how can i stop my labrador from malting?

Question

,saffy, leaves hair all over the house. She has a diet of tinned meat and biscuits, cannot change this as she has a weight problem. The vets did not have an answer and neither did the groomers. Tried all the usual lotions, potions, vitamins etc but nothing has helped. its driving me nuts!

Answer 1

Right now, every dog that does shed is "blowing a coat" (all the extra winter undercoat is being shed). Messy as it is, it's just something you have to deal with. I have Shepherds (notoriously big shedders) and have to vacuum my carpets daily this time of year because of the hair. It's just the season for shedding out the wazoo! If the hair's really driving you crazy, getting her shaved will help. If you don't want to cut her hair, invest in an Undercoat Rake. There's nothing like it in the world for getting that winter undercoat mess out! And I have 4 very bad shedders! One of mine has allergies, and that makes it worse. However, shedding isn't only caused by allergies. Do not treat your dog medically (even just benedril) for allergies, unless your vet has told you to do so.

Though diet is usually the cause of excessive shedding, if your dog is on prescription canned food (for her weight problem) there's nothing that can be changed. However, If she's just on store-bought low-calorie food, try switching to a more effective light food. Science Diet Light is the only standard (non-holistic) food that actually meets AAFCO (FDA for pets) "light" requirements. Unless you're feeding a natural food, that's probably a little better than what you're using now. Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance makes a great holistic light food as well. Better sources of protein and carbohydrates are metabolized better. The result is acually a healthier dog. This includes a healthier coat. If you're looking for a supplement for her either (A) "Missing Link" brand vitamin supplement, which also comes in a "plus joint health" formula, great for big dogs, or (B) one egg yolk, a clove of garlic, and a full dose (by weight) of brewer's yeast, or (C) Efavite HP (this is a high-potency multivitamin with skin and coat conditioning supplements in it. All my guys get it, and their coats are awesome!)

Anything else, feel free to e-mail! [e-mail]

Answer 2

Gee a labrador shedding, amazing. Labs are know for shedding they have a coat designed for cold water. So the have and overcoat and an undercoat. There are many products for removing the hair. My favorite kind of looks like an old lumberjacks saw. When you hold the handles it makes a metal loop that has sawlike teeth on one end. While outside, unless you want to vaccum forever, brush the dog with short quick strokes and be amazed at the hair. I had a shedding dog and by doing this the hair was not so bad.

Answer 3

That doesn't sound like a very good diet for any dog. It takes a couple months once you get her on a good food for it to show. Labs will shed a lot even with a good diet. Take her outside once a week and use a grooming rake and shedding blade until you can't get any more hair out. Then a rubber curry brush will spread the natural skin oils into the fur and make it nice and shiny. Take her to the groomers once every couple months so they can use their force dryers and moisturizing shampoos. Get a vaccuum with a hepa filter on it and use it every day. There's no easy way to fight the dog hair dilemna!

Answer 4

I guess you are asking about shedding? Dogs shed all the time just more amounts at certain times of the year when they are changing seasonal coats. Long as she's on a good diet and possibly vitamins, her coat should be looking ok, other than typical shedding. Try increasing the number of times you brush her to eliminate the extra hair, it'll perhaps keep your house cleaner and at the very least, she'll enjoy it. If you think she is shedding way too much or her coat is looking dull or patchy, take her to the vet and have him recommend a higher quality diet to manage her weight and her coat. There are many to choose from and one will meet her needs. Diet is very important to her overall health and basically, you get what you pay for.

Answer 5

Dog's don't molt only bird do. If she is loosing clumps of hair or shedding alot it could be several reasons. fleas, allergies, mange, fungus. I would have a fungal culture done and a skin scrap to see if there are bacteria there. and get a second opinion from another vet. If it is shedding dogs shed generally about 4 times a year. there is a supplement called optima 365 that you vet can get for you that you mix with there food that reduces shedding by about 30%.

Answer 6

Dogs do not Malt? If it is shedding and you want to help go to a good pet supply store and buy a forced are dryer. Wash the dog and go outside and use the forced air to blow out the loose hair.
It REALLY helps. You will also find then under horse supplies.

Answer 7

sorry, you just got a type of dog that sheds alot and its something you're going to have to deal with. I don't -think- you can easily shave a retriever either because of their coat type, and if you should I assume the groomer would have told you.

Why do you think that if the vet and groomer couldn't answer you, that some random people on yahoo would be able to give you a better answer?

Answer 8

try getting her some benedrill, she might have allergies like my dog which causes her to itch.and leave hair everywhere. if she is a dog with longer hair, cut it down in the summer time and bathe her at least 2 times a week. even if her hair is reasonably short, run the clippers over her once in a while. the shorter the hair the less likely you will find hair all over your house. maybe even try using the attachments to your vacuum cleaner to suck off the hair. if you can find an oatmeal bath treatment with menthol in it, give your dog an oatmeal bath which might help the allergies if she has them. there are many things that i did to keep my dog from shedding all over the house. keep her in the kitchen if it bothers you that bad. if you do find that benedrill doesn't work for the allergy treatment, go to your vet and ask them to give your dog a solu-cortef injection. all it is is a hydrocortisone sodium treatment that will keep the allergens from bothering her and will keep her hair from falling out

Answer 9

There's a glove you can buy that's great for shedding use it a couple time's a week on your dog and it really cut down on the hair problem.I have a yellow lab.You can get it at most pet store's
Teresa

Answer 10

By malting, do you mean shedding their winter fur? If so, all you can do is take a really nice brush with big teeth (we have one for a horse) and come all the fur out.