The Science Behind the Shine How Hill s Science Plan Dog Food Promotes Healthy Skin and Coat

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated September 16, 2024

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Nutrition For Healthy Pet Skin and Coats

There are plenty of pet food brands that advertise their brand of cat or dog food for a healthy coat, but how do you really know which will provide the right nutrition for your pet? As a responsible pet parent, you want to feed your dog or cat food that helps them thrive. Looking for a few key items on a pet food label might help you know if the food you choose promises a certain benefit, but choosing a dog or cat food for a healthy coat isn't the only way to make sure your pet's skin and coat are in top shape. Learn how nutrition, environmental factors and grooming can all help keep your pet looking sleek and feeling perky.

Itching to Find the Perfect Food?

Maybe your dog or cat has already shown signs of sensitive or itchy skin, or maybe you are looking to change to a food that promotes all-around good health, skin and fur included. Whatever the reason, be careful not to focus on just one or two key ingredients or needs. Some pet parents look for high levels of fat in a cat or dog food for a healthy coat. Although ingredients like fish oil are common in marketing cat food for a healthy coat, for example, your furry friend still needs a good balance of vitamins, minerals, protein, and carbohydrates. The truth is, well-rounded meals will already protect most cats and dogs from skin and coat troubles. Beauty really does start on the inside.

If you do make a habit of looking at the ingredients and nutrients profiles on your bag or cans of food, here are some of the more common nutrients that help promote healthy skin and coats in pets:

Omega-6: This nutrient is a fatty acid that helps give shine to your pet's coat, as well as help replace essential oils in their skin.
Omega-3: This nutrient, typically found in ingredients like fish oil can help relieve itchy or inflamed skin as it has an anti-inflammatory effect to it. This ingredient is common in pet foods formulated for dogs with allergies.
Biotin: This B-complex vitamin helps promote healthy tissue growth.
Copper: This nutrient helps maintain hair color and keeps the coat soft and shiny.
Vitamin E: This vitamin is a natural antioxidant that helps protect your pet's skin against free radicals that could be damaging to skin cells.

However, if you've been feeding your pet a quality food with a good balance of nutrients and you still notice drier skin, dandruff flakes or dull-looking fur, it may be time to talk to your veterinarian. Your pet might need a change in food or ingredients. However, never make any changes without first talking to your vet.foo

The first thing to look for in a pet food to promote healthy skin & coat is one that is made with high-quality ingredients and promotes complete, balanced nutrition. This alone can help promote a more luxurious and luster-filled coat.If your pet is scratching a lot or has persistent skin issues, it's a good idea or talk to your veterinary to help determine the next steps. They can help determine the cause of the itch and recommend a food formulated for sensitive skin or even recommend a therapeutic food specially formulated to promote healthier skin and coats.

What Does a Healthy Coat Look Like?

What signs should you look for in a healthy coat? For starters, you should get to know your pet's unique characteristics. Be sure to do a head-to-paws check daily for both cats and dogs, and brush your pet at least once a week. For dogs, brushing more often (even daily) helps spread natural oils throughout the coat and untangle mats. Cats (and your carpet) also benefit from reduced hairballs and the cuddle time they get from being groomed.

Cats are devoted self-groomers, so an unkempt coat may be a sign your kitty isn't feeling their best. Arthritis could be preventing your cat from grooming certain spots, and a dull, greasy or matted coat can also point to health problems or a lack of essential nutrients. A stressed cat can also over-groom and end up pulling out tufts of her own fur.

Your dog doesn't bathe as often and may need a little more help to look well-groomed. The American Kennel Club has a great dog breed descriptor that can help you determine coat characteristics and clarify the maintenance needed for your dog's fur. What's normal for one breed may not be for another; a husky might need daily brushing, while your dachshund could be happy with a quick bath. Dogs with thinner, light-colored skin, like pit bull mixes, can also be more susceptible to skin irritations like sunburn, insect bites and seasonal allergies, notes Cuteness. If you have a lovable mutt, reading some guidelines for caring for short and long hair can help establish a baseline.

