Zinc Deficiency in Huskies

This article reproduces sections of a full article by kind permission of SnowDogGuru website.
The full series of articles can be found here:The full original series of articles can be found here:
https://www.snowdog.guru/zinc-deficiency-the-hidden-cause-of-sickness-in-huskies/

DISCLAIMER

If your husky is sick, please ensure you take him to the vet. The information in this article is intended to be complimentary.

In this article, I will give you information about Zinc Malabsorption and Zinc Deficiency Disorder. Before you take zinc supplementation into your own hands, learn everything you can about it.

Zinc supplementation, if applied incorrectly or for the wrong reasons, can possibly cause lethal zinc toxicity in your dog. What you should not do is to recklessly begin zinc supplementation or changing your dog’s diet without fully understanding the implications of what you are doing.

Wild, reckless, and uninformed choices will only make your dog more ill so please do everything that you can to arm yourself with as much information as you can so that you can make a well-informed choice about your dog’s treatment options.

Talk to your vet about what you have learned and discuss different treatment options and supplementation schedules with them first. If you feel that your Vet’s recommendations or course of treatment do not satisfy you or your dog’s needs, then do not hesitate to ask for another opinion from another Vet who has more experience with this specific dog breed.

Introduction

 Zinc Deficiency and Malabsorption problems it is likely the most misdiagnosed and the most under-diagnosed condition in Huskies and Malamutes.

Does is it seem like you spend all of your time at your Vet’s office with your Husky?
Are you and your vet constantly chasing symptoms in your dog but your vet can never quite manage to solve the medical mystery as to what is wrong with your Husky?

While you should always try to consult and work with your vet, unless they have specialized knowledge of Huskies and Malamutes they may not be aware of Zinc Deficiency in Huskies.

What Does Zinc Have To Do With My Husky’s Illnesses?

It may have everything to do with your Husky’s illness. Zinc is the second most commonly used mineral in the body, and it’s absence in your Husky’s body may be behind your dog’s constant source of illnesses.

Northern Breed Dogs’ diets require more than average Zinc amounts and Zinc Deficiency and malabsorption can be the root cause of a host of illnesses in these dogs.

Why Is This Disorder So Hard to Correctly Diagnose?

 The problem with getting an accurate diagnosis of Zinc Deficiency and Malabsorption is that the symptoms of this affliction are not only varied, but they will differ according to what level the disorder has reached in your Husky.
The longer your dog has been in Zinc deficit, the further along the chain of symptoms your dog will likely be.

Vets may only attempt to control the problem by just addressing the symptoms of what they see.
These may be an ever-changing spectrum of symptoms that will occur as this disorder runs its course. 

In Huskies and Malamutes the progression of illnesses due to chronic Zinc Deficiency may present as follows:
  1. Chronic digestive issues (often mistaken for food allergies), often accompanied by bouts of diarrhoea, and lack of appetite (often mistaken for being a picky eater).
  2. Raised itchy crusty patches of dermatitis,( ZRD) ( often diagnosed as allergies or hot spots) around the nose, mouth, eyes, groin, or paws that may respond temporarily to topically applied Zinc Cream. These crusty patches seem to come back with more intensity each time.
  3. A host of seemingly unrelated illnesses that are actually immune system related. The immune system may under function and not respond well to clearing up infections in the body or it may overreact and your dog’s immune system may be treating everything as if was an invading force. This issue can lead to the development of cancers.
  4. Thyroid gland malfunctioning causes problems with weight gain or loss, increase or decrease in appetite, skin and coat problems including excessive shedding, a constant cycle of secondary infections, and possible ongoing cough. Hormone levels in the body become out of balance.
  5. Major organ failures; liver, kidney, heart from a lack of sufficient support from the Thyroid.
  6. The last process in line where Zinc is used is in the brain. Adequate Zinc has to be present in order for Taurine to be used as a neurotransmitter smoother. The end result of inadequate available Zinc can be erratic neurotransmitter firings(seizures).

Note:

This is a general overview of the hierarchy of how Zinc is used in the body. However, there are exceptions to the rules. You may find that your Snow Dog shows very few of the first few classic symptoms and skips ahead directly to having epileptic seizures. It can happen.

The original full articles in this series can be found on the SnowDogGuru website: