Dietetics of skin diseases (dogs and cats)

Question 1

Dermatological issues are usually due to

Answer 1

Adverse food reactions

Inadequate nutrition or /nutrient deficiency

Question 2

Nutritional objectives (4)

Answer 2

1. Decr chance of an allergic response
2. Maintain healthy skin barrier
3. ID the cause/ allergy background- can eliminate the diet if they have been on the same food for some time
4. Unique protein source

Question 3

What are the allergic responses that you want to avoid/decrease

Answer 3

1. Itching
2. Dx
3. Otitis externa
4. Lymphocytic plasmacytic colitis

Question 4

How do you maintain a healthy skin barrier

Answer 4

Essential FA’s and antioxidants

Question 5

What are the major allergens in cats and dogs

Answer 5

Ca: Beef, dairy products and wheat (gluten)
Fe: beef, dairy products, fish
Ca and Fe: Soya, chicken, eggs, rice

Question 6

Who provides unique allergen diets

Answer 6

EUKANUBA
Dogs: dermatosis FP: fish and potato
Cats: dermatosis LB: lamb and barley

Question 7

Types of prescription diets that have been clinicaly proven to reduce the allergic reaction (based on protein and carb sources)

Answer 7

Selected protein source and common carb source: potatoe, rice, tapioca, green pea, corn
Hydrolysed protein and common carb source (same 5 as above)
Hydrolysed protein source and corn starch

Question 8

What to note if using hydrolysed feather meal as protein source?

Answer 8

It is LOW in Lys, met, Trp

It is HIGH in cysteine

Question 9

ZN deficiency: who it affects, clinical signs

Answer 9

Siberian huskey and alaskan malamute– Zinc responsive dermatoses
Clinical signs (4):
Erythema
Alopecia
Crust suppuration around eyes, ears, mouth, chin and perineal region
Thick crusts on joints (similar to parakeratosis of calves)

Question 10

Treatment of Zn deficiency

Answer 10

Zn sulphate 100mg PO BID
ZnO 150mg
Special yeasts

Question 11

Bull terrier acromedatosis

Answer 11

Zn dependent bacteria killing enzymes are not functioning
Extreme Zn def, it is not being absorbed at all
Death at 7 mnths

Question 12

Iodine def

Answer 12

Puppies
Goiter
Hair loss

Question 13

Vit A def

Answer 13

Greasy, seborrheic parakeratosis

Question 14

Pantothenic acid def

Answer 14

Greying

Question 15

Biotin def

Answer 15

Mink>cats 
From rancid feeds containing peroxides
Avidin in raw eggs 
Low availability feeds e.g cereals 
Biotin def in foxes- depigmentation

Question 16

Deficiency caused skin diseases differentials

Answer 16

Rat tail- hypothyreosis

DM type 1

Question 17

Feed associated (3)

Answer 17

Feed intolerance
Feed allergy
Feed aversion

Question 18

Feed intolerance

Answer 18

E.g lactose intolerance caused by lack of Lactase enzyme, clinical sign is Dx

Question 19

Feed allergy

Answer 19

E.g to wheat/ gluten in Irish Setters

Clinical signs: Dx, also skin signs, conjunctivitis, lymphocytic plasmocytic enteritis

Question 20

Dietary treatment (5)

Answer 20

1. Elimination diet
2. Diagnosis by: challenging, scarification, ELISA
3. Selected diet for allergic derm: lamb rice and duck tapoica
4. Vet prescription diet for allergic derm
5. Enzymatic pretreatment of protein below 16000 (or even less Dalton)