Healthy Pet Tips

Skin & Coat Problems?

What are symptoms of Skin & Coat Problems?

      Scratching, biting and licking due to itchy skin

      Skin redness

      Hair loss

      Hot Spots

      Dull, flaky or greasy coat

What Causes Skin & Coat Issues?

   Environmental Irritations

   Nutritional Deficiencies

   Parasites

   Allergies

   Poor Grooming

How can we help our pets?

Food Suggestions

    Nutritional deficiencies and food allergens are some of the most common causes of poor skin and coat.

•    Pets need diets which are meat based with high quality ingredients. This means more than a formula that reads “complete & balanced.”  Look for meats as the first items on the ingredient panel.
• Wheat, corn, and soy are very common allergens in a pet’s diet. These ingredients along with diets which are very heavy in grains can be very problematic, although a pet could be allergic to any single ingredient. If a food allergen is suspected, look for a diet that has few ingredients or is grain free. Ohio Pet Chef is a simple formula with high quality ingredients. Bravo offers raw single protein formulas, Pinnacle, Holistic and Wysong offer high quality single source kibble formulas and high quality grain free diets. All these foods are available at Bath & Biscuits and Ohio Pet Chef. Changes from a pet’s diet may take 6-8 weeks to see results.

Environmental Considerations

    Environmental irritations also take time to diagnose. Consulting your veterinarian is advised to help determine the possibility of allergies to dusts or pollens. Taking inventory of any recent changes to your pet’s environment such as new carpet or paying attention to the time of the year will help solve the mystery.

    Parasites such as fleas may also cause skin irritations. While not all pets are allergic to them, flea bites cause itching which will cause the pet to bite and scratch further irritating the skin. A clean pet is a happy and healthy pet. Bi-weekly and monthly bathing with a natural flea deterring shampoo will deter pesky fleas and ticks. A healthy diet, however, is one of the best defensives toward fleas. If fleas are suspect or found, contact us for a safe, natural method to remove fleas.

    The skin is the largest organ a pet has and also the most sensitive organ when it comes to topical irritations. Remember to watch the topical products used such as the shampoo for grooming. Bath & Biscuits only uses all natural, botanical and herbal products which are free of parabens, harsh cleansers and perfumes. Our products are safe for you and your pet which allow for thorough cleaning without the worry of harsh irritants.

Supplement Considerations

    Essential Fatty Acids, also known as Omega 3’s and Omega 6’s are important nutrients for the skin and coat. Bath & Biscuits & Ohio Pet Chef carries high quality Fish Oils high is essential fatty acids.

    Although most skin and coat problems are not emergencies, they do indicate the pet is not feeling well. It is important to get an accurate diagnosis so always consult your veterinarian for proper treatment. 

(Thank you to Wholesome Pet Dist. for their contribution 2010 © BNB Copyrights Reserved)