Hemp Seed Oil For Itchy Dogs! What you need to know!
Canine atopic dermatitis is one of the most commonly diagnosed skin conditions in dogs. It is more often seen in certain breeds such as: Labrador and golden retrievers, German shepherd dogs, English bulldogs, boxers, pugs, Dalmatians, West Highland white terriers, Boston terriers, shih tzus, and miniature schnauzers. Atopic dermatitis appears as red, scaly skin and can cause significant itch and discomfort for animals, particularly if secondary infections from scratching occur. Corticosteroids, the standard treatment, are effective at reducing the inflammation and itch. Monthly injections can also be given and generally have less side effects than corticosteroids. However, because neither of these treatments target the root cause of the disease, the clinical signs often recur once the medication is stopped.
While the cause of atopic dermatitis is not fully understood, we do know that sufferers tend to have an abnormal skin lipid barrier. The skin lipid barrier is made up of fatty acids, cholesterol and ceramides bound to the cells in the outermost layer of skin. In healthy animals, these skin cells and fats form a strong barrier that prevents water from
evaporating and the skin from becoming dehydrated. It also helps to prevent infectious agents, chemicals and allergens in the environment from penetrating into the lower skin layers. When the lipid barrier is unhealthy, allergens are more easily able to penetrate the skin and cause an immune reaction.
Researchers have found that treating atopic dogs with an oral supplement rich in omega-3 fatty acids can normalise the lipid barrier and even topical application of fatty acids, cholesterol and ceramides can improve the lipid content of the skin. This suggests that there are potential long-term benefits to both oral and topical omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in dogs suffering from atopy.
Hemp seed oil is a rich source of omega-3s that can be safely given to your pet as a food supplement and/or used topically in shampoos and conditioners. There are a few advantages to hemp seed oil over fish oil. Firstly, the form of omega-3 found in hemp seed oil, SDA, is a more stable form than EPA (the main omega-3 in fish oil) and so oxidises less rapidly. Consuming oxidised (i.e. rancid) fatty acids can in fact increase inflammation in the body rather than reduce it. Furthermore, hemp seed oil is a vegan-friendly and environmentally sustainable product, with many brands also certified organic.
If you have a dog with itchy skin, speak to your vet today to find out what other measures can be taken to help reduce the itch. For cases that aren’t responsive to fatty acid supplementation alone, there are prescription remedies available, including the monthly injections mentioned above, which may be suitable for your pet.
1. Popa I, Pin D, Remoué N, Osta B, Callejon S, Videmont E, Gatto H, Portoukalian J, Haftek M. Analysis of epidermal lipids in normal and atopic dogs, before and after administration of an oral omega-6/omega-3 fatty acid feed supplement. A pilot study.
Vet Res Commun. 2011 Dec;35(8):501-9.
2. Harris, W.S., Sands, S.A., Eapen, A.K. and DiRienzo, M.A. (2006), Stearidonic Acid Increases Red Blood Cell and Cardiac Levels of EPA, but not DHA, in Dogs. The FASEB Journal, 20: A1028-A1028.
3. Popa I, Remoue N, Osta B, Pin D, Gatto H, Haftek M, Portoukalian J. The lipid alterations in the stratum corneum of dogs with atopic dermatitis are alleviated by topical application of a sphingolipid-containing emulsion. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2012 Aug;
37(6):665-71.
