Help please!  My almost-two-year-old Cavalier just won't grow enough coat.  Both his parents have plenty of coat.  I've tried having him live out with a couple of others all last winter and summer, but I cracked when it got so cold before Christmas and they are all back in the house - and staying here!  I enjoy their company on the sofa too much, and I really missed them when they were out. Anyway it didn't work - he still has insufficient coat to show.  He has no skin problems and is very healthy.  Any ideas?

Cavaliers are not kennel dogs & to kennel a dog just to grow coat :-( words fail me

Coat is part breeding & part feeding. So look at what you are feeding him & it's ingredients.

Well I kennelled them because a top breeder told me to - and I have to say they were, and still are, very healthy.  They certainly didn't spend their lives in the kennel!  Most breeders with multiple dogs seem to kennel them - but I far prefer having them in the house (although I still have the kennels and the dogs use them quite happily with the door open).  His not growing a decent coat will not prevent him being a much loved pet, as they all are.  They are fed on Royal Canin Cavalier Diet, also on the advice of several top breeders. 

Some Cavaliers don't get their full coat until aged about 3.

Thank you!

Like I said, he's still a pet.  But if he might still grow more coat I'll not give up on showing him! 

Have you thought about changing his diet?  What works for one dog won't work for the other.  Each breeder will have preferances but sometimes it's trial and error :)

Well I've tried Burns but they all lost weight on it, and I've tried Hill's but they got picky about eating it.  I have wondered about BARF, but I'm worried about getting the balance right.  Years ago I used to feed my Great Danes on raw green tripe that I got fresh from a local abattoir (yeuch) and they were fantastically healthy,  but I don't think you can get this anymore, even if my husband would allow it in the house!  Can you suggest anything else?  Perhaps tinned food?

I agree with MM & Marianne (who both have a lot of experience with Cavaliers) - my Cavalier's coat seemed to blossom at about 3.5yrs, which coincidentally was when I changed her food over. She was on RC before but not the Cavalier specific one. Everything seemed to grow on Pixie at the same time - her ears have grown longer too.

I'd echo what MM has said - please dont kennel your Cav, I would never dream of kennelling mine, she loves her home comforts and human company and would be so upset if she was kennelled.

Well I won't kennel again anyway - I like their company too much.  I have to say though, they loved their kennel (and still do!).  I had it made as I didn't like any of the ones on the market - way too small - I liked to have three or four in together for company and warmth and plenty of room to play or get away from each other if they wanted.  Looks like I'll just hang in and keep my fingers crossed, then.  Thanks to everyone for constructive comments!

You could try adding Biotin to their food(it was a horse hoof & coat supplement originally)

Hi zax

have you tried cold pressed salmon oil. The best two brands are kronch and grizzly. less risk of vit D overdose than using cod liver oil.

i appreciate that it is used (often) for conditioning coats and skin rather than hair growth promotion but it might be an option..

btw- I am willing to be shot down be others for my advice- i am less than an novice but I love the stuff

I would try the RC Mini Sensible - I tried the cavalier specific one for several months and found that it didn't suit my gang.  As suggested by someone else add some salmon oil to his/her diet and have patience VBG regular bathing and good grooming will help coat growth

I have used Yumiga for over a year now with great coat results.

two food supliments that have seemed to work very well for me (although I am only trying to get coat on a smooth, short coated breed) have been Seagreens, and Venture.  Would imagine you could get seagreens over there, not sure about Venture (it looks like Bran).  Also, try adding some cod liver oil to the food. 

zak you can try fit&furtile or you can do what i do and buy some royal canine i found both work to enhance coat hope this helps you

Thanks to everyone for thinking about it for me!  As I have a couple with less than great coats (although only one I want to try and show) I am going to try the salmon oil on one and the Biotin on another - will report back in a couple of months!

I would try Royal Jelly - Groomers do a liquid supplement you can add to feed.

You can still get raw tripe frozen in pellet form ( I used to get old fashioned 5lb. bags) from most large pet stores if not, if they have a freezer unit ask them to get some in for you. If you google for Barf diet there is a wealth of info, I know several people who now use it and their dogs are in superb condition (not just coats), I must admit I was sceptical at first, but seeing the results I am amazed.
Good luck whatever you decide.

hi

my mum has a yorkie/poodle, his coat was really thin, and so we clipped him really short and his coat is now thickening up. he is now on eukanuba and his coat is comming out lovely.

my kooikerhondje lost the slik on her coat, because i was bathing her too much (she kept rolling in poo), a breeder from sweden told me to put egg yolk in her food, it has come out really nice and especially now she is moulting, but i have had to cut her food down because it was making her put on weight.

your cavalier might have a thiroid inbalence and it is causing heim to have little coat, is it hard for him to put on and loose weight?

you could also use lintbells yeumega    http://www.lintbells.com/yumega/index.php   it stops the coat from moulting so teh coat thickens.

george