Itchy Dog

Itchy Lucy...silly chow mix hates photo time almost as much as she hates The Itchies.

Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night to the sounds of grunting, snorting, thumping, slurping, gnashing teeth, more slurping, maybe even the bed shaking a little from the monster underneath it? It came to a head last month, and the monster was Lucy, pobrecita, with the summer itchies which seem so much worse this year. Before we knew what happened, her belly was red and irritated and her hind legs were headed towards Baldville. If your dog is suffering, you may be interested in knowing that nutrition is a key factor in the itchies. Lucy responded well to a change in diet and some supplements, and now we are all sleeping better at night.

Here are some things you might try...

1. Change you pup's diet. Constant exposure to the same ingredients, even in high quality foods, can lead to food allergies. Rotation feeding, feeding pets with a variety of protein and grains to prevent sensitivities from developing, is being recommended by experts in pet nutrition. Avoid common allergens like corn and wheat. Even lamb, once touted as "hypoallergenic," can lead to sensitivities if it is the only thing your dog eats. If possible, try to feed your dog human grade ingredients, especially grains, as "pet quality" grains have been stored longer and may contain storage mites, to which your dog may be allergic.

2. Use Digestive Enzymes. Digestive enzymes are an important supplement for many reasons, and itchy skin is near the top of the list. (Stay tuned for more information about the importance of digestive enzymes in your pet's diet.) We all have digestive enzymes in our systems that help break down and assimilate nutrients. Enzymes are abundant in raw food, but in this day and age of food processing, which destroys enzymes, humans, dogs and cats alike generally need supplementation. Adding these enzymes to every meal can dramatically improve your pet's coat, skin and general comfort, often in ten days or less. Lucy responded well to Naturvet Digestive Enzymes.

3. Add Essential Fatty Acids. EFAs are another nutrient necessary to keep your pet's coat nourished and healthy, to calm the itchies, to reduce shedding and to feed their skin. Concentrated sources of Omega 3s and 6s, and linoleic and linolenic acids include flax oil, fish oils, hemp oil and evening primrose oil. Try Naturvet Ultimate Skin and Coat, Plato's Salmon Oil or Dr. Harvey's Health & Shine.

4. Control your Pet's Fleas. Animals with nutritional deficiencies will attract more fleas. More exposure to fleabites increases the likelihood that your pet will develop flea allergies. Improving your pet's nutrition by feeding him or her high quality food and adding enzymes and EFAs to their diet will improve your pet's natural resistance to fleas. (Stay tuned for more information on natural flea repellents.)

As always, call Lucky Dog Delivers if you have more questions about our products or your pet's unique situation. We are here for you...828.215.9503.