Help! - Oily Dog!

[FrontlinePs.10]

I would appreciate any help with this:

I have a 8yr old lab/pit mix. He is about 80lbs., is fed Nutro Natural Choice lamb and rice, and is bathed & groomed regularly. Despite this, he has had an oily and flakey (dandruff-like) coat for some time. After bathing, his fur will be normal for about a day, but then get increasingly oily throughout the week. The skin around his lower back (above his tail) also gets very dry and flakey as well. It seems to be getting worse despite my efforts. I have tried head and shoulders shampoo, but this did not seem to help much. My friend sugessted that it might be his diet, but he is getting a good food. From my experience, Nutro usually seems to help solve most skin problems, not cause them.

Does anyone have any suggestions?!

[Saje]

I agree with your friend. It's likely the food. A lot of people think that Nutro is a wonderful brand. They have enticing packaging but there are much better brands out there.

I'll get Mordy's attention for this thread...

[showpug]

Wash him in a medicated shampoo for oily and flakey skin and switch his food! I would try Innova EVO or Innova Adult dog on your pooch. I would also add salmon oil to his diet...yes, more oil :)

[Athe]

Another suggestion, don't over bathe your dog. What I would do as well is to use Palmolive dish soap mixed with Glycerin and white vinegar and water....rinse throughly then follow up with a nice oatmeal shampoo. Sometimes it's best to purchase from a Vet clinic or local groomer, do not use Hartz products. Make sure you rinse ALL shampoo out of the coat, any shampoo left in the coat can lead to dry itchy skin. You wouldn't believe how many people don't rinse even short coated dogs properly :) Rinse until the water is running clear from head to toe.

I would also change the dogs food, I would try California Naturals first as it is good for dogs with possible allergies. Feed this for about 4 months then switch to EVO, Innova, Karma or another reputable dog food. You can add Probiotics and or Yogurt with live bacterial cultures to help replenish good bacteria in the gut. Also try to add more Omega 3,6 and 9 fatty acids to the diet. I give my dogs a few raw meals each week, and with the kibble I add canned food of the same high quality brand (I don't just pick up grocery store canned to add to my good qualtiy kibble ;) ). I add canned water packed sardines to the kibble, I do this about 5 meals a week (I feed 2 meals a day). I also add canned wild alaskan salmon a few times a week, hemp seed oil (perfect ratio of omega 3,6 and 9) you can add fish oil (body oil not fish liver or cod liver oils-only when feeding raw should you add any fish liver oils). Flax seed oil is also good, I grind my own flax seeds and add them to the food. Garlic cloves are also good to add to a diet, I give a clove every other day, Garlic is a good anti bacterial and anti fungal and an immune booster. I also give my dogs Astragalus as an immune booster.

Get a full blood panel done as well, just in case there is an underlying medical issue.

[FrontlinePs.10]

Thanks for your reccomendations, guys.

Athe - could you give me some specifics? What are the proportions in the shampoo mix you recomended? Also, how much hemp seen oil do you give on a daily basis?

[Athe]

The home made recipe makes quite a bit of shampoo: here is the recipe

MIX TOGETHER IN A ONE GALLON CONTAINER:

12 OZ Palmalive dish soap

2 OZ Liquid Glycerine (you can get this at your Pharmacy)

2 OZ White Vinegar

FILL REST OF GALLON CONTAINER WITH WATER AND SHAKE TO MIX TOGETHER.

It keeps for quite awhile, what I do is just make up the base without the water. Then when I need to shampoo my dogs I just take an empty dish soap bottle and fill it a quarter of the way then fill the remainder with water.

For the Hemp oil I give my dogs a tablespoon once daily. I rotate between Hemp oil, flax oil and fish body oil I found one with borage oil in it. If you can afford it, Evening Primrose oil is great for dogs with skin conditions.

[EliNHunter]

It also could be a thyroid condition. Have you had his thyroid levels checked lately? Also, believe it or not, you're not supposed to bathe your dog often or just that will happen. I bathe mine maybe twice a year with lots of brushings inbetween to keep them healthy and fresh...

[FrontlinePs.10]

Thanks again guys.

I am in the process of switching foods, and I will also try your reccomendations, Athe. I will keep you posted on the results...

[Renee750il]

When you're switching to a high quality kibble, don't worry about doing the slow change over. Just go ahead and make the switch. If your pup has some loose stools you can feed a spoonful or two of canned pumpkin (not the spiced pie filling, just pumpkin) to firm things back up.

[FrontlinePs.10]

Thanks for the advice, Renee750il.