The Secret Life Of Your Pet's Skin

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 We spend plenty of time looking at our pets' coats, but how often do we think about what's underneath all that fur? Your pet's skin is doing far more work than you might realise.

In fact, skin is the body's largest organ. It forms an important barrier between your pet and the outside world, helping protect against environmental factors while also playing a role in temperature regulation and sensation.

Your pet's skin isn't simply one layer either. It consists of several layers, each with its own job. Beneath the outer epidermis is the dermis, which contains blood vessels, nerves and other structures. Hair follicles, oil glands and other important structures are also associated with the skin.

Those little oil glands have a job too. They produce sebum, an oily substance that helps keep the skin soft and pliable while giving the coat some of its natural sheen.

And then there's the relationship between skin and coat. Healthy skin provides the foundation for healthy hair growth, while the coat itself provides protection for the skin. It's quite a team!

This is one reason why changes in your pet's skin shouldn't simply be dismissed as part of having a furry coat. Excessive flaking, greasiness, unusual odour, redness, persistent irritation or changes in the coat can sometimes indicate an underlying skin problem.

That doesn't mean every little change is cause for alarm. Pets can have occasional skin changes for many harmless reasons. The important thing is noticing when something is unusual for your individual pet, particularly if it persists or is accompanied by itching, discomfort or hair loss.

So next time you're giving your pet a cuddle, spare a thought for the remarkable organ underneath all that fluff. It may not get much attention, but your pet's skin is working quietly every day to help keep them protected.



Location: Swellendam, 6740, South Africa

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