Dermatological conditions affect between 15 to 25% of canines. Canine Atopic Dermatitis (CAD) is one of the most prevalent of these conditions and is a chronic inflammatory disorder with a wide array of causes and triggers and no known cure. Symptoms of this condition can be persistent and often lead to significant discomfort, leading many owners to seek preventative care in an attempt to avoid expensive veterinary care and discomfort in their dogs. Sebaceous Adenitis (SA) is another skin condition, which while less common, is also a disorder of the inflammatory pathways and affects keratin production in the coats of dogs. It has more persistent symptoms and requires rigorous grooming care to prevent its onset, and as a result is the cause for euthanasia in many of the breeds which it affects. Similar to CAD, owners of dogs with SA seek preventative care to avoid flares of the conditions that are often coupled with secondary infections that perpetuate the skin’s poor condition. Due to the overwhelming variety and misleading advertising that currently exists in the dog food market, one key element to preventative treatment that is confusing to many owners is manipulation of the diet. Research has demonstrated that certain dietary components may be important. These include increased protein composition, supplementation of vitamins A, D, and E, essential fatty acid supplements, and the use of probiotics and prebiotics. Increasing the proportion of dietary protein to total energy intake allows for greater consumption of amino acids, which can be utilized to renew epidermal cells, including hair follicles. It is speculated that Vitamin A supplementation may slow down the rate of hyperkeratinization seen in SA as it attenuates epithelial cell turnover. Supplementation with vitamin E has been found to improve pruritus in CAD and acts as an anti-inflammatory in areas which are affected by a loss of sebum, as seen in SA. It may also act to improve antibody responses in hypersensitivity reactions, which are exaggerated immunologic responses to allergens, seen in CAD. It is known that an increase in dietary vitamin D enhances immunomodulatory roles that lead to its ability to reduce lesions in both CAD and SA. Essential fatty acids (FA), of which two are omega-3 and omega-6 FA, are useful supplements for dogs with CAD, as they may affect mediators of inflammation specific to inflammatory skin disorders. Additionally, supplementation with essential FA may replenish a factor lacking in an impaired skin barrier. The breakdown in the epithelial barrier leads to increased cutaneous permeability and decreased membrane fluidity. It is important to balance the more pro-inflammatory effects of omega-6 FA with the anti-inflammatory effects of omega-3 FA. Two balanced sources of these essential fatty acids that often appear in the literature are evening primrose and borage oils, which supply gamma linoleic acid (GLA), a less inflammatory omega-6 FA. Probiotics/prebiotics aid in repairing possible issues observed in the gut-skin axis seen in AD though the strains which provide benefits are not consistent in the literature. In summary, there are promising developments on the treatment of CAD and SA through diet, although extensive research is needed to validate these studies and clarify the results prior to usage by the general public.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bu.edu/oai:open.bu.edu:2144/48284 |
| Date | 29 February 2024 |
| Creators | La Mont, Elise |
| Contributors | Trinkaus-Randall, Vickery |
| Source Sets | Boston University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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