No Coats In Winter
- Everwell Pets
- Dec 10, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 27
Making A Nature-based Case For Shedding This Pet Trend
I'm sure you've seen them out there on chilly days, and you might have even seen matching sets for the pups and their humans. It seems that adorning our pets in outdoor coats has become quite a trend, and though there are good intentions behind bundling up our dogs, is this really the healthiest approach to time spent outdoors? How much have we convinced ourselves that comfort and warmth are more important than living a lifestyle that is in-sync with nature's system of circadian biology?
Melanin, The Sun, & Pet Health
What is Melanin?
Melanin is a natural pigment found in the skin, hair, eyes, and other tissues of many animals, including humans and dogs. It is responsible for the color of these tissues, ranging from dark brown or black to lighter shades like yellow and red, depending on the type and amount of melanin present.
How is Melanin made?
Melanin is produced by special cells called melanocytes, which are located in places where your pet's senses interact with the environment—like the skin, hair follicles, and eyes. It’s essentially found in the outer layers of your pup's body. In the skin, melanocytes are in the basal layer, where they produce pigment. In the eye, melanin hangs out in the outermost layer of the retina, ensuring your pet's vision. You’ll also find it in the inner ear, close to capillaries in the stria vascularis, near the hair cells, and in the gut, where it resides in the enterochromaffin cells, playing a key signaling role. [1]
Melanin production isn’t just a random process—it’s influenced by genetic and epigenetic factors, your pet's environment (amount of sun and blue light exposure), and certain hormones. Melanin acts as a bridge between the senses and the world around us for both ourselves and our pets.
Where is Melanin Located?
Melanin is a pigment found in various parts of the body, and dogs have it in several key areas, similar to humans.
Skin:
The concentration and type of melanin in a dog's skin contribute to their coat color. The two main types of melanin in the skin are eumelanin (black or brown pigment) and pheomelanin (yellow or red pigment).
Coat (Fur):
The most noticeable place dogs have melanin is in their fur, which gives them their color. The amount and type of melanin in their hair follicles determine whether they have a black, brown, cream, or red coat. For instance, black dogs have more eumelanin, while lighter-colored dogs may have more pheomelanin.
Eyes:
Melanin is also present in the iris of the eyes, which contributes to eye color. Dogs with more melanin in their irises tend to have darker eyes, while those with less melanin may have lighter eye colors, such as blue or amber.
Inner Ear:
Melanin is found in the inner ear of dogs, contributing to their ability to hear. [3]
Brain:
The third melanin type, neuromelanin has been found in certain areas of the brain, particularly in neurons in the substantia nigra, which is involved in movement control. While this isn't a prominent feature in dogs compared to humans, the presence of melanin in brain cells can be linked to neurological functions or possible dysfunctions. [3]
Functions of Melanin In The Body
Melanin plays several important roles in dogs, much like it does in humans and other mammals. Melanin is created when UV light (sunlight) hits the skin/fur and eyes, triggering the breakdown of a molecule called POMC through alpha MSH cleavage. This process is crucial for the creation of melanin and the continued health of your pet.
But here’s where it gets interesting: if your pet gets too little sunlight and too much man-made blue light, melanin gets degraded. The breakdown products of melanin are thought to contribute to a range of psychiatric symptoms, especially those linked to chronic inflammation and infections in the brain's frontal lobes (in humans).[4]
Although dog's have smaller and less complex frontal lobes, I personally believe lack of sunlight and therefore, the lack of melanin plays a major role in the chronic diseases and behavior issues that our pets are experiencing.
When melanin degrades, it breaks down into compounds, but what does it actually degrade into? Every single byproduct of this breakdown is highly inflammatory, leading to hypoxia (oxygen deficiency) in cells. Without sunlight, melanin eventually turns into quinolinic acid, which is a big problem—it damages the cell’s charge density and causes dielectric collapse in systems like mitochondrial water and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) loss.[4]
Melanin has antioxidant properties, helping protect cells from oxidative stress, which can damage tissues and contribute to aging and diseases. In particular, the melanin found in the inner ear and brain, may help protect sensitive cells from damage caused by environmental stressors such as man-made EMF and blue light, especially light at night which impacts accelerated heteroplasmy rates (aging).
Sunlight Is The Key
Exposure to sunlight directly influences the metabolic efficiency of the pathway that produces melanin. Furthermore, sunlight actually lowers brain inflammation by boosting melatonin levels, which is why it's so essential for overall health. It’s all about the light we live under—specifically, the UV and infrared light from the sun, as opposed to artificial light that our pets are exposed to indoors. Natural sunlight is a game-changer for both physical and mental well-being, as a lack of sun—whether from limited exposure or artificial light—can lead to chronic inflammation. [4]
In Summary
Melanin plays a huge role in both the physical appearance and overall health of dogs, helping protect them from environmental factors while also influencing their sensory and physiological functions—and sunlight is key to making it all work! Sunlight is TINA - There Is No Alternative.
Since coats prevent sunlight from reaching the fur and skin of our pets, therefore hindering melanin production, there is a strong case for shedding the coat and enjoying the great outdoors au naturel.
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Citations:
[1] April 21, 2023 by info@kruseatdestin.com; 2023 MELANIN-LEPTIN Rx UPDATE
[2] Schmutz, S. M., & Berryere, T. G. (2007). Genes affecting coat color and pattern in domestic dogs: a review. Animal Genetics, 38(5), 539-549.
[3] Saito, M., et al. (2013). Melanin and its role in auditory function in animals. Journal of Veterinary Science, 14(2), 121-126.
[4] January 21, 2024 by info@kruseatdestin.com; THE MELANIN RENOVATION RX FOR MAMMALS