Zinc Gluconate is a proven nutritional supplement for working dogs (sled dogs, hunting dogs, and herding dogs). It helps to toughen feet. As it promotes healthier coats it is used by the show dog community. Its use reduces the occurrence of splits and cracks in dog’s feet, as well as toenail breakage and fissures.
Zinc Gluconate helps to speed up the healing process when an occasional foot problem does occur.
Zinc is extremely important for the proper function of a dog’s immune system. It’s use speeds up post surgery hair growth.
Zinc Gluconate should also be fed as a dietary supplement to prevent zinc deficiency, a common condition in northern breeds such as the Alaskan malamute, American Eskimo dog, Samoyed, and Siberian husky. Young rapidly growing Doberman pinschers and Great Danes sometimes experience a similar condition due to a transient zinc deficiency.
Zinc is a mineral that is vital to many biological functions such as immune resistance, wound healing, digestion, reproduction, physical growth, diabetes control, taste and smell. The main biochemicals in which zinc has been found to be necessary include: enzyme function, carbohydrate metabolism and protein synthesis. Many cells secrete zinc, including the pancreas, the salivary gland, and the prostate gland. Zinc is an important mineral for protein synthesis, cell reproduction for the immune system, and an important constituent of insulin and male reproductive fluid. By boosting the immune system, zinc may also protect against various infectious disorders.
Zinc has antioxidant properties which means that it helps protect cells from potential damage caused by free radicals. Zinc is important in the metabolism of vitamin A, collagen, cellular immunity, maintenance of taste acuity and the development of reproductive organs.
Deficiencies of zinc occur in growing puppies fed dry dogfoods that contain abundant fiber, phytin and calcium. This is the central component of the so-called “generic dogfood disease”. Common signs of zinc deficiency in dogs are poor growth, lethargy, hyperkeratotic footpads, erythema between the toes, and exudative, crusted skin lesions around the mouth and eyes.
