Disclaimer: Please consult with your vet before trying any of our products or recommendations.
Dogs, cats and other pets can be very prone to dry skin and there are many things that can cause this.
Dry skin doesn’t necessarily mean itchy skin, but often the two go hand in hand, which is distressing for both pet and owner.
You may notice flakes through your pet’s coat, or dry and sometimes red looking patches, which can be caused by a number of factors.
Like us, often a change in the weather or surrounding environment can cause a change or irritation with our skin.
In cold weather, we turn on our heating, meaning a much drier environment, which can have a detrimental effect on your pet’s skin health. Whilst it’s easy for us to moisturise our skin with lotions, it’s much harder to do that with a dog or cat because of their fur.
Your pet may have seasonal allergies. In the same way that we are prone to hayfever and a range of other allergies, they are the same. Grass pollen is a particularly prevalent allergy for dogs in particular and can cause dry and itchy feet. They can also have allergies to food, cleaners, and other chemicals used in the home. This will often present with dry and itchy skin as at least one symptom.
Nutrition plays a big part in skin health too. If your dog isn’t getting the correct balance of vitamins, minerals, protein and essential fatty acids, dry skin and dull coat will be one of the first things you will notice. Unfortunately, whilst there are many brilliant foods and ways of feeding available, there is also a lot of poor quality out there too (often from companies with shiny advertising campaigns and well-known names). This low-quality food can play a large part in your pet’s skin issues as it can lead to a deficiency in Omega 3 and other vitamins and minerals. Lastly, it’s possible that your pet may have something more serious going on, like an infection, or an underlying health issue which presents dry and itchy skin as a symptom.
It’s can be difficult to know where to start. Often your pet needs a boost, and we’ve found that these issues are better treated from the inside out. Topical treatments, such as shampoos and sprays may offer a little relief but are unlikely to ultimately solve the issue, particularly on their own.
Omega 3 essential fatty acids are a great way to start treating dry skin issues, as they treat the body from the inside. Often your pet isn’t getting enough Omega 3 in their diet, and too much Omega 6. This throws the balance of fatty acids out and can be very detrimental, causing inflammation, which leads to other problems.
Just like us, our pets really benefit from a balanced diet, rich in EFAs (essential fatty acids). The body cannot make EFAs so we have to consume them.
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There are several different types, which we’ll touch on in future posts, but for dogs and cats, the most important are EFA (Eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid).
These are the 2 Omega 3 fatty acids that can immediately and effectively be utilised by your pet’s body. EFA in particular is fantastic for inflammation, arthritis, and skin issues.
Supplementing your pet’s diet with our Salmon oil or Omegawild fish oil, made from fresh oily fish, is a great way to get these Omega 3 fatty acids in a measured and convenient way.
All you have to do is to add to your pet’s food.
The Omega 3 works from the inside out, helping to regulate the body’s systems and in turn skin health. They do this by bringing the balance of Omega 3 back in line with Omega 6 and 9 in the optimum amounts.
Usually, the benefits can be seen in a relatively short period of time. Our Omega 3 supplements are an excellent way to ensure ongoing skin health and support for your pet, amongst the myriad other benefits they provide on a daily basis.
Whilst if your pet has a more serious underlying infection or condition that is causing the dry skin, Omega 3 on its own won’t solve the issue, it is still a very good starting point as it will be helping to support skin health, as well as immune response.
Under these circumstances, we’d always recommend a visit to your vet.
To purchase our Salmon oil for Dogs, Cats & Pets or our OmegaWild fish oil, please visit our shop page.
Disclaimer: If your pet is under veterinary treatment, please consult with your vet before starting Turmeric K9 as Turmeric can interact with some medications.
We’re often asked about our Turmeric K9 supplement, so we thought we’d explain a bit about this wonderful spice.
Turmeric is an orangey-yellow coloured spice extracted from the root of the Turmeric plant, which is a member of the Zingiberaceae family, which also includes ginger.
