Skin is a canines largest body’s organ and collagen makes up as much as 75% of your dog’s skin. The collagen in your dog’s body is responsible for the level of elasticity in joints, tendons, cartilage, skin, and ligaments. It is also the protein that determines the strength of your dog’s hair, bones, nails, and teeth

It guards against elements, dehydration, provides nourishment and follicles for hair growth and helps regulate the dogs body temperature. Skin has three layers: epidermis, dermis, and panniculus. The epidermis is the body’s environmental outer shield made up of keratinized cells glued together by fats. It is constantly replaced as the outer layer of cells sloughs off and new cells rise from the basal cell layer of the epidermis. The epidermis forms a barrier against injury, disease, and damage from ultraviolet light. The chief guardians against infection that penetrates the skin’s horny outer layer are the amoeba-like Langerhans cells that capture foreign proteins (antigens) and send them on the road to destruction. If the Langerhans cells are
overzealous in their work, the dog can develop an allergy -- a intensified immune response to a common substance.

Skin protects dogs from ultraviolet rays of the sun by providing a foundation for the haircoat and by producing melanin to color hair and skin.

DERMIS
The dermis supports and nourishes the epidermis and skin appendages. The blood vessels that supply the epidermis with nutrients are located in the dermis. Sensory nerves are located in the dermis and hair follicles. The skin responds to the sensations of touch, pain, itch, heat, and cold. The dermis secretes the proteins collagen and elastin, which give support and elasticity to the skin. There are also immune cells in the dermis that defend against infectious agents that pass through the epidermis.

The epidermis is joined to the dermis at the basement membrane, a layer of collagen and other products of the basal cells. Collagen is a tough, durable, fibrous protein that makes up 90 percent of the dermis and provides strength to the skin. How tough? Tanned collagen from cattle skin is otherwise known as leather. The dermis provides a framework for blood vessels to transport oxygen and nutrients to the skin and nerves to help the dog react to and interact with his world.

Blood vessels in the dermis help regulate your dogs body temperature. Under the dermis is the subcutaneous fatty layer that has two widely disparate jobs as protective shock absorber and food storage locker for certain vitamins and energy bits called lipids.

IS YOUR DOG GETTING ENOUGH COLLAGEN?
When collagen breaks down in the body, the joints become less stable, the muscles and connective tissue loosen and become more brittle, and joint disorders start to occur. Collagen not only protects joint cartilage; it also protects tendons and ligaments against tears.
Dogs are not able to produce the important Collagen independently and therefore they rely on this structural protein regularly through their food source.

Our Collagen Chews are ideal natural source to promote the smooth operation of the articular cartilage, provide an ideal stress buffering and support the establishment and preservation of articular cartilage

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