The 6 Essential Nutrients Your Dog Needs for a Healthy Coat and Skin

Your dog’s coat and skin are often the first things you notice about them, which is why it’s easy to see when they need some TLC. To keep your dog happy and healthy, there are five essential nutrients they need in their diet to support their coat and skin health. Let’s take a look at what those nutrients are, how you can get them into your dog’s food, and what common problems associated with a lack of these nutrients look like so you can identify them.

1) Omega 3 Fatty Acids

The secret to healthy skin is simple: omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s help keep your dog’s coat looking shiny, fluffy, and smooth by lubricating skin cells. And did you know omega-3s can also help repair damage to your dog’s outer layer? Be sure to include good sources of omega-3 fatty acids in your dog’s diet on a daily basis. Salmon, sardines, eggs, cheese—even pork and chicken—are great options. Ask your vet if fish oil supplements are right for your pup. You may want to add some salmon oil or cod liver oil to his food once or twice a week as well. Keep in mind that while fish oil can provide plenty of omega-3s, it doesn’t contain vitamin D or A—so you may want to consider adding these vitamins separately.

2) Zinc

This mineral supports skin cell renewal. It also plays an important role in ensuring the proper development of new skin cells. There are many sources of zinc, but one good choice is red meat because it is readily absorbed by dogs in their stomachs. Just keep in mind that too much zinc can be toxic to your dog so only give him food containing zinc when directed by your veterinarian.

3) Vitamin E

Vitamin E is an essential vitamin that dogs need in their diet. You’ll find it in leafy greens, peanuts, almonds, wheat germ oil, butterfat, or egg yolks. Too much Vitamin E can be toxic to your dog though so check with your vet first.

4) Selenium

This essential nutrient is vital to your dog’s skin, fur, liver, kidneys, and heart. Without it, immune health suffers—which can make your pup more susceptible to bacterial infections like kennel cough. It also acts as an antioxidant that helps keep free radicals from damaging cells in your dog’s body. Selenium can be found in nuts, seeds, meat products (particularly fish), legumes (peas), whole grains (like brown rice), and eggs.

5) Calcium

Calcium is essential to help your dog’s body maintain its muscle tone, blood circulation, nerve conduction, and many other important functions. A deficiency in calcium could lead to weak muscles as well as arthritis. Studies have also shown that dogs with a diet low in calcium may have an increased chance of developing osteoarthritis. Talk to your vet about how much calcium your dog needs depending on his weight or take him in for periodic checkups. You can get calcium from dairy products like milk and cheese, green leafy vegetables like spinach, or sardines packed in water. Most dry dog foods contain at least some amount of calcium so you should look for one that has a good amount of it listed among its ingredients. You can also buy supplements if you want to make sure your dog gets enough calcium even if he doesn’t eat many dairy products.

6) Vitamin D

As people, we get most of our vitamin D from exposure to direct sunlight. Dogs aren’t that lucky: even in areas with plenty of sunshine, their coats limit how much skin can absorb those life-giving rays. Supplementing your dog’s diet with an appropriate dose of vitamin D is just one way to make sure he gets enough—and you want your dog to get enough of everything, right?