Keeping the Coat Healthy on Your Dog

When you see a dog on the street, the first thing you notice is how healthy it looks. Before you can even tell what the demeanor of the dog is like, it's their coat that gets your attention first and foremost. And while it might seem like a superficial detail, the health of the coat of your dog can tell a lot about their overall physical condition. To make sure you're keeping your dog and their coat healthy, here are some things to keep in mind.

Why It's Important

It's very important to keep the coat of your dog in good health for a number of reasons - some obvious, some not. Here are the ones that you need to keep in mind:

• Cleaning the coat will eliminate problems like fleas and ticks - When you take the time to clean the coat of your dog, you will notice when there are fleas or ticks that have taken hold. This will help prevent the diseases that these pests can create in your dog.


• Cleaning the coat will minimize the dirt and bacteria that your dog may get into - If you have a dog that likes to get into everything, taking the time to clean the coat will help prevent dirt and germ buildup that can lead to health problems.


• Cleaning the coat can help to remove painful burrs that may have gotten in the hairs


• Cleaning your dog will help to keep the coat full of shine and free of snarls and knotting

The more time you take to ensure that you are cleaning the coat of your dog, the more likely you are to be able to keep it healthy, rather than to have to deal with larger problems.

What You Need to Do to Prevent Problems

Depending on the coat your dog has, you might need to do a lot of maintenance for the coat or very little. Dogs with shorter coats don't require a lot of brushing or cleansing, but that doesn't mean that you shouldn't do anything at all.

Here are several things that every dog owner can do to help create a healthy and shiny coat:

• Regular brushing - With a coarse brush, you will want to brush your dog's coat at least once a week, more if they have longer hair. This will pull out any debris or tangles, making washing all the easier.


• Regular bathing - While most breeds do a good job of keeping themselves clean, others will require that you clean them on a more frequent basis. If your dog likes to get dirty in the mud, you will want to make sure you are using a good quality shampoo (as recommended by you vet) whenever the dog is dirty.


• Dry bathing - There are also ways to dry bathe your dog if that's an easier option for you and for the breed of your dog. Again, talk with your vet first to see what they recommend for you.


• Flea baths and tick treatments - If your dog spends a lot of time outdoors, you will want to make sure they are getting preventative treatments via these kinds of medicated baths. Since they only have to be done occasionally, they are often a good investment of your time for the problems they will prevent.


• Grooming - You might want to take a longer haired dog to a professional groomer to help you with your dog's coat. They can often trim and groom it to be in accordance with your desires in the look of the dog or in order to suit the breed's needs in terms of coat management.

When to See the Vet

The coat of your dog can be a great indicator in terms of the overall health of your dog. Because you now know how to take care of it, you can begin to look for problems as you go through the various steps. Things like ticks and fleas can become major medical problems, so if you spot either on your dog, you should call your vet to see if there's anything special you need to do. If you find a tick, for example, and there is a red ringed rash in the area, you might want to bring your dog in immediately to make sure there isn't any sign of further infection.

You may also want to bring your dog into the vet if you have bathed the dog and yet they still give off an odor. This is generally a sign of a deeper bacterial infection in the dog that is manifesting itself through the smell. When you notice anything out o the ordinary, you will want to make sure you ask the vet.

Your dog's coat is not just about their appearance, but good health always look good too.