It has been used in many cultures for thousands of years both as a cooking spice, and in traditional holistic ayurvedic medicine which originated in India. It is native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.
Curcumin is the principal curcuminoid of turmeric and the active ingredient in our turmeric K9 supplement. It is where the health-promoting effects of turmeric come from.
Thousands of studies have been carried out on turmeric and curcumin over the years.
This means that turmeric may assist with many conditions caused by inflammation, which include arthritis, allergies, kidney disease, digestive diseases and dental disease.
Being such a powerful natural antioxidant also means it can potentially slow down ageing, and degeneration and fight free radicals in the body.
Turmeric for dogs is very safe, and it works. However, there are some circumstances where your dog shouldn’t have it, or you should check first with your vet.
Turmeric is a warming spice, so if you have a dog who is prone to being hot and always looking for a cool spot, it may not be for them. It can also interact with some anti-inflammatory medications or diabetes drugs, and may interfere with some chemotherapy treatments, and shouldn’t be used where bile tract obstruction or gallstones are a problem, so we’d always recommend consulting your vet if you are in any doubt at all.
When we were formulating turmeric K9, we wanted a product that made it as easy as possible for owners to get the best advantages of this wonderful super spice. We knew from a study that turmeric works best in conjunction with some other ingredients.
We’ve added Piperine, which is the active compound in black pepper significantly boosts the performance of turmeric and makes it much more readily available for the body to use and absorb (up to 2000%).
We use a patented, top-quality black pepper piperine extract in our product called Bioperine. This provides us with the best source possible.
Turmeric also works best when combined with healthy oil. Therefore, it will work wonderfully when given alongside our salmon oil for dogs or Omegawild products for a super extra boost of goodness.
When used correctly and introduced gradually into the diet, turmeric for dogs shouldn’t create any tummy troubles. We’d also recommend that you need to feed it every day as Curcumin is a compound that leaves the body quite quickly, meaning regular feeding is essential for the best results.
You can split our turmeric curcumin supplement for dogs over 2 meals or give in one each day successfully. We’ve formulated it in easy use capsules that you can either add whole to food or twist open and sprinkle over meals. You can even add a little water to make a gravy which a lot of customers have told us their dogs love (especially with the salmon oil or Omegawild in there as well!).
The capsules mean that you can easily and accurately measure what your pet needs without having to think too much or worry about it.
Turmeric really is a wonder spice, with lots of wonderful benefits both for us and our pets. It tastes pretty delicious too! Have we put you in the mood for curry yet?
We have discussed the amazing benefits of turmeric curcumin for dogs.
However, our supplement may be suitable for cats and other pets but please consult with your vet before starting Turmeric K9.
Yes, if it’s the right peanut butter!
When choosing a peanut butter for your dog it’s essential that you are careful, as not all peanut butter is the same, and not all are suitable to give to your dog in the way our Mutt Butter is.
Imagine you’re playing blackjack for free or real money, it’s always a good idea to brush up on your blackjack strategy and ensure you’re making informed decisions to maximize your chances of winning. The same is with peanut butter.
Most commercial shops and supermarket big brand peanut butter contain salt, sugar, or sweeteners to make them more appealing to our human taste buds. We have become used to this, and expect it. However, dogs don’t need any of these things, and in fact, need to avoid them.
Peanut butter is a great treat to be fed to your dog. As long as you are sensible with amounts (too much will make them put on weight, in the same way, it would with us).
We think that the best thing to do with your peanut butter is to spread it on a lick mat. Your dog will spend ages enjoying licking it off.
Another really useful thing that peanut butter can be used for is to hide medication. We all know it’s hard to get tablets into your dog and we often end up burying it in cheese or pieces of ham. You only need a tiny amount of sticky Mutt Butter to disguise tablets completely.
We personally wouldn’t recommend it, as the pieces can easily get stuck in between teeth and gums and lead to dental problems. Nobody wants that!
It’s crucially important that you are giving your dog a peanut butter that is safe for them. The wrong one can be toxic, or even fatal as some contain the sweetener xylitol, which is highly toxic.
