I feed my two Cavaliers Arden Grange Lamb and rice variety. Since around Christmas time, both dogs have had quite dry skin - Alfie, who is black and tan has lots of visible white flakes and Harvey always seems to be scratching. Both are clear - no fleas, mites etc and they are frontlined regularly. Central heating probably has something to do with drying their skin and I must admit that they are bathed quite often - especially in this weather when they get filthy on walks and a brush through after doesn't always work with their long coats.

The groomer came on Thursday to empty their anal glands and tidy their paws up, she suggested giving them 1 x 500mg evening primrose capsule per day which I have started so hopefully this will help.

I am considering trying the Salmon and rice variety of Arden Grange as it states on the website that it can help with itchy skin? Just wondered if anyone has tried it - is it as palatable as the other varieties or knows of an equally nutritous food that is good for itchy skin problems ans sensitive tums?

I really don't want to start swapping and changing foods as I do have to be careful as they both tend to have sensitive tums and get the runs very easily if I start adding leftovers or other foods to their Arden Grange.

Thanks in advance

Hayley

I dont feed Arden Grange but I don't think swapping food that is the same brand would cause too much of a upset as long as you mix it in with their existing food gradually. We feed lamb and rice food but were unable to get some on one occasion so bought the chicken and rice and it caused no upset tummies and my dogs can have quite sensitive stomachs. When I checked the ingredients everything was exactly the same apart from the meat so it isnt to much of a change for them, not like swapping to a different brand completely. Like I mentioned if you mixed the new food in gradually you shouldn't have a problem. Even though I haven't tried the salmon and rice Arden Grange I imagine it should help particularly if it states its for itchy skin, it is definately one of the better foods out there.

I recommended the Salmon one to a lady new to my breed who owns a short coated breed.  the food she had been giving him is way too low in oils for my breed in my opinion and his coat was terrible dry and discoloured.  I saw her a few weeks later and the dogs coat was so much improved.

As  for the OP the heating and bathing more often are more likely to be the reasons if the dog was in good coat condition previously.

I wouldn't know as mine only get a couple of baths a year.

I'm pretty certain that the heating and baths have triggered this. I will give the Salmon variety a go. They have had the Arden Grange salmon crunchy bites treats before and loved them so hopefully thay will enjoy this flavour of food.

I think often the skin gets a little drier in the cold weather , and it being a combination between the cold and the central heating.

Sengis on Arden Grange Salmon and rice at the moment her coat is looking really good she can be prone to a bit of itchiness when her seasons are due but shes due any time now and so far everything looks great.
A word of warning though she does seem to have filled out a bit since starting this food so is currently on reduced rations much to her disgust.

That doesn't surprise me as I expect the fat content is a little higher, or the ingredients are more digestible..

I feed the lamb and rice and mine have a lovely glossy coat.  You could try the 'prestige' which has a higher fat content.  Why not give them a ring, I have always found them very helpful.

Well, been out and bought the salmon and rice - my local stockist only had a 15kg bag so it was a bit of a risky buy but they have had it for dinner tonight and loved it - were still licking their dishes out 30 mins later bless them! Lets hope it helps with the dry skin.

Thanks for the input folks

Hayley

Sandrah,
I fed Harvey the Prestige when he went through a really fussy stage and was very thin........he wasn't thin for long ;-)
I battle enough keeping their weight down so dare'nt feed Prestige. It is a fantastic food but very high calorie. Thanks anyway

I fed the Prestige to my then anorexic Kizi until she was 2 1/2, it was the only way I coudl keep any weight on ehr at all, and ehr condition was great on it even if she was always lean.

I like it for in whelp and lactation, and until they grow their coats back after a litter (6 months).

The rest of the time they are on the Adult, and I feed the puppy/Junior once pusp get over 3 months, prestige until then.

I usually feed the Prestige when one of mine goes through a fussy stage and loses too much weight, it is great for putting weight on and she usually will eat that during those times.

Luvhandles, you could try adding a little oil to her dinner or a fish oil supplement.

I usually feed the Prestige when one of mine goes through a fussy stage and loses too much weight, it is great for putting weight on and she usually will eat that during those times.

Luvhandles, you could try adding a little oil to her dinner or a fish oil supplement.

I give each of my dogs a capsule of Evening Primrose Oil once the heating season starts and stop it during the Spring.  It does stop the winter itches.

I never bath my dogs, but sounds to me like that's the more likely culprit. 

I know your probably right Cairnmania, but everyday they walk along a stream and the enbankment is muddy so you can imagine how they look.......infact wherever we go walking, everybody elses dogs looks clean compared to my two - if there is muck to play in then they will play in it! I wish that I could just let it dry and brush the muck out but it doesn't work, as the days go on, their coats become increasingly knotty and we end up with mats eveywhere if were not careful - its much easier to give them a quick bath to keep them tangle free and kinder to them really - they hate it when I have to tease knots out of their coats :-( . I have started the Evening Primrose Oil as well as the salmon food so hopefully they will help us.

Hi Hayley,

I feed my German Shorthaired on Trophy pet food it is a fantastic food, I give her Trophy Premium hypo-allergenic. 23% Salmon meat, chicken,salmon,oil,seaweed,Gloucosamin, Froctos,wheat gluton free, your dogs will shine if you put them on it!  in my opinon it is the best food on the market. Take a look at their web site www.trophypetfoods.co.uk. You can try before you buy,and have it delivered free of charge. It is also a fantastic food for doggies with sensitive tums and skin.
If you do try it let me know what you think.

Donna

Thanks for that Donna. I'll look out for a stall at Crufts tomorrow.

Donna you forgot to add that rice is the first ingredient in the hypo-allergenic, 35%.......

Hayley i would stick with AG and also supplement with salmon oil and vitE.  EPO is high in Omega 6,which is more than plentiful in commercial foods.For skin conditions i would highly recommend Omega 3's,found in fish oil.