Dry Skin - suggestions

markelock

Hi

We've just re-homed another staffie x dog (my last dog was put to sleep in March this year, and to be honest I'd not thought about replacing him, just concentrating on my other staffie x.

However, my wife suggested we have a look, and 6 weeks later I find myself with a 7 year old Staffie x, who, apart from an occasional indoor "accident", and not quite understanding that nipping isn't what we do around here (that's almost gone) is top drawer

However, whilst his oversized head, fantastic walking on lead capability, and general calm relaxed attitude are great, he does have a few medical needs.

He's got alopecia on his ears (which I'm going to use vitamin E for after speaking to the vets), an infection between his toes, which he's on anti-biotics for, and I'll be washing with salt water, and he has dry skin. As he's a super short haired dog, does anyone have any advice, on products they use, cream? or cod liver oil?

Thanks

krlyr

You might find that a good diet works wonders - a dietary allergy or intolerance can often present as ear problems or skin conditions. I would perhaps consider putting him on something like a fish & potato diet incase it's the grains in many foods not agreeing with him.
Be careful with cod liver oil, you may risk an overdose of Vitamin A, because commercial dog food is already supplemented with vitamins. You'd be better with a fish body oil - healthshops will sell this, or you could buy salmon oil for dogs.

gettingready

Zara was recommended Efavet for dry skin, It is a supplement and you can get in at:

www.animeddirect.co.uk

She was on this one for 3 months:

http://www.animeddirect.co.uk/dogs/supplements/efavet-660-capsules-pack-of-100.html

and then on the lower does of this one :

http://www.animeddirect.co.uk/dogs/supplements/efavet-regular-capsules-pack-of-250.html

She still takes them as maintenance... Very good for dry skin. You do not need a prescription

antw23uk

Raw/ BARF food diet from a company like Natural Instincts will have him sorted out within a month. Put them both on it and sit back and enjoy happy healthy dogs :T

Fire_Fox

Cod liver oil is rich in vitamins A and D which can build up to toxic levels if too much is given, it is not a good source of anti inflammatory/ skin friendly essential fatty acids. You want fish body oils for the long chain omega-3s EPA and DHA and *possibly* borage oil for the omega-6 GLA. Borage is only likely to be effective if there is a genetic problem as normally this is easily converted from other omega-6s which are abundant in nature.

Note that most omega-6s and many grains/ cereals are pro inflammatory, and many commercial pet foods are rich in both.

lostinrates

antw23uk wrote: »

Raw/ BARF food diet from a company like Natural Instincts will have him sorted out within a month. Put them both on it and sit back and enjoy happy healthy dogs :T

I am very pro raw feeding, but I think that's a bit of a leap personally. I certianly remember a dog we had when I was a child who was raw fed (before dried veterinary foods became all the rage!) and who had dry skin problems.

Certainly the best first approach to many things, including skin, is dietary, and a bad diet can stop good treatments being that effective, but sometimes even the best diet sometimes is not enough. (even if it's a great p,ace to start)