Giving Proper Care for a Dog’s Coat

A dog’s coat has two layers. The first layer is called the outer coat and the second one is called the undercoat. The outer coat is longer and darker in color. It is also thinner and straighter than the undercoat. The undercoat is particularly thick and it protects the dog from dust and other types of impurities in the environment.

It is important to care for a dog’s coat properly. Failure to brush a dog’s hair regularly would cause its hair to get tangled. Although a dog’s outer coat hardly ever gets tangled, neglecting to bathe and brush the dog’s hair properly might cause it to get tangled as well. There are two solutions to a dog’s tangled hair: one is to comb or brush it until it straightens, and the other is to cut off the tangled hair. Cutting off tangled hair is actually a better solution as brushing might hurt your dog.

Some dogs naturally shed their coats occasionally, but sometimes, it’s not quite a good sign when dogs lose hair. When dogs itch and scratch or bite themselves, they cause their hair to fall off. In case you are unsure as to why your dog loses hair, it is best to get your veterinarian’s professional opinion.
You can start properly caring for your dog’s coat by getting pet shampoo that would match your dog’s coat type. There are shampoos which can be used specifically on dogs with thin and long hair, and there are those which can be used for dogs with thick and short hair. You can even get some oils and vitamins that would help enhance your dog’s coat.

When brushing your dog’s hair, try to brush in the direction to which its coat naturally grows. This way, you’ll get to remove only worn, damaged hair and dirt, and at the same time refrain from inflicting pain on your dog as you brush.