How Your Dog’s Diet Affects Their Skin: Let’s Talk About Dog Food and Skin Allergies

What if your furry companion gets irritated due to continuous skin allergies? Don’t you want to see them happy, active and healthy? Skin allergies in pets have become quite common these days and it should be the prime responsibility of every pet owner to take care of their pet’s skin to sustain their overall health. The same goes with your dog who needs to feed on appropriate dog food that minimizes the risk of coat and skin disease.

Do you know

Skin diseases are one of the leading reasons in pets for taking them to veterinary

Carefully understand dog skin allergies based on a different proportion

As per the data collection by HLES (Health and Life Experience Survey, 27,541 dogs were diagnosed with skin problems and significant results on dog skin allergies were categorized on their age and weight. You must check it out and find your dog falls into which category?

Skin problem results based on weight:

Dogs less than 10 kg

Total-6207

Between 10-20 kg

Total-5613

Between 20-30 kg

Total-8219

Between 30-40kg

Total-5167

Dogs with more than 40kg

Total-2335

Overall

Total-27541

1628 (26%)1531 (27%)2369 (29%)1621 (31%)

766 (33%)

7915 (29%)

Skin problem results based on age:

Puppy (less than 1 yr)

Total- 591

Adolescent (1 -3 yr)

Total-4622

Young adult (3 – 7 yr)

Total-8249

Older adult (7 – 11 yr)

Total- 7666

Senior (more than 11 yr)

Total-6413

Overall

Total- 27541

40 (7%)796 (17%)2181 (26%)2556 (33%)2342 (37%)7915 (29%)

The constant increase in skin problems percentage shows that as your dog keeps growing (by age or weight), there are more chances of skin allergies and issues.

The conclusion of the stats showcases the importance of dog skin health throughout their whole life.

Never be oblivious to Nutritional Elements for a dog’s skin health

You can’t ignore the fact that nutrition plays a major role in promoting dog skin health. However, it is necessary to choose the right nutritional elements as per your dog’s requirements. Let’s have a quick look at them:

  • Protein: As we all know, hairs are built on 95% of protein and are rich in methionine and cystine. So for better growth of fur and healthy skin, the intake of 25-30% protein is necessary for dogs daily.
  • Zinc: You might ignore this, but zinc has crucial aspects in improving cellular metabolism and maintaining a healthy coat. It also plays a crucial role in the biosynthesis of Fatty acids.
  • Vitamin A: The deficiency of vitamin A in your dog may give rise to problems like cutaneous lesions of hyperkeratinisation and poor hair coat and even may increase the risk of microbial infection. So never underestimate the supremacy of Vitamin A in maintaining your dog’s skin health.
  • Vitamin E: It is quite pivotal to maintain the stability of the cell membrane and the overall growth of fur. Vitamin E protects the cells getting affected from toxic oxygen radicals.
  • Vitamin B: The lack of Vitamin B in your dog may lead to dry and flaky skin. It’s a water-soluble vitamin and needs to be taken regularly for the proper functioning of metabolism which enhances the quality of skin.

Are you feeding your dog with the right food?

If you are ignoring the flaky skin and consistent scratching by your dog, then it’s time to be more attentive. Your dog might be facing a critical skin allergy and requires quick assistance. Also, ensure whether your dog is consuming a healthy diet or not. Feeding your dog with:-

How Your Dog's Diet Affects Their Skin: Let’s Talk About Dog Food and Skin Allergies

  • Low-quality of protein
  • Excessive preservative food items
  • Rendered meat items  
  • Additional fillers

can harm their overall health and increase the risk of skin allergies. However, goat milk for dogs has grabbed the limelight for its nutritional benefits enhancing skin health. So, let’s discuss the proper dog food ingredients that help enhance skin health.

Do you know

At some stage of life, approximately 25% of dogs face skin problems 

Recognizing the warning signs of skin allergies in dogs

Being aware of some major warning signs of skin allergies in your dogs can help you take action as soon as possible. Before the case becomes worse, it is necessary to cure it. Adhere to the list of warning signs:

  • Red and flaky skin
  • Excessive scratching
  • Frequent hair loss
  • Sores
  • Bald patches
  • Chewing or biting the skin
  • Continuous licking of skin
  • Rubbing on surface

How Your Dog's Diet Affects Their Skin: Let’s Talk About Dog Food and Skin Allergies

Hidden food ingredients that harm your dog’s skin health

There is a direct connection between your dog’s skin and eating habits. Some food ingredients can be very harmful to your dog’s skin health and may lead to serious concerns. So think twice before adding such ingredients to your dog’s diet.

