• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
Hound Lane

Hound Lane

The Conscious Dog Lifestyle

  • Home
  • Blog
  • My Account
  • About
    • About Hound Lane
    • Our Principles
  • Contact
  • Show Search
Hide Search
You are here: Home / Archives for raw feeding

raw feeding

Dry Food or Raw? Diet Affects Skin Gene Expression in Dogs

December 4, 2020 · Leave a Comment

If your dog is constantly itchy, you’ve probably tried many things to bring relief. Perhaps you’ve tried changes to their diet to help? Dietary intervention is a popular approach to treating canine atopy (allergic dermatitis).

What is dermatitis in dogs?

Atopic dermatitis in dogs causes hypersensitivity and over-reactivity to commonplace substances in the environment. Allergens can include plant pollens, house dust mites, mould spores. Atopic dogs will scratch, chew, lick, or rub areas of the body such as their paws, face and rear end. This list of symptoms isn’t complete, and your vet should make a diagnosis.

If you have an atopic dog, you probably already know about it. You may have considered if there are drug-free ways to help alleviate the discomfort your dog is experiencing. Perhaps you’ve heard of Raw Feeding as something talked about as an option from some sources.

Photo by 龙 赵 on Unsplash

Raw feeding atopic dogs

The University of Helsinki in a recent study has found positive differences in increased antioxidant production and anti-inflammatory effects of those dogs in the study that had a raw fed diet compared to those that ate dry food.

Previously researchers have identified that there are differences in gene expression between atopic and healthy dogs. The expression of these genes affects fat metabolism, skin layer formation and creation of new blood vessels near the skin.

Both healthy and atopic dogs took part in the study. They were divided into groups that were fed either dry food or raw food. An equal number from each group were then selected for the study of their genetic information.

It appears that the raw fed dogs activated the skin’s immune defences and the expression of genes that increased antioxidant production.

The results in this study are preliminary as the sample size was small and doesn’t account for other possible variables. Even so, there is a growing community of dog carers that advocate the use of raw feeding. Many people report observable improvements in skin health and the reduction of other allergy symptoms in dogs.


Further reading at science daily

We respect the original author’s content and copyright and have hand-written this original summary with the genuine intent of introducing our community to your content and site. We provide a link to your source and encourage all our readers to visit your site. If you are the author of the linked article, please get in touch if there’s anything here that you are concerned about.

Our Socials

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Hound Lane

Made with 🐶❤️ in Melbourne, Australia
Copyright © 2021 · Hound Lane Pty Ltd ABN: 27 616 823 888

  • Privacy Policy
  • General Terms
  • Shipping & Returns Policy
  • Advice Disclaimer