extracts, dandelion and chamomile. Spray a generous amount of the formula over your dog’s coat and brush while avoiding the eyes, nose and ears.

References

• Whole Pet Health; Ways to Improve the Health of Your Dog’s Coat and Skin; Dalibor Puzigaca
• All-Natural-Dog-Treat.com: 5 Steps to a Shiny and Healthy Coat for Your Dog
• Animal Hospitals-USA: Dog Grooming
• DogGroomers.com: Diet Tips for the Health of Your Dog’s Fur
• Vet Info; Skin Disorders of Dogs; Dry, Flaky, Bumpy Skin; Michael Richards, DVM; August 2001
• Pet Health Care Gazette; Dog and Cat Supplements: The Facts About Fatty Acid Supplements; Lorie Huston, DVM; December 2010