Zinc deficiency

Clodagh

Clodagh

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I just went and read this:
https://dogtime.com/dog-health/57291-silent-killer-zinc-deficiency-dog
As it has been suggested Tawny may be zinc deficient. It looks as though the easiest way to add more zinc would be to feed a fish oil, she already has eggs and sardines, is salmon oil the go to for that? I am very against salmon farming though! I think cod liver oil is bad these days? Suggestions please. :-)
 
Huskies and Malamutes can suffer from Zinc deficiency, so has been something I keep a close eye on Luna for. We float between the Surf&Turf, or Salmon & Veg dog food, and touch wood, not seen anything wrong with her. I can’t remember the quantity, but when I looked at the ingredients, there is a % of zinc phosphate in it.

From the husky groups I’m in on FB, a lot of vets don’t know much about ZD.

Probably not much help, sorry.
 
Have just read the article properly and agree, it’s the wrong type apparently.

It does say sardines are a good source, but you’re already feeding them anyway.
 
Yes but she only gets one tin a week, I could do more (she says nom, nom!). I also haven't had many spare eggs lately but she could have a raw egg a day easily.
 
I've done quite a bit of research around this. Reason being ... i couldn't understand why a lot of friends dogs whom i train with (not huskies) got pad injuries, & mine have never ever had a problem. It was while trying to work this out that i found out about zinc's relation to pads. Only difference i could fathom was that mine are raw fed, the others aren't. What i discovered is that raw meat contains a high proportion of zinc per gram (I can't remember the exact amount). I wonder if adding some raw mince daily might help? Siberian huskies are prone to zinc deficiencies & lots of sibe owners i know supplement zinc for this reason.
 
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eatmyshorts said:
I've done quite a bit of research around this. Reason being ... i couldn't understand why a lot of friends dogs whom i train with (not huskies) got pad injuries, & mine have never ever had a problem. It was while trying to work this out that i found out about zinc's relation to pads. Only difference i could fathom was that mine are raw fed, the others aren't. What i discovered is that raw meat contains a high proportion of zinc per gram (I can't remember the exact amount). I wonder if adding some raw mince daily might help? Siberian huskies are prone to zinc deficiencies & lots of sibe owners i know supplement zinc for this reason.
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T is the only dog I have ever had with this problem. I am happy to try supplementing but don't want to do more harm than good.
 
I'm honestly not sure re doing more harm than good? My personal feeling is that if you can cure/improve something from the inside out then that's better than doing it topically. From what's been said, i'm not sure vets know much about it, to get advice from either. There's actually not even a lot of info online about it TBH. What are the benefits of linseed for dogs?
 
Might be worth joining one of the Husky groups on FB and asking the questions maybe? A lot of the owners have done their own research as vets not always clued up on it. I’m not sure if you could give them too much zinc, or if it would cause problems.
 
eatmyshorts said:
I'm honestly not sure re doing more harm than good? My personal feeling is that if you can cure/improve something from the inside out then that's better than doing it topically. From what's been said, i'm not sure vets know much about it, to get advice from either. There's actually not even a lot of info online about it TBH. What are the benefits of linseed for dogs?
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Harm I mean overdosing. So if she isn't deficient I could give too much, in the article it says that is dangerous.
Linseed for dogs like linseed for horses, good for skin, coats, joints.
 
Sorry .. i didn't write that very well .. it wasn't that i didn't understand what you meant, just that i wasn't sure how easily harm could be done. I wonder if they can be tested for zinc levels? I agree with TheresaW - experienced Siberian husky owners are probably the best people to speak to. Thanks re Linseed!
 
You can get wild salmon oil from ZooPlus pretty cheaply - I've seen it used once for a retriever with poor pads to good effect. Musher's Wax can also help
 
druid said:
You can get wild salmon oil from ZooPlus pretty cheaply - I've seen it used once for a retriever with poor pads to good effect. Musher's Wax can also help
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Will try that then. She is slathered in mushers wax before every outing, and again at lunchtime. By the time I have done her feet and put handfuls of vaseline around her stifles and over her eyes (a process known amongst the beaters as 'Lubing up the lab') I may as well have got a spaniel!
 
Get a spaniel, Clodagh! So much less bother, although I think Bear has snapped his dew claw-again!

I don't know about zinc, but salmon oil or fish body oil is good. Yes, avoid cod liver oil as it will store in the kidneys and do damage if too much is given, the Vitamin A content is too high. I'll see if I can find anything about zinc. It would be fabulous if that sorted out Tawny's pads.

Well, that was quick, first thing I clicked on came up with this:
1546199653327.jpeg

So definitely possible to overdose and obviously dangerous to do so.
 
Cadmium, which is increasing in the environment, also inhibits zinc absorption. The amount of protein in a meal has a positive effect on zinc absorption, but individual proteins may act differently; e.g., casein has a modest inhibitory effect of zinc absorption compared with other protein sources.

Too much iron can hinder absorption
Supplemental iron can inhibit the absorption of zinc

Pharmacologic doses of zinc are widely used as zinc supplements. As calcium and zinc may compete for common absorption sites, a study was carried out on the effect of a pharmacologic dose of zinc on the intestinal absorption of calcium in adult males. The analyzed dietary zinc intake in the control studies was normal, averaging 14.6 mg/day. During the high zinc study, 140 mg zinc as the sulfate was added daily for time periods ranging from 17 to 71 days. The studies were carried out during both a low calcium intake averaging 230 mg/day and during a normal calcium intake of 800 mg/day. Calcium absorption studies were carried out during the normal and high zinc intake by using an oral tracer dose of Ca47 and determining plasma levels and urinary and fecal excretions of Ca47. The study has shown that, during zinc supplementation, the intestinal absorption of calcium was significantly lower during a low calcium intake than in the control study, 39.3% vs 61% respectively, p less than 0.001. However, during a normal calcium intake of 800 mg/day, the high zinc intake had no significant effect on the intestinal absorption of calcium. These studies have shown that the high zinc intake decreased the intestinal absorption of calcium during a low calcium intake but not during a normal calcium intake.
 
