Dry, Flaking Skin on Black Labrador--Can dogs have dandruff?

Q: Dear Ariel,
My 2 year old black labrador is so cute but he has dry, flaking skin that gets all over the place. I don't know if it is just his color that makes the flakes stand out or if there is something wrong with him. This is really bad especially when he starts itching. Is there anything natural I can do to help him?

A: This is a really good question. A dog's skin is a reflection of what is going on the inside. Dry, flaking skin (dog dandruff)--when a dog's skin is flaking, many times pet owners think the dog needs topical lotions or creams. While sure, using a topical cream rinse can help temporarily to reduce the dog dandruff, that is not a permanent answer. The problem needs to be resolved internally. The dog's coat is dry because the diet does not contain enough essential fatty acids e.g. Omega 3 fatty acids. Perhaps you have heard them referred to as Omega 3s. There are different types of Omega 3s available for pets and you need to be very careful. Many times pet owners think they are buying the "best" but getting very little for their money. Fish oil, especially in pet products can be heavily diluted with water when it is manufactured or it can be altered significantly in the manufacturing process. In addition, fish oil and flax seed oil, two important sources of Omega 3s, can contain a lot of contaminants, PCBs, toxins such as mercury.

There are a few criteria to know if the Omega 3s you are using are really as good as they claim to be. First, if they make you or your pet belch, chances are it is the contaminants in the product. A purified fish oil should not give you that continual, nasty aftertaste. It should go down and stay down! Second, you should notice a very quick improvement in your pet's coat, skin and fur. Amazing Omegas in an exceptional product that works very quickly (just a few days) and the pet's dry skin and coat will start to improve. Amazing Omegas contain the purest, most potent fish oil available. Because it is so pure, it is highly bioavailable to your dog and cat. What does bioavailable mean? It means that your pet's body is able to use it. We have had countless examples at the clinic where pet owners are already using another brand of fish oil and yet, the pet continues to have dull coat or flaky skin. This is most likely due to the fact that the oil is not a high enough quality or they are not using enough. Buyer beware--there is huge variation in fish oils.

Finally, dog skin flaking (dog dandruff) can also be due to a number of other factors such as endocrine diseases (e.g. hypothyroidism), yeast overgrowth, allergies and parasites. We definitely encourage you to first go to the veterinarian to rule this out. If nothing is determined other than dry flaking skin (dog dandruff), then be sure to use a hypoallergenic, grain-free diet along with the oils mentioned above.

AskAriel will provide a free diet suggestion on the packing slip that comes with your order. Please be sure to include your pet's diet on the order form at checkout.

Pet Nutritionist Susan Blake Davis and Her Rescue Dog Legend

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* Fights infection and boosts immune response

* Promotes healing of the skin

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*Calms minor inflammation reducing the swelling, redness and heat

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*Spray and drop in sore ears

The product tastes very much like water and yet offers powerful immune support. Fabulous savings through Friday July 16th!!!

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Holistic Pet Care and Pet Nutrition --Please support us on Facebook

Please join us on Facebook for the latest tips on holistic pet care, pet nutriton and product sales announcements. Ask Ariel Your Pet Nutritionist is a holistic pet care website that is a complete library on pet health conditions and how to treat them naturally using diet and supplements. We provide advice that complements the conventional veterinary care your pet is receiving from your veterinarian.

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What is holistic pet care? holistic veterinary medicine?

Holistic pet care and holistic veterinary medicine is the examination and diagnosis of an animal encompassing the entire “whole” picture of the patient including not only the symptoms and disease patterns, but the emotions, nutrition, exercise and other lifestyle factors as well. When your pet receives a holistic examination, conventional laboratory testing and diagnostic techniques will be utilized, but these other important factors will also be addressed in developing your pet’s individualized treatment plan. Holistic veterinary medicine will treat the whole body, not just an isolated area, all the while attempting to minimize side effects and potentially harmful invasive procedures.

The goal of the holistic veterinarian is to examine the patient’s present state of disease and ask the question, “Why?”. A simple appearing symptom may have many levels of causation. While conventional veterinary medicine may use pharmaceutical agents and surgery to treat the symptom or disease, holistic veterinary medicine will use these conventional tools along with a comprehensive protocol of holistic modalities which include changing diet, adding nutritional supplements, chiropractic and acupuncture treatments to name a few.

As an example, a 5 year old dog may appear to be in relatively good health except for constant scratching and itching. The owner may be reluctant to bring the pet to the veterinarian because the pet appears “fine” and prior treatments with corticosteroids helped temporarily but the problem came back. A holistic veterinarian will look beyond the simple symptom of scratching and itching because skin is a detoxification mechanism for the body and is often the first place where diseases present themselves. The pet may have food or environmental allergies, a thyroid condition or a weakened immune system—all of which, if left untreated, could result in a more serious, chronic disease. Thus, in helping the pet attain total wellness, the holistic veterinarian will employ additional holistic modalities to heal the entire body, beyond just resolving the current scratching and itching symptom.

To learn more about our state of the art holistic pet care, please visit AskAriel.com

Bichon Frise Has Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) and Crystals

Q: My 5 year old bichon frise has been getting chronic urinary tract infections and the vet told me now she has struvite crystals. He put her on a special prescription diet called C/D. My dog is gaining weight and is now itching really bad too. My vet said bichons are prone to getting bladder crystals and stones but I was wondering if there anything else I could do?

