My choc lab has dry skin. How can I help him?

Question

Would cod liver oil really help or would I not see much of an improvement?

I need something that will work pretty quickly as he is itchy. It definatley isnt fleas as he is reguarly deflea'd with Frontline drops.

Thanks

Just to add, I dont bath my dog frequently, he doesnt need it and his coat is lovely and shiny as I brush him everyday at the moment as he is moulting.

I also feed him very good quality dry food. This dry skin has only appeared in the last 2 weeks or so. It has nothing to do with the flea drops I put on his fur and he doesnt have fleas. Thanks

Answer 1

My eldest Golden had dry itchy skin and the breeder recommended evening primrose oil capsules (not doggie one's - I use cheapy 500mg ones from Savers or Wilkinsons). She also recommended low fat yoghurt and/or small chunks of cheese.

Both my Goldens have this regularly and don't suffer from dry skin anymore!

So there must be some truth in it!!!

Answer 2

How often is regularly when you say you de-flea him with the drops? This could be irritating his skin. Cod liver oil will help, try putting a small capsule in his food every day, or mix some in with his food. What kind of food do you feed him? If it contains CORN or MAIZE (same thing) that can cause allergic reactions in dogs. My Doberman was on supposedly the best food, "Royal Canin" when we first got him and he had dandruff, I read the ingredients and they were no better than an average dog food. "Science diets" and lots of foods reccomended by vets are not good quality. I changed my dogs to a wholistic food, Burns wholistic food and the Dobermans dandruff went straight away. I recommend Burns, its really good, either that or find another wholistic food that uses all human grade ingredients. You could take him off dog food altogether (probably the best option if you feed him a balanced diet) and feed him small pieces of raw carrot, raw meat, raw chicken, etc.

The food really does make a huge difference, change his food.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

My belgian shepherd had a similar problem. My vet recommended the simplest short-term remedy... when bathing your dog, use a shampoo AND a moisturising conditioner, for his coat!

Cod liver oil will help him in the long-run and is an excellent idea, for his skin and coat, but the conditioner will start to help his skin, right away, to feel less dry and itchy.

NB: you also should not bathe your dog more than once every other week - as bathing him too frequently strips the natural oils, from his coat - drying out his skin.

Answer 4

it could still be teh fleas .
Frontline doesn't help with my dogs at all ( maybe 3 days and they are back)
You should have the dog checked by the vet to see if there is an underlying problem causing the dry skin.
I use oil from cooking I put any drained oil in a jar and keep it in teh freezer. I give my dog a 1/2 teaspoon in her food evry other day. it does help my dog

Answer 5

Purina do a special food for dogs with sensitivities but I cannot remember what it is called. I think it is one of the Bakers range. We used this for our dogs when one seemed to be sensitive to anything and everything and it really did help. Also, for supplements our breeder recommended cod liver oil but what we found was even better was the capsule that combined cod liver oil with evening primrose oil. The great thing with this is that both the dogs and I can take it!!

Answer 6

Maybe you have been bathing him too often and with the wrong shampoo. Best way to counteract this would be to gently massage some Nivea type cream into his skin. Other thing maybe a reaction to the Frontline (I had this with one dog who lost hair and became itchy). Get your vet to check your dog out soon to save the poor animal more agony

Answer 7

i would definately give the vitamin supplements a go but it wont be a quick fix most things for itchy skin can take a few days even a week to sort out and with a supplement u cant go wrong, there is alos shampoo and creams you can buy from pet stores made specifically for this problem which will cool the itching down.

Answer 8

He may have allergies.Does the food he is on have wheat.corn,soy in it? you may try switching his food.Wellness (brand) has a venison or duck with a carb.This helps for dogs with allergies.Many dogs are allergic to chicken also. Merrick (brand) is a very good dog food.There are many premeium brands.Go to the local pet supply store, they can help you.You can add a bit of canola oil to his food.Wash him in an oatmeal based shampoo.Don't shampoo him alot this can dry skin out.Good Luck

Answer 9

Take him to the vet as it could be an underlying preoblem.
My golden had skin problems and i give him salmon oil now and his skin got alot better.
Dont bathe your dog to often..maybe every 3 month, brush him daily and try the salmon oil supplement.

Answer 10

Your dog is lacking in his diet. His coat is saying he needs Omega 3 fish oil. I would suggest that you change your dog over to a homemade food diet, where his body will be getting everything that he needs, which is not possible with a commercail dog food, as none of them are any good. You will not only see a difference in your dog coat, but a difference in the entire dog.