Dry Skin and Food Allergies

Question:

Hi,
I'm interested in finding a product for my dog with very dry flaking skin, but her coat feels oily, she has hair loss on her belly, and is smelly.  She also licks her front paws, but they look fine.
Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Lynda A.

Response:

Hello Lynda,
Thank you for your inquiry to Holistic Pet Info. Your Golden Retriever appears to have the classic signs of food allergies. The primary protein allergens are chicken and beef and carbohydrates are corn, wheat, rice and soy. I highly recommend placing your dog on a food elimination trial. This is where you change the diet to “novel” proteins and carbohydrates. The ingredients should not contain protein and carb sources your dog has eaten or been exposed to before. This trial includes all treats, which often also contain highly allergenic food dyes and preservatives. Treats should be the same formulation as the diet. (See the Food Allergy video for more information.)

There are several diets available that contain alternate diet sources such as salmon, rabbit or duck and barley, oats or sweet potato. You may also offer supplements such as Super EPA by Thorne to decrease inflammation in the skin and support the immune system while being exposed to the food allergens. 

There are several food recommendations on Holistic Pet Info website under Food Allergies. Food trials often take 2-3 months for the skin to fully respond. You may want to consider taking your dog to see a holistic veterinarian to make sure all health issues are addressed. Best of luck.
Sincerely,
Colleen Smith DVM, CVA