This is why we created Mutt Butter so that you can rest assured that you’re feeding the best quality, healthiest and safe to your dog.
To be safe for dogs peanut butter must
Apart from the fact that they love it, and it’s great for keeping them occupied on lick mats / Kong type toys, and it hides medication brilliantly, peanut butter is full of good fats and vitamins.
Peanut butter, in sensible amounts, contains heart-healthy fats, Vitamin B, Vitamin E, Niacin and is a great source of protein.
Anything new to a dog’s diet, including peanut butter can upset their stomach or give them diarrhoea. Most dog owners have had some experience of this.
In the same way, we do with all of our products, we recommend introducing them gradually to your dog or pet’s diet. Because our peanut butter for dogs (Mutt Butter) is a treat, what we’d suggest is trying a small amount on a lick mat, or just on a spoon. If you introduce it to your dog this way, you shouldn’t have any issues.
As with all foodstuffs, no matter how healthy or good for dogs they may be, there will always be some dogs that react badly. Just as it is with humans when we have reactions or allergies to certain foods. If you introduce our Mutt Butter in the way that we recommend as a small taster, this should give you a gauge very quickly.
Also as with everything, too much of a good thing can cause an upset stomach. Same as us if we eat too much of something we like.
The vast majority of dogs can enjoy peanut butter without any problems at all.
Once again, it depends on the size of the dog. Smaller dogs should not have as much as larger dogs.
As with our treats, we recommend sensible amounts, but this can vary from dog to dog. Some breeds and ages of dogs will put weight on more easily than others, so this is something to bear in mind and use common sense with.
Our suggestions are
If using with lick mats or toys, please always ensure that these are thoroughly cleaned between each use.
To buy our peanut butter for dogs, please visit our shop page.
Dog treats are complementary dog food. We all love to give our dogs a treat, but a lot of the time these can do more harm than good.
When you give your dog a treat such as a cube of cheese or a digestive biscuit, not only are they not great for them (high fat, artificial additives or lactose) but you are giving them far more than you think.
1 digestive biscuit for a medium-size dog is the equivalent of giving them a cheeseburger! And 25g of cheese is the equivalent of one and a half cheeseburgers! Some treats made especially for dogs are just as bad!!
This is why nowadays we have a major problem with obesity in our pets. They look at us with those big eyes, and we just can’t resist giving them something. Of course, we want to share with them, it’s human nature and we love them. We want to reward them with a treat or give them something before bed. And of course, they quickly learn to expect this!
At Healthy Hounds, we love to treat our dogs, but we remember to stick to some important rules, to keep them at a healthy weight and with a healthy balanced diet.
Our simple answer to this would be as few as possible! You want the ingredient list on your treats to read like a recipe, where you understand and know what all the ingredients are.
You want the treats to be made from natural ingredients, and if possible, fresh ingredients.
Take our Poultry Mini Treats, for example, they’re 80% meat and contain just 6 ingredients
You also want your treats to be made from quality ingredients, not just buy products. All of our treats are made from the highest quality fresh ingredients.
The healthiest treats for dogs are ones with natural ingredients and reasonably low-calorie content.
It’s also really important that you know the origin of the treats. Some companies sell treats that look like they are natural and made from one or two ingredients, but actually, the process involved in making them isn’t ideal and may have used chemicals in a dehydrating or drying process.
Other treats that look natural such as rawhide are actually very dangerous to dogs. They can as mentioned above be produced using dubious methods and from dubious sources and can be a choking hazard, or cause obstructions in your dog’s digestive system.
Other traditional treats such as pigs ears can be extremely high fat (an average pig’s ear can be the equivalent of up to 4 cheeseburgers).
So you see, it is important that you choose the right things. Look for treats that have been made from fresh, natural ingredients, and are properly regulated and tested.
Things that should not be in dog treats
This is all dependant. Smaller dogs obviously need less than larger dogs.
Sometimes your dog will have more, as you are training them. Or depending on that day’s activity levels.
