Grooming a dog's coat can look very different depending on the breed. Especially with longer hair, regular combing with a dog brush should be part of the coat care program - just to protect against parasite infestation. In addition, special coat shampoos are used for regular coat care. However, it is at least as important to provide the dog with the right diet so that the coat looks good and well-groomed.
Grooming your dog starts with food
Grooming the dog's coat is one of the most important tasks that the family can take on for their pet. The dog's coat and skin form its protective shield - a well-groomed coat can prevent skin injuries or loss of body heat, for example.
To ensure that the dog's coat stays well-groomed and that new hair can grow during the shedding season, a diet that contains enough protein is important. Long-haired dogs in particular shed their coats more often throughout the year in order to adapt to the climatic conditions. Proteins promote keratin production in the body and are therefore essential for hair growth. If the diet does not contain enough protein, the coat can become shaggy and brittle or look dull.
In general, a BARF diet contains enough protein in the animal portion to adequately support the dog's coat. When the coat is changing, it can be a good idea to increase the protein intake a little: A very protein-rich type of BARF meat is kangaroo. This type of meat, which is exotic in our latitudes, also has the advantage that it is ideal for an exclusion diet or a later permanent diet for dogs who are sensitive to food. Beef heart and lamb tripe also contain a lot of protein.
Dog grooming: food oils and parasite protection
A feed oil can also be very beneficial for the skin and coat care of dogs. Hemp oil and evening primrose oil, for example, contain gamma-linolenic acid, which has an anti-inflammatory effect on skin diseases in the body and can affect itchy, dry or flaky skin. In our shop's category you will also find various other natural supplementary feeds that can help care for the coat and skin.
Dog fur is a popular hiding place for various types of parasites. Ticks in particular are a real danger in spring and summer. Protection against such unwanted tenants in the dog's fur is therefore an important part of coat care. In the case of ticks, garlic tablets and oils that can be sprayed on before a trip to the dog park in summer can already work well to protect against parasites . Especially if you are going out into tall grass, the fur should also be brushed well after the trip in order to find ticks and get rid of them as quickly as possible. This also applies to dogs with short hair. A fine dog brush can help with this, as even smaller parasites can get caught in it. If a tick is overlooked, it should be carefully removed without crushing the body or twisting the head. A Lyme disease vaccination also protects against the bacterial disease transmitted by ticks. Incidentally, the fur should be combed regularly, especially in long-haired dogs, to remove loose hair and prevent the fur from matting.
A balanced diet with enough protein, food oils, regular coat care and parasite protection are the most important factors that a dog needs for a well-groomed coat and healthy skin. In our BARF shop you can get various products to successfully cover all of these elements.
