Your pet is your friend! He's on your team! He's got your back! So, of course, you want him to be as happy as he could possibly be! Signs of nutritional deficiencies are easy to spot and easy to resolve. You won't believe how happy they will be!
1. Itching And Scratching
Constant itching and scratching can drive you crazy. All day, all night, the itching never stops. Your pet's skin is his largest organ and when he's itching and scratching 24/7, it can be a sign he's lacking something in his diet. Low nutrient value carbohydrates, poor quality meats and the high temperature involved in processing pet food and artificial treats can leave your pet's diet nutrient deficient. Your pet needs proper nutrition to support healthy skin function. Adding things like omega fatty acids, zinc, delicate nutrients, enzymes in a nutritional supplement can help support proper skin function. Healthy skin, typically does not itch like crazy.
2. Dry, Flaky Skin
Dry, flaky skin can be subtle yet very telling. It's important to remember that the dermal layer (skin) is an organ. Organs need proper nourishment to function properly. Flaking skin can be the indicator of a nutritional deficiency such as "zinc responsive dermatitis" or a fatty acid deficiency.
3. Suppressed Immune System
Immune systems fight pathogenic organisms to help keep animals healthy. When an immune system is compromised, normally non-invasive organisms can become invasive (pathogenic) and cause all sorts of problems. Recurring ear infections, gooey, stinky ears are manifestations of a struggling immune system and possibly a yeast overgrowth. Sometimes yeast overgrowths can be started by excessive use of antibiotics. Antibiotics can compromise an immune system and the digestive tract by killing off good, as well as bad, bacteria. Steroids turn the immune system off completely. This can leave an environment where yeast can flourish. Direct fed microbials/probiotics, prebiotics and enzymes can help support a pet's immune system and digestive system.
4. Paw Licking
Chronic paw licking is often related to the same issues discussed in #3. Yeast populations flourish, due to a compromised immune system and become systemic, traveling to other parts of your pet's body. Incessant paw licking, the kind that makes your pet's paws pink, hairless and stinky is a sign your dog or cat is miserable. A diet high in carbohydrates can also contribute to the yeast population explosion. Feeding a meat based food along with a whole food supplement can help support his digestive tract and proper immune system function. The immune system fights yeast overgrowth.
5. Foul Odor
Stinky skin, the kind that returns soon after a bath, the stench that comes from inside, is not normal. If you walk into your home and smell stinky dog or if you hesitate to pet your dog or cat because of the stink, your pet can benefit from the added nutrients in Dinovite. This stinky skin, that stale corn chip smell can be another manifestation of a suppressed immune system, as addressed in #3 and #4 above. Feeding your pet a meaty food or meaty homemade diet and adding a nutritional supplement to his daily regimen can help support the immune system. A properly functioning immune system can get him smelling fresh again.
6. Excessive Shedding
Excessive shedding is not normal. Dogs and cats should shed twice a year, not all year around. If your pet is shedding buckets of fur every day, leaving tons of hair on your carpeting, floors, furniture, and clothing, there's something wrong. A nutritional supplement can help supply missing nutrients to your pet's diet. Remember that your pet's skin is his largest organ and has very specific nutritional requirements.
7. Lethargy
Lethargy is a general loss of energy and a good indication that your buddy is not getting the nutrition he needs or is not absorbing the nutrients he is getting. Malabsorption is often the result of your pet's digestive system not functioning properly or it's simply not getting the right foods. Supplying prebiotics and direct fed probiotics can help support proper digestion to break down food quickly. Read the ingredient list on your pet's food. Do you find a large number of carbs and starches listed? This is likely a huge contributing factor to malabsorption. Switching to a meaty food and adding a nutritional supplement can fill in the gaps that may be in your pet's current diet.
Adding Dinovite for Dogs or Dinovite for Cats and LickOchops or SuprOmega fish oil to your pet's diet can supply the nutrients required for skin and coat support, as well as digestive and immune support.