Good skin supplement?

DocPixel · 12-02-2006, 02:56 PM

I have a food dilemma. I have fed Science Diet for many years, especially the Senior varieties, as my dogs would get old.

The reason is, every time I'd try something else, my older dogs would slow down and stiffen up. Then I'd put them back on SD and they'd start trotting again instead of walking, and in other ways show that they felt better. My best newfie girl lived to 13 on it.

My Bouvier girl is 9, and she too feels much better when she's on it, especially in the winter. But she also gets this awful skin issue too, when she's on it. Flakes, itch, sores, etc. We've ruled out skin diseases, so I'm pretty convinced it's the food. She's done well in the past on lamb/rice foods, but SD doesn't seem to have a senior version with those ingredients.

I don't want to start experimenting with different foods right now, since it's winter. She feels good and is doing well, except for the skin. I'll revisit the food thing in the spring.

So, I'm thinking to try a good supplement to help with the skin problem. Any recomendations?
Sarah

Snowshoe · 12-02-2006, 06:22 PM

First off, I'm glad you've found a dog food that works for your pups. Regardless of what anyone else will tell you, its really best to stick with what works for YOUR dogs.

I have no doubt that your dog, however, is experiencing skin problems with SD. As it is primarily corn based, dogs often devolope allergies.

As for supplements for skin, my breeder uses Omega 3 and occasionally fish oil. She gives them less then a teaspoon every day.

For my dog, I give her a tablespoon of Olive Oil every week, and her coat looks great.

On another note, in regards to what kinds of food you've tried besides Science Diet, there are lots of much better quality foods out there.

Here are some examples of good foods:

Solid Gold
Timberwolf Organics
Fromm's Family Foods
Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul
Innova
Royal Canin

Foods like Purina (and thusly Beneful), Science Diet, Eukenuba, Pedigree, and any "store brands" from Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Kroger, whatever are lesser quality food, despite the excellent advertising.

Meghan&Pedro · 12-02-2006, 08:05 PM

Dry/itchy skin, hot-spots, poor coat quality - you've named some VERY obvious signs of a food allergy.

You could always supplement with a flax seed or fish oil on top of her food - this will help with her skin and coat, but it won't help as much as getting her off of what she's allergic to!

Without eliminating the allergin her skin will never be 100%, and her coat will never be 100%, no matter what you feed to help her out.

Dulce · 12-03-2006, 12:02 AM

Vitamin E, and Salmon Oil are great for the skin and the coat.

I'd have her allergy tested/serum tested by an animal Dermatologist

DocPixel · 12-03-2006, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meghan&Pedro

Dry/itchy skin, hot-spots, poor coat quality - you've named some VERY obvious signs of a food allergy.

Well, actually, she doesn't have hot spots or poor coat quality. Just the flakes and itchiness. But I agree that the SD doesn't agree with her skin, and I want to find a better food for her.

She was on Nutro Senior. But in September when it got cooler, she started stiffening up and gimping when she first got up, walking instead of trotting, etc. (She's already on Cosequin SD) But when I put her back on the SD, all that was reversed. So looking at the overall picture, I'd rather have her feeling good, enjoying life, bouncing around, even if she's itchy.

My goal is to find a food that lets her feel that way, but agrees with her skin too. And when it warms up, I'll feel more comfortable trying some others.

But in the meantime, I'll try some of the Omega 3. Does it make any difference what brand?

I need capsules, rather than oil - an oily Bouv beard, I don't need.

Thanks to you all for your suggestions! They're appreciated.
Sarah

Dulce · 12-03-2006, 02:45 PM

If you've been on SD for so long, then she's DEVELOPED an allergy to the food.

Switch to something fish and potato, or duck and potato, rabbit and potato, etc.

If you mix Omega3 in her food, it won't be oily. Have her seen by a vet.

cshellenberger · 12-04-2006, 01:31 AM

You can give her fish body oil capsules, or a product like Missing Link. Both are rich in Omegas 3 and 6 and will help her coat. Look at getting a food that is single source protien/carb (fish and potato ect). I posted the WDJ list of top foods in another thread, several of those companies have single source protien foods that are excellent.

DocPixel · 12-04-2006, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cshellenberger

You can give her fish body oil capsules, or a product like Missing Link. Both are rich in Omegas 3 and 6 and will help her coat. Look at getting a food that is single source protien/carb (fish and potato ect). I posted the WDJ list of top foods in another thread, several of those companies have single source protien foods that are excellent.

Thanks, Carla. I'll go look at the list of top foods you posted. And thanks also for the recommendation. I bought some Grizzly Bear Salmon oil today, and I'll see if she can eat it without getting it in her beard. If not, I'm glad to know there are capsules.

Is that a brown newfie I see in your avatar? Don't see too many of those around.

DocPixel · 12-04-2006, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dulce

If you've been on SD for so long, then she's DEVELOPED an allergy to the food.

Switch to something fish and potato, or duck and potato, rabbit and potato, etc.

If you mix Omega3 in her food, it won't be oily. Have her seen by a vet.

Dulce, have I stepped on your toes in some way? Maybe it's just me, but your post seemed a bit abrupt and irritated with me. Am I misinterpreting?

Sarah

cshellenberger · 12-05-2006, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DocPixel

Thanks, Carla. I'll go look at the list of top foods you posted. And thanks also for the recommendation. I bought some Grizzly Bear Salmon oil today, and I'll see if she can eat it without getting it in her beard. If not, I'm glad to know there are capsules.

Is that a brown newfie I see in your avatar? Don't see too many of those around.

Put it directly on top of the food.

That is my English mastiff, Max

DocPixel · 12-05-2006, 06:22 PM

What a gorgeous boy! Love that dark brindle color, too.

cshellenberger · 12-05-2006, 07:36 PM

Thank You

LoveLilly · 12-08-2006, 03:41 PM

Lilly has itchy skin and we give her fish oil on her food every morning. Its helped a little but we are switching her to a hypo-allergenic diet based on her allergy test we just got. We are doing a combo of Eukaneuba fish & potato I get from the vet and then I will be adding my own natural ingrediants to supplement (chicken, sweet potato, beans, etc...)

I did learn that Eukaneuba from the vet is a formula without the fillers on the same brand in the pet store. Why...no clue. My guess is they make a fish & potato regular and then a hypo-allergenic for vet dispensing.

LoveLilly · 12-08-2006, 03:43 PM

Another thought. Have you tried a medicated shampoo. I got one from the vet that you leave on for 10 minutes. We were doing that before we learned of her extensive allergies. But it may be an option as well.

APBTgal · 12-11-2006, 04:04 PM

I have my boy on a raw diet but I also give codliver oil for skin and coat.