Vitamin D3 offers benefits for dogs
Dear Readers: Dogs with so-called atopic dermatitis suffer with a common, difficult condition. It’s characterized by intense itching, redness and papules on the skin, which is often coupled with inflammation of the nasal cavity and eyes, especially in response to seasonal changes. In a small but promising study published in the British Veterinary Record in April (by C.J. Klinger and others), significant improvements were reported in dogs diagnosed with this condition who were given a high oral dose of vitamin D3. Doses started with 300 international units (IU) per 1 kilogram of body weight, increasing to 1,400 IU over a four-week period, then maintaining that high intake with close veterinary monitoring.
If your dog has been diagnosed with this condition, or has an unresolved skin issue and common causes such as mange and food allergy have been ruled out, discuss vitamin D therapy with your veterinarian. Do not treat your own dog without veterinary monitoring, because high doses of vitamin D3 can cause harm. A few drops of fish oil daily and a 1/2 teaspoon of local bee pollen can also benefit dogs with itchy skin conditions.
Treatment with vitamin D3 may well be safer and more effective, and will certainly be less costly, than with Novartis’ Atopica (cyclosporine) and Zoetis’ Apoquel (oclacitinib) for “itchy dogs.” The latter drug, currently widely advertised on TV, essentially shuts down the immune system, sometimes with fatal consequences, as reported earlier by one reader of my column. More cases of adverse reactions are being reported. (See Dr. Andrew Jones’ article “Apoquel Alert” at theinternetpetvet.com.)
Vitamin D3 benefits have been reported for people with this skin condition and also asthma, hypertension, congestive heart failure, cancer and dementia. Veterinarian Dr. Deva Khalsa, who has also posted reservations about using Apoquel, reports in the June/July 2018 issue of Animal Wellness Magazine that older dogs showing signs of canine cognitive dysfunction showed improvement when given a daily vitamin D3 supplement. She gives 5,000 IU daily for two months, then half that amount for maintenance, to large dogs; smaller dogs get smaller doses.
Write c/o Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106 or email animaldocfox@gmail.com. Visit Dr. Fox’s Web site at www. DrFoxVet.com.