The immune system is a complex army of cells that are found throughout your pet’s body that provides a fortified defense against unwanted invaders. It is an intricate system that keeps your pet healthy and protects them against including allergens, viruses, bacteria, microbes, parasites and toxins.

Immunity is the single most important thing you can support in your pet, aside from quality food and filtered water. The immune system is tasked with supporting normal, balanced function and is not intended to be suppressed or stimulated. In cases of dysfunction, an animal body requires whole body systemic support. If your pet’s immune system is weakened, every bodily system is at risk for disease.  

Your pet’s skin and coat are one of the most visible signs of health and wellness. An animal’s skin is very sensitive and requires specific nutrients to produce natural oils which help keep the skin and hair follicles hydrated, balanced and protected naturally. Although your pet secretes natural oil to keep skin and coat moisturized, an animal’s skin is vulnerable to anything in its environment, and as a result, is susceptible to flea and ticks. a variety of allergies, parasites, toxins, infections and more. 

Good nutrition is essential to help support normal, healthy skin for your dog and cat. Balanced nutrition ensures that your pet receives an adequate supply of nutrients, such as protein, essential fatty acids, macro and micro minerals and digestive enzymes. The proper balance of protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals can help provide the nutritional edge your pet needs to not only achieve balanced health but to thrive.

Some animals may have genetic or metabolic differences that may predispose them to skin and coat problems. Poor quality food and unhealthy treats may also contribute to skin problems and result in an unhealthy, uneven coat.

Without proper nutrition, your pet's coat may become dry, flaky, brittle, lack vibrancy and shine, and your pet may experience severe hair loss, known as alopecia. Flea, ticks and flies can wreak havoc on your dog’s coat, creating a vicious itch and scratch cycle. Worms and internal parasites can sap vital nutrients from your dog or cat’s system, depleting the coat and creating more serious health problems. 

Common skin conditions include: 

Dermatitis

Eczema

Food allergies

Contact allergies

Toxin exposure

Mange

Ringworm

Bacterial skin infection

Fungal skin infection

Parasitic skin infection

Hormonal skin disease

Herbal Nutrition - (listed in order of relevance and recommendation by holistic vets - human grade meets/exceeds highest safety criteria for pets)

Herbal treatments help to heal and soothe skin infections, help promote healthy and strong skin, bones, claws, fur and hair follicle health and shiny, glossy coats, help soothe inflamed and irritated skin, to help support healthy cellular and immune response, help keep levels of dermal fungus in the normal range to maintain skin health, help provide symptomatic relief for itchiness, scratching, redness and burning of the skin, help relieve skin allergies and irritations, help soothe itchy skin on cats and dogs, help provide first aid antiseptic for cleaning wounds, cuts, bites and bee stings in cats and dogs and help promote nutrient assimilation for the benefit of healthy skin and coat.

Bionic Body – (learn more) is used holistically for its adaptogeic immune boosting and anti-inflammatory support; as an antioxidant and for its free radical scavenging (disease preventing) actions; for its nutritive content which may help to nourish the body and strengthen and revitalize bones, eye, teeth, skin and coat; works to stimulate collagen production, a primary building material of bones; may  help prevent dental disease; for its plant actions to help strengthen bones, cartilage, joints, muscles, connective tissues & blood vessels & helps to reduce joint inflammation, while activating a cartilage-protective biochemical, potentially helping to preserve healthy cartilage in aging joint; for its prebiotic and probiotic content to help support native gut flora and healthy digestion; may help to fight off allergies and infections.

The Daily Paws – (learn more) is used as a multi-vitamin, multi-mineral, multi-system nutritive for daily maintenance of all body systems, with emphasis on a healthy endocrine system, promotes healthy skin and shiny, glossy coats due to its high mineral and vitamin content, and is used to maintain body temperature, (important in immuno-compromised animals), and for a multiplicity of conditions and diseases including for allergies, arthritis, cognitive disorder and cancer, for urinary disorders to alkalinize (higher Ph) acidic urine and for blood purification.

Let's Get This Party Started! – (learn more) may help provide critical vitamins and minerals often missing in commercial diets as well as home cooked diets; may help promote luxurious skin, coat, hair shaft and follicle strength by helping improve blood circulation and oxygen flow; may help improve nutrient assimilation and digestion; may help soothe the belly and balance digestion; may be used as a topical healing agent to help promote rapid relief from pesky mosquito, fly and tick bites, rashes, hot spots, allergic reactions, wounds, and all types of skin irritations; may help promote healthy colon cleansing; aided by a nontoxic assortment of anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal natural plant-based essential oils.

Yelp for Kelp - (learn more) provides critical vitamins, amino and fatty acids and trace macro and micronutrient support for the endocrine system, to energize the body, for building and toning enzymes, tissues, hormones and bones, for enhancing natural cleansing and detoxification, to help nutritionally support a balanced immune system; to help support healthy skin and coat;  as an osteoporosis preventative, to promote immunity and for metabolic disorders, including the thyroid gland and other glands and tissues that affect the thyroid, for thyroid disorders, to cleanse the lymphatic system, to maintain healthy levels of TSH, T3 and T4, and for metabolic disorders.

Helpful suggestions:

Some pets need regular bathing while others may need it only periodically. Check with your vet on which routine is best, and pay attention to how your pet’s coat reacts to washing. Customize your bathing routine to suit your animal.

Comb/brush your pet's coat before bathing to work out tangles and matting. 

Rinse shampoo and conditioners out thoroughly. If you don't, the residue can irritate your pet's skin, and can get trapped in the folds of the skin, causing itching and even infection. 

Use pet formulated shampoos for dogs and cats, since they have differing coat needs. DO NOT USE HUMAN SHAMPOO OR SKIN PRODUCTS. 

Conventional Remedies:

The diagnosis of skin problems are based on the symptoms and a thorough physical examination. Samples of your pet’s skin may be taken to determine the type of infection and a biopsy may also be required to confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment depends on the type of skin problem and its cause. For bacterial skin infections (superficial pyoderma), antibiotics, and antibacterial shampoos containing benzoyl peroxide may be prescribed. In order for the treatment to be effective, the full course of treatment should be completed.

For the treatment of mild yeast infections (malassezia dermatitis), topical therapy such as anti-fungal shampoos and leave-in conditioners are prescribed. More severe cases of yeast infections requires systemic therapy such as Ketoconazole, itraconazole and fluconazole. In addition, a vinegar and water rinse combination can also be used as a long-term maintenance treatment.