Effects of zinc and linoleic acid supplementation on the skin and coat quality of dogs receiving a complete and balanced diet

Abstract

This study investigates what effect adding zinc to a final dietary concentration of 23.9 mg MJ−1 and/or linoleic acid to a dietary concentration of 3.6 g MJ−1 in a complete and balanced diet has on the skin and haircoat condition of adult dogs. All animals were fed for nine weeks on a standard diet followed by nine weeks on a supplemented diet. After each phase animals were quantitatively assessed with respect to the condition and function of their skin and coat. Dogs supplemented with the combination of zinc and linoleic acid showed a significant improvement in coat gloss (P = 0.05) and coat scale (P = 0.007) when compared to the control group of dogs receiving the standard diet. In addition dogs supplemented with either zinc alone or in combination with linoleic acid demonstrated a significant decrease (P = 0.05) in transepidermal water loss over the time course of the test phase. As far as we are aware this is the first reported research to show that supplementation of a complete and balanced commercial dog food with zinc plus linoleic acid can make significant and substantial enhancements of the skin and coat condition in dogs

Analysis of Hair Coat of Dachshund of Longhaired, Shorthaired, and Wirehaired Variety

“…the manner of nutrition, the degree of environmental pollution, etc. (4,9,(17)(18)(19). This fact may explain the observed variability in the content of chemical elements in the hair coat of dachshunds.…”

“…The morphological analysis of hairs is also a valuable method of identification used in forensic sciences (14,21). Numerous papers concerning veterinary aspects of dogs' hair coat (3,5,10,11,16,20), influence of nutrition on coat quality and health status of skin (17,19), histological aspects of hair cycle in dogs (1), or coat differentiation depending on genotype (2,15) are available in the literature. The breed standard for dachshund has been also elaborated, including general coat characteristics (8); however, there is a lack of studies analysing in a complex manner the histological structure of hair coat of different breeds and varieties of dogs.…”

Necrolytic migratory erythema in a dog

“…As is known, one of physiologic roles of albumin is to transport essential aminoacids and zinc (3). Zinc (cofactor) and essential amino acids (especially linoleic acid)(precursor) enhance amount of arachidonic acid that plays an important role in proliferation stage of skin (11). Another theory is that in nonglucagonemic patients, the increasement of glucagon-like hormones producing acts in NME pathogenesis.…”

Nutritionally Responsive Dermatoses

“…28 However, because dogs vary considerably in response and because a wide range of effective dosages has been reported, it is difficult to make recommendations for appropriate dosages of zinc to use. 23,33 In other species, supplementation with EFAs has been shown to ameliorate the clinical effects of zinc deficiency. 30 A dose of 10 mg of zinc sulfate/kg per day or 1.7 mg of zinc methionine/kg per day is recommended by some authors.…”

“…33 A second, less common omega-6 fatty acid that has been studied for its antiinflammatory effects is GLA. Omega-3 fatty acids included in these supplements are the PUFAs, EPA (20:5n-3), and DHA (22:6n-3), which are found in certain types of fish oil.…”