By David Morgan

The importance of nutrition to skin and coat health

Pet owners, breeders and veterinarians frequently use skin and coat condition as a means for assessing the overall health of a cat or dog. As more concerned pet owners incorporate high quality nutrition as a critical cornerstone of their pet's overall health care, it is frequently reported that an improvement in their pet's coat is one of the first changes they see after switching to a high quality premium pet food.

How does a high-quality diet impact skin and coat? The interaction of numerous nutrients, specifically protein, fat and certain vitamins and minerals influences the skin and coat health of dogs and cats. Nutrition also plays a key role in canine sebum secretion and studies show that dogs' consumption of a high-quality diet increases the sebaceous glands' production of the oils in sebum that are essential to the appearance of a healthy coat. Dogs fed high quality diets will also have more epidermal moisture, feature associated with less dandruff.

However, one of the most exciting developments within our understanding skin and coat health over the last 10 years concerns the use of dietary fatty acids for promoting healthy skin and coat and reducing skin inflammation in cats and dogs.

The importance of balance

Most commercial dog and cat diets contain more than adequate amounts of omega-6 fatty acids such as linoleic acid, important for achieving and maintaining a full, glossy coat. Since these fatty acid can be converted to compounds that increase susceptibility to skin inflammation it is important to balance them with omega-3 fatty acids which reduce the susceptibility to inflammation.

Omega-3 fatty acids that are commonly used include eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexanoic acid found in certain types of fish oil. Alpha –linolenic acid found in some plants such as linseed (flax) is also used. Exciting findings from the lams Company showed that it is not the amount, but rather a precise balance of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids that is important.

Vitamin or Mineral    Importance to Skin and Coat Health

Vitamin A                   Necessary for growth and repair of skin

Vitamin E                  Protects skin cells from oxidative and free radical damage

Vitamin C                  Helps heal wounds

Biotin                       Aids in the utilisation of protein

Riboflavin(B2)           Necessary for fat and protein metabolism

Zinc                        Necessary for fat and protein metabolism

Copper                    Involved in tissue, pigment and protein synthesis

Supplying a dietary fatty acid balance (or ratio) of between five and ten omega-6 fatty acid of between five and ten omega-6 fatty acids to every one omega-3 fatty acid  promotes healthy skin and coat by reducing skin inflammation. All dry Eukanuba and lams cat and dog foods are formulated with this carefully adjusted balance.

Fatty acid supplementation may aggravate dogs prone to pancreatitis (an inflammatory disease of the pancreas) and adversities due to excessive levels of omega-3 fatty acids may include platelet abnormality and bleeding disorders. Feeding a balanced diet containing the optimal ratio is the best approach in the care and maintenance of a lustrous coat as this allows precise control of omega-6 and omega –3 fatty acid ratios and levels while preventing the risk of imbalance or over-supplementation.

Finally, vitamins and minerals such as zinc, copper, vitamin A and E and the B-complex, are also essential for the development of a healthy skin and coat and the best way to provide these nutrients is through a complete and balanced diet containing the appropriate amounts of vitamins and minerals rather than by adding supplements to their diet.

Normal Skin flakes

Dermscope* image of the skin form a dog fed with the correct fatty acid balance. There are very few skin flakes on the skin and around the hairs, this is representative of healthy skin.

Excessive Skin flakes

Dermscope*image of the skin from a dog fed without the correct fatty acid balance. There is presence of excessive skin flakes on the skin and around the hairs.

*Dermscope: this is non-invasive technology that allows you to take high powered images of the skin and hair.

PETS International Magazine Issue 5,2004.