TheresaW said:
I think Clodagh’s spaniel days are over 😂
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I think you're right! I don't know if it's a common thing, but I'm definitely fixed on springers and could never have a lab (but if I did, it would be black!) Presumably, lab owners feel similarly. That thread about the dog you have was interesting, only one person said they wanted a different breed every time. I've already chosen the breeder for our next two springers!
 
Cinnamontoast said:
I think you're right! I don't know if it's a common thing, but I'm definitely fixed on springers and could never have a lab (but if I did, it would be black!) Presumably, lab owners feel similarly. That thread about the dog you have was interesting, only one person said they wanted a different breed every time. I've already chosen the breeder for our next two springers!
Click to expand...

I am really stuck now as Pen's breeder is having another litter as well! I asked him to please defer until next year but he said no - I mean, some people are so selfish!

Back to Tawny and her feet, I think I should change her kibble for a bag or two just as they are all bound to be different. Maybe swapping flavours with one manufacturer is not enough. Looking at this...
https://www.viovet.co.uk/Acana-Pacifica-Dog-Food/c3919/
https://www.viovet.co.uk/Acana-Adult-Dog/c33559/
https://www.viovet.co.uk/Acana-Wild-Prairie-Dog-Food/c3917/

Any idea which would be best? I suspect the pacifica, because of the fish. I did also think I could feed her raw for breakfast, I can easily get reduced meat at work or venison or pheasant at home. I don't want to go all the way raw for many reasons but could cope with one dog and one meal a day.
And I thought MWH was expensive, Acana even more so!
 
Clodagh said:
I am really stuck now as Pen's breeder is having another litter as well! I asked him to please defer until next year but he said no - I mean, some people are so selfish!

Back to Tawny and her feet, I think I should change her kibble for a bag or two just as they are all bound to be different. Maybe swapping flavours with one manufacturer is not enough. Looking at this...
https://www.viovet.co.uk/Acana-Pacifica-Dog-Food/c3919/
https://www.viovet.co.uk/Acana-Adult-Dog/c33559/
https://www.viovet.co.uk/Acana-Wild-Prairie-Dog-Food/c3917/

Any idea which would be best? I suspect the pacifica, because of the fish. I did also think I could feed her raw for breakfast, I can easily get reduced meat at work or venison or pheasant at home. I don't want to go all the way raw for many reasons but could cope with one dog and one meal a day.
And I thought MWH was expensive, Acana even more so!
Click to expand...


I really don’t know. Is viovet the cheapest you’ve found? Do Zooplus do it?
 
I only looked at viovet as I use them for meds and they have an easy payment website! I might just get the fish one and see. Who knows! She is a dog, it never used to be this complicated.
 
That’s why I like raw. The company I use do complete meats, so beef complete is literally bones, skin, meat everything. They come down your way if you fancy. Very reasonable, I just get a huge delivery once every few months and defrost what I need a couple of times a week.
 
Clodagh said:
I am really stuck now as Pen's breeder is having another litter as well! I asked him to please defer until next year but he said no - I mean, some people are so selfish!

Back to Tawny and her feet, I think I should change her kibble for a bag or two just as they are all bound to be different. Maybe swapping flavours with one manufacturer is not enough. Looking at this...
https://www.viovet.co.uk/Acana-Pacifica-Dog-Food/c3919/
https://www.viovet.co.uk/Acana-Adult-Dog/c33559/
https://www.viovet.co.uk/Acana-Wild-Prairie-Dog-Food/c3917/

Any idea which would be best? I suspect the pacifica, because of the fish. I did also think I could feed her raw for breakfast, I can easily get reduced meat at work or venison or pheasant at home. I don't want to go all the way raw for many reasons but could cope with one dog and one meal a day.
And I thought MWH was expensive, Acana even more so!
Click to expand...

Why not try just switching to a raw feed in the morning & staying on her existing kibble? One raw meal a day may provide enough zinc.
 
Well, exciting news, it was our Beater's Day yesterday so Tawny was beating all day, a job she does with plenty of gusto and today...she is sound!
I haven't changed a lot, she is on 25mls of linseed oil twice a day (but I would have thought that would not have kicked in yet) a raw egg or a couple of sardines in oil every day and everything else pretty much the same. I am putting moisturiser on her paws at least once a day, some expensive human stuff the builder's merchants had on their counter, and her pads look really good.
The real test this week is being out Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, if she can.
 
Great news! My guys also have sardines in oil about three or four times a week. Another thing i've just thought of for toughening up pads ... tho can only been done when they are completely healed with no sores - is dabbing some surgical spirits on them (maybe patch test first), perhaps every three or four days at first then reducing so eventually you won't have to do it all. Ballet dancers & marines use the same trick.
 
eatmyshorts said:
Great news! My guys also have sardines in oil about three or four times a week. Another thing i've just thought of for toughening up pads ... tho can only been done when they are completely healed with no sores - is dabbing some surgical spirits on them (maybe patch test first), perhaps every three or four days at first then reducing so eventually you won't have to do it all. Ballet dancers & marines use the same trick.
Click to expand...

I have had that suggested, and thought I might try it before we start dogging in in August, like you say I wouldn't want to risk getting it in a crack.
 
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