Zinc For Itchy Skin Dogs

[cowanbree]

Has anyone supplemented zinc for skin disorders with any success? I have a dog who I have had a few issues with and was talking to a breeder at shows a few mths backs. She was of the opinion that a lot of skin disorders are due to a deficiency of zinc in their diet. I was a bit sceptical (and still am) but I came home and put Dash on it, a week in and we have had zero scratching. Could she be right? Has anyone else tried this?

[sas]

Unfortunately not us, from my research you would only be seeing success supplementing with Zinc if the dog actually was deffcient in it, a dog on a balanced diet should be getting the minerals and trace elements it needs from its meal.

No harm in trying though and glad you have had success.

Skin disorders occur for a number of reasons, it a very complex problem.

[Diva]

Yes, I used it with success on a spaniel I was minding for a few months who had chronic skin problems.

[cowanbree]

I am not suggesting it is a miracle cure but given I have tried everything else for Dash including a skin specialist with minimal improvement I felt I had nothing to lose. I have tried just about every diet possible with Dash and none have ever made any difference. I would consider him to be on a balanced high quality diet. It is early days yet obviously but I am hopeful.

Her theory was that the soil that grows the grass in different areas is deficient in zinc which means the life stock that is used to make the dry food or fed directly to the dogs in the form of raw is also deficient.

Diva, how often did you give it to the dog? The breeder wasn't overly specific. She just said treat for a week, then decrease the frequency and only increase if there is a flare up

[Diva]

Diva, how often did you give it to the dog? The breeder wasn't overly specific. She just said treat for a week, then decrease the frequency and only increase if there is a flare up

It's a few years ago now, but as far as I recall I used an oral supplement daily for a few months. Back then I lived in an area (and so had the dog for some years) where the sandy soils were known to be low in zinc, and the theory was that produce from that region was also low in zinc. The dog's normal diet, when with his owner, was not fabulous so it was quite possible his diet had been deficient for some time. Or maybe he absorbed it poorly or had an unusually high need for it, whatever it was, supplementation helped a lot.

Edited November 14, 2010 by Diva

[Steve]

Have you tried Aloe Juice both internal and external?

[sas]

Have you tried Aloe Juice both internal and external?

I just started this last night *fingers crossed* it will assist in some form.

It says to give on an empty stomach, wasn't sure exactly how to do that so just chucked it in his meal, what is your experience with it?

[Steve]

Have you tried Aloe Juice both internal and external?

I just started this last night *fingers crossed* it will assist in some form.

It says to give on an empty stomach, wasn't sure exactly how to do that so just chucked it in his meal, what is your experience with it?

Ive seen miracles worked with it in animals and humans but sometimes it gets worse before it gets better. There is also differences in how you dose them and how much you give them.

[Miss Danni]

Some breeds are more prone to problems with zinc absorption - Siberian Husky for example. Dogs of those breeds may need zinc supplements for their whole lives.

I always supplemented my Huskies and now that I only have GSDs I still find that zinc supplements are of benefit to my dogs. We give a tablet daily in their food, it contains 33mg of zinc, a lot of "vitamin supplements" for dogs contain only about 3mg of zinc. We currently have a young male going through a horrible puppy coat change and I know that he would be even more itchy without the zinc he is getting (half a tablet per day for his weight).

Steve, can you tell us more about the Aloe Juice?

[all that glitters]

I definitely want to try this zinc thing! Do I need dog specific tablets or just human ones?