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The
old saying “you can’t judge a book by its cover” does not apply when it
comes to our pets. A shiny coat of fur on your pet can tell a lot about
its general well being.
Virtually every illness or stress can
affect the appearance of your pet’s coat, especially its luster and
texture. This is especially so when the illness is chronic or
long-standing. Some of the more common examples of diseases that can
affect your pet’s coat include hormone imbalances such as thyroid
conditions, digestive disturbances such as chronic diarrhea, parasites,
both internal (intestinal worms) and external (fleas, ticks, mange
mites). Many skin conditions will affect both the shininess and the
appearance of your pet’s fur. Allergic skin disease and seborrhea cause
itching and changes in the normal production of skin oils, resulting in
dullness and excessive shedding, either in patches or over the entire
body. Serious diseases such as cancer frequently cause the coat to
become dull and thin.
In some cases, a pet’s coat may become
unkempt in appearance because it is difficult or painful to groom. For
example, the first clue that an elderly cat has arthritis is often that
the pet no longer grooms her back legs or her back because it is too
painful to try and reach these areas.
Nutrition plays a big
part in general health and often the quality of the food a dog or cat
eats is reflected in its skin and coat appearance. A well-balanced
diet that contains the correct ratio of highly digestible proteins,
fats, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins is necessary to maintain
overall health of your pet. All pet foods are definitely not created
equal, a fact that has become increasingly clear over the past year.
Labels can be misleading and confusing to the average consumer. For
instance, just because a label shows that a product contains a high
percentage of protein, it doesn’t mean that the actual protein
contained in the product is actually DIGESTIBLE to that pet. A poorly
digestible protein will not be available to the body for energy or for
manufacturing new tissues, and will put an excessive load on the liver
and kidneys, which must eliminate the indigestible waste products.
Nutrition also plays an important role in managing some of the diseases
that can secondarily affect your pet’s coat. In all cases, quality and
balance are the keys to good nutrition; we can recommend the optimal
formulation and brand to help maintain your pet’s health and
well-being.
The take home message that you should get is that
your pet’s general coat appearance may be the first indicator of health
or disease. A healthy animal will have a shiny coat that is free from
matts and does not shed excessively. Before reaching for the bottle of
shampoo, think about whether that lackluster coat could be telling you
something else. If you have any concerns, contact our office for a
consultation. Early intervention is the key to treating almost every
condition.
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