Grooming by Roxie

08/14/2026

🧬 WHAT DOGS EAT MAY CHANGE HOW THEIR SKIN PROTECTS ITSELF... AT THE GENETIC LEVEL.

A peer-reviewed study published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science, a well-respected international veterinary journal, suggests that a dog’s diet can influence much more than the appearance of their coat; it can also affect how their skin functions from the inside out.

Researchers at DogRisk Research Group compared dogs eating a minimally processed raw diet with dogs eating an ultra-processed kibble and found that the raw-fed dogs showed greater activity of genes linked to healthy skin, natural immune defenses, and the body’s own antioxidant system, including glutathione. They also found that dogs with allergies had changes in hundreds of genes involved in skin barrier function, inflammation, and skin cell repair, highlighting how important a healthy skin barrier is for protecting against allergens and environmental irritants.

One possible reason is the food matrix—the natural structure of whole foods, where nutrients, fats, proteins, fiber, and thousands of naturally occurring compounds work together in ways that isolated nutrients or highly processed foods may not fully replicate. While this study wasn’t designed to determine why these gene changes occurred, the food matrix is one of several factors researchers believe deserves further investigation.

This study adds to a growing body of research suggesting that nutrition can influence health all the way down to gene activity. That’s one reason Dr. Karen Becker recommends feeding a balanced, fresh, minimally processed diet whenever possible. Whole foods provide nutrients in their natural form and may help support healthy skin, immune function, and overall well-being as part of a healthy lifestyle.

And remember, it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. If you’re currently feeding kibble, simply starting with a teaspoon of fresh, whole food added to the bowl is a great first step. Small changes can be a simple way to start adding more fresh food to your dog’s diet.

08/14/2026

Look at this beautiful girl! Addy Kate came in for a bath and sanitary trim. Mom wanted pig tails but the hair right above her eyes was not long enough yet. So we added little bone shaped clips. She looked like a 90’s baby.

Come see me Pet Wants Cleveland
I have a few spots still open next week.

08/12/2026

When the puppy needs to go into time out, you get the sister to torture him.

08/10/2026

07/29/2026

Come check out Sample Saturday!

07/15/2026

07/14/2026

This nail trim was so satisfying!

07/13/2026

Fresh cuts, wagging butts, and smiles all around!

Come check out my new place at Pet Wants Cleveland.
I still offer one on one appointments! Your pets wellbeing is my number one goal.

07/07/2026

My pups love sweet potatoes!

🍠 Sweet potatoes are a great add to your dog’s bowl. They’re packed with beta-carotene, a powerful antioxidant that dogs convert into vitamin A to support healthy vision, skin, immune function, and overall cellular health.

And sweet potatoes are also great for your dog’s gut. They contain resistant starch, pectin, and other prebiotic fibers that feed beneficial gut bacteria. As these fibers are fermented, they produce beneficial short-chain fatty acids like butyrate, which help support the gut lining, immune system, and a healthy intestinal environment. Interestingly, a recent peer-reviewed study found that dogs with skin allergies had fewer gut bacteria that produce these beneficial compounds, highlighting the close connection between gut health and immune health.

One of my favorite nutrition tricks is to steam, cool, and serve sweet potatoes. Steaming helps preserve beta-carotene while making it more available. Refrigerating cooked sweet potatoes overnight converts some of the starch into gut-friendly resistant starch that feeds beneficial bacteria. Finally, serving sweet potatoes with plain full-fat yogurt, a hard-boiled egg, sardines, herring, or fish oil helps your dog absorb more beta-carotene.

Whenever possible, choose organic sweet potatoes and leave the peel on, as the skin contains extra fiber and polyphenols that help nourish beneficial gut bacteria while also reducing exposure to pesticide residues.

Sweet potatoes come packaged in a whole-food matrix rich in beta-carotene, vitamins, minerals, and prebiotic fibers. Cooling them overnight also helps reduce the blood sugar response by increasing resistant starch.

🍠 How much should you feed?

• Small dogs (under 20 lb / 9 kg): 1–2 teaspoons daily
• Medium dogs (20–50 lb / 9–23 kg): 1–2 tablespoons daily
• Large dogs (50–90 lb / 23–41 kg): 2–4 tablespoons daily
• Giant dogs (over 90 lb / 41 kg): Up to ¼–½ cup daily

Remember, healthy add ins can make up about 10% of your dog’s daily calories.