picadilsnewfs
New member
Our 14 month old just hasn't much coat to speak of. And "hot spots" galore. Always scratching. She was on Nutro and now Pedigree. Could this be the problem?
food, maybe?
- Thread starter picadilsnewfs
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ardeagold
New member
Perhaps you need to switch her to a food with a single protein source and no wheat corn or soy...or other chemical additives.
The Nutro is a better food than Pedigree (which is filled with icky stuff), but since neither works for her, maybe you need to look into eliminating most known allergens in her diet (specifically wheat, corn and soy).
Some foods that have a single protein source are made by companies like Eagle Pack Holistic, Timberwolf Organic, Wellness, etc. There are threads about feeding in the food section.
They're not inexpensive, but they're a lot less than Vet bills for years while you're trying to control your girl's problems. And...she'll be healthier and happier too!! That's the most important thing.
You might want to try a raw diet....and you can find info on that as well. Plus many here will be able to help you.
You may also want to start her on some Omega 3's. We use Timberwolf Organics Pharmaceutical Grade Salmon oil. But there's another really good liquid salmon oil that others use too. (I just can't remember the name of it).
Good luck with your girl. I think that perhaps a change in diet, and some good supplements for her coat could really help. Remember, tho...it can take a month or more to see a real difference. The toxins have to get out of her system first.
PS...when you switch her to a better food, don't forget...no wheat corn or soy in her treats either. No bread, no pretzels, no pizza crust, nothing like that at all. Wellness makes great wheat corn and soy free treats. So do other companies.
Also...to find these foods, you need to go to a small pet supply store and ask for them. PetSmart doesn't usually carry them.
[ 02-20-2007, 11:24 PM: Message edited by: Ardeagold ]
The Nutro is a better food than Pedigree (which is filled with icky stuff), but since neither works for her, maybe you need to look into eliminating most known allergens in her diet (specifically wheat, corn and soy).
Some foods that have a single protein source are made by companies like Eagle Pack Holistic, Timberwolf Organic, Wellness, etc. There are threads about feeding in the food section.
They're not inexpensive, but they're a lot less than Vet bills for years while you're trying to control your girl's problems. And...she'll be healthier and happier too!! That's the most important thing.
You might want to try a raw diet....and you can find info on that as well. Plus many here will be able to help you.
You may also want to start her on some Omega 3's. We use Timberwolf Organics Pharmaceutical Grade Salmon oil. But there's another really good liquid salmon oil that others use too. (I just can't remember the name of it).
Good luck with your girl. I think that perhaps a change in diet, and some good supplements for her coat could really help. Remember, tho...it can take a month or more to see a real difference. The toxins have to get out of her system first.
PS...when you switch her to a better food, don't forget...no wheat corn or soy in her treats either. No bread, no pretzels, no pizza crust, nothing like that at all. Wellness makes great wheat corn and soy free treats. So do other companies.
Also...to find these foods, you need to go to a small pet supply store and ask for them. PetSmart doesn't usually carry them.
[ 02-20-2007, 11:24 PM: Message edited by: Ardeagold ]
charlieinnj
New member
My first thought would be food related but could it possibly be her thyroid?
See this link:
http://www.newf.net/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=10;t=001256
See this link:
http://www.newf.net/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=10;t=001256
ardeagold
New member
At the barest minimum, a baseline Thyroid test should be done on her (full panel sent out to Dr Jean Dodds or Michigan State).
You might have to demand that the test be run and sent out. For some reason, Vets don't seem to think of the thyroid at first. They'll often disagree and say "no". But, it doesn't hurt to have it done anyway. So, if you want to be absolutely sure, before trying a zillion things that might not work, INSIST!!
If it comes back normal, you'll have that test on file to refer to in the future should you ever need to retest (which some do annually anyway).
Once you know it is, or isn't, the thyroid, you can go from there!!
You might have to demand that the test be run and sent out. For some reason, Vets don't seem to think of the thyroid at first. They'll often disagree and say "no". But, it doesn't hurt to have it done anyway. So, if you want to be absolutely sure, before trying a zillion things that might not work, INSIST!!
If it comes back normal, you'll have that test on file to refer to in the future should you ever need to retest (which some do annually anyway).
Once you know it is, or isn't, the thyroid, you can go from there!!
Lisa@Caeles Hills
New member
Had same problem with mine and switched him to Canidae and put him on a suppliment "Nu Pro".
Wow! What a difference! Canidae has no corn or wheat and that took care of the problem for me. Am really impressed with it and the dogs love it. It is about 35.00 for a 40# bag which is well worth it. Mine shows so I also put him on a coat suppliment called INFLIGHT (available on the internet) and that has really helped him grow a great coat also.
Wow! What a difference! Canidae has no corn or wheat and that took care of the problem for me. Am really impressed with it and the dogs love it. It is about 35.00 for a 40# bag which is well worth it. Mine shows so I also put him on a coat suppliment called INFLIGHT (available on the internet) and that has really helped him grow a great coat also.
ardeagold
New member
We used the same food and supplement for a while. Until I read the label on the Nupro. It has brewer's yeast too, and I wanted to do away with yeast of any type.
So I switched the Nupro to a different supplement... Wholistic Canine Complete Joint Mobility. I like the ingredients better than Nupro, plus the fact that it's organic is even better!
http://www.thewholisticpet.com/moreinfo.cfm?Product_ID=600&CFID=14545603&CFTOKEN=35956770
We also tried the Inflight Coat Formula. I couldn't get ours to eat it!! I know many dogs love it, but Mira, the one I bought it for, will not touch it.
So I switched the Nupro to a different supplement... Wholistic Canine Complete Joint Mobility. I like the ingredients better than Nupro, plus the fact that it's organic is even better!
http://www.thewholisticpet.com/moreinfo.cfm?Product_ID=600&CFID=14545603&CFTOKEN=35956770
We also tried the Inflight Coat Formula. I couldn't get ours to eat it!! I know many dogs love it, but Mira, the one I bought it for, will not touch it.