A: Yes, there is a lot you can do to help your bichon frise. Even if a breed is prone to getting certain problems, using holistic care you can help to prevent what might seem like the "inevitable". First and foremost, you need to get your dog on a healthy ph-balanced diet. When it comes to finding the right diet for your pet, one size does NOT fit all. Some guidelines though: avoid grains such as wheat, corn and oats and try to use novel protein foods such as venison or rabbit. A dietary consultation with a veterinary professional such as the telephone appointments offered through AskAriel.com is highly recommended especially when crystals are involved. This is because if you are not careful, what can happen is that a pet may have one type of urinary crystals---e.g. struvite and then by using either a prescription diet that is so acidic or the wrong diet, you can end up having your pet develop a different type of crystal, e.g. oxalate.

There are some supplements that would really help your bichon's tendency to get urinary tract infections. For starters, use Renelix Renelix helps clear toxins, accumulated gravel, protein and other sediments from the kidneys and urinary tract. We have consistently used this product with pets that have crystals in the urine and then retest them later and have had consistently positive results. Moreover, using a Probiotic and the Pet UTI Prevention Package is highly recommended.

Dog Scratching, Dry and Flaky Dandruff on Dog's Coat

Q: I have a 3 year old ShtZu that stays in the house all the time. She scratches herself all the time and her skin is dry and flaky like dandruff. What can I do for her?

A: Your dog could have BOTH food and environmental allergies. For starters, it is really important for you to use a pure and effective Omega 3 fatty acid supplement. We highly recommend Amazing Omegas to help with your dog's dry and flaky dandruff. Amazing Omegas can make your dog's coat soft and will help reduce the dandruff in just a few days. Omegas add a beautiful sheen to the coat and lubricate the skin. In addition, they reduce inflammation to help fight allergies.

You need to address your dog's food allergies as well. Be sure to look carefully at your pet's food label as it might contain grains such as corn or wheat. Also, chicken can be a big allergen too. You might want to consider a frozen raw food diet or a canned diet using a "novel protein" such as rabbit. Be sure to avoid key allergens such as wheat, corn, milk products, chicken and peanut butter. Dry food is not recommended for dogs with allergies as it can promote yeast overgrowth since many dogs don't digest it well.

To help your dog get some relief, I would highly recommend Ask Ariel's Pet Allergy and Skin Package. The Pet Allergy and Skin Package includes Proaller, Amazing Omegas and Notatum which work synergistically to reduce scratching, itching and infection. You might also want to include a Probiotic in your dog's regimen too as it helps support your dog's digestion, immune system and allergic response.

Holistic Veterinarian Telephone Consultations

The Doctor Is In! Convenient Holistic Veterinary Care By Phone

Dr. David Gordon, Holistic Veterinarian and Medical Director at VCA Arroyo Animal Hospital in Lake Forest, CA is now available for telephone consultations on Wednesday and Saturday mornings to help you with your pet. Dr. Gordon will review your pet's medical records and provide you with advice regarding the best conventional and holistic veterinary treatment options. This is an especially convenient way to receive medical advice if you have a very busy schedule or don't have access to a holistic veterinarian in your area. Dr. David A. Gordon has over 25 years of experience in veterinary medicine and is a member of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Veterinary Acupuncturists and the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society. Dr. Gordon has a special interest in acupuncture, orthopedic pet problems and holistic medical therapies and is dedicated to giving his patients the best that veterinary medicine can offer. Of course, he is an expert in general veterinary medicine too. Click here for more on Dr. Gordon's credentials

This 30 minute medical appointment is recommended if you:

1) Would like a second opinion about your pet's health condition or veterinary treatments

2) If your pet has unusual symptoms and a diagnoses is unclear

3) If your pet is not responding to conventional veterinary care and you would like an additional holistic medical perspective

4) A personalized, focused discussion of your pet's medical prognsosis without having to stress your pet with car transport

Please note that if you are seeking indepth dietary and/or supplement advice, than a combination appointment with both Dr. David Gordon and Susan Blake Davis, pet nutritionist is recommended.

30 minute consultation cost: $149

Click here to sign up now for a telephone consultation with Dr. David Gordon, holistic veterinarian

Click here to view products and services at AskAriel.com

Come Meet Susan and Get FREE Advice!

Get Expert Advice on Pet Nutrition
FREE!

Meet Susan Blake Davis, a certified clinical nutritionist who provides holistic health consultations to pet owners nationwide, teaching them how food choices directly affect their pet’s health concerns. Susan is also on-staff at VCA Arroyo Animal Hospital. Stop by and learn about:

-What’s Really in Pet Food
-How Poor Digestion Can Lead to Allergies & Other Diseases
-Best Supplements to Keep Your Pet Healthy
-Benefits of a Raw Food Diet

Susan will be at The Dog Ranch Bed & Biscuit located at 20401 Sun Valley Drive in Laguna Beach to answer your questions and help you optimize your pet’s health on:

-Tuesday July 6th from 4 – 6 pm
-Wednesday July 14th from 4 – 6 pm