Zinc deficiency

[Pam, Latte and Summer]

Two weeks ago I noticed Bella, my 2 year old labradoodle, had some crusty areas
around her eyes.   We made a trip to the vet.  He wasn't sure what she had but he
started her on Prednisone.  He then called us a few days later.  He had done some
research and decided that she had a zinc deficiency and put her on zinc tablets.
It is 100% better.  Have any of you experienced this problem?  Is it more of a breed
problem?  Diet?

[1xar0x2rcx0li]

Never heard of it. Glad your vet fgured it out. I would ask him how a dog gets a zinc deficiency. Is it a problem in diet, absorption, or metabolism?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

There are three different types of zinc defiency in dogs. The most common type is seen in the Northern breeds, Siberian huskies and malamutes. I had heard of that.
But there is another type that does run in Labrador retrievers and Standard poodles among other large breed dogs. Here's some info:

"The second type of zinc-related dermatosis in the dog is seen in large to giant breeds that are fast growing during the juvenile period.
It has been reported in the Great Dane, German Shepherd, Labradors, Standard Poodles and Dobermans. It is directly related to alterations in the diet or to supplements that may interfere with zinc absorption.
Diets that are high in phytate or calcium (both of which can bind to zinc in the small intestine) have been shown to induce this syndrome.
In addition, over-supplementation with vitamins and minerals has been linked to reduced zinc uptake in the gastrointestinal tract."
Here's a link to the full article:
Canine Zinc-responsive Dermatosis

This article does seem to point to a really substandard diet as one cause, as well as giving too much calcium & other vitamins or minerals during the puppy stage.
I'm glad the supplements are helping Bella.

[Pam, Latte and Summer]

Thanks for the info Karen. I'll read the article. She has been on Taste of the Wild which I thought was well balanced. It also
contains Zinc in the ingredients. I'm not sure if it is the zinc supplements or the Prednisone that is helping. I'm really looking
forward to getting off the steroids though.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm sure TOTW didn't cause this. I think the Prednisone was given to help clear up the skin condition, and the zinc supplement should keep it from recurring.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Wow! Thanks for this post. We have had hair ' thinning' around the eyes, the crusty snout is significant ( which I thought she may have scrapped herself somewhere--but it has been there for 4 weeks now ), one questionable paw pad... actually most of this sounds familiar--especially the lethargy and depression. My 15 year old lab had more energy than this puppy. This has been heartbreaking for us. So much so I have not been able to even talk about her progress on here. :( Mainly because there isn't any.

This article did not say anything about respiratory symptoms although we have had these also even though she was vaccinated for KC before she arrived with us. In addition to the other symptoms did Bella have any energy? A cough?

Was your zinc over-the-counter?

Please keep me updated on Bella :)

[F, Calla & Luca]

Of course, not all the symptoms have to be from one thing. An all purpose dog vitamin might do for now. See if it has zinc.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I eat Fred Flintstone vitamins w/out iron. I wonder if she will eat one of them? Zinc 12mg (10mg was recommended) Nope, not interested. Of course I will have to get an expensive dog vitamin now. LOL

I will have to post this question to Karen. " Diets that are high in phytate or calcium (both of which can bind to zinc in the small intestine) have been shown to induce this syndrome".

We are using a combo of CN Lamb and Rice and Fromm's Salmon and Veggie.

I'm sure even if this is not the cause it would be interesting to know.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

None of the AAFCO approved foods would be to blame, and that definitely includes CN and Fromm. What would apply would be if someone were giving their dog extra calcium supplements (I have to look up phytate), or possibly if a dog were being fed an RMB diet with excessive amounts of bone.
This is one reason that it is not a good idea for people or dogs to take extra amounts of any one particular nutrient unless the doctor or vet recommends it for a medical issue. (A multivitamin is fine.)Increasing the amount of one nutrient without adjusting the intake of others can lead to vitamin or mineral defiency. I'm not saying this is the case with Starlit, but it's good info as long as we're on the subject.
Joanne, I would not assume that a zinc defiency is the problem and start randomly giving her supplements. The zinc supplements that Pam's using were prescribed by her vet and we don't know the dosage. Starlit is getting a balanced diet right now, which contains all the vitamins and minerals she should need in the right amounts. I don't know what her previous diet might have been, but if she does have a zinc defiency (or any nutrient defiency), a multivitamin is not going to contain enough of the particular nutrient she's lacking to make much difference. It probably won't hurt, but it also probably won't help.
Don't give human multivitamins to dogs. The nutrient requirements are different.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Also, 10 mg. was not the recommended amount:
Zinc sulfate oral: 10 mg/kg once daily IV: 10-15 mg/kg weekly for four treatments.
Zinc methionine: 1.7 mg /kg/day
Zinc gluconate: 1.5 mg/kg/day of elemental zinc.

That's 10 mg. of zinc sulfate per kg. of body weight for 4 days, then 10-15 mg/kg. once a week for 4 weeks. All of the dosages are per kg. of body weight, and they are different for the particular form of zinc being used. I don't know the kg/lb conversion without looking it up, but these are really big doses of zinc.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Yeah I know... I'm grasping at straws. Just found this interesting and I certainly need more medical information ( yet another vet visit ) and more research reading on my part.

As always, thank you for your attention and response :)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

As always, you are more than welcome. I hope Starlit doesn't have anything seriously wrong with her and will be just fine soon.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Joanne, I am so sorry Starlit is not doing well. I hope this is the answer for her.