Probably, any person likes the way dogs from advertising look. There they are active, joyful and very beautiful, with shiny silky fur. Meanwhile, the axiom directly connecting beauty and health is valid not only in relation to people - pets are also no exception.
In order for your dog’s coat to be just as luxurious, you need to give it enough effort and money. For this it is important:
- Diet.
- Health (especially the health of the skin and gastrointestinal tract, as well as the presence of genetic defects).
- Physiological state.
- Conditions of detention.
- Regular adequate care of the dog’s coat and skin (frequency of brushing and washing, properly selected items and hair care products).
But that's all in general. The purpose of this article is to reveal when a dog needs additional vitamins, minerals, their complex preparations and dietary supplements in order for its coat to be beautiful, healthy and attractive. And of course how to choose exactly what you need.
In order to figure out whether our dog needs an additional source of vitamins and minerals, we must first analyze its condition. Everyone knows how a healthy dog should look and behave, but only professionals know how coat problems manifest themselves.
Signs of a lack of nutrients
- Dryness and inelasticity of the skin.
- The coat is dry, disheveled, dull (except during the molting period).
- The presence of frequent local inflammatory foci on the skin, dermatitis (inflammation of the deep layers of the skin).
- Alopecia (baldness) complete or patchy.
- Persistent itching.
If you find one or more of these signs in your dog, then this is a reason to contact a veterinarian, because such symptoms are also suitable for some other diseases. Professional diagnosis is required.
The best drugs for hair loss
Usually the veterinarian himself recommends this or that drug, but sometimes it happens that the veterinary pharmacy does not have the required one in stock. Then the seller can offer a number of other vitamin and mineral complexes to choose from.
Unfortunately, the cost of drugs is constantly changing, so we did not list them. In order to find out the current prices, we recommend going to the website of a good online store, for example Zoomarket, where all this is available in full range. Let's look at the most common ones.
Phytocalcevitis
Vitamin and mineral complex for dogs. One of the most inexpensive preparations based on meat and bone meal.
Includes essential vitamins and microelements. Great for dogs of all ages and breeds. Easy to dose and introduced into the diet as a course. Cons – it comes in powder form, which is not always convenient.
8 in 1 Excel Brewers Yeast with yeast
Complex vitamin and mineral preparation made in Germany. In addition to vitamins and microelements, the composition includes brewer's yeast as a biological additive. This is an additional source of B vitamins, but not in pure form, but in the form of provitamins. This provides a longer and more pronounced effect. Available in tablet form. The “Exhel 8 in 1” line includes complexes adapted for different ages of dogs and different breeds (puppies, juniors, adult dogs, nursing bitches, older dogs, small breeds, large breeds).
Phytoelite
Russian veterinary drug based on raw materials from medicinal herbs. The action is herbal medicine, more like a dietary supplement.
The line has three directions - “Clean Skin” (for improving coat, treating non-contagious skin diseases), “Healthy Kidneys” (for diseases of the kidneys and bladder) and “Metastop” and “Cytostat” (for oncology, for the prevention of metastases and neoplasms mammary glands). Release form: tablets. There is a direction for dogs and cats, and division by age groups.
Anivital CaniDerm Tabs
An excellent complex drug with a narrow targeted action. Country of origin: Germany. The drug is intended directly for dogs with problem skin and coat, allergic dermatitis. The composition is dominated by purified brewer's yeast (at least 30%), fatty acids, biotin, and plant extracts.
Anivital CaniDerm Tabs is available in tablet form and is intended for continuous long-term use. Dog breeders note that with systemic use in dogs, the condition of the skin improves, age-related changes become less pronounced, the coat again becomes soft and pliable, and ceases to be dull and dry. It is also noted that taking Anivital CaniDerm Tabs has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the heart and blood vessels - the dog becomes more active.
Quantum Sherstevit (suitable for molting)
Russian budget vitamin complex preparation, very old and time-tested. Available in tablets, suitable for all dogs (and cats) from nine weeks of age.
The only contraindication is individual intolerance. The preparation contains vitamins B1, biotin S, Ca, essential amino acids, seaweed meal.
Used to normalize metabolic processes and the functioning of the immune system. It has a very positive effect on seasonal molting - the process is much faster and easier. Sherstevit also improves the skin, relieves it from dryness, makes it more elastic and increases its barrier function.
Polydex Super wool plus
Russian multivitamin complex. Contains vit. gr. "B", vit. “C”, a set of amino acids necessary for skin and coat. Available in tablets, it can be introduced into the diet as an additional source of vitamins from the 1st month. Suitable for daily use for a long time.
Brewers 8 in 1 with brewer's yeast
A good vitamin and mineral complex made in the USA. In composition and method of use it is very similar to “8 in 1” Excel Brewers Yeast with yeast” (see above).
Beaphar Vit Total, Beaphar Laveta Super
The Beaphar brand belongs to the Netherlands. It has long occupied a strong place among the leaders in the Russian veterinary market.
Beaphar Vit Total, Beaphar Laveta Super is a complex of vitamins in liquid form. In addition to vitamins, the composition includes amino acids and some microelements. The drug has virtually no odor and is convenient because it can be added to drinking water or food. Very effective when the dog sheds, prevents dry skin, makes it elastic.
