Help for Your Pet's Skin and Coat: Fighting Allergic Skin Disease Poor quality pet food and allergies are two key suspects when cats or dogs suffer skin and coat problems. Becoming sensitized to both of these critical issues and taking appropriate steps is often all that is needed to improve your pet's coat and skin health. Plus, when you use natural healing therapies, your pet's overall health will improve and problems with immune function, vision, arthritis and other inflammatory conditions may also be avoided.  Pet Food Issues
Pets, like people, require essential fatty acids (EFA's) for good health. There are two major EFA families: omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. The parent compounds for each of these families is alpha-linoleic acid (ALA) and linolenic acid (LA), respectively. Dogs especially depend upon their caregivers for adequate essential fatty acids since, unlike cats, they are less likely to hunt their own food. That's why the quality of the foods we purchase or prepare for our dog's diet is so important. One problem with so-called bargain dog foods, however, is that canines may be more likely to suffer from deficiencies of both omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids. This may be due to over processing (including heat damage in the case of dry foods) that destroys essential fatty acids. But another larger problem is that omega-3 fatty acids are also often purposely avoided in the production of commercial pet and animal foods as they may go rancid, limiting the shelf life of these products. The result is a deficiency of these vital nutrients in bargain foods and ultimately in your pet. Throughout history, canines have obtained adequate omega-3 fatty acids by eating organ meats and bone marrow, says nutrition expert C. Leigh Broadhurst, Ph.D.. But today, even if such elements are present in a dog's diet, the source-animals may themselves have been deficient in the omega-3 fatty acids due to factory farming methods. Sometimes canines given home-prepared foods also suffer from essential fatty acid deficiencies since the foods people consume also may be EFA deficient and overloaded with saturated fats. Symptoms of ALA deficiency include dry, dull coat, itching, and excessive shedding. Allergy symptoms may also be exacerbated. Although felines require less ALA in their diets than dogs, some brands of cat food also do not provide adequate omega-3 fatty acids. "A cat's desire to hunt is not only instinct but, some people believe, is also because they crave the nutrients in fresh, raw, game meat that are lacking in their diets," says Dr. Broadhurst. Although cats tend to have fewer skin or coat problems than canines, symptoms of omega-3 fatty acid deficiencies can be serious and, besides coat or skin problems, include immune system, breeding and vision problems. Allergies Atopy, a common allergy to pollens, grasses, house molds and a host of other allergens, can affect both dogs and cats and often manifests itself as itchiness (pruritis). The most commonly affected dog breeds are terriers, golden and Labrador retrievers, schnauzers, poodles, Lhasa apso, Shih Tzu, and bulldogs, says Susan G. Wynn, D.V.M. "You may see your dog exhibiting foot licking, face rubbing, leg chewing, armpit scratching, head shaking, tail biting, discharges from the eyes or nose, and even post- nasal drip (which is sometimes described as wheezing, snorting , reverse sneezing or trouble breathing)," says Dr. Wynn. "Related problems may include skin and ear infections and anal gland problems. Cats usually have small crusty lesions over part or all of the body, usually around the neck or over the back." Usual Treatments Veterinarian's treatment recommendations to improve coat and skin health usually include, among other therapies, allergy shots (also known as hyposensitization treatment). Experts say allergy shots help about 50 to 80 percent of the time. Antihistamines are also often prescribed, although cat allergies are less likely to respond. If there is risk of bacterial or yeast infection, antibiotics and antifungals may be prescribed. Steroids may be prescribed as a last resort, but these present potentially severe side effects. The Doctors Prescription Natural healing pathways may be more effective in healing skin and coat problems.  Essential fatty acid supplements are critical for skin and coat
problems. Most dogs will benefit from one to two tablespoons of flax
oil mixed with their food daily. Flax oil is one of the richest sources of
alpha-linolenic acid. Recent research has shown that this omega-3 fatty
acid is deposited intact on the surface of animal coats and this may explain
why dog, horse and sheep breeders have long added flaxseed to animal's
feed to improve their coats.
Once dogs are fed flax oil, they show rapid accumulation of another important omega-3 fatty acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and certain other omega-3 fatty acids. However, levels of the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) do not appear to appreciably increase. Since DHA is necessary for healthy visual function, you should also supplement your healthy dog's diet with one serving of fatty fish or one to two tablespoons of fish oil every two or three days. However, dogs with clear-cut skin and coat problems may require far higher doses than these. Dr. Broadhurst explains in a recent issue of Nutrition Science News that, "because dogs have long coats and an excellent ability to burn fat for energy, they need five to 10 times as much oil as humans to achieve measurable clinical improvement." Thus, she recommends the following regimen:  For your source of flaxseed oil, use a flax
oil formula especially designed for pets, providing
your pets with the valuable omega-3 fatty acids they
require for optimal health but without traces of pesticides or herbicides.
Be sure your formula is preserved with natural antioxidants like
rosemary and ascorbic acid to prevent rancidity even when stored at
room temperature (although flax oil is always best maintained when
refrigerated).
Cats with skin or coat problem may benefit from gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) supplements. Although felines require very little GLA, they do not convert linoleic acid into GLA. Thus, supplemental GLA can be helpful in overcoming coat and skin problems. Dr. Broadhurst recommends that one to two tablespoons of fish oil and possibly borage or evening primrose oil be added to your cats moist food daily. The fish oil, a source of DHA, is especially important during pregnancy. When pregnant cats are DHA deficient, their kittens may be born with visual or nervous system defects. Borage oil is considered by many nutrition experts to be perhaps the highest quality GLA supplement available; it is unfiltered, unrefined and free from pesticides and herbicides. Also, borage oil provides about 2.5 times more GLA than evening primrose oil. Be sure to purchase quality pet foods. This will also help. Grocery store, and even some premium brands, may be composed of poor quality ingredients and contain preservatives, dyes, antibiotics, and other chemicals that may contribute to overall ill-health or even be a source of allergic sensitivity in some animals, notes Dr. Wynn. Consider a high-end chicken, turkey or lamb diet, available from pet stores, health food stores or your veterinarian. How to Find the Best Flax Oil for Animals Whether shopping for flax oil for yourself or your family pet, true unrefined nutritional oils should be considered a semi-perishable food stuff, much like fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and dairy products. Look on the label to make sure the product is pure and natural. Flax products enhanced with Rosemary will remain fresh and shelf stable for up to one year.
 References:
1.*Bauer,J.E.,et al.Dietary flaxseed in dogs results in differential transport and metabolism of (n-3)polyunsaturated fatty acids.J Nutr, 1998;128(Suppl):2641S-2644S. 2.Broadhurst,C.L.The essential PUFA guide for dogs and cats. Nutrition Science News,2001;6(10):366-376. 3.Broadhurst,C.L.The essential PUFA guide for dogs and cats. Nutrition Science News,2001;6(10):366-376. 4.Logas,D.&Kunkle,G.Double-blind study examining the effects of evening primrose oil on feline pruritic dermatitis.Vet Dermatol, 1993;4:181-184. 5.Pawlosky,R.J.,et al.Retinal and brain accretion of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in developing felines:the effects of corn- based maternal diets.Am J Clin Nutr,1997;65:465-472. |
Essential for the Optimal Health of Animals!