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A number of Doberman dog owners face the problem of coat and skin
issues with their dog. The coats become thin and dull. A few
animals are observed to be constantly scratching their skin or
even biting it. Take your Doberman dog to your veterinarian and
there is a chance that the medical professional will give your
canine an Omega supplement. Many dog owners know this, and they
do a preemptive strike on their dogs: they give dog food
supposedly enriched with Omega 3.
Biologically available supplements
The reality is different. Most dog foods, although they claim to
have Omega-3 as a component, rarely have any kind of fatty acid
which are biologically available to canines. The term
"biologically available" needs a bit of explanation. When any dog
food gets processed, it gets exposed to heat. The Omega fatty
acids are quite sensitive when it comes to high heat. It means
when you finally pour the food into your Doberman's bowl; the
all-important fatty acids are long gone. Other than dry and itchy
skin, a diet deficient in Omega-3 also leads to several other
problems. The list includes increased time to heal wounds and
allergic reaction effects. The immune system function will be
decreased, and the dog will suffer painful joints. There will be
hair loss and excessive inflammation. Ear infections are common.
Excessive itching and hot spots will arise.
Even if your vet suggests an Omega-3 supplement, be sure to know
the exact name of the medicine you have to buy, This is as not
all Omega-3 supplements are the same. The ingredients which drive
fatty acids are essential. One excellent example is that salmon
fish is rich in Omega-3s, but the fish is also toxin-rich. This
is as salmon is a bigger fish and it eats the smaller fish. If
the smaller fish ate from a toxin-rich source, it follows the big
predator fish is also rich in toxins (as it eats the smaller
fish). Since bigger fish live longer, the amount of toxicity is
even more.
The smaller, the merrier
It is thus essential to start with the smaller fishes in the food
chain like anchovies. The ideal Omega-3 source should be a
smaller fish with short lifespan. The theory is correct in the
proof that anchovies are rich in Omega -3 but has a negligible
quantity of toxins. Alternatively, you can give your Doberman
artificial chewable supplements. These are made from small fishes
and provide your Doberman with perfect essential oils balance.
These tablets are sold in both small and large, and you can buy
them as you please. You will soon observe your Doberman getting
its shiny coat back once it chews on the supplements.
Itchy Skin on a Miniature Pinscher
While prescription drugs may be needed in some cases to address
the underlying cause of itchy skin in a Miniature Pinscher,
gentle bathing of your dog usually will provide relief from the
itching. Use a mild, organic dog shampoo, and rinse the dog after
the bath with a soothing, healing rinse. To make the rinse, mix a
cupful of dissolved salt, Epsom salts, or apple cider vinegar to
a gallon of lukewarm water. Take care not to aggravate the skin
problem when you groom your dog. Use a velvet grooming glove to
smooth and shine the hair without further irritating the skin. A
number of medical conditions can cause itchy skin in Miniature
Pinschers.
Hair Loss
The Miniature Pinscher breed is prone to the development
of sebaceous adenitis, an
inherited disorder that can cause severe skin problems and
alopecia, a general term for hair loss. This autoimmune
disorder causes the sebaceous glands in the dog’s skin to
become inflamed and eventually die, after which the glands no
longer produce sebum to prevent the skin from drying out. The
dog develops patches of dry, itchy skin with mild scaling,
mostly around the head, ears and trunk of the body. The hair
falls out, and if the dog is able to scratch the patches,
they may become infected. This condition cannot be cured, but
symptoms can be treated with the help of a veterinarian.
Allergies
Itchy skin often is a symptom of allergic dermatitis, a
reaction to an allergen in the environment. Miniature
Pinschers may have sensitivities to certain substances, and
the most common allergens are food, fleas,
flea-control products and household cleaning products.
Treatment for allergies addresses both the cause and the
symptoms. Seek the advice of a veterinarian. To find out what
is causing the reaction, bathe your dog, wash all bedding,
and put the pet on a prescription diet or hydrolyzed protein
diet. Eliminate the use of all non-organic household and
grooming products until the allergy improves. Once you see
improvement, gradually reintroduce your Miniature Pinscher to
foods one at a time in order to identify whether a food is
the cause of the allergy. Reintroduce each of your regular
products one at a time, until you identify the cause of the
allergy.
Fleas
Fleas are common
parasites that can cause skin problems in dogs. The Miniature
Pinscher usually is an indoor dog, but Dr. L. Ackerman,
author of the “Guide to Skin and Haircoat Problems in Dogs,”
says the dogs most at risk of a reaction to fleas are those
who have only occasional exposure to them. An allergic
reaction to flea bites includes weeping, itchy skin that
easily becomes infected. The best resolution to this problem
is a carefully managed flea-control program. However, some
dogs with flea
allergies also have reactions to flea-control
products. Ackerman recommends regular grooming with suitable
combs, and avoiding strong chemical insecticides.
Hot Spots
Hot spots are
lesions that form on the dog’s skin. These lesions become hot
and moist, and itch severely. The dog afflicted with a hot
spot will lick or scratch the spot excessively, making the
area painful and infected. This condition is also known as
acute moist dermatitis. Although short-coated breeds are less
likely than long-coated breeds to develop hot spots,
Miniature Pinschers can still suffer from them if they are
not kept clean and groomed regularly. Dogs that swim often or
that are exposed to rain frequently can also develop hot
spots. When grooming a Miniature Pinscher that is suffering
from a hot spot, work carefully around the area to avoid
irritating the skin further. Seek the advice of your
veterinarian for care of a hot spot.
