Dog Itching: More Cures For Dry Flakey Skin
It was recently written:
We put in their dry food twice a day. They get fed twice a day and we have 7 dogs. 4 ten lbs. and 3 60, 60, and 80 lbs…
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 canola oil
1/4 cup cod liver oil
1/4 cup flax seed oil
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What these oils do is add fat to your dogs’ diet. There is no magic to olive, canola or flax seed oils, and all-being plant-derived-are as likely to provoke further inflammation as fix any of it. The only functional oil in the menu is CLO, and that, added to either a raw or kibble menu also delivers more vitamin A and D than either way of feeding warrants.
And FSO, although it does eventually provide some Omega 3 fatty acid, starts with a precursor to it (alpha linolenic acid) which must be converted by the dog at great expense of metabolic energy to linolenic acid. This conversion process all by its lonesome can be inflammatory.
Golden Retriever
Yes, add fat to your dogs’ menu. If you want to use an oil, junk all of those and stick with fish body oil (not liver oil). Use capsules or liquid; dose similarly to what your recipe recommends. A tablespoon of fish body oil a day for all but the smallest dog should be adequate.
The small dog can get a teaspoon or so a day. Also consider adding ordinary raw fat to the menu. Supplemental oil can only do so much. Changing/tweaking the diet is more likely to provide faster and less expensive results.
My guess is the oils in the recipe are not recommended because of value but rather because of availability and low price. That they are inappropriate and counterproductive is apparently beside the point.
I’ve also been giving our dogs salmon oil into their daily diet, but Marley has been having dry skin as of late, nevertheless. I’m thinking
all the dry breads and treats made of all those grains might be the root cause of some skin problems. Could the time of year also cause
dry skin, like shedding the winter fur?
Doberman
Animal fats like of sheep iis said to also be important in their daily diet as well as other fats, but just minimal amounts. Some days they get chicken with some fat, or heart with that white stuff.
Why do you give the dog bread? This is undoubtedly contributing to his problems. Yes, the dry winter air can cause their skin to be dry, just like ours, but really, stop with the bread! Fat is very important to the diet. Does not have to be super fatty meats like lamb, but it certainly would not hurt to feed these.
You may also find Emu Oil in spray or liquid form at many larger pet supply stores. A relative had gotten the spray for his Doberman and I used it on my Golden. It has a very slight but light scent that is gone within minutes and it did help their skin & coats. Unfortunately the store that carried it has closed down and we don’t have a large supply store here so I’ll be checking elsewhere. I do think Feeders Supply or Pet Smart may carry it if you want to try it.
