When my German Shepherd’s skin allergy was at its worst, I was desperate. Every night he’d wake up scratching, and every morning he’d have a new bald patch where I missed a few fleas the night before. After trying all sorts of remedies from the vet, I started to look elsewhere for answers and it turns out that the answer may be in your kitchen.
Diet is an important factor for healthy skin in pets, just like it is in humans. That said, don’t give your cat or dog anything you wouldn’t eat. Put simply, if you’re looking for a way to treat your pet’s skin condition without resorting to harsh drugs or expensive treatments, a diet may be the solution for you.
Are Dog Foods Good for Skin Problems?
You may have heard that dogs are carnivores, but they’re omnivores. This has a lot of implications for their diet and how it affects their skin.
Dogs need protein to build muscle, which is important for maintaining healthy skin. Protein is also necessary to heal wounds and inflammation, which can reduce itchiness when your dog has an infection or other type of irritation.
It’s important to remember that all sources of protein are not equal: meat is higher in certain vitamins and minerals than plant-based proteins like grains or soybeans. Some dog foods contain animal byproducts such as chicken heads or “chicken meal” (which contains mostly ground bones), so be sure you understand what kind of meat goes into the food before purchasing it for your pet’s diet!
You can select any dog food for sensitive skin and stomach to get a good source of protein. It will help you meet all the requirements.
Dog Food for Healthy Skin
If your dog is suffering from skin issues such as allergies, the best way to help his or her condition is with a diet of natural grains and proteins. This will not only alleviate the symptoms of irritation and itching, but it can also prevent further damage to your furry friend’s skin and fur.
To help you find the right types of foods for your dog’s needs, here are some tips on what to look for when shopping:
- Choose a grain-free high-protein food if possible. This will be harder to find than standard kibbles made with cornmeal or wheat flour, but it will be healthier for them in the long run.
- Avoid any ingredients that you don’t recognize! Many pet foods contain artificial flavors and preservatives which can lead to more serious problems down the road if they are not properly balanced by other nutrients found naturally within our bodies (eg vitamin A). Keep an eye out for these words on any labels – especially if there are multiple listings under one category. They often indicate something sneaky going on behind closed doors at big companies.
Dog Food for Allergies
If you want to help your dog with allergies, consider a grain-free diet. This means a diet free of corn, soy, wheat, and other common allergens. The ingredients should also be free of artificial colors and preservatives. They should be free of byproducts and fillers too.
You might have heard about “novel protein” diets for dogs, which are often recommended for allergy sufferers because these diets use proteins that aren’t commonly used in many food products (e.g., lamb). Most importantly though: make sure the food you choose doesn’t contain any ingredients that are known to cause problems for dogs with allergies! The goal here is to find something without any triggers at all so if possible try several different brands until one works well enough for your pup’s needs!
Diet Dog Food for Other Pet Skin Issues
If your dog has other skin problems, diet can also play a role in helping to resolve them. For example, if your dog is allergic to certain foods or if it has an intolerance to a particular ingredient in its food (like wheat), then changing the food may help.
If you have any questions about what kind of diet is best for your pet’s specific needs or how best to transition him over from his current brand of kibble and treats, talk with his veterinarian about possible solutions. You may also want to consider consulting with an animal nutritionist who can help guide your decision-making process by providing expert advice on what type of food would work best for your furry friend’s overall health goals.
Look Beyond the Vet’s Office
You might have noticed that your pet’s skin is looking a bit dry and flaky, but the vet has given you some pills to help with that. While medications can be helpful in certain circumstances, they won’t necessarily solve your dog’s problem. If you’d like to try something more natural, consider taking a holistic approach: by changing the diet of your pet, you may be able to alleviate his or her skin issues entirely.
Diet plays an important role in maintaining healthy skin for both dogs and humans alike. And while there are certainly differences between our two species’ diets (for example, we don’t tend to eat dirt), there are still many similarities—namely that both should consist primarily of fruits and vegetables rather than meat products.
This is because meat contains high levels of pro-inflammatory omega 6 fatty acids (which cause inflammation) while fruits and vegetables contain anti-inflammatory omega 3 fatty acids (which reduce inflammation).
Conclusion
Remember that food is a huge part of our lives and we should all be eating healthy foods that make us feel good. Even if you don’t have allergies or sensitivities, it can be hard for your body to deal with all of the chemicals and additives in processed meals.
The best way to find out what works for you is by doing some trial and error – if one meal doesn’t seem like “the right one” then try another until you find something that works well for both people at home! A proper diet may hold the key to helping your pet fight off skin problems like hot spots or itchiness from flea bites.
