The concern about how to prevent your dog’s hair loss is very common; in fact, everyone who lives with dogs faces this phenomenon on a daily basis. A dog’s coat is not only an aesthetic matter, but it can also indicate health problems. Fortunately, most of the time, a proper diet will be the key to helping regulate your pet’s hair loss.
Essential nutrients to prevent your dog’s hair loss
Choosing an appropriate diet is a determining factor in preventing your dog’s hair loss. The essential nutrients your furry friend’s food should contain are:
- High-quality animal protein: 99% of a dog’s hair is made up of protein, so diets rich in protein components strengthen your pet’s coat. However, not all proteins are equally recommended. For good coat care, you should choose diets that include high-quality animal proteins, avoiding feeds made mainly from animal by-products such as beaks or feet.
- Omega 6: this nutrient is a rich source of linoleic acid, a type of fatty acid responsible for maintaining healthy skin and coat. In fact, all essential fatty acids enhance the elasticity and shine of the fur. In addition, this nutrient helps prevent problems such as seborrhea. Some foods not only reduce hair loss but also help make the coat shinier, for example olive oil, bananas, cucumbers, fish, and clean fresh water. You can also add supplements and vitamins to their diet to strengthen their coat.
Possible causes of hair loss in dogs
As we have seen, your dog’s hair loss can be due to nutritional deficiencies. However, there are other causes that may lead to hair loss. It is important to know how to distinguish when the causes are natural and when they are pathological.
- Seasonal changes: shedding in dogs is necessary for their health, since it plays an important biological role. Changing their coat is the way dogs adapt to the temperature of the environment, which is why it increases during spring and autumn. This is a natural cause of hair loss and is not something that can or should be avoided.
- Allergies: dogs that suffer from some type of allergy may have skin reactions that trigger hair loss. Allergies can be caused by multiple factors, including the ingestion of certain foods. We recommend avoiding foods that contain a high variety of ingredients to reduce the chances that one of them may cause an allergic reaction in your dog. In any case, it is important to visit your veterinarian whenever you notice your dog is experiencing an allergic reaction.
- Compulsive disorder: some dog breeds are prone to developing this type of disorder and may chew or lick themselves obsessively to the point of pulling out hair from a localized area. If you think your dog may suffer from this type of behavioral disorder, we recommend consulting a canine behavior specialist.
Other tips to strengthen your dog’s coat
Nutrition is essential to prevent your dog’s hair loss; however, other care is also important to keep its coat healthy. Bathing your dog once a month using shampoos suitable for its pH, as well as brushing its coat frequently, are actions that will strengthen the health of its skin and fur.
