Dull coat in dogs and cats

A shiny coat not only looks beautiful, it also looks well cared for. Many people associate a shiny coat with a dog or cat being in good health. This often leads to the condition of the coat being perceived in public as a reflection of health. Since the coat is particularly important for our dogs, you should pay attention to it and keep a close eye on its condition. After all, the coat not only protects our four-legged darlings from the weather and environmental influences, but can also indicate diseases and deficiencies. In today's blog post, we explain which typical characteristics you should look out for and when a visit to the vet is essential.

Causes of dull coat

Dull fur in dogs and cats or bald patches on the skin can be the first indication of poor health. Coat problems are always an indication that the dog or cat has health problems. The most common causes of dull fur are malnutrition or incorrect grooming. A lack of nutrients, unnecessary additives in the food and too little meat can lead to vitamin and mineral deficiencies.  

For your dog's coat to be healthy, it is important that you give your pet a balanced diet. A lack of water can also cause your pet's skin to dry out or become flaky. The quality of the coat suffers greatly from lack of water. For this reason, it is incredibly important to feed your pet a species-appropriate diet. We also recommend regular check-ups.

Within the framework of the needs-based nutrition, coat care should not be neglected. It is particularly important at times of coat change. Regular grooming not only removes dirt and dead skin scales, but also hair. Due to the massage function of regular brushing, blood circulation is stimulated, which leads to the skin being able to regenerate even better.  

When you brush your dog's or cat's coat regularly, you promote blood circulation and ensure that you regularly distribute sebum and natural skin oils over the skin and in the coat of your four-legged friend. Loose hairs can be removed just as easily. During the coat change, however, you should comb and brush your dog especially often. Only through regular combing and brushing can you detect ecto- and endoparasites at an early stage.  

Ectoparasites are parasites that infest your dog's coat from the outside. Mites, hair lice and fleas are ectoparasites. The coat condition and behaviour of your pet can indicate an infestation. In contrast to ectoparasites, endoparasites attack your pet from the inside. They include worms, for example. 

However, a dull coat can also indicate an organic disease and should therefore always be examined by a specialist. Hormone imbalances and thyroid disorders of any kind can be the cause of a dull coat. Allergies as well as any kind of incorrect food utilisation can also lead to your beloved four-legged friend's coat not having a healthy shine. Very sensitive animals can also react to stress with negative skin and coat changes.