Best food for skin?

[Darcy & Millie]

My goldendoodle is 6 years old. Recently, she has started to get sebaceous cysts. And,she also got another large growth on her leg which she is currently on antibiotics for (it is going away thank goodness).  The vet suggested I start giving her fish oil, but I'm also wondering if there is a food out there that is best for skin, or for these cysts in addition?

Thank you!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Not really. The cysts are unlikely to be related to her diet. The Omega 3 fatty acids DHA & EPA are beneficial for the skin, which is why your vet recommended giving her fish oil, as these are only found in fish. You're never going to find the amounts of DHA & EPA in a commerical food that are anywhere close to the amounts in a fish oil supplement. It doesn't hurt to make sure that whatever food you're feeding has a low Omega 6:3 ratio, (5:1 or lower) as too much Omega 6 and/or not enough Omega 3 can contribute to inflammatory conditions. I can help you with this if you're not sure how to check it. A higher protein, lower carb diet will also help to keep the Omega 6 content down. Most diets that contain grains are higher in carbs and Omega 6 than grain free foods.

Vitamin A is beneficial for the skin, but the levels of vitamin A in commerical dog foods are closely regulated, because it's a fat soluble vitamin that can be toxic in excess amounts. You can try giving her dehydrated beef liver or sweet potato treats to get more vitamin A into her diet; both are high in vitamin A. 

But basically, cysts and growths are not caused by dietary factors. 

Any time a dog is taking antibiotics, it's also a good idea to give her a good probiotic and to continue it for several weeks after the meds are finished. Be sure to give probiotics at least 2 hours apart from the antibiotics. Proviable and iFlora (not to be confused with Purina's Fortiflora!) are both good probiotics for dogs. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

You might also want to consider seeing a veterinary dermatologist. They have way more knowledge of skin conditions, causes, and treatments than GP vets do.