Canina Petvital Derm Caps (for hair growth)
A complex of vitamins for skin and coat, made in Germany, in the form of capsules with an oily composition inside. The capsules should be opened and the contents poured into the dog's food. A liquid form of this drug is also available. The composition includes a complex of Omega fatty acids and linoleic acid.
Canina Petvital Derm Caps help very well to restore all impaired metabolic processes in the skin and the growth of healthy hair. After 1 month of use, the hair and skin are completely restored.
Hokamix Skin & Shine (for skin)
German veterinary drug for skin and coat restoration based on oil. It contains linoleic, stearic, palmitic, oleic, arachidonic acids, extracts of African and American nuts.
Quite an expensive drug, but it justifies its price. After the first course, problems with dry skin go away for a very long time, or even irrevocably. The coat becomes smooth and silky.
Canvit biotin
Czech vitamin and mineral complex for adult dogs. The composition includes (in descending order) biotin, Zn, B2, niacin, Ca. Available in tablet form. Helps in caring for the dog's skin and coat.
How to understand that a dog needs vitamins?
It can be difficult to determine what a dog needs, so it is recommended to carefully observe what it picks up on the street and how it changes in appearance. The most informative signal is behavior, as well as changes in the dog’s activity depending on the time of day. If there is reason to believe that the animal has changed, you should select nutritional supplements; in addition to them, you can give dog vitamins for coat and skin.
If a dog actively chews on objects containing lime, he does not have enough calcium. Such items include:
A lack of calcium is dangerous for a dog’s body, as it leads to undesirable consequences:
- Tooth decay.
- Brittle bones.
- Decreased immunity.
If the pet has a strong attraction to shoe insoles and soles, the dog experiences a lack of B vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxine and others). Pets often chew cigarette butts, in which case the four-legged dog suffers from a deficiency of vitamin P. When the dog ingests its own excrement, the dog’s body lacks cyanocobalamin or vitamin B12.
A lack of vitamins can be determined by external signs. If the beautiful coat, shimmering with a healthy shine, becomes dry and brittle, the four-legged body lacks vitamin A. Additionally, the animal’s watery eyes will indicate this. It is imperative to monitor the development of the bones of a growing dog. In the case of “X-shaped” development of the hind limbs, the dog lacks vitamin D.
To correctly complete the course of fortification, it is recommended to consult a veterinarian. It is necessary to strictly adhere to the dosage of vitamins for dogs against hair loss and other signs of vitamin deficiency. Treatment should be accompanied by a balanced diet for the dog: he needs food rich in nutrients, this can be different types of dry food and natural products.
Contraindications and precautions
As you can see, there are a lot of veterinary drugs to improve the quality of wool and improve the health of the skin. There are exclusively vitamin complexes, some vitamin-mineral ones, some based on extracts and extracts from medicinal herbs, and some based on oils. The latter are usually from the more expensive category.
When choosing such a drug, you must remember that your dog does not have an intolerance to any components of its composition. The second important point - be careful, do not overdose, this can lead to poisoning!
The most effective means of enhanced impact
These vitamins are most often used by dog breeders who prepare their pets for exhibitions or other international competitions. In addition, the veterinarian may recommend the use of these medications if the dog has lost a lot of weight, has undergone major surgery, or has a completely weakened immune system.
Thus, these remedies very actively strengthen the body’s own strength and enable it to independently cope with the disease . And, as you know, if the immune system is very weakened, then the hair begins to fade and fall out very actively.
However, despite all these recommendations and the positive description of such very active vitamins, only a veterinarian should decide on their appropriate use. This is due to the fact that these complexes are quite strong and can not only be beneficial, but also, if used unwisely, significantly harm the animal.
Only a highly qualified specialist who will first examine and diagnose the animal can select the right set of vitamins for dogs.
Reviews
Marina, 28 years old, Luga
We have two Norwich Terriers of a respectable age - 9 years old. During this period of life, such dogs especially require vitamins and minerals. We eat Royal Canin, but we still feed them vitamins at least twice a year, when the seasonal molting takes place. Usually this is Excel 8 in 1.
Natalya, 30 years old, Moscow
I have an English spaniel, I feed him natural food. We had a food allergy and the veterinarian prescribed us Phytoelita. It turned out to be inexpensive and effective. As soon as they started giving it to the dog, all allergies became a thing of the past.
Olga, 48 years old, Nizhnekamsk
We got ourselves a Toy Terrier. He is, of course, cute, small, very pretty. But he turned out to be very capricious when it comes to food – he won’t eat regular dry food and loves to beg. The result is that it itches all the time. We went to the vet and it turned out to be a food allergy. Now we are on a diet, but we compensate for vitamins and minerals with 8 in 1 Excel Multi Vitamin Small Breed. It’s a little expensive, of course, but it’s small and the consumption is small, so you don’t have to buy vitamins often.
Pavel, 42, Yaroslavl
I breed Shetland Sheepdogs Sheltie. Of course, there are a lot of expenses for them, especially when you want to get decent offspring. Therefore, I try to save so that it doesn’t come at a cost. Our veterinarian recommended the Kanina vitamin complex. It’s also not cheap, but I’m not afraid of making mistakes in feeding them - vitamins perfectly “even out” the diet and the dogs always look dignified and attractive. The offspring have not yet failed either)).
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