CAUSES OF DANDRUFF IN YOUR DOG

There can be may causes of dandruff - poor diet, low humidity, and too infrequent grooming to distribute the oils.
A very thin layer of fat and waxes, called sebum, normally prevents the moisture in the skin from escaping into the air. Some animals do not receive enough dietary fat, or cannot absorb the fat, to form a good sebum layer. Diseases that cause an excessive loss of body water in the urine or bowel movement, such as diabetes mellitus, kidney failure, or chronic diarrhea, will cause dryness of the skin and dandruff.
Any chronic irritation of the skin will speed up the skin reproduction rate and cause dandruff.

Flakes from the surface of the skin may not be skin cells. Substances applied to the skin which dry and flake may mimic dandruff. Shampoos, conditioners, and other skin cosmetics should be thoroughly rinsed after application to the skin. If your dog has white skin flakes around the neck, or back, he's probably got dandruff and there are some things that you can do.
Do not use shampoos made for human beings on your pet, especially not baby shampoos or medicated shampoos. A dog's skin has different ph level than human skin, so the chemicals in people shampoo can actually harm your pet's skin.

Make sure that you thoroughly rinse your dog after shampooing. The shampoo residue can cause your dog to itch and scratch. The presence of dandruff can sometimes indicate that the onset of serious health problems such as skin infections, allergies or an invasion of nasty parasites.

ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS FOR YOUR PET

Fats are an important source of energy for dogs and cats. Essential Fatty Acids (EFA) are polyunsaturated fatty acids that are vital to the normal development and growth of both humans and animals. The term EFA means that the body is unable to produce these fats and they must be obtained in food. They are found in all cell membranes, tissues, and organs of the body. Even before birth, EFA’s are key to normal development of the brain, eyes, and bones. These are the nutrients that have protective properties essential to good health. In animals, there is clear evidence that deficiency of the EFA’s causes disease. Dogs and cats often do not get the daily supply of EFA’s they need. As a result of which the normal growth and development of the brain, eyes, skin, and hair suffers. Researches have proved that supplementing the diets of dogs and cats with EFA’s is an effective way to provide these vital nutrients.The most important of the EFA’s are the long-chained omega-3s, and two of the omega-6s - Gama-linolenic acid and linoleic acid are the important omega-6s. These omega-6 fatty acids are powerful anti-inflammory agents in the body and also required to have healthy skin and coats. They are subject to much faster degenerative processes. They are also important to maintaining healthy bones. The long chained omega-3s are found almost exclusively in fish oil. A refined fish oil can provide DHA and EPA more safely than by eating the fish itself. It is too risky to rely on diet alone. Daily small amount of these fats is simple and effective. It eliminates the possibility that EFA deficiency can harm your pet. These are available in the market in liquid form as well. Different companies like Ayurvet, Venky etc are marketing it by the trade name of vitacharm and glossycoat. In my practice i have seen that administartion of these EFA's are very helpful in controlling the skin diseases and other related disorders. So, i always recommend that these EFA's should be added to the diet on daily basis. So that you can your promise to give healthy life to your dog.

6 essential elements necessary for your dog

Feeding your dog the wrong diet will affect their health and behavior, and may make them more susceptible to diseases or infection.
All dog foods have certain things in common and they require the following elements:
1. Protein
Excess protein is not better. High protein diets are used for show or working dogs and a normal dog could become hyper on this diet.
Price is not any criteria about protein content, you must read the label. Many dog foods use vegetable proteins which are harder to digest than animal proteins. Find a dog food that uses more animal protein and requires smaller portions to meet the minimum daily requirements.
Many dogs are allergic to grains like corn, wheat and soy. If your dog refuses to eat their food or their digestion seems abnormal, consult your vet to identify the problem.
2. Carbohydrate
Vegetable sources of protein also contain high levels of carbohydrates which can be a problem for your dog to digest. This causes digestive problems such as bloating, upset stomach, constipation, and too much stool. You can select a food that has two or more animal sources of protein listed in the first five ingredients to overcome this problem.
3. Fats
Dogs need fat to keep their skin and coat healthy and it gives your dog energy and keeps him cool when it’s warm and warm when it’s cool. If you feed your dog a natural diet, make sure to watch the expiration date.
4. Vitamins
There are two types of vitamins, fat soluble (Vitamins A, D, E and K) and water soluble (Vitamins B and C). The need for vitamins depends on your dog and his lifestyle.
The minimum daily requirements for vitamins is averaged for all dogs, because vitamin deficiencies can lead to poor growth, digestive disorders, weak immune system, thyroid malfunction.
5. Minerals
Minerals help the body in its normal daily activities like circulation and energy production. Though mineral deficiencies are more common than vitamin deficiencies, do not supplement your dogs diet unless directed by your vet as adding minerals to your dog’s diet can cause an imbalance that can harmful to his health.
6. Water
Water requirement of your dog needs depends on the level of physical activity and type of food he eats. Dry food encourages thirst because it only contains 10 percent moisture. Canned dog foods or home-cooked diets will require less rinse to wash down.