When brushing your cat or dog, keep an eye out for:

Clumps of fur falling out or bald patches
Dry, red or irritated skin
Sores or rough areas
Greasiness
Little black or white specks, which could be ticks or flea eggs

If none of these things appear, your pet likely has a healthy coat. However, if you do notice any of those symptoms, it's time to look deeper to determine the casue of your pet's coat issues.

Still a Head-Scratcher? Talk to Your Vet

If you notice your cat scratching their ears or your dog constantly licking themselves, it's possible something in their surroundings is causing the irritation. Fleas and ticks are a common reason for an itchy pet, as are seasonal allergies and food intolerance. As soon as the itching starts, you should also take an inventory of any new cleaning products, air fresheners, colognes or soaps that you've introduced into your house and could be irritating your pet.

Your vet will be able to look at the condition of your pet's coat and skin and determine if additional testing is needed. According to the Banfield Pet Hospital, they may even do a light skin scraping and inspect the sample under a microscope to look for bacterial infections, fungus and mites.Skin issues caused by an infection or fungus may require medications and or special shampoos.

If your vet rules out all outside factors, they may recommend reviewing the contents of your pet's current and past foods. They might suggest feeding a specialfood to determine if your pet has a food allergy, or supplementing your pet's nutrition with a missing vitamin, antioxidant or fatty acid. Since nutrition plays a key role in skin and coat health, it is important to keep your dog or cat on any special meals your vet recommends. Even if the condition improves, do not go back to other food without first discussing it with your vet. Don't spend months or years searching for a dog food for a healthy coat; get your pet to the vet early and often to manage any skin and coat issues.

You are the start of a healthy future for your pet, inside and out. Through good nutrition, proper grooming and regular vet checkups, you can keep your dog or cat's coat and skin healthy and vibrant for years.

Contributor Bio

Chrissie Klinger

Chrissie Klinger is a pet parent that enjoys sharing her home with her furkids, two of her own children and her husband. Chrissie enjoys spending time with all her family members when she is not teaching, writing or blogging. She strives to write articles that help pet owners live a more active and meaningful life with their pets.

Why Science Matters in Your Dog's Food

Healthy pets lead to happy pets. If you've ever wondered just what is in dog food, you're likely to pick the highest quality food for your four-legged friend, which is essential to many long, memorable years of companionship.

Just like with humans, meals that include balanced amounts of protein, carbohydrates, fats, oils, along with essential minerals and vitamins are key to a dog's long-term health. But unlike their human owners, dogs can't choose from an array of fruits, vegetables, meats and grains every day. Instead, dogs typically eat the same food at each meal, which is why picking a food that uses scientific research to formulate a precise balance of nutrients is important. It's also important to realize those needs change depending on your pet's life stage, size or special needs.

Serving Your Dog's Needs

Since no two dogs are exactly alike, it's important to feed your pup a food specially formulated for him and his needs. For instance, a puppy needs food that is more calorie-dense and higher in protein and fats than food for adult and senior dogs. With how fast their bodies are growing, they require high-calorie nutrition with balanced ingredients.

A large dog is more likely to develop arthritis than a smaller breed of dog. So adding ingredients like glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, both of which promote joint health, to a food like

Hill's Science Diet Adult Large Breed Dog Food, help address his needs as a larger dog that is more susceptible to mobility issues as he ages.

Dogs with certain special needs, like sensitive skin, may be able to find some relief by visiting their veterinarian and switching to certain therapeutic dog foods that are specifically designed to alleviate skin irritations through a blend of omega-3 and -6 fatty acids, vitamin E and other nutrients. These all work together to promote healthy skin and a glossy coat. Be sure to ask your vet if a therapeutic dog food is right for your dog if he suffers from a range of health conditions including weight, sensitivity, mobility and certain diseases. You can learn more about Hill's Prescription Diet products here.

