.Itchy Skin/Loosing Coat – WHAT TO DO!

By

Jade VonHawley, CCS, CFS

There are six main reasons for pets to be plagued with skin problems. In our grooming practice we have seen just a about every problem you can think of however the most common reason evolves around diet, i.e. poor nutrition. The most common treatment for any dermatological problem is steroids and antibiotics.

Ok, that’s really nice but it doesn’t treat the cause just the symptom. So, what can an owner do?

Well, first let’s go over the six most common irritants:

Parasites” fleas, ticks, mites. Fleas and ticks can be seen by the naked eye, no so for mites. A biopsy is needed here.

Allergic Dermatitis: Food, atopic (inhalant) allergies. More aloof and harder to detect.

Things in the environment: Cat dander, chemicals, grass.

Nutritional: food allergy such as wheat, corn, lack of fatty acids,

Fungal/Bacterial and Yeast infections

Neurogenic: Skin disorders that are thought to be caused by emotional problems such as separation anxiety.

Ok, so out of the 6 detailed causes five can be treated by a better diet and additional support to the immune system. This is an easy and inexpensive fix if one considers the cost of Veterinary visits and meds. Also, here we are treating the cause and not the symptom thereby completely eradicating the problem. Happy pet, happy owner-a win-win!!

Let’s start with #1 Parasites. A healthy pet won’t attract them so problem solved. You also will do away with buying flea products.

#2 Allergic/atopic dermatitis. If food is the problem you are going to change so problem solved; if inhalant allergies is the problem there is an immune deficiency and diet alon with a high end supplement will boost the system and eventually the problem will go away.

#3 Environment: Same solution as in #2.

#4: Nutrition; same fix as #2 and 3.

#5: Ditto

Sorry, no fix for #6 but 5 out of 6 isn’t bad and those scenarios fit most of the owners out there.

I have seen more skin and coat problems solved, eradicated by a good diet and proper supplements. I personally recommend a raw diet along with a good base diet such as Wysong and NuVet supplements. It works, REALLY!