Did you know that skin and coat issues in dogs have increased over 30% in past 5 years? Atopic dermatitis in dogs, also known as canine atopic dermatitis, is a chronic inflammatory skin disease associated with allergies. It often manifests as itching, redness, and inflammation of the skin. It can be caused by allergies to either their dog food or environmental allergens. As problematic as these skin issues can be, there is now exciting news about how insect protein can help dogs with these issues!
SIGNS OF ATOPIC DERMATITIS IN DOGS
The most common symptoms are mostly what you would expect:
- Itching and Scratching: Persistent itching, leading to scratching, biting, or licking the affected areas.
- Redness and Inflammation: The skin may appear red, inflamed, and swollen.
- Lesions and Scabs: Over time, constant scratching can cause skin lesions, scabs, and secondary infections.
- Hair Loss: Areas of hair loss may occur due to excessive scratching and licking.
The areas that are commonly affected include your dog’s ears, paws, belly, armpits, groin, and face.
Some breeds are genetically predisposed to atopic dermatitis. Breeds with higher susceptibility include:
- Labrador Retrievers
- Golden Retrievers
- Boxers
- Bulldogs
- Terriers (e.g., West Highland White Terriers, Boston Terriers)
- Setters (e.g., Irish Setters)
- Shar-Peis
- Poodles
INSECT PROTEIN IMPROVES YOUR DOG’S SKIN
Insect protein, and in particular BSFL, shows promise for dogs with atopic dermatitis. Dogs on a diet with 29.5% BSFL meal (this is the amount of BSFL in Jiminy’s Good Grub Dog Food) had reduced water loss in their skin and improved skin hydration. These are two extremely important measures of skin health!
REDUCED WATER LOSS IN THE DOG’S SKIN
Water loss is measured by looking at the trans epidermal water loss (TEWL) in a dog’s belly and ear (pinna) regions over time. Trans epidermal water loss (TEWL) is defined as the amount of water that passively evaporates through skin to the external environment due to a water vapor pressure gradient on both sides of the skin barrier and is commonly used to characterize skin barrier function and integrity. In this new study, TEWL in the belly was significantly lower in dogs on the BSFL diet compared to those on a control diet made with 26% poultry by-product meal.
Figure 1: BSFL Reduces Water Loss in Skin
IMPROVED HYDRATION OF THE DOG’S SKIN
Skin hydration was measured by measuring the stratum corneum hydration (SCH) in the belly and pinna of Beagles dogs. Stratum corneum hydration (SCH) refers the amount of water contained in the stratum corneum layer of the skin. The results can be seen in Figure 2, the dogs on a BSFL diet had significantly improved skin hydration by day 45.
Figure 2: BSFL Improves Skin Moisture
FATTY ACIDS IN BSFL IMPROVE SKIN MOISTURE
The improvement in skin condition is thanks to the fatty acids in BSFL, which increase sebaceous lipids in the skin, leading to less water loss and a stronger skin barrier. BSFL proved effective in improving skin barrier function, making BSFL a valuable alternative protein source for dogs, particularly those with sensitive skin or allergies manifesting on the skin.
JIMINY’S GOOD GRUB FOR A HEALTHY SKIN & COAT
Here at Jiminy’s, we’ve heard success stories about dogs with skin issues that were solved when the dog started a Jiminy’s diet. We’re so excited that now, thanks to this new study, we’re able to add "Healthy Skin & Coat" as a benefit on our packaging! You will see the new packages in market around the beginning of 2025. Here’s a preview of what the bag will look like.
Just to be clear, our food isn’t changing, it is just a benefit that we can now claim thanks to the peer reviewed and published study! If you know a dog that has skin issues, please help us spread the word!