A dog can often be the most valuable part of any family or person's life, which is why it is so important to look after a dog's health. An owner should always be sure to give the proper nutrition to any dog, as well as ensure that it gets the necessary daily exercise. In addition, it can also be important to understand how to provide skin health and care for one's dog. Making sure that a dog's skin and coat is healthy can go a long way in preventing major illnesses for your pet in the long run.

Nutrition plays a vital part in making sure that the skin stays healthy. Healthy skin for any dog should be a pale pink or brown (depending on the type of dog), in addition skin should be free of all lint and dandruff. It is important to give a dog his or her daily brushing, in order to ensure that all sorts of residue can be pulled away from a dog's coat. Brushing your dog also helps reduce shedding when a dog is changing his coat and will also help prevent bacterial build-up.

Dogs coats can also get infested, so it is equally important to regularly check your dog for ticks and fleas. There are many easy ways that a person can check for these sorts of problems. One suggestion which won't put your animal through any distress is to simply turn the dog over onto his or her side and then blow gently on their stomach. When doing this, watch for any ticks or fleas that fall off of the stomach. If a dog does have a tick or flea infestation, then one may see movement from fallen ticks or fleas. You can also brush the hair in the opposite direction 'against the grain' to check the skin, be gentle however as your dog may not enjoy this technique very much.

Giving a dog a regular shampoo is also critical to make sure that his or her coat of fur stays healthy. All too often, dogs can get oily coats when the owner does not provide the adequate care. A dog should always have a healthy shine to his or her coat, not one that is filled with excessive oil. When a dog's coat is oily, then this can actually work to attract all sorts of bugs and other undesirable creatures - this could also create or magnify a flea / tick infestation. You shouldn't however shampoo your dog too often as you may dry the skin or remove the natural oils that are required. Check with your veterinarian for advice on bathing and shampooing your dog (and indeed the best shampoo to use).

By taking care of a dog's skin, a person ensures that their dog is less likely to suffer from serious medical issues and dog skin problems. It can be all too easy for a dog to get bad skin or fleas, simply because an owner fails to provide the necessary care the pet. When an owner takes diligent care of a dog, then the dog will be healthy, will look healthy and most importantly be happy. It is very important to invest a bit of time and money into this aspect of any dog's health it is without doubt worth it in the long run.