Creating the Perfect Formula

So, how do companies decide what is in dog food? Quality dog food companies rely on evidence-based scientific research when it comes to developing foods with the right nutrition for your dog. Top-quality ingredients are an important part of the equation, but so is the proper balance of nutrients supplied by those ingredients. Hill's relies on more than 200 veterinarians, nutritionists and food scientists to develop products that meet a dog's nutritional needs, whatever his life stage, size or special needs. Every Hill's food goes through rigorous research, testing, and quality and safety standards before it ever hits the store shelves.

As a dog owner, you may have never considered the taste, size or texture of your dog's food, but all these factorsand moreare key to researchers as they look for ways to improve food to meet nutritional standards appropriate to a dog's health history and age. The pet food studies look at specifics like:

High quality ingredients: You might notice the list of ingredients can be similar to what's in your pantry: salmon, chicken, whole grain wheat, apples, broccoli and green peas, just to start. Companies that are interested in providing top quality dog food look for quality ingredientsmany of which are familiar to youto formulate dog food. In addition, quality dog food companies accept only ingredients from suppliers whose facilities meet stringent quality standards. Be sure to consult your veterinarian if you are wary of any ingredients that you might be feeding your pup, as they will be able to provide you with the best decision on feeding your pup. Don't automatically dismiss certain foods because of ingredients that you've heard aren't good for dogs. A lot of people think that grain is bad for dogs and is often used as a lower quality filler protein, but in actuality it is a great source of carbohydrates that can give your dog the energy he needs to play and exercise, as well as helping balance out the amino acids profile of his meal.
Nutrition: Is the food formulated correctly for a dog's needs? Minerals, for instance, are essential to dogs. Minerals work to form bone and cartilage, control nerve and muscle function, produce hormones, regulate fluid balance, and transport oxygen in the bloodstreamall important jobs! But too much of a mineral may cause catastrophic problems in a dog. Calcium, for instance, is vital to a dog's nutrition to strengthen bones and help them grow properly. But too much calcium, especially in younger, large-breed dogs, may lead to abnormal growth and development. A proper balance of ingredients is vital to your dog's overall health, similar to proper portion control of certain foods is important to your own.
Taste: Just like humans, a dog's sense of taste depends upon his taste buds. But dogs only have one-sixth of the number of taste buds as humans. A dog's nose, however, is much better than his human owner's. That's why the way something smells is much more important to a dog than how it tastes. That being said, a dog may turn up his nose at a food that doesn't smell good to him. Some dogs can be finicky eaters. Researchers and nutritionists try to develop a food that appeals to a wide variety of dogs.
Size: How much pressure does it take for a dog to crush a kibble? Is the kibble density appropriate for each life stage? You don't want a senior dog with worn and loosened teeth, for instance, chewing on the same formula as a young dog with puppy-sharp teeth. The overall size of the kibble is important too as smaller dogs will struggle to chew on to large of pieces of kibble, and larger dogs may end up swallowing small kibble without chewing. You can often find kibble formulated specifically for your size of dog to ensure it meets his needs.
Texture: Since you're not eating it, you might not realize how much texture matters to a dog. But think about how important the texture of a food is when you eat it. Perhaps you like your noodles al dente, not squishy. Or maybe you avoid eating peaches because of the texture of their fuzzy skin. The texture of dog food can be especially important if the dog is a picky eater. Researchers look at the hardness, smoothness, cohesiveness, and elasticity of a foodall of which may make a difference in a dog's decision to eat.
Digestion: Dogs have to be able to digest the food properly in order to receive the necessary nutrients. But owners also don't want dogs reacting badly to the food, like getting an upset stomach. A food that is easy for a dog to digest is essential for his comfort and health.

You should understand the vital role nutrition plays for your dog, because the food you choose can transform your pet's life and give you a chance at many years of happiness together. Just like you want to eat delicious food that keeps you healthy, you should be purchasing dog food that keeps your pup happy and feeling his best. Dog food manufacturers that put time, scientific research and testing, and passion into their product are the ones that you should be looking for. If they are willing to take the amount of time and effort into making their food it shows that they care about what they do, and that they want to ensure the best dog food for your dog.