Have you ever wondered, or noticed, how many dogs are suffering with itchy skin and constant scratching? There IS a reason but we need to realize that, most times, the reason comes from within and not something external.
Yes, we should always eliminate any environmental causes: fleas, carpets, so-called ‘air fresheners’, pesticides, fertilizers, and so on. But let’s get to the root of the problem.
The skin is really an organ that ‘breathes’. The skin ‘takes in’ and it also releases toxins from within. One of the main toxins that many dogs and cats deal with is poor and inappropriate food since so many are fed dry grain products rather than species-appropriate foods.
Most skin problems will resolve by themselves when the diet is improved and that improvement comes from within. By feeding a healthy, varied homemade diet of species-appropriate foods makes a great difference for pets suffering from chronic skin problems. Dr. Richard Pitcairn discusses his personal experiences in his book, Natural Health for Dogs & Cats. I strongly recommend getting a copy for the health and wellness of your pet.
In Dr. Larry Siegler’s article on skin problems, in the subsection, “Diet – The Essential Remedy”, he writes, “The first thing to address in treating the underlying cause of allergies is the animal’s diet. Many animals see a dramatic improvement with a change in diet alone.”
Although species-appropriate homemade food is the best starting point, there is one supplement that works hand-in-hand. EFAs (Essential Fatty Acids) in the form of fish oil (not to be confused with cod liver oil). EFAs such as salmon oil are important in reducing inflammation and they also nourish the skin. One of the better articles available on the Internet for learning more about EFAs is written by Lew Olson, Ph. D Natural Health in “Allergies and Essential Fatty Acids”.
There’s more to learn about this, but start here and you’ll surely see the difference.
{I always strongly recommend reading books on these subjects. The one recommended above by Dr Pitcairn is one of the best investments you will ever make for your pet.}
Wow thats a great stuff. Its more or less the same with what I am feeding my 6months old beagle. He is in a raw food diet or commonly called barf diet. This diet is typically made up of 60-80% of raw meaty bones(RMB), that is bones with about 50% meat, (e.g. chicken neck, back and wings) and 20-40% of fruits and vegetables, offal, meat, eggs, or dairy foods. The BARF diet looks only to the freshest whole raw food sources rich in vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids derived mostly from human edible ingredients. Now his allergy is gone for now and hopefully for a long time.