All of our treats have recommended daily guide amounts on the packaging, however like people all dogs are different, and some may be able to have slightly more, while some need slightly less. Your aim is to be able to treat your dog without them putting on weight, and if you have a day with a lot of training etc. then adjust the food you give them at their main meals to reflect this.
In other words, just be sensible!
To buy our dog treats, please visit our shop page.
Fish oil, if it’s the right fish oil, can have a myriad of benefits for dogs.
Commercial dog foods, no matter the quality contain a lot of Omega 6. Whilst this is a beneficial Fatty Acid (EFA) too much can be a bad thing, and actually cause inflammation in your pet’s body. This is why it’s essential to have the correct ratio of Omega 3 to Omega 6. Our fish oils are fantastic for putting these Essential Fatty Acids back to a productive and healthy ratio. Omegawild contains EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), which are EFAs and very important for your pet’s body to function at it’s best.
BARF and RAW diets benefit from our fish oils as they’re a completely natural way to get Omega 3 into your dog or cat’s diet without having to feed whole oily fish each day. An easy to measure dose is very beneficial when putting these diets together to ensure your dog or cat is getting everything they need from their food.
There are so many wonderful benefits of supplementing your pet’s diet with our fish oils, and here are a few below
In short, yes you can. However, you’ll find it difficult to make sure you’re giving the correct dose for your dog and again, that you’re giving the most beneficial type of oil.
Our Omegawild fish oil and salmon oil for dogs are in a liquid form and have full and clear instructions on how much to feed on a daily basis. They’re carefully measured for what your dog or pet needs. A liquid fish oil supplement is generally a lot easier to feed to your pet (just pour/pump onto food and mix), and it will also enter into their system a lot faster.
Because our super-premium fish oils are specially formulated for dogs you can rest assured you’re getting exactly what your dog needs, straight into their food, without having to try to get them to eat gelatine capsules.
Pets also love the taste of our oils mixed with their food!
Both of our fish oil products are carefully researched and come with clear instructions on recommended daily doses for your dog or pet.
For the best results, we recommend giving our oils to your pets on a daily basis.
Simply put, fish oil that is specially formulated for dogs and pets like ours are is best. However, there are some differences between our two products.
Our Omegawild fish oil is made from wild, sustainably caught Herring, mackerel, sardines, and anchovies from the pristine waters of the North Atlantic. Omegawild has a higher amount of the fatty acid EPA, which is what helps with sore and stiff joints and severe skin problems. Both of our fish oils also contain natural tocopherols (Vitamin E). This acts as a natural preservative, to stop the oil from going prematurely rancid and causing more harm than good. It is also great for the skin.
Another reason our oils contain Vitamin E is that when processing Omega 3 EFAs your dog’s body uses some of the supply of vitamin E. Most commercial pet foods actually contain quite a lot of natural tocopherols, however, if a dog is on a RAW or BARF diet, this can be considerably less so.
This means that there is potential for dogs to go into a Vitamin E deficit if fed the wrong fish oil. We wanted to make sure that you don’t need to worry about this, so you can rest assured that your dog is getting everything they need when fed the recommended daily amounts of our oils.
Our fish oils are fantastic for itchy skin. A lot of the time, itchy skin can be caused by allergies or deficits in the diet.
You may think that a topical solution for itchy skin is the best thing, and whilst it can certainly help, in general, these types of problems need to be tackled from the inside out.
Because you are adding a big punch of Omega 3 to your pet’s diet, you will find that the skin starts to get healthier, and in turn, itching should stop, or be brought under much greater control. Whilst we don’t claim to be able to completely cure every itchy skin problem with our oils, they definitely help to keep the body and skin in much better condition, which can in turn support other treatments for even extremely severe skin issues. You will find that specialist dermatology vets are very fond of quality Omega 3 products.
Over the years we have been delighted to hear some wonderful stories about how our oils have helped with skin conditions.
As we mentioned in a previous question, this is a question we are asked a lot. The answer is that it will start working right away. However, it may take a while for you to actually physically see the results.
