Health
Beyond the Brush: How Raw Food Transforms Your Pet’s Skin & Coat
3.19.2025
One of the most prominent markers of full-body health is a vibrant coat and healthy skin. The skin is the largest organ, and its condition often mirrors internal health. Dull hair, dandruff, and excessive itching may be a signal that your pet’s nutritional needs aren’t being fully met. When a pet receives the right balance of nutrients in highly digestible forms, the body prioritizes essential functions first - like organ health and immune support - before distributing nutrients to the skin and coat. If your pet has a showstopping coat, this is a great indicator that your pet’s internal health is in top condition too!
Raw foods are rich in high-quality animal proteins, which supply the amino acids necessary for skin cell regeneration and coat growth. Unlike highly processed diets, raw food delivers highly digestible, bioavailable nutrients that the body can efficiently absorb and use 1. This results in stronger, healthier skin and a shiny, functional coat.
Healthy fats also play a crucial role in skin and coat health, and Omega fatty acids - one of the most crucial building blocks of fat - are the key to unlocking your dog or cat’s best coat yet. Vital Essentials is formulated with the ideal ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 fatty acids to help reduce inflammation, combat dryness, and promote a soft, glossy coat 2 3 4. Since raw food is minimally processed, natural fats and fatty acids remain intact and retain their maximum nutritional benefits. This can be especially helpful for pets with allergies or dry, itchy skin, as a balanced raw diet can soothe irritation and improve overall skin hydration 5 6 7!
Switching to a raw diet can be a game-changer for your pet’s skin and coat health. By providing highly digestible proteins, essential fatty acids, and bioavailable nutrients, raw food supports healthy skin regeneration and a glossy, resilient coat. When pets thrive on a diet that mimics what nature intended, their vibrant appearance is just one of many signs of improved overall health. If you’re looking to nourish your dog or cat from the inside out, a balanced raw diet like Vital Essentials can help them shine—literally and figuratively!
1 K. R. Kerr, B. M. Vester Boler, C. L. Morris, K. J. Liu, K. S. Swanson, Apparent total tract energy and macronutrient digestibility and fecal fermentative end-product concentrations of domestic cats fed extruded, raw beef-based, and cooked beef-based diets, Journal of Animal Science, Volume 90, Issue 2, February 2012, Pages 515–522, https://doi.org/10.2527/jas.2010-3266
2 Scarlett Burron, Taylor Richards, Giovane Krebs, Luciano Trevizan, Alexandra Rankovic, Samantha Hartwig, Wendy Pearson, David W L Ma, Anna K Shoveller, The balance of n-6 and n-3 fatty acids in canine, feline, and equine nutrition: exploring sources and the significance of alpha-linolenic acid, Journal of Animal Science, Volume 102, 2024, skae143, https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skae143
3 Sakai C, Ishida M, Ohba H, Yamashita H, Uchida H, et al. (2017) Fish oil omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids attenuate oxidative stress-induced DNA damage in vascular endothelial cells. PLOS ONE 12(11): e0187934. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0187934
4 Mostofsky, D. I., Yehuda, S., & Salem, N. (2001). Fatty acids : physiological and behavioral functions. Humana Press.
5 VAUGHN, D.M., REINHART, G.A., SWAIM, S.F., LAUTEN, S.D., GARNER, C.A., BOUDREAUX, M.K., SPANO, J.S., HOFFMAN, C.E. and CONNER, B. (1994), Evaluation of Effects of Dietary n-6 to n-3 Fatty Acid Ratios on Leukotriene B Synthesis in Dog Skin and Neutrophils. Veterinary Dermatology, 5: 163-173. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3164.1994.tb00028.x
6 Rosemary C. Wander, Jean A. Hall, Joseph L. Gradin, Shi-Hua Du, Dennis E. Jewell, The Ratio of Dietary (n-6) to (n-3) Fatty Acids Influences Immune System Function, Eicosanoid Metabolism, Lipid Peroxidation and Vitamin E Status in Aged Dogs, The Journal of Nutrition, Volume 127, Issue 6, 1997, Pages 1198-1205, ISSN 0022-3166, https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/127.6.1198
7 Lenox, C. E. (2015). Timely Topics in Nutrition: An overview of fatty acids in companion animal medicine. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 246(11), 1198-1202. Retrieved Mar 7, 2025, from https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.246.11.1198