Here is the list:

  • Artificial additives: The presence of artificial colors, preservatives and flavors in your dog food can create irritation in your dog’s skin which may cause itching and redness.
  • Poor quality fillers: In several dog foods there is an addition of low-quality wheat, corn and soy which may develop allergies and lead to itchy skin.
  • Excessive sugar and salt: While buying commercial products like natural dog treats and processed snacks, pet owners generally ignore the ingredient list. It may contain high levels of sugar and salt which can dehydrate the dog’s skin and lead to flakiness.
  • Extreme consumption of fat: Even the excessive intake of low-quality fat in dog food may lead to extra grease in the skin and increase the chances of seborrhea.

Common Dog Skin Allergies that can ruin your dog’s life

Ignoring the dog’s skin allergies can lead to serious health concerns. But, before that, it is crucial to understand some common skin allergies and their causes, such as:

Types of allergiesCausesSymptoms
Food allergiesIt is a highly common dog skin allergy that occurs due to a poor immune system. The protein available in meat items and low-quality fillers like corn and soy may be present in dog treats and may trigger such allergies.Your dog might be infected with itchy skin, especially around paws and ears, along with red rashes.
Environmental allergiesJust like humans, dogs may encounter surrounding substances like pollen grains, weeds and mites. It is generally seasonal and called atopic dermatitis.It may result in itching and rashes around the belly, ears and paws.
Flea allergy Dermatitis (FAD)It is one of the most severe condition allergies that adversely impacts Dog skin health. A single bite of a flea can create harsh conditions.Your dog will suffer from intense itching, especially at the tip of the tail and may get bald spots with inflamed skin.
Direct Contact allergiesSometimes, your dog may get in direct contact with external substances like powerful chemicals, pesticides, synthetic materials and specific plants. Even the use of some low-quality shampoo or any grooming product may lead to such allergies.The dog may suffer from swelling and itching on the specific spot of the skin. Even redness and rashes may appear.

Right protein selection for dog’s skin – Goodbye to confusion

Most people get confused during selection between animal-based and plant-based protein for their dog’ Skin. You may not prioritize it, but a single mistake can degrade your dog’s skin health.

So, before you rush to a veterinary, you must understand about right protein diet for your dog’s skin.

Key AttributesAnimal-based proteinPlant-based protein
Nutritional CompositionIt consists of dense amino acids, a boon for your dog’s skin. It also fulfils the need for Omega-6 and omega-3 which keep your dog’s skin hydrated and free from inflammation.
E.g. Fish, beef, chicken, camel milk for pets etc.

Might lack some amino acids like methionine and taurine which play a crucial role in cell development and repair.

But they are a good source of antioxidants. E.g. Chickpeas, lentils

 Digestibility and Skin toleranceA dog is a carnivore and can better sync with animal-based proteins, resulting in a better digestive system and skin health.Due to the high presence of fibre, it may be harder for dogs to digest.
However, some dogs may be sensitive to animal-based protein like beef and chicken. So Plant-based can be the best alternate option.
Allergies and sensitivitySome dogs can be highly sensitive to animal-based protein and may develop skin allergies and itchiness.Feeding plant-based protein has very low chances of getting allergies in dogs, except for some products like soy and grains. It can be used in hypoallergenic diets.

Superfoods to Boost Your Dog’s Skin Health

Have you ever become conscious towards choosing healthy dog food? The consumption of high-quality and healthy dog food can help them in the nourishment of their skin health. Let’s have a glance over them!

How Your Dog's Diet Affects Their Skin: Let’s Talk About Dog Food and Skin Allergies

  • Say hello to Hypoallergenic diets: Adding these types of dog nutrition products which are present in smaller molecules can be beneficial due to the use of hydrolyzed protein and has less chance of provoking the immune system. It can be quite effective in enhancing and improving your dog’s skin health. 
  • Never ignore Omega-3 supplements: Omega-3 fatty acids have a tendency of anti-inflammation which reduces the irritation in the skin. It is mostly found in camel milk, fish oil and flax seeds. 
  • Don’t underestimate Limited ingredient diets: Always adhere to the ingredient list of dog food products and choose the product having a fixed and limited number of ingredients. Also, you can rely on a single protein source with limited carbohydrates.  It will reduce the risk of skin allergies. 
  • Time to Eliminate artificial additives: Beware of food products infused with artificial colours and flavours that may raise skin allergies. Instead, select natural fresh dog food items (increases the proportion of staphylococcus and decreases Corynebacterium) rather than processed food.

