I’m trying to understand how much diet can realistically change a dog’s coat and skin, beyond regular grooming. If I want a shinier coat and less itching/shedding, which nutrients matter most in practice? I keep seeing omega-3s, zinc, copper, biotin, and “high-quality protein” mentioned, but I’m not sure what safe, beginner-friendly targets look like. For example, is there a simple way to tell if a food has enough EPA+DHA for skin/coat? Any mg/kg body weight ballparks that are considered safe and effective?
How long should I wait to judge results after changing food or adding a fish oil? I’ve heard hair cycles take weeks-does 6-8 weeks sound right?
For dogs with black coats that “rust” to brown, could that be from diet (like low tyrosine or copper) and not just sun? If so, what are safe food-based tweaks (eggs, small amounts of liver, mussels, sardines) without throwing off a complete diet?
Speaking of toppers, how much “real food” can I add to a complete-and-balanced kibble before I risk unbalancing minerals and vitamins? Is sticking under 10% of daily calories a good rule, or is that too simplistic?
On fish oils: do I need to add vitamin E to prevent oxidation, and how do you dose that safely? Any tips for dogs with sensitive stomachs-are algal oils gentler than fish oil?
Are there meaningful differences by coat type (double coat vs single coat) in what nutrition helps most? And any common pitfalls to avoid, like overdoing omega-6s, too much zinc interfering with copper, or relying on “skin and coat” supplements that don’t list actual EPA/DHA or mineral amounts?
Would love simple, practical guidelines or product-label tips that a newbie can actually use.