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Omega-3s for Your Dog's Itchy Skin
<Kronch Wild Salmon Oil 16.9 oz.
Dogs and cats need both omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids for optimal health, and there is no more natural place to get them than salmon oil. Usually, pets already receive omega-6 fatty acids (found in oils from soya, sunflower, grape, and corn) through their food, but that is not true for the omega-3 fatty acids.
Omega-3 fatty acids are an important factor in strengthening the immune system, fertility, and in preventing heart disease. These two fatty acids can only be found in fish and nowhere else in nature. Omega-3 fatty acids work extremely well against skin and fur problems such as allergies, dry skin, hair loss, itch, scalp, and dull fur. Kronch Salmon oil is extracted from wild, non-farmed salmon by cold pressing the fresh salmon at low temperatures. Cold pressing ensures that the fatty acids aren't broken down and that their qualities aren't lost. The fact that Kronch Salmon oil is cold pressed means that it is very concentrated, making it very economical for daily use. Normal salmon oil which is extracted by boiling many different kinds of fish, contains much less fatty acid and hence doesn't have the same positive effects.
My dog, Coco, is four years old. She is my love!... my constant friend, playmate, cuddle bunny, and dare I say, my sweet furry child! Until a couple of months ago, Coco had suffered from skin allergies. Her sweet face was often puffy of inflammation, especially around her eyes and she would scour her face in my natural-fiber, knotted rug, rub against the armrests of our couch, and scratch her face and chest so much, she would bleed! I tried changing her dog food, her bedding, my laundry detergent, her shampoo, and pulled up the carpet. I tried all the allergic-care processed dog foods, (the really expensive ones too!) and she received little relief. I stopped giving her chicken, beef, even pork product dog food, but with little change. And when it all became too unbearable, I would take her to the vet and she would receive a cortisone shot.
I look back now and feel so bad for her, because she went on like this for nearly three years, with all the diet changes, and only cortisone shots provided complete but temporary relief. One day I was discussing Coco's problems with a dog-owner friend of mine, when she told me that too many cortisone shots will shorten a dog's life! I knew at that point, I must find a "natural", or at least, a much less harmful way to minimize her suffering. After discussing her condition and my concerns with her veterinarian, it was recommended that her diet be supplemented with fish oil, containing Omega3 fatty acids.
Omega 3 EFA (Essential Fatty Acids) have made a lot of press for their cardiovascular benefits for humans, but for dogs they are just as important as dogs that eat processed dog food daily are often missing the Omega 3s that their cells need. This deficiently, as in Coco's case, can manifest itself in flakey, irritated skin, a dull coat, and an intensity in allergic reactions. But that may only be the beginning. Long term deficiency of EFA's can result in chronic diseases. In fact, many veterinarians now recommend Omega 3 EFA in treating cases of kidney disease, elevated cholesterol, and arthritis.¹
Coco
Omega 3 versus Omega 6
Dogs need both Omega 3 and Omega 6 EFA's, but dogs that eat processed dog food daily are usually getting enough Omega 6's. That's because processed dog food usually contains an increase in Omega 6's but not enough, if any Omega 3's.² (Dogs cannot make Omega 6 EFA's. Perhaps that is why processed dog food is made to contain enough for daily supplementation.) It is important to consult your dog's veterinarian before changing or supplementing their diet, since too much or an incorrect ratio may lead to blood clotting problems and vitamin deficiencies.³
Coco's Cure
Okay, so cure is a strong and final-sounding word. But in Coco's case, I feel it's fitting. I gave her supplements called 3V Caps™ Skin Formula, made by DVM Pharmaceuticals, Inc. It was a dramatic and wonderful change, but it didn't happen overnight. After giving her the supplements for several days, I began to notice her coat looking healthier, shiner, and her facial features had absolutely no more inflammation, because she just wasn't scratching as much. In fact, she doesn't scratch any more than I suppose is normal for a healthy dog.
There are also other alternatives, if you think it would be too difficult to get a pill down your dog every day. Only Natural Pet Store offers Grizzly Wild Salmon Oil. It's an oil that is extracted from freshly harvested wild Alaskan salmon that you put on your dog's food. And what dog wouldn't love that! You will want to read all about this product and discuss it with your dog's veterinarian before use as there is certain information on it's application, etc.
If your dog is having skin problems, I hope you will talk with your vet about Omega 3 EFA supplementation. You may want to read The Allergy Solutions for Dogs by Dr. Shawn Messioner and check out some information at the following link: Alleviating Your Pet's Itchy Skin
Hope this story has helped.
Tamara Timmerman is a free-lance writer who enjoys researching health-related issues
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¹ Information gathered from ivillage.com article which was referenced from: The Allergy Solutions for Dogs , by Dr.
Shawn Messioner
² Information gathered from ivillage.com article which was referenced from: The Allergy Solutions for Dogs , by Dr.
Shawn Messioner
³ Information gathered from thepetcenter.com article called "Fatty Acids, You and Your Pet"