Why doesn't my pet's coat shine?

Coat shine is one of the most visible signs of good health in our dogs and cats. In fact healthy skin and shiny coat are frequently assessed by vets and you could say mirror the inner health of our pets. If your pets coat isn’t as shiny as it could be, it might be because you’re feeding the wrong food.

In addition to its physical appearance, as a dog or cats first line of defence, the skin and coat have an important role to play in their overall wellbeing, from protecting their body from injury and infection, to temperature control.

Content

Nourish from the inside out
The importance of high-quality animal protein
Why essential fatty acids are key
How vitamins and mineral promote positive health

Nourish from the inside out

To keep your pets coat shining on the inside and out, a healthy diet packed with all the key nutrients is crucial. Ever heard a friend say that their dog or cats coat seems to ‘bloom’ after switching to a high-quality pet food like IAMS? It’s pretty common to hear and here’s why.

The importance of high-quality animal protein

Protein is required by both the skin and coat to support growth, maintenance and repair. In fact, it’s estimated that between 30 and 35% of your pet’s daily protein intake is required just to keep their skin and coat in good condition1. On the other hand, a protein deficiency can lead to excessive skin scaling, increased skin pigmentation, impaired wound healing, and production of brittle, depigmented hair^1,2.

Growing hair also creates a need for high-quality proteins containing special amino acids. That’s why IAMS for Vitality recipes combine FRESH Chicken alongside dry Chicken and Turkey as concentrated protein sources, providing dogs and cats with an excellent source of protein.

Why essential fatty acids are key

Fat not only provides energy and improves the food’s taste, it’s also another factor that can impact on the health of the skin. For instance, essential fatty acids Omega 6 and 3 are necessary. However, as the body cannot produce essential fatty acids, it’s important that they are delivered through your pet’s diet. This will help to prevent a deficiency which can affect many systems of the body including skin and coat. In fact, due to the high rate of cell turnover, a dog and cat’s skin and coat condition often show the first obvious signs of a deficiency^1,3, as this can lead to skin lesions, a dull dry coat or hair that breaks easily or sheds too frequently.

How vitamins and mineral promote positive health

Several vitamins and minerals, including Vitamin A, Vitamin E, the B-complex Vitamins, zinc and copper, also play a key role promoting optimal skin health and coat quality in dogs 1,2, from helping to heal wounds to protecting skin cells from oxidant damage and contributing to the growth and repair of skin.

Across its range, IAMS recipes contain prebiotics and a carefully tailored blend of vitamins and minerals to maintain a healthy skin and coat and keep your dog and cat looking and feeling great on both the inside and the outside, shining all day long.

Kellie Ceccarelli, IAMS Veterinary Manager

Miller WH, Griffin CE and Campbell KL (eds). In: Muller and Kirk’s Small Animal Dermatology, 7th Edition, 2013. Elsevier, St Louis, Missouri, USA.
Davenport GM, Reinhart GA. Overview: The impact of nutrition on skin and coat health. In: Recent Advances in Canine and Feline Nutrition, Volume III: 2000 Iams Nutrition Symposium Proceedings. GA Reinhart, Carey DP (eds). Wilmington, OH: Orange Frazer Press. 2000:3-21.
Lloyd DH. Essential fatty acids and skin disease. J Small Anim Pract. 1989;30:207-212.