It is common for dogs to have a red rash, but canine Ichthyosis can cause more damage than you think. A reasonable diet is essential for dogs to have enough strength to fight this disease.
What are supplements for Ichthyosis in dogs? Let’s check.
Is Ichthyosis In Golden Retriever A Big Deal?
Term Ichthyosis is a skin disease that worries many pet owners as it is a rare medical condition. It can appear in both cats and dogs.
This is an inherited skin disease because of autosomal recessive genes. Therefore, the puppies will be at risk of illness if there is a family history of Ichthyosis.
Most dogs with the disease will have hard, thick skin, red spots, or deep cracks, causing burning pain, infection, and painful swelling in the feet.
However, the form of Ichthyosis has many variants, and the disease symptoms are also different in each dog breed.
Dog breeds like Jack Russell Terriers, Yorkshire Terriers usually only have a rash on the abdomen. While for Golden Retriever, you will see a much higher number of stretch marks than other species.
These symptoms will become more severe with the age of the pet.
According to genetic testing results, when both parents are carriers, there is about a 25% chance that the puppies will be born with this recessive trait.
The saddest thing is that there is currently no way to prevent congenital Ichthyosis.
The disease causes many difficulties in the quality of life of dogs.
What Are Supplements For Ichthyosis In Dogs?
Adding natural supplements to their daily meals is very important, and an ideal diet needs foods that are low in carbohydrates and high in protein. Whole foods derived from fish, poultry, and meat will be the top priority.
Check out a few vet-recommended supplements below:
Fish Oil
Fish oil contains various fatty acids essential to a dog’s diet, such as omega-3 (DHA) and EPA.
These fatty acids act as anti-inflammatory agents in cells and are important components of animal cell membranes.
They allow the body to know when to reduce inflammation (and help nourish certain types of cells). By reducing inflammation, dogs will reduce pain and swelling in the skin, joints, and other organs.
Determining how much fish oil your dog needs depends on skin condition and diet.
However, please don’t feed them too much fish oil, which can cause consequences like obesity, upset stomach, blood clotting problems, etc.
Digestive Enzymes
The main enzymes are proteins secreted by the digestive glands that help digestion and absorption of food.
It helps stabilize the beneficial bacteria in the dog’s gut, reduces the growth of harmful bacteria, and aids in treating diseases in dogs.
Although digestive enzymes have many benefits, they should not be abused by dogs or cats because excessive doses will be counterproductive.
Coconut Oil
This is a great oil for dog health because it has powerful antifungal and antibacterial properties. Adding it to your dog’s diet can also improve flaky skin and reduce shedding.
It also helps to improve other skin problems like allergies, eczema, dermatitis, secondary infections, etc. The healthy fats in coconut oil also strengthen the lipid barrier to fight pathogens.
Yucca
Due to its plant origin, yucca extract is a great alternative to cortisone for dogs.
Quercetin
Quercetin is a compound with high antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antihistamine properties. It is available in capsule and pill form and is easy to use.
What Are The Symptoms Of Fish Scale Disease In Dogs?
As mentioned above, the symptoms of congenital Ichthyosis are not fixed but can vary with age (worsens with age). Although this disease is not life-threatening, it is complicated to treat.
It causes many difficulties in the life of dogs and even their owners.
This disease will always make them uncomfortable, causing itching, constant scratching, and a very bad smell. Common signs of Ichthyosis are:
- Hard scaly skin, thick greasy skin
- Rough skin, sensitive skin, skin disorders
- Dry scales in the outermost layer of the skin
- Red and itchy rash
- There are dandruff flakes on the edges of the ears
- Itching in a wide range
- Hair loss in patches and spread gradually
- The appearance of pimples and pus on the skin, especially on the lower abdomen and on the hind legs
- Dogs scratching constantly or biting themselves all over cause more damage
- Severely infected skin can lead to sores
- Yellow, viscous discharge from infected areas of skin
- The hair appears as dandruff patches and has a characteristic odor
- Dogs are anorexic, lose weight, water loss, and become sicker
- Become aggressive, bark a lot
Depending on each patient, these signs may have certain changes. The breeds most affected are usually the Golden Retriever.
For sure, it is recommended to take them to a nearby medical facility. The professionals there can use various diagnostic techniques to confirm ichthyosis, such as clinical examination, skin testing, and skin biopsy.
Pictures of Ichthyosis in this breed can be heartbreaking for what they have to go through.
How Much Does Treatment For Ichthyosis In Dogs Cost?
Because the cause of the skin issues is due to chromosomal aberrations, Golden Retriever Ichthyosis in dog treatment is still an unsolved problem.
Current measures only aim to reduce the damage to your pet’s body.
With the improvement of current medicine, the lives of unfortunate dogs have also been reduced with less pain, but active treatment is also needed.
For effective treatment, owners need to rely on the specific development of the disease.
Fortunately, the cost of diagnosis and treating congenital Ichthyosis is moderate compared to many other conditions because expensive drugs don’t particularly help.
It can cost 30-100 dollars/month for medicated shampoos and moisturizing, topical products, and skin hydration drugs.
What To Look Out For In Treatment?
The skin protects the body from bacteria, viruses, and other harmful environmental elements. Thus, you need to pay attention to the following points for the treatment to get good results:
- Keeping the skin clean and hydrated is important, especially for dogs with Ichthyosis. Tight, dry skin is more prone to cracking and increases the chances of secondary skin infections. I have used a special moisturizing rinses which is better than the regular one on the market.
- Use topical sprays and lotions specifically for dogs to kill parasites and keep skin and coat dry and clean!
- Test foods to rule out food allergies. Supplement foods rich in protein and essential fatty acids to provide dogs.
- Keep the living area clean. Regularly wash pet bedding and clothing.
- Take your dog for regular check-ups to detect and treat the disease immediately.
- Do not bathe your dog too much, only one to two times a week. After cleaning, you must dry the coat; you can use a hair dryer when it is cold and rainy.
- Antibiotics can reduce irritation and should not be used for long because they are prone to side effects on the liver and kidneys.
Conclusion
Above are our recommendations for supplements for Ichthyosis in dogs. It is a skin disease inherited through autosomal recessive genes.
Although it is not too serious, you should also consult with your doctor to ensure the effectiveness of the treatment. Hope your dear dogs have a speedy recovery. Thanks for reading.
