Skin Problems with Dogs and What You Can Do to Help Them

By Julie Cantonwine

This is not a complete list of all that is available but gives you some respected pet food manufacturer names: Wellness Super 5 Mix California Naturals Natural Balance¨ Duck and Potato Canidae All Natural Pet Foods Innova Innova Evo (completely grain free) Timberwolf Organics Castor & Pollux Organix Wysong Anergen Sojourner Farms

There are several reasons why your walking companion is itching and chewing at his/her skin. So many of our dogs suffer from skin allergies. The symptoms that your pet may experience might include: itchy skin, irritation, watery eye discharge, hot spots, upset tummy, yeasty ears and ear infections, and chewing of the paws.

The most common allergy that your companion experiences is caused by certain foods, likely, wheat or corn.

Wheat and corn are major ingredients in pet foods and treats. By eliminating the wheat and corn out of your pet’s diet, you can usually get on top of the itchy skin problem. Most pet owners who change their pet’s diet to one without the wheat or corn will see huge improvement. Sometimes, however, we forget to monitor the treats. Those milkbones or that pizza crust are full of wheat and yeast and will cause your pet to itch and scratch. Make sure that when you eliminate the grains that you do so with the treats as well.

To make a healthy choice in pet foods is your best bet. Choosing an all natural pet food without wheat, corn, soy, byproducts, or chemical preservatives is an excellent start.

If you are supplementing your dog’s diet with a vitamin supplement of any kind, check the ingredients for yeast. Yeast could be a problem for a dog with itchy skin.

A dog with itchy skin may need to be eating an “alternative” protein source as well. Chicken may not be the best choice for an itchy dog. The most common alternative to chicken is lamb. Some other choices out there are fish, venison, duck, or rabbit.

As well as changing your pet’s diet, you may find that supplementing with a probiotic is helpful. Probiotics are what some of us call, “good bacteria.” It is usually a concentrated blend of powerful digestive enzymes. Some of the ingredients you might see in a probiotic supplement are: Dried aspergillis fermentation product or enzymes like amylase, proteases, lipase, and cellulase. Acidolphilus that many of us humans take daily can be a good addition to your pet’s diet.

According to The Wholistic Pet, a company that produces natural and organic supplements, “Enzymes are inherent to all life processes and are integral to the proper functioning of all body systems. Because they are very heat and light sensitive, enzymes are destroyed upon cooking or heating. All commercial and/or processed food should be supplemented with enzymes in order to ensure proper digestion.”

Whatever is making your walking companion itchy, good choices in diet are always going to be helpful. Exercise and nutrition are the building blocks to a healthy and happy pet.

Julie Cantonwine is owner of Healthy Pets Northwest. It is a natural alternative to pet foods and supplies located at 1402-A SE 39th and Hawthorne, 503-236-8036; and 2224 NE Alberta; 503-249-6571, Portland, OR. Call for more information or logon to www.healthypetsnw.com.