My dog is on a diet. Could his crusty face scabs be zinc deficiency?

Oh goodness! That does look uncomfortable! It could be just infection, but if it keeps returning then I agree there could likely be an underlying problem such as thyroid disorder, zinc deficiency, pemphigus, or lupus. If I were in charge of his care I would check a thyroid panel and if that came back normal then I would do straight to a skin biopsy. This is the fastest route to a diagnosis. Best of luck and I hope you find an answer and a resolution soon! Thank you for using Pet Coach.

Yes this could be zinc deficiency or it could be discoid lupus. I would bring him in for an exam. For a difinitive diagnosis you will need to have a biopsy done. I have a malamute with discoid lupus and am able to manage it without medication although initially I treated her for it and then weaned her onto supplements. I would be happy to help with holistic supplements when you have a diagnosis.

I don't recommend to start this supplement on your pup without speaking with your veterinarian. Yes, arctic breeds can get zinc responsive dermatitis but the condition is rare. More common causes of lip dermatitis are allergies to something in the environment or food. I recommend to explore these options first. Speak with your veterinarian about what to look for first. I hope this helps.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Shakshok. I agree that he appears to have scabs or crusts on his face in the picture. There are a variety of causes for this in a dog. While skin cancer is possible, it is not likely in such a young dog. Infections are most common in younger animals. He could have mites, ringworm or a bacterial or yeast infection. This can occur secondary to allergies, diet or even fleas. The veterinarian will examine him and may perform skin twata. He will likely need topical or oral treatment to help him. I hope this information helps!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The zinc/methionine are not likely causing this. This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. Other possibilities such as mange need to also be considered and a physical examination and basic diagnostics should help sort that out. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

I would recommend that Gunnar get checked out by a vet. His skin issues could be caused by dandruff, missing nutrients in his diet, another endocrine disorder like Cushing's disease, low thyroid (meaning he may need an increase in his medication), mites, allergies, or infection. A vet can examine his skin and may take a skin scraping or sample to look at under a microscope to see if there are mites, bacteria, yeast, or other parasites. Once the vet has a better idea as to the cause, they can discuss a treatment protocol.

It is possible that the crusts and scabs on Sebastian's muzzle are due to infection from bacteria in his food bowls. Plastic and ceramic bowls are very porous and can harbor significant amounts of bacteria. If you aren't already doing so, switch to stainless steel bowls and wash them after each feeding. Also try washing the lesions with a gentle hand soap once daily, but be sure to thoroughly rinse and dry the lesions. If the scab worsen or aren't improving in another week or two, consider taking him to your local vet for further evaluation.