Dog Community

Food for dry skin?

Posted : 10/1/2011 3:09:07 PM

For the last few months Piper's coat has been drying out. She was on Wellness small breed for a while, and is now on Holistic Select chicken. I've started adding fish oil to her food to prepare for the upcoming winter, and she always gets toppers of yogurt, meat, or veggies.

Are there any foods that you have found really helps with dry skin? She has been on many foods but they haven't done the trick yet. She doesn't have allergies, just seems to get flakey skin and brittle coat sometimes. I know some foods have higher levels of zinc and other things to help with the coat. My vet recommends Science Diet sensitive skin, but of course i'd rather not feed that one...

Ruthie11

Posted : 10/1/2011 6:01:36 PM

I would absolutely go on a grainfree food if you can afford it. Grains are what drive skin sensitivities, so for me, no matter how much oil you add to the diet, grain negates the effect. Especially if it's a food that lists 4 or 5 grains or grain by-products. Some good ones are Acana, Orijen or NOW, and Taste of the Wild is a more economical brand/

CoBuHe

Posted : 10/1/2011 6:23:40 PM

Mine are on Taste of the Wild Salmon based (extra Omega/fatty acids). I would recommend it as well.

CathyDoggins

Posted : 12/15/2011 9:31:11 PM

You can try something simple such as adding a teapsoon of essential fatty acids such as omega 3 fish oil to the diet. If your dog responds great, if not, no harm in trying and it's relatively inexpensive. Make sure your dog can tolerate it by watching for diarrhea etc.

4HAND

Posted : 1/6/2012 5:59:00 PM

My Aussie Noel had very dry skin and a thin brittle haircoat.Fish oil works well for us but it took a good 3 months to see the results.I get a high quality one from a health food store that is mercury free.

Tena

jessies_mom

Posted : 1/21/2012 7:54:49 PM

CathyDoggins
You can try something simple such as adding a teapsoon of essential fatty acids such as omega 3 fish oil to the diet.

Most veterinarians recommend 50 to 100 milligrams of fish oil per kilogram of body weigh to be safe on a daily basis ( fish oil thins the blood). A teaspoon is too much for most dogs. For example, Jessie weighs 60 pounds and can have 1360 to 2700 milligrams. That's about one and a half to two and a half capsules.

Freedom

Posted : 1/22/2012 12:31:37 PM

I was going to say grain free food, and salmon oil, but I see both of those are already suggested, lol. The oil, you don't have to buy it specifically for dogs (that just pumps up the price!) You can buy capsules at WalMart, and open those, pour it on the food.

All that will treat from the inside out, which is great and the best way to do it.

You can also treat from the outside, by using a humidifier in the winter. I have a whole house humidifier, down cellar, attached to the furnace. But you can buy one for a bedroom, and use it in there (I'm assuming she sleeps in your room, mine are on my bed with me, ha haa). Turn it on about an hour before you retire; and keep the door ajar once in bed. I tried closing the door, but there was constantly a cat or dog on the "wrong" side of the door and I didn't get any sleep. Wink So I used 2 door stops one on each side to keep the door almost by not completely closed so everyone could come and go as they felt they needed to.