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Printable version
A glossy thick pelt is more than just a joy to stroke and look at. It's a reflection of inner health and vitality. As most of our pets generally start out looking great, with youth on their side, the gradual decline to a dull or oily coat may go unnoticed for a while. As your pet ages, he needs a little more maintenance and attention to changes in skin conditions. The quality of their coat has more information to give us about their general health than you may realize.
The skin is a protective layer from external pathogens. It also aids in circulation and can assist in the removal of waste build up within the body. So, when the weather warms up and you're grooming your furry friend more regularly, take note if he has any itchy red patches, lumps and bumps, dandruff, excess oil, or sections where the coat is thinning. If you see significant changes in coat health, you need to find out if the issue stems from an external irritant or a chronic internal imbalance.
External triggers
There are many possibilities: pollen and other common allergens, funky swimming water, bug bites, stinging nettle or other irritant herbs in the bush, our harsh dry climate, cleaning agents, carpet deodorizing powders, excessive bathing with harsh shampoos, to name a few. All of these may result in rashes, itchy skin, dandruff and other skin problems. Fortunately, theses types of irritations usually respond well to an external remedy. Just be aware that all those shampoos, sprays, topical creams, and ointments vary greatly in quality (purity and gentleness) as well as effectiveness. With regards to shampoos, it is very important to look at how natural the base product is. Most are not really soaps, but detergents. They give lots of bubbly lather but also strip your pet's fur of protective oils. Common commercial human and pet body care products often contain ingredients such as sodium lauryl sulfate, coco betaine, ammonium laurel sulfate, DEA, urea and parabens (preservatives). These are all known to cause dermatitis, hair loss, dandruff and allergic reactions, as well as form nitrosamines (carcinogens) in the body. We absorb a lot of these products through our mucous membranes and pores, so just because a product is being used externally, don't assume that it cannot do any harm. Reputable natural products will use a pure, saponified oil base (Castile soap) or a shampoo base called decyl polyglucose, (NEEM SHAMPOO) which is an ultra gentle, non-irritating cleanser that is being used in baby skin care products and finally our pet's products as well. As for conditioners, unless you live with a very long haired creature, you shouldn't need it, as it is not necessary to strip all natural oils out of the hair in order to clean it.
Once you have a good cleansing product, look for added ingredients that support healing and disinfecting of the skin. Neem (a well-known Ayurvedic herb that benefits most skin conditions) makes a great topical healing agent that is often added to shampoos and misters for superficial skin problems. So, if you suspect allergens (pollens, dust mites) are getting caught up in the fur and irritating your pet, go ahead and give Fido a good bath with a quality shampoo. It should give relief in 24-48 hours if that was the cause of discomfort. If shampooing doesn't give long-term relief, keep on looking for an internal imbalance, and use a topical soothing herbal mist for temporary relief, (COAT CARE DRY) as over-bathing with even the best shampoo can aggravate irritated raw skin. A good grooming mist based on skin soothing and anti-inflammatory herbs like calendula, chamomile, neem leaf, as well as lavender and rose waters can temporarily relieve the skin and eradicate pests in-between shampoos. Finally, while you're taking care of the furry part of your four-legged, don't forget to check on his paw pads once and awhile! For those active agility and fly ball dogs, as well as those that hike and bike a lot in the summer, an herbal ointment (PAW RESCUE) with tissue repairing herbal oils of calendula, echinacea and comfrey is helpful to repair cracks and abrasions, or just relieve tired, worn out feet.
Below the surface: sometimes the external treatments are not enough. If the immune system is weak and toxins are built up, the skin - acting like a third kidney - will try to lessen the load by throwing off waste. This can result in chronic oily, flaky, irritated, itchy skin, sebaceous cysts, hair loss, hot spots, acne etc. But before jumping to the corticoid steroids or antihistamines - which may give some immediate relief, but depress overall immunity - consider assisting the body with the process of healing itself in a natural way, through the use of herbs.
Herbs can gently assist the body in regaining balance. They can tonify the immune system and stimulate the elimination systems to work better, allowing for true healing instead of a suppression of the external "surface" symptom.
For general maintenance of good healthy skin, look to nutritive herbs like rosehips, kelp, alfalfa, dandelion leaf, spirulina and nettle, which provide trace minerals, vitamins and antioxidants with some mild tonifying and cleansing action (VITA/MIN). Nettle, when used regularly, can also help lessen histamine responses in allergic individuals. Rosehips, being a source of vitamin C, are a natural antihistamine too. Try boosting your pet's diet with nutritional herbs such as these over the winter, so that he will be more tolerant of environmental allergens/pollen the following spring.
For chronic skin problems, you need to be a good detective and dig deep for underlying causes. Why might the individual have such a weak immune system and/or toxic overload? Poor commercial processed diet; poor digestion (even the best food isn't enough if it is poorly absorbed and assimilated); lack of essential fatty acids; allergy to grains; allergy to certain proteins; over-vaccination (leading to weakened immunity); history of frequent antibiotic or steroid use; sluggish bowel, kidneys, or lymphatic systems; age; stress; genetic/breed predisposition; environmental toxins (smokers home, poor water quality.) It can get a bit overwhelming.
So where do you start:
Begin with the obvious, a natural, preferably organic, raw or cooked REAL food diet instead of processed kibbles, and then see what other factors may be involved...
If you suspect digestive weakness in your pet (frequent gas, bloating, bad breath, constipation or diarrhea, poor appetite, vomiting, undigested food in stool) consider herbs such as peppermint, chamomile, ginger, fennel, papaya, slippery elm and oregon grape to support the organs involved in digestion and soothe irritated intestinal tracts. (ST-C)
If you think your pet is immune compromised, herbal extracts of echinacea, rosehips, (ECH+) astragalus, and siberian ginseng (ADREN tone) are worth adding in for 2 months or more, depending on the pet's history.
For the pet with oily, greasy fur, hot spots, tendency to sebaceous cysts, impaired liver function, low immunity and sluggish bowels, at the top of the list are: burdock, dandelion, red clover, oregon grape, licorice root, neem leaf, sarsaparilla, and yellow dock to help purify the blood and assist the detoxification process. (DTX, or NEEM+)
It is impossible to sum up all sources of skin problems in all pets, but you have a choice in how you approach the healing process. If you go for the quick and fast pharmaceutical fire extinguisher approach, you may get some short-term relief, but also risk driving the problem deeper in to the body, making it worse on the organ systems, and harder for the body to heal. The potential is for a recurrence, which is often worse than the original condition, or for a more serious and difficult to treat organ dysfunction to show up next time your pet is under stress.
For more advice on natural solutions to skin disorders in pets, please contact your holistic veterinarian or a qualified herbalist.
Tara Martinson, herbalist and co-owner of "On the Trail" Animal Wellness, is available for nutritional consultations at Tail Blazers Arbour Lake (North) and Co-op Plaza (South)
Contact: tara@onthetrail.ca or (403) 678 5262. www.onthetrail.ca
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