For example, some people tell us that they have seen results within a week on their dog’s coat. If your dog has a flat dark coat that shows up shine well, you may see the results faster than on a dog with a wiry light coloured coat, but the oil will have been working on both.
Because supplements work in cycles with the body, we usually advise that 4 – 6 weeks on our salmon oil, when the body has had a good chance to get used to the oil and things have started working is a good amount of time for you to really start seeing results.
Our fish oils do lots for dogs. They help alleviate and control existing conditions, support healthy ageing, greatly benefit puppy growth and development, and generally are an all-round fantastic “good health” supplement for your dog or pet. Even healthy bouncy animals benefit from our oils.
With our fish oils, you can rest assured that you are setting your dog up with extremely beneficial supplements, which could help them stay much healthier for much longer.
Just a few of the benefits
Find out more about our fish oil for dogs and pets!
Salmon oil has many fantastic benefits for dogs of all sizes and ages.
Commercial dog foods, no matter the quality contain a lot of Omega 6. Whilst this is a beneficial Fatty Acid (EFA) too much can be a bad thing, and actually cause inflammation in your pet’s body.
This is why it’s essential to have the correct ratio of Omega 3 to Omega 6. Salmon oil is fantastic for putting these essential fatty acids back to a productive and healthy ratio.
Salmon oil contains EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), which are EFAs and very important for your dog’s body to function at it’s best.
BARF and RAW diets benefit from salmon oil as it’s a completely natural way to get Omega 3 into your dog’s diet without having to feed whole oily fish each day.
An easy to measure dose is very beneficial when putting these diets together to ensure your dog or cat is getting everything they need from their food.
There are so many wonderful benefits of supplementing your dog’s diet with salmon oil, and here are a few below
Our salmon oil for dogs is suitable for young and old dogs and everything in between.
We recommend the following daily amounts by weight
1-12kg 2.5 – 5ml (1/2 – 1 pump)
12-24kg 5-10ml (1 – 2 pumps)
24-48kg 10-15ml (2 – 3 pumps)
Over 48kg 15 – 20ml (3 – 4 pumps)
Providing you keep to the recommended daily amount, our salmon oil should not make your pet gain weight.
Like anything else, yes, you can give your dog too much salmon oil and have too much of a good thing.
Like many things that are good for us, if we take them in excess they can become less so as the balances in the body are then out of kilter.
For example, salmon oil supports the anti-inflammatory and wound healing responses in the body, however, if too much oil is given, it can actually slow wound healing.
Like anything else, as long as you keep to our recommended doses your pet will be fine and will benefit greatly from the oil.
If you want to be extra cautious, after working up to the full of the recommended dose and feeding this amount for 3 / 4 weeks to get it into the system, you can reduce the amount down slightly to see how your dog does on a lower dose.
However, if feeding for joint issues or skin complaints we’d recommend the full recommended daily dose on an ongoing basis.
Anything new to your pet’s diet can cause an upset stomach if not carefully introduced. We always recommend, particularly if your pet has never had salmon oil before, starting it into the diet gradually over the course of 7 – 10 days.
For example, if you had a 25kg dog who’s recommended daily dose would be 10mls per day, we would recommend the below
Our salmon oil for dogs does not need to be refrigerated. It contains a little natural tocopherol (Vitamin E, which also benefits the skin), which naturally preserves it and stops the oil from going rancid.
If you wish, you can, of course, refrigerate the oil, it will do it no harm, but it will become more viscous in consistency and may go slightly cloudy (think a good quality olive oil when it gets cold).
This is completely harmless and will go back to normal when it returns to normal room temperature.
We would recommend keeping your oil somewhere out of direct sunlight or anywhere that the temperature is prone to a lot of change.
It will be happy at a steady room, or just below room temperature. A cupboard is always a good option.
We strongly believe that salmon oil for dogs (or another good quality oily fish oil, such as our Omegawild), is one of the best things that you can add to your dog’s diet.
