The skin is the largest and one of the most intricate
organs of the body. An average square inch of human
skin contains 19 million cells, 19 feet of blood
vessels, 65 hairs, 90 oil glands and almost 630 sweat
glands. Of course, the numbers are different for
various types of animals and breeds. All of these
components help the skin do its number one job, which
is protection.

The skin is made up of three layers: the epidermis,
dermis and the subcutaneous layer.

The epidermis is the outermost layer, the layer that
we can see and touch. However, the epidermis itself
consists of four layers. In the innermost layer, live
skin cells are produced, then flattened and hardened.
These cells get pushed up through the layers of skin
to the top layer of the epidermis. Our animals shed
these dead skin cells regularly about every 21 days,
making way for newer cells to form. When you see
dandruff on your dog or cat, you are looking at an
abnormal amount of dead skin cells. The epidermis, the
layer of skin that we see under our pet's coat is made
out of those flattened cells and a combination of four
fats. One can think of the epidermis as a brick wall
with mortar.

While you may cringe when the veterinarian vaccinates your pet, chances are that your pet doesn't feel a thing because the dermis is so elastic in nature.

The middle layer of the skin is the dermis, the
foundation of the skin. It is very important because
it contains the blood and lymphatic vessels, hair
follicles, sweat glands and nerve endings. Perhaps its
biggest claim to fame is its collagen elastin fibers,
which provides the skin with elasticity. While you may
cringe when the veterinarian vaccinates your pet,
chances are that your pet doesn't feel a thing because
the dermis is so elastic in nature. Blood and
lymphatic vessels not only bring nutrients to the skin
cells and carry away waste, but they also act as heat
regulators. Sweat glands also regulate temperature, as
they produce sweat to cool down the body. The hair
follicles, of course, produce hair. The dermis is a
very busy layer of the skin!

The subcutaneous layer, which means "below the skin"
is a fatty region that is not widely considered part
of the skin. However, its health has a direct bearing
on the health of the dermis and epidermis, so it is
definitely worth mentioning.

Skintellectualism
Now that we have a more articulate understanding of
the skin, let's take a look at the ways the skin
functions.

More about your pets health and to buy Holistic Pet
Product at
www.alltheglorykennel.com