🐶 The Dog’s Coat: A Health Indicator and Essential Care

Your dog may shed hair everywhere—especially during seasonal moults—but how rewarding it is to hear someone say: “What a beautiful coat!”

Beyond appearance, a dog’s coat is a key indicator of health. Its look, texture, and even smell often reveal the animal’s overall condition.

🐕‍🦺 The Role of the Coat

Short, long, double, or water-adapted coats—all types protect against cold, heat, rain, and external aggressions. The coat renews itself continuously, with peak shedding in spring and autumn.

🧭 What the Coat Reveals

• Soft, shiny coat → balanced, well-adapted nutrition.
• Dull, dry coat → inadequate diet or digestive issues.
• Excessive shedding → possible allergy, parasites, or hormonal imbalance.
• Strong odor, greasy coat → dermatological or hormonal disorder.

🩺 Odin’s Example

Our dog Odin suffers from atopic dermatitis, which caused a greasy, strong-smelling coat. Thanks to the follow-up by the Gatavet veterinary clinic (Langogne) and a tailored diet, his coat and overall health have greatly improved: everything is connected!

🧴 Coat Care

• Regular brushing (weekly or daily depending on coat type)
• Dog-specific shampoo
• Thorough drying after bathing
• Diet rich in omega-3 and omega-6
• Veterinary consultation if problems persist

🩺 When in Doubt

A dog’s coat reflects its internal health. In cases of abnormal hair loss, odor, or itching, consult your veterinarian and note your observations to aid diagnosis.