From RUFF to Radiant

By Jenni Davies

A glossy mane, supple skin, shiny eyes, sparkling smiles… SA’s next top model? Guess again. Whether your pet has long, luscious locks or looks like a Karoo tumbleweed, healthy skin and fur are the goal of every pet owner. And they’re key to overall healthcare. Dull fur, dryness, itchy skin, and lacklustre noses aren’t just about looks, they leave our pets feeling far from their fabulous selves and may even signal underlying conditions.

Fortunately, with tip-top care, good nutrition, regular grooming, and science-backed supplementation, you can restore your furry family member’s royal glow, inside and out.

WHAT CAUSES SKIN PROBLEMS?
There are many causes of skin problems in cats and dogs, including:

Genetics

Certain breeds, like Labradors, Retrievers, are more prone to allergies, sensitivities, or naturally drier or oilier skin.

Colour

Animals with white or light coats and pink skin tend to be more sensitive.

Skin

Wrinkled and flat-faced dogs like Bulldogs and Shar-Peis and cats like Persians can develop irritation and fungal or bacterial infection in skin folds. Hairless breeds are more prone to oiliness and acne.

Immune function

A healthy immune system keeps skin defences strong. A knock to immunity (illness, stress, parasites, poor nutrition) can make your pet more susceptible to irritation, infection, and allergies.

Allergies

Seasonal pollen or spores, dust mites, flea allergy, and foods can trigger inflammation and itching. These tend to worsen during spring and summer.

Parasites

Mite infestation (mange) and fleas create extreme skin irritation and itching.

Fungi

Ringworm (a fungus, not a worm) causes a circular, crusty bald patches, while overgrowth of Malassezia yeast leads to smelly, itchy, thickened skin (often in the ears).

Exposure

Continuously being in the elements, sun, wind, and heat can damage skin and fur (common in rescued animals).

Skin damage

Excessive bathing and shaving, strong chemicals, sunburn, injuries or contact with irritants make it easy for irritation and infection to set in.

Malnutrition

A poor diet, low in nutrients or not suited to the species, affects immune function and doesn’t provide skin-supportive nourishment. Chronic dehydration also impacts skin.

Age

Older pets, especially cats, often don’t groom themselves as well, and have oil imbalances and brittle coats.

Disease states

Some serious conditions can show up in skin, requiring veterinary treatment, such as endocrine disorders like underactive thyroid or Cushing’s disease, and autoimmune diseases like pemphigus and lupus.

About allergies

The most common causes of skin troubles are atopic dermatitis (around 50% of skin cases) and flea allergy dermatitis (up to 40%). The latter is triggered by reaction to flea saliva, and the former by environmental allergens like pollen, grass, and mould, or proteins in chicken or beef. These cause intense itching – your pet may scratch or bite at themselves to ease the itch, sometimes to the point of drawing blood or pulling out fur. If left untreated, skin can become thickened, greyish, and scaly, resembling elephant hide.

Allergies happen when your pet’s immune system mistakes harmless substances such as allergens for threats and goes on the defensive, telling the body to release inflammatory chemicals like histamine to evict the “danger”. And that’s what causes the redness, itching, swelling, and inflammation. This further compromises the skin barrier, resulting in a vicious circle of irritation and inflammation, sometimes followed by secondary bacterial and fungal infections.

Protecting skin from within

Skin is the largest organ in the body and it’s critical for keeping out potentially dangerous nasties like bacteria, viruses, and fungi (pathogens). To do so, it relies on a strong skin barrier. The protective shield keeping moisture in and irritants and pathogens out. (Like paint protects your house’s walls.)

Aside from shielding the skin barrier from physical damage through injury, harsh shampoos, and parasites, skin must be nourished from the inside to keep it healthy. Essential fatty acids, particularly omega 3 (EPA and DHA) and 6 (especially GLA), are powerful skincare ingredients to keep the skin barrier intact. Found in oily fish, like pilchards and salmon and seeds like hemp or flax, these have been shown to support the skin barrier and help moisturise and nourish from the inside. Omega 6s are needed to form ceramides, lipids (fats) strengthening the skin’s outer layer, while omega 3s are shown to have natural anti-inflammatory action and can help calm redness, itching, and dryness. Other nutrients needed for a healthy skin barrier include B vitamins (meat, chicken, brewer’s yeast), vitamin A (eggs), zinc (seeds), and vitamin C (vegetables and fruit).

Including these in your pet’s diet is helpful but often challenging as many animals are fussy, allergic, or simply don’t get enough of these nutrients through food alone. For dogs, supplementing with products like Efazol and Efazol Plus can lend a helping paw. Hypoallergenic veterinary diets can also be helpful.

From crown to paws, every pet deserves to feel beautifully healthy. A healthy skin and coat makes for a happier pet which is truly, the best glow-up for furry royalty.

GREAT GROOMING TIPS

• Start slowly. Get them used to grooming by regularly gently touching ears, face, paws, etc., and gradually introducing brushes and baths – while lavishing them with praise and treats.
• Tame the tangles (and reduce free-flying floof). Long-haired pets should be brushed daily; short-coated pets weekly. Use the right tools such as bristle brushes for short coats, undercoat rakes for thick double coats, and slickers for longer hair.
• Keep claws tidy. Sometimes pets need “pedicures”, but, unlike us, animals have blood vessels and nerves in their nails, the quick. This hurts and bleeds if cut, so unless you’re trained, call a pro for clipping help.
• Clean eyes and ears. Wipe gently with a warm, wet cloth and never poke into their ears. Only clean what you can see.
• Bath as needed. Unless they’ve done a mud run or have a skin condition, dogs and cats don’t need baths. Monthly is plenty, if at all. And always use pet-friendly shampoo. Too-frequent baths and “people products” (even baby shampoo) strip protective natural oils and damage the skin barrier.
• Match cleansers with needs.
  For example, hypoallergenic for sensitive skin, detangling for longer coats, insect repellent for outdoorsy pets, or foam shampoos for no-rinse cleaning.
• Look deeper. Take the opportunity to check for lumps and bumps, sore spots, or unwelcome hitchhikers like ticks and fleas.
• Call in the pros. Many pets do best with professional groomers. Ensure they use only gentle, force-free methods so ask vets and fellow pet parents for referrals.