What supplement will help a dog develop a shiny coat?
What can I put in my dog's food to give him a nice shiny coat? I don't want to change his food. I just want to add something. Can I use vegetable oil, olive oil, or raw eggs?
In order to have a nice shiny coat it is necessary to provide your pet with a good quality diet. In general, supplementation is not necessary; however, in some cases adding an omega fatty acid supplement can do great things for a dry, brittle hair coat. These nutritional measures take a minimum of 10 to 12 weeks to start making a difference in the appearance of the skin and even longer for the hair coat.
You should speak to your veterinarian about which product he or she recommends and how much you should give your dog. It is best to use a fatty acid supplement that is formulated to enhance coat appearance rather than just adding oil to the food. These commercial products provide a balance of fatty acids that are optimized to use a minimum amount for the maximum effect. Excessive oil in the diet can lead to loose stools and obesity. Additionally, you should not give raw eggs to your dog.
Raw eggs may be contaminated with Salmonella, which can cause a serious infection. Additionally, egg whites also contain a protein called avidin that binds biotin, part of the B vitamin complex; feeding raw eggs may result in a vitamin B deficiency that could be detrimental to your dog's health.
Dear Dr. Voynick,
I wanted to apprise you of Charlie’s status. Now 11 days after his stem cell procedure, he is doing fantastic! Exactly 5 days post stem cell procedure, changes started to occur. Since then, and visible on a daily basis, Charlie’s whole attitude has become increasingly more positive. He is vibrant and really, really happy. Each day he seems stronger and more easily able to get around, taking 1 – 2 walks a day on his own volition. I can’t wait to show you the pictures. His suture area is almost not even visible anymore. He has been eating with a great deal more enthusiasm. My husband and I agree that Charlie has had noticeable improvement and seems to be getting a bit “younger by the day”. He is doing the stairs more easily too and oh yes, that sore on his back paw is almost completely healed. Pretty unbelievable results overall for a 14 year old!
Hope you are very well,
Leslie
