Dog dermatitis: how to treat it

How should one treat dog dermatitis?

This is a quite common question, which nowadays afflicts many dog "owners", worried concerning their four-legged life partner’s health. A question that cascades towards many others, with the desire and aim to come to terms with this difficult problem. We consequently tried to imagine a discussion between a man struggling with dog dermatitis and Dr. Sergio Canello, FORZA10’s founder and an expert in food intolerances and diseases. This “simulated” interview aims to resolve any doubt concerning dog dermatitis, helping as many people as possible in clarifying this topic.

They always told me and I always read that dog dermatitis ...

" ... is an inflammation of the skin characterized by redness, dandruff, itching on the neck and back, crusts and seborrhea, which is caused by: allergic reactions (to fleas, mites and other ectoparasites), fungi, bacteria, viruses, protozoa, chemical substances (diluents, detergents, corrosive substances, etc.), physical causes (burns, radiation, traumatic injuries, etc.), autoimmune phenomena, stress, immune deficiencies, nutritional deficiencies, metabolic / hormonal disfunctions and, lastly, genetics".

BUT THIS ISN’T TRUE IN THE MAJORITY OF CASES.

What is the real cause of dog dermatitis?

The most frequent cause is a reaction of the body to specific pharmacological residues present in some foods. This type of reaction, also known as food intolerance and constantly on the rise, is manifested by inflammatory processes that affect the most sensitive organ (the target organ).

When the target organ is the skin this leads to, in varying combinations, reddening, itching, dandruff, eczema, crusts, seborrhea and inflammation, with resulting infectious risks.

But is infection not the real cause?

The inflammatory state is the ideal terrain for infections to develop: in practice, the normally already present germs take advantage of the inflammation and reproduce abnormally. Infection is the effect and not the cause of the problem.

Are the pharmacological residues which cause these reactions known?

We have fortunately identified them, and we possess abundant clinical and scientific evidence. They are tetracycline residues, antibiotics widely and legally used in the intensive breeding of meat animals. These antibiotics, used worldwide for over 60 years as they are effective, cheap and free from direct toxicity, however become unexpectedly toxic when deposited in the bone.

What is the solution?

If the inflammatory reaction to this toxin targets the skin, the only valid solution to resolve the consequent dermatitis and accompanying itching requires a radical change in the feeding.

In fact, even a single intake of a food the body recognizes as toxic will cause an almost immediate inflammatory process lasting several (on average 4-5) days.

If this food continues to be part of the diet, the inflammatory process will inevitably become chronic.

And why do I find it in pet food?

Bones and meat scraps coming from farm animals are abundantly used in pet food in the form of meal to make kibbles. This means that any food that contains bone (and most pet food does) is, to a varying extent, toxic towards every dog and cat.

But bone is a natural food for dogs!

Sure! And if it were free of pharmacological residues it would only cause mechanical problems, not toxic ones.

Does this explain why dogs suffer disorders when eating bones?

Certainly yes, precisely because of the presence of toxic residues. There is no physiological reason to justify lachrymation, vomiting, desire for grass, flatulence, diarrhea, itching or dandruff that accompany the intake of a bone.

How come nobody talks about it?

Because nobody had yet discovered this malicious transformation of the Oxytetracycline molecule.

What does this mean?

There is a legally permitted process which allows all meat which remains attached to the bone after slaughter to be recovered mechanically. Unfortunately, this process leads to the presence of bone within the resulting minced meat, which ends up in hamburgers, chicken nuggets (the famous nuggets), frankfurters, sausages and all frozen food made with reconstituted minced meat.

How long before this action recedes?

In the space of 4 or 5 days.

What if the animal eats "contaminated" food every day?

The answer is simple but disturbing: the problems and inflammatory processes will become chronic.

What diet do you suggest?

We propose two possible solutions:

• A homemade diet based on rice, sea caught fish and boiled vegetables, all seasoned with a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil;
• Good quality kibbles in which the protein source is sea caught fish, organic meat or meat from non-intensively bred animals such as venison or lamb. Even a vegetarian diet ably solves the problem, without dogs (but not cats) suffering any nutritional deficiencies.

Amongst the solutions we add Forza10 Dermo Active, which represents the best product on the market and the result of the incomparable SANYpet experience in the field of food-borne pathologies. Dermo Active is able to really change a dog’s life, with visible improvements after only 24-48 hours and without any transition period from previous foods.