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OSCAR Featured Ingredient: Maintaining Super Skin

Created: 3/29/2018 Updated: 8/27/2021 - Shelley Audis-Riddell

cats, diet, Diet & Nutrition, dogs, kitten, puppy, senior, skin

Biotin, Chelated Zinc and Omega-3 This month we are looking more closely at skin, coat, and paw pads and what supports their health and condition.

Skin is one of the most important organs in the body. Not only is it the largest of all the organs, but also it protects our furry family members from parasites, infections and the everchanging elements.

Cats and dogs have skins that are covered with fine, coarse or wiry hairs that make up their coats. Their coats keep their bodies warm in winter and cool in Summer, and cats’ coats also offer camouflage enabling them to blend into the background when hunting or playing with pals.

Offering the best possible nutrition is really important when it comes to maintaining the health and condition of our furry friends and both the OSCAR Cat Food and OSCAR Dog Food ranges are packed with plenty of supplements and nutrients to provide optimal support.

Chelated Zinc, Biotin and Omega-3 are just a few of the many elements found throughout our ranges.

Let’s look more closely at what they are, why they are needed and how they benefit our pets.

Long Haired Border Collie with a shiny coat

What is biotin & why do we use it?

Biotin, also known as Vitamin B7, is a water-soluble vitamin. This means it passes through the body with waste and is not stored in the body. Biotin can be found in egg yolk, liver and yeast to mention a few examples. Biotin is needed for the formation of Keratin - the protein that forms the structure of skin, hair and claws.

What is chelated zinc & why do we use it?

Zinc is an essential trace element that is found in many meats, cereals and seed products. Zinc is needed in over 200 enzyme systems in the body. These systems control a number of metabolic processes such as the synthesis and metabolism of proteins and carbohydrates along with the growth and repair of skin and coat. Chelated Zinc is a form of Zinc that is more easily absorbed by the body, and this means that it is more efficient at supporting our Fur-ever Friends’ zinc levels.

What Is omega-3 & why do we use it?

Omega-3 is an essential fatty acid, meaning that it is not synthesised from other fats in our pets’ diets and must be supplemented instead. Omega-3 supports skin, hair and coat condition. This essential fatty acid is found in oily fish and seafood.

Madison the Cat from our OSCAR rich in salmon and chicken cat food

How can this benefit my pet?

Optimal levels of Biotin in the body support skin, coat and claw condition and are needed to prevent:

  • Scaly Skin

  • Dull coat

  • Brittle Hair

Zinc is an essential mineral that can offer support for many chronic skin complaints and is needed to prevent:

  • Excessive hair loss (alopecia)

  • Dull and rough coat

  • Dry, flaky skin

  • Supressed immune system causing secondary skin infections

  • Skin lesions

  • Skin inflammation as dermatitis

Omega-3 improves skin condition, supports a lustrous, silky coat and also promotes paw-pad health. Deficiencies can lead to:

  • Cracked paw pads

  • Dry skin

  • Scaly skin

  • Hair loss

  • Coarse coat

All of our OSCAR Dog Food and OSCAR Cat Food ranges hold a number, if not all, of these ingredients to help promote super skin, perfect pads, lustrous locks and class-A claws!

Why not try something different and see the benefits for yourself?

Do you need further advice?

If you need any further advice, please contact the OSCAR Helpline Team on our freephone number 0800 195 8000 or email helpline@oscars.co.uk.