Our 1 1/2 yr. old choc lab has really bad dandruff. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to improve his coat? I've been told to feed him eggs, but his stomach is so sensitive that he can only eat the prescription dog food he gets from the vet, and that's it! No other food allowed, or he gets the runs. But his coat is so dry! Suggestions greatly appreciated! :)

Hi

OK, a lot of vets will recommend prescription only food - I even heard of them putting a dog down because the owners couldn't afford the food and the dog was always hungry :( Personally, I think its a bit of a con, but I'm cynical!

My suggestion would be to try some cod liver oil on top of that food, but if that doesn't work then you may have to bite the bullet for a few days and try him on some additional foods. Usually, they will only get the runs for a few days whilst they acclimatise to the new ingredients, then it settles down... whats the longest you have tried your dog on something new?

HTH a bit
Chloe

He seems to get the runs from anything besides the dog food -- cheese, beef, peanut butter, eggs. Even the tiniest bit upsets his stomach. Will the cod liver oil help his coat?

Definitely. But halibut liver oil is better if you can find it. Mine get a capsule a day of the halibut (I get my parents from Canada to send it to me -cheaper LOL) and it's fantastic.

How often do you bathe him? I find excessive bathing can also cause dandruff as it doesn't allow the natural oils to do their thing.

Wendy

Oooh - halibut oil sounds interesting - can you get it from Holland & Barrat kind of places?

Chloe

Hi Chloe - I have to be honest and say I've never tried to look for it over here because I always had a good supply from home LOL. The reason that my family started using it is that my dad (a pharmacist) had read studies on it which said it was more effective - mostly because less is actually needed. The halibut oil capsules are far smaller than the cod liver oil.

For my whippets they get one a day. For my dad and mom's springer mix she got between 1-2 a day. So for a Lab I'd say between 1-2 a day depending on coat.

As to a supplier that I'm not sure of - sorry:(

Wendy

http://www.herbal-uk.net/shop/en-gb/dept_10.html

Just did a search on halibut oil capsules in teh UK and found them on the link above:) ANd that was just the beginning of the search. Check out Google.co.uk and put in halibut oil capsule and do a UK only search. There are apparently a LOT of places that sell them - and quite cheaply. May have to start buying them here.

Wendy

He only gets bathed once every 5 months or so -- only if he's been rolling in something he shouldn't, which is rare. Do you know if the cod or halibut oil will upset his stomach? Is it something we're just going to have to deal with?

Hi-all my dobe is quite flakey :rolleyes: so I give him sardines either in olive oil or tomatoe which seems to help ,and he has a sensitive tum and he's ok with that
liz :)

About how much do you give him?

Hi - I Give him about half a tin mixed with his food and he gets two tins a week
Liz :)

Chelsea had a really sensitive tum when she was little and we had to change foods as what we were feeding was too rich, but we still always gave the halibut and it never seemed to bother her. Even now if she gets something too rich she'll be sick, so I'd say you 'should' be safe with the oils.

Wendy

Hi Sammy
I agree with Chloe that the prescription food is often a bit of a con if it's for more than a few days. Are you sure you have a really good vet and are you sure it is dandruff and not parasites? If yes to both, Red Mills Leader is a dry food that contains a lot of oil, my dogs love it, their coats are super and all ages do well on it (it is only 20% protein). I also give the show dogs evening primrose oil capsules for superfine coats which might be good for a lab because it is also supposed to be good for joints :-) If you have the nerve to change food, it might be a good idea to give a little live yoghurt to soothe the stomach lining. In my experience, most sensitive tums in young dogs has been due to inadequate/inappropriate worming as puppies.

Good luck

Thanks for the info, Caro -- I'm pretty sure that it's just dandruff, not parasites. When I brush him, lots of white flakes come through, but I've examined them and they don't look like bugs to me. I will try those oil capsules, though. :)

Tilly has dandruff too though the vet said it is probably coming from some old flea bites now healed up (she does have a few little scabs - not my fault! she was straying before they rescued her) The more i brush and comb the worse it gets! I've heard that adding oils and so on to pet food makes no difference and can even be harmful? i was thinking of trying cod liver oil but reading this put me off.
Lynz and Tilly

I just spoke to the vet, and he said that oils can really do a lot of good. He also said that this is the season when fur gets a little flaky b/c they've been cooped up a lot inside the house with the heat on.

ohh right - well i don't know whether till has been in a house with heating (i doubt it from how skinny she was when we got her - more like tramping round the streets on her own :( ) sorry - off topic angry outburst.
But i'll def. try cod liver oil. We used to put a tsp in our jack russells' food every day, was supposed to help with moulting (it didn't!) But i'll give it a go.
Lynz and tilly

Cod liver oil is fine once or twice a week, but should not be given more often especially in the warmer months as it can overheat the dog, also it is high in vitamin A, which in excess can be harmful.

A capsule of Evening primrose oil a day will help the skin and coat and hormone balance.

Hiya,

I give my dogs cod liver oil twice a week.

We have horses as well, so we always have the big tubs of it.

I put a teaspoonful on the dogs food...and they all have great coats.
I have just taken in an old dog, whose coat was terrible, but has greatly improved...not sure whether it's the cod liver oil, or the change from a tinned meat diet, to complete dry.
However, it certainly doesn't do any harm, if used carefully.

HTH

Lisa