Luxury Fort Lauderdale Pet Resort

Pet skin issues | symptoms and remmedies

 

If your dog or cat is suffering from itchy, flaky skin, hot spots or even excessive shedding, and you and your veterinarian have ruled out parasites, a change of diet can make a world of difference.
Most commercial pet foods – yes, even the ones sold in your veterinarian’s office – are filled with grains and low quality protein sources. This is largely because it is a way to bulk up food with cheaper ingredients, offering a larger profit to the pet food manufacturer. Unfortunately, many grains and fillers can cause real harm, especially to the skin and digestive system. The most common allergens in dogs and cats are wheat, corn, soy and even chicken. Often times, simply eliminating these from the diet can result in healthier skin and a shinier coat.
The fact is, neither cats nor dogs have a nutritional need for grains as part of their natural diet. Cats are obligate carnivores and although dogs are omnivores, the natural grains their ancestors consumed (largely from the digested material in their prey’s stomachs), do not even resemble the genetically modified and/or heavily treated grains of today. Furthermore, both species use fats at their main source of energy, not carbohydrates.
Dry foods – even the grain-free varieties - often detract from healthy skin because they cannot supply the proper amount of essential fatty acids needed by dogs and cats. Essential fatty acids are paramount to nourish your animal companion’s skin and reduce inflammation. Even though the label on the bag may include omega 3, 6 and 9 sources, the kibble is cooked at such high temperatures that the fats are rendered useless and in some cases, even harmful as they become rancid. Please be aware that the protein in dry food is also compromised during this cooking process. Dry food should not be the main part of any animal companion’s diet. In most cases, it should be minimized or eliminated completely (dry foods were introduced roughly 60 years ago as nothing more than a convenience for humans).
You may be wondering how manufacturers can make health claims about dry foods (all pet foods, really) that are not accurate. It is because regulations set forth by the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) – the organization considered the authority in setting the guidelines and definitions for animal feed, including pet food ingredients - state that the label of a pet food may include an unqualified claim, directly or indirectly. This allows pet food manufacturers to say and market anything they would like about their ingredients and products as a whole.
In addition to eliminating grains from the diet, supplements including living probiotics, digestive enzymes and omega 3 sources, such as wild salmon oil, can positively impact your pet’s skin (as well as digestion and assimilation of nutrients).
It can take up to several weeks for a new diet to take effect. Because of this, some topical remedies can be utilized to give your animal companion some instant relief. There are many wonderful herbal formulas available as well as shampoos that fit the bill.
For optimal all-around nutrition, consider feeding your pet a holistic (preferably organic) grain-free diet. There are a number of excellent canned, raw, dehydrated and freeze-dried options on the market. Or you may consider home-prepared cooked meals along with a very high quality canned or dehydrated food as at least 50% of the diet.
The advantages of using holistic and organic pet foods are numerous – meats are hormone and anti-biotic free; the ingredients are fit for human consumption instead of the lower quality pet-grade ingredients; there are no fillers, so smaller portions offer more nutrition and thus cost less per serving; and there are no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.
The Barkers Pet Resort carries a wide variety of holistic foods, supplements and grooming supplies to make and keep your dog or cat feeling and looking their best. For more information call us at 954.888.2274.

 

Jodi Ziskin
Holistic Nutrition and Wellness Consultant for Animal Companions

 

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