The following vitamins and nutrients for skin and hair health may already be a part of your diet. But humans aren’t the only animals in the kingdom who pay any mind to their skin and hair. That’s why each one of the foods and minerals featured in this article is an ingredient in one or more AvoDerm Natural® pet food recipes. Keep reading to find out how you can promote healthy skin and hair through a hearty and wholesome diet for your dog or cat.
What to eat for healthy skin and hair:
Lean-meat proteins
Lean meats such as chicken, turkey, and tuna provide the body with amino acids that can produce several types of proteins. One of the most important proteins for hair and skin nutrition is keratin, which forms the hair, skin, nails, teeth, and claws on mammals.
Without enough keratin production, people and pet hair tends to grow more slowly, and with weaker strands in its place. That’s why it’s important to enrich your pet’s diet with healthy and varied sources of lean proteins that contribute to the AvoDerm Natural® rotational diet.
Healthy Fats
Skin cell membranes are composed of omega-3 fatty acids, found in both flaxseed and avocados. These healthy fats help to produce oils in the scalp and hair that promote normal skin and hair hydration. Omega-3s are most commonly found in fatty fish such as salmon, herring, or tuna.
Dogs and cats are unable to synthesize linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid that supports brain function, energy production, and skin and coat health. Luckily, a wet dog or cat food formula with a fish-based protein will offer both healthy fats and moisture. These vitamins and nutrients can support healthy skin and hair with a defense against dryness. Check out the AvoDerm Natural® Grain-Free Tuna & Crab Entrée in Gravy for kittens and adult cats, and treat your pretty kitty to a variety of tasty proteins in every bite.
Antioxidants
Vitamin C supports healthy skin with a foundational defense against UV rays, as well as other unstable molecules in the environment. Meanwhile, vitamin E supports healthy hair by promoting the growth of capillaries that increase blood flow to hair follicles. Both of these essential antioxidants can be found in tasty and smooth avocado oil, the key ingredient in every AvoDerm Natural® pet food recipe.
B-vitamins
Biotin, also known as vitamin B7, promotes skin health through the production of fatty acids that, in turn, maintain the strength and integrity of hair and skin cells. Meanwhile, vitamin B6 supports the breakdown and storage of glucose in the body, which helps to ensure that your cells remain energized and nourished. Lastly, vitamin B12 supports skin moisture and normal pigmentation.
These healthy B-vitamins for skin and hair can be found in a number of tasty sources. AvoDerm Natural® dog and cat food formulas contain B-vitamins that nourish your pet in the form of poultry, fish, brown rice, chickpeas, and formulated supplements.
Iron
Iron promotes hair growth by providing the follicles with oxygen from red blood cells. You and your pet can add to the reserve of iron in your body by eating lean beef, garbanzo beans, and tuna.
Zinc
Zinc supports healthy and strong fur by binding the proteins on hair. It also promotes the production of oil that keeps hair and fur from getting too dry. Your dog can enjoy a tasty source of zinc in our Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Formula, while your cat may be keener on one of our shellfish cat food recipes.
Choose pet food that goes beyond the taste buds:
Healthy grooming practices may help you identify issues in your pet’s skin and coat, but the real work starts and ends in the kitchen. If you’d like to witness for yourself how proper nutrition can promote healthy skin and hair on your pet, start your pet on a diet of tasty and carefully-crafted AvoDerm Natural® recipes.
SOURCES:
- “What Are Lean Proteins and How They Can Help Your Pet.” PetMD.
- Dr. Axe, “Avocado Benefits: The Most Nutrition-packed Food on the Planet?,” n.d.
- American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, “Dog Nutrition Tips,” n.d.
- Raw to the Bones, “Complete Breakdown of Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) for Dogs,” 2014.
- DSM, “Vitamin B6,” n.d.
AvoDerm Natural® is a registered trademark of Central Garden & Pet Company.
