There are 2 times of the year when I see particular issues appear more frequently in my practice. In the spring, digestive issues, and in the fall, skin issues. In this text, I’ll address issues related to autumn. During this season, with temperature changes, increased rainfall, and more popular outdoor activities in the forest, itching, skin, and coat issues often arise.
The first thing to do to help combat skin issues is to strengthen your pet's immune system. To do this, I suggest the following tips:
- Feed a well-balanced, low-carbohydrate, fresh raw diet.
- Administer a course of probiotics for a month in October. Gut health has a significant impact on the immune system, so a course of probiotics helps support the animal in this area.
The probiotics I recommend: https://pattedeaubio.com/en/products/bioflora
If your pet has more serious immune system issues and itching, it may even be worthwhile to try a more comprehensive natural treatment to strengthen the gut; the Leaky Gut protocol from the company Adored Beast is one such example:
https://pattedeaubio.com/products/protocole-leaky-gut-syndrome?_pos=3&_sid=27f1b8838&_ss=r
- Don't forget to supplement your pet with marine-source omega-3 (fish, krill or seal) every day, regardless of its diet.
https://pattedeaubio.com/en/products/seal-oil
As in autumn, the dews are heavier and the rainfall more abundant, our dog's fur and skin are moister and this can promote the appearance of yeast infections characterized by itching on the paws, ears, armpits and anus.
To learn more about yeast issues, you can check out my blog on the subject here:
https://pattedeaubio.com/en/blogs/blog/itching-and-yeast-issues-in-dog
Another phenomenon that occurs in the fall is seasonal shedding. Some shedding is normal, but excessive and prolonged shedding is less so. Again, the quality and quantity of protein in your dog's diet have a major impact on the quality of their coat. This is an aspect not to be overlooked if you feel your dog is shedding excessively. The fat content of their diet also affects the coat, so as mentioned above, be sure to supplement with good-quality omega-3 fatty acids.
Finally, during shedding season, regularly brushing your dog to allow the skin to breathe and remove dead hair is essential. If you feel that brushing isn't enough, a bath with a product like Animasoin’s organic shedding shampoo and conditioner can help. https://pattedeaubio.com/en/collections/shedding
Finally, even though mosquitoes disappear in the fall, it's important to remember that it's an active period for parasites like ticks and fleas. Because of their potentially dangerous effects, I'm not a fan of chemical products and medications, but essential oil-based lotions sprayed on before each outing can be a very interesting and much healthier alternative.
It's important to remember that the best way to combat the adverse effects of these parasites is to inspect your dog after every walk and eliminate them as soon as possible! Here's a blog post I wrote on the subject:
https://pattedeaubio.com/en/blogs/blog/the-fight-against-ticks
With these little tips, you'll surely be able to enjoy the beautiful aspects of the autumn season with your dog while avoiding minor inconveniences!
Have a wonderful autumn!
Karine Simard, Agronomist, M.Sc.
Expert consultant in canine nutrition.