How adding supplements can enhance your dog’s skin health?

The intake of the right supplement by your dog according to their needs can enhance the health of their skin. Not only focusing on the skin but also overall health can be improved with a proper digestive system.

  1. Keeps skin hydrated: Adding supplements like vitamin E and omega 3 for dogs promotes your dog’s skin health by keeping it moist and hydrated for a long duration. It will eliminate the chances of getting dryness and flakiness. 
  2. Soft coat and shiny skin: The addition of supplements like zinc and biotin keeps your dog’s skin soft and smooth by reducing the probability of shedding. 
  3. Promotes skin healing and repair: In terms of cell regeneration, feeding with zinc and vitamin C can be beneficial and heal the wound quickly. It also repairs the skin tissues damaged due to excessive scratching and infection. 
  4. Reduces inflammation and allergies: If you want an overall healthy conditioning of your dog’s skin, adding anti-inflammatory supplements like probiotics, fish oil and even quality Bovine colostrum for dogs can be beneficial. It reduces allergies and redness.

How to choose the best dog food for sensitive skin

No matter how busy you are – it’s your prime responsibility to prioritize your dog’s skin health at the top most. We have curated 5 essential tips for choosing dog food that can enhance dog skin health.

How Your Dog's Diet Affects Their Skin: Let’s Talk About Dog Food and Skin Allergies

  • Whenever choosing a dog food, check whether the food contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids or not and camel milk for pets is the best option for its fulfillment. It reduces the dryness and promotes glossy skin
  • Even while selecting animal-based protein items like chicken, beef, and fish, be sure that it is fresh dog food. Overall a good quality of protein helps in skin repair. 
  • Never compromise with the essential vitamins and minerals like biotin, zinc, and vitamin E. These compounds improve the elasticity and reduce fur shedding.  
  • Always try to avoid fillers and common allergens like wheat, soy, artificial additives etc. that can deteriorate the skin’s strength. So always choose an LID or hypoallergenic food diet. 
  • Last but not the least! You can add probiotics like Goat milk for dogs and bovine colostrum to improve digestive health; after all, most skin diseases are majorly dependent on your dog’s diet.

Before transitioning to any diet, you can consult with a doctor/veterinary to get the best recommendation for your dog’s skin health.  They can help you in knowing the exact issue behind the skin disease. You will find the best suggestion and balanced diet for your dog’s skin health.

Final Thoughts

Being a responsible pet owner can be challenging, but putting significant effort into their overall health can make it easier. Understanding their needs and diet can enhance their skin health and even their overall immune system.

A high-quality, balanced diet can easily enhance the dog’s skin health. You just need to identify various skin allergies and adhere to the guidelines before choosing a dog food that promotes a glossy coat and skin. Additionally, being vigilant while buying healthy dog food products by prioritising trustworthy online platforms can be beneficial.

Finally, keep patience and monitor your dog’s diet properly. However, you can consult with the veterinarian before any transition. Your dog deserves healthy and shiny skin to enjoy their whole life comfortably!

What foods cause dog skin allergies?

Specific dog food items like processed meat items, preservatives, additives and excessive fillers like wheat and soy may cause dog skin allergies. Dogs highly sensitive to these food items can raise the chances of itchy skin and inflammation.

Can dog food affect the skin?

Yes, feeding your dog poor-quality and adulterated food items can lead to skin irritation, dryness and allergic reactions. Therefore, choosing the appropriate and right dog food items from trusted platforms should be your prime responsibility.

What to avoid in dog food for skin allergies?

If your dog has highly sensitive skin, try to avoid dog food items like processed meat, lactose-dense products (especially for lactose-sensitive dogs), grains, additives and preservatives. These items have a high chance of increasing skin allergies.

What are the top 3 things dogs are allergic to?

Three Common things like food allergens, flea bites and environmental factors (pollen, dust) can increase the chances of skin allergies in your dog.

What causes skin allergies in dogs?

Dogs that are highly sensitive to specific food ingredients and environmental factors may suffer from skin allergies like itching, dryness, flakiness and irritation.

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