When a dog or cat has chronic skin problems, hair that is falling out, bald patches, rashes, dandruff, or poor coat, the causes are virtually always dietary.
Change to a preservative-free diet and supplement with the daily pet multiple vitamin and mineral tablet, and vitamins C and E. This usually does the job.
Many skin problems are specific deficiencies, including vitamins A, E, C, or zinc.
Animals on vegetable oil or cod liver oil tend to need more vitamin E in their diet.
Chronic skin ailments, demodectic mange, or seborrhea usually respond to vitamin C; rashes, eczema, and hair loss are often vitamin E deficiencies; abscesses and sores respond to zinc; and bacterial skin eruptions, scratching, or sebaceous cysts require vitamin A.
Use 200 IU daily of vitamin E, 10,000-20,000 IU vitamin A, 5-20 mg of zinc, and 500-3,000 mg vitamin C per day.
Pat Lazarus suggests the following vitamin amounts for a 50-lb dog with skin problems (these are added to the daily vitamin-mineral supplement):
Vitamin C: 1,000-2,000 mg
Vitamin E: 400 IU per day
B-complex 50 with B-12
2 T cold pressed vegetable oil (sunflower or sesame) per meal
2 tsp. kelp powder
Zinc: 30 mg
Selenium: 50 mcg
1 T bone meal (per day)
2 wheat germ oil capsules per meal
Pat Lazarus advises a change of diet to natural, preservative-free foods, beginning with a veterinary-supervised fast on distilled water for a few days. Do not fast a diabetic pet unless advised by a veterinarian. Anitra Frazier suggests that the fat be on a high calcium chicken broth.
Begin with a change of diet and the daily vitamin-mineral program.
Recommended vitamins are: vitamin C to bowel tolerance, B-complex and pantothenic acid (B-5), and vitamin E.
Pet digestive enzymes (dog or cat) are also recommended and helpful.
To reference amounts by body size, for a cat use twice a day (two meals): 500 mg vitamin C, _ low potency B-complex tablet (yeast free), 1/4 tsp feline enzymes or _ digestive enzyme pill; once a week, add: 400 IU vitamin E and a capsule containing 10,000 IU vitamin A and 400 IU vitamin D.
Biotin deficiency results in hair loss and in hair and skin disorders in cats and dogs, but the exact requirements for it are unknown in both.
This B vitamin is essential for thyroid and adrenal health, strong nervous systems and nerve tissue, healthy reproduction, normal sweat glands and bone marrow, and healthy skin.
It is necessary for utilization of fat, proteins, and carbohydrates in the body.
Biotin is a cure for dogs that eat their feces; they may be looking for this vitamin, which is produced to some extent in the intestines. Raw egg whites contain an enzyme that depletes biotin. For this reason, eggs fed to pets should be cooked to deactivate this enzyme.
Yes good point Nikki, my first Mastino had severe allergies and the vet gave him omega 3. With her it costed $30 a bottle, we figured out real quick that it was cheaper to buy it in human grade and we got it at wal-mart. Starrsdcct Neapolitans UGM Admin
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