Hi all

Molly is now 5 years olf and her skin is gettting very flakey! On the advice of an independant pet shop we put her onto burns fish and rice with the ocean bites for treats (the idea being only them for treats although this has been slightly hard given i have a 1 year whoes really messy in his high chair).
The skin is slightly better but its still flakey. She;s been on it for nearly 3 weeks and i need to get some more food so thought i'd ask peoples opinions.

I was considering BARF but think what with being back at work, a lively toodler and lazy hubby :) i don't think i'll have the time to fully devote to it :(.

Thanks for your advice in advance.

Marie

Our eldest suffers from flaky skin (same breed) and rather than changing his food we added sunflower oil to his food and touch wood but his skin has never been better. :-)

I know what you mean re BARF we have toyed with the idea for ages but with 2 children and plans to return to work I too don't feel that I can devote enough time to ensuring they would get a balanced diet :-(

Thanks Angels2. Will get some to add to her food. BARF just seems too complicated when you spend your time running round after children ...... would probably end up giving son the BARF and teh girls the cooked :)

> would probably end up giving son the BARF and teh girls the cooked :-)

ROFL :-)

Is she overweight at all? For some reason that seems to be the main reason in cavaliers with dandruffy skin -especially in Tricolours. Well in those I've known anyway. :)

I'd try a grain free food such as Orijen with the addition of fish oil capsules and evening primrose oil.

Although you may not wish to go the whole hog with Barf you could add sardines in oil  (for coat and skin)or similar a couple of times a week and raw chicken.
Start with the wings. Our pom/chi is eating this with no problems. and gsd is on all raw. If you want to know more about raw meaty bones as opposed to barf (similar ) have a look at the raw meaty bones website, you give almost entirly raw meat with some veg if you wish  these can be raw or your left overs the odd egg raw, cottage cheese and yoghurt. This is different view to pure barf but i have met and spoken to quite few who use this method from weaning with healthy long lived dogs all breeds  I find it easy apart from taking out of the freezer in time and then I use the micro wave. I admit my kids are teenagers but I do work full time.

Otherwise burns is said to be very good and also orijen is getting around more and more as suggested

I can't quite remeber her weight but she is due jabs soon so will check weight then. I think she has put weight on over the past few years though, she used to be 7kg but i'm sure she's more like 9kg now.

Thanks, will check out the website.

> Is she overweight at all? For some reason that seems to be the main reason in cavaliers with dandruffy skin -especially in Tricolours. Well in those I've known anyway. :-)

Oh dear our boy doesn't fit that profile at all.....

He is very very slim and black and tan :-O

When I had my Cavvie girl Rosie, she was always very itchy and had flaky skin.  The best diet she had was James Wellbeloved Turkey and Vegetable as its cereal free.  When it got really bad we added an omega 3 capsule to her diet each day. She wasnt overweight either, but they do seem to be a bit sensitive food wise.

Hi Marie

My 3 year old Cav had really flaky skin a while back and she was also quite prone to getting fleas (I think the two were linked), anyhow I changed her food as she was on Royal Canin and it didn't really suit her. She's now on Arden Grange which she loves and has no more flaky skin, she also gets a clove of fresh garlic every day to help with the fleas. She looks a picture of health. I know I bang on about it all the time and I probably sound like I work for AG (I don't!) but I am really very impressed with the food and would not hesitate in recommending it :-)

I can endorse what Angels2 says, all my dogs have sunflower oil. A healthy coat and skin requires linoleic acid and vitamin E, both of these come in their most easily digestible form in sunflower oil. A CKCS would need about 2-3 teaspoons a day. You don't have to spend a fortune, I use Tescos. You need to allow about 3 weeks to notice a difference.

Saxon - I think it was you that gave me that fantastic tip! ;-)

Thanks angels2. It really does work doesn't it.

Yes, it has made more difference than anything else we have tried :-)

Thats brilliant. Most people are quite sceptical, I think because it is so cheap and simple, they think it can't possibly work.