As their body cannot produce Omega 3 itself, it is important that they get it from their diet. Given that so many diets are lacking in essential fatty acids, such as Omega 3, it has to be added in.
The beauty of salmon oil is that it adds Omega 3 from fish into the diet in a controlled, measured dose without adding extra protein. This is especially good if your dog is already on a protein balanced diet.
It’s fantastic for raw or BARF feeding as it is a great way to get a measured dose of Omega 3 into the diet without having to feed oily fish each day.
Salmon oil is not just for dogs and pets with specific problems, it is for overall great health, and the healthier we can keep them, the fewer vet visits we will hopefully need.
This is a question we are asked a lot. The answer is that it will start working right away. However, it may take a while for you to actually physically see the results.
For example, some people tell us that they have seen results within a week on their dog’s coat. If your dog has a flat dark coat that shows up shine well, you may see the results faster than on a dog with a wiry light coloured coat, but the oil will have been working on both.
Because supplements work in cycles with the body, we usually advise that 4 – 6 weeks on our salmon oil, when the body has had a good chance to get used to the oil and things have started working is a good amount of time for you to really start seeing results.
Your dog eating salmon every day isn’t the most cost-effective or appropriate way to get that important dose of Omega 3, which is where the beauty of salmon oil comes in. It’s a measured, and cost-effective way to get that dose of Essential Fatty Acids without adding extra protein to the diet.
As long as you keep to the recommended daily dosage instructions, your dog can absolutely have salmon oil every day. If you feel you wanted a change, it can be interchanged with our powerful Omegawild fish oil as and when suits.
Fish oil is a very wide term. There are lots of different fish oils, extracted by lots of different processes, and lots of different qualities. There are many very low-quality oils about.
When we hear the term fish oil, it can mean anything from fishing bait to the highest quality supplements. It can come from many different sources, some of which give spurious terms such as mixed fish. It can be regulated or non regulated, manufactured and packed appropriately in a licensed facility or not, extracted by the most modern, safe methods, or simply something that has been boiled out of fish being processed for another purpose.
That’s why it’s always good to know exactly what is in your fish oil, and how it has been produced.
Our salmon oil is fantastic, as it is made solely from salmon, which is one of the best sources of Omega 3. Each batch is carefully produced at low temperatures, by the most up to date methods, meaning that Omega 3 is not damaged in the production process.
It’s fully traceable and adheres to and surpasses GB and EU regulations. It is packed in a licensed facility.
The salmon in our oil is ethically and sustainably produced to the highest standards the deep sea lochs in Scotland and the oil is produced within 12 hours of the fish being lifted from the water. We are the original, and still the best salmon oil available today!
To buy our Scottish Salmon Oil for your Dog, please visit our shop page.
We all love our pets and want to give them the best we can. Whilst many pet foods on the market are excellent, like us, sometimes our pet just benefits from that little bit extra.
In the manufacture of commercial dry dog food, the heat, and other factors involved in the manufacturing process can destroy some of the nutrients, particularly the Omega 3 Fatty Acids. Although lots of brands say that they include this, it is usually in minimal amounts or was added in at the beginning, but mostly destroyed in the “cooking” process. In comparison there usually quite high amounts of Omega 6. What we aim to do with supplementation is to re-balance the ratios of Omega 3 to the Omega 6 to keep your pet looking and feeling their best.
Those who feed a raw diet often find it very convenient to have a supplement to add in, as they know exactly what they are getting rather than having to guess the amounts when adding it in other forms. This is why the Healthy Hounds range is so popular with raw/BARF feeders as well as those on a commercial diet.
The supplements in our range are all carefully thought out to fit easily into your feeding plan for your pet. They can be rotated so as to give each a “break” and keep them all working to their full capacity, or some, like the coconut oil and vitamin E can be fed daily alongside the Omega 3 fish and flax oils.
Whatever way you choose to feed your pet, you can rest assured that Healthy Hounds products are a 100% natural way to boost their health.
If you have any questions about our products, we’d love to hear from you, and you can contact us through this site!
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