Feeding to relieve itchiness

Text: Venusha Moodley-Nirmal

Around this time of the year, I get an influx of itchy skin cases. Itchy skin is an ailment that we have unfortunately become accustomed to seeing when it is actually not normal. For me, the root of itchy skin (or any skin issue for that matter) is often in the gut. Heal the gut, and you will see massive benefits for your pet’s skin.

How to heal the gut

And just how do we heal the gut? Well, your pet’s gut is made to process/digest the food being consumed. It comprises a population of bacteria (called the gut microbiome) that work to ensure optimal digestion and nutrient uptake. When this gut microbiome is unbalanced and not functioning effectively (a condition called dysbiosis), we see tons of ailments in the pet, including itchy skin, redness, increased inflammatory responses, poor digestion, diarrhoea, constipation, vomiting and excessive pooping. Usually, these issues are treated symptomatically, and the problem resolves for a few weeks but then recurs because we have not treated the cause. The solution lies instead in addressing gut health.

Here are my tips for healthy gut microbiomes to relieve the itch:

1. Feed a diet with minimal carbohydrates (no rice, corn, wheat, high GI veggies etc.) and more fresh foods.
2. Pro and prebiotics are essential for pets, and these should be human-grade. Fermented foods (kefir, yoghurt, veggies) and soluble fibre (apples, berries, green bananas) are also good additions.
3. Reduce excessive inflammation by ensuring your Omega 3:6 ratio is balanced. Most pet foods fail to provide sufficient omegas, and we should be supplementing at home. I love using tinned pilchards or sardines in my pets’ meals or clients’ meal plans to top up the levels.
4. Keep exposure to toxins to an absolute minimum, e.g. use de-wormers, tick and flea remedies etc.
5. Reduce excessive use of antibiotics and cortisone.

Take home message

If your dog suffers from itchy skin, you need to look at your dog’s diet. Treating symptomatically may be effective in the short term, but the problem will reoccur until the root cause is addressed.

About the author

Venusha Moodley-Nirmal is a Microbiologist, Cellular Biologist and Canine Nutritionist that spends her time assisting pet parents to navigate the world of pet nutrition. She consults on all aspects of pet nutrition with vets and the public and manufactures real pet food. V owns LittleAngels Pet Nutrition based in Ballito.

You can find out more on www.littleangels.net.za