Coat Condition

[jezza]

Join our free community today.

Connect with other like-minded dog lovers!

Login or Register

Hi all,

I'd like a bit of advice from all you whippet owners on how to improve the condition of my dogs coats. I know its something wrong with the way I feed them but I cant figure out what.

They get Natures menu and Red Mills (tracker) or Bakers for breakfast and raw tripe or beef and tripe for tea.

As extras they get pigs ears, tripe sticks or those dog sausages from Pets at Home (which they love!!!).

Once or twice a week they get a tin of mackeral, sardines or tuna.

Anyway, problem is, their fur keeps dropping out. Not badly with Lenny, but Molly has bald patches. It seems to have got worse since we had Molly spayed and I've read there could be a link? If so will a better diet/supplements improve this?

I've been looking on the Dorwest(?) website but am a bit baffled to be honest, so any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Jez

 

[jezza]

Also meant to ask, is it good to feed raw eggs?

If so how many and how often, and is there anything I need to be aware of eg. bacteria nasties etc?

 

[Janimal]

The Dorwest Site is very good jezza, I order from there :thumbsup: I use wheatgerm oil in the dogs food, also givev them garlic tablets but have been told Evening Primrose Oil is also very good for the coat.

I give mine Cod Liver oil tablets(not quite as often now maybe once or twice a week) and also feed sardines now and then, or mackerel in oil. I also give mine raw eggs beaten maybe once or twice a week, with no ill effects. :thumbsup:

 

[lalena]

i personally use a spoon of codliver oil a day, but i've been told wheatgerm oil is very good too, plus it smells better!

as for raw eggs, my old gsd used to get one a day with his breakfast for his coat. dogs dont react the same as us to germs with regards to food poisoning, but for youngpups who havent got such a well developed immune system better safe than sorry :luck: :luck:

 

[belle]

Hi all,
I'd like a bit of advice from all you whippet owners on how to improve the condition of my dogs coats. I know its something wrong with the way I feed them but I cant figure out what.

They get Natures menu and Red Mills (tracker) or Bakers for breakfast and raw tripe or beef and tripe for tea.

As extras they get pigs ears, tripe sticks or those dog sausages from Pets at Home (which they love!!!).

Once or twice a week they get a tin of mackeral, sardines or tuna.

Anyway, problem is, their fur keeps dropping out. Not badly with Lenny, but Molly has bald patches. It seems to have got worse since we had Molly spayed and I've read there could be a link? If so will a better diet/supplements improve this?

I've been looking on the Dorwest(?) website but am a bit baffled to be honest, so any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Jez

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

Hi there,

Been feeding Nutro Lamb and Rice complete to my two for just 2wks and their coats are gleaming. This dogfood is specifically made for coat condition, so you could try it.

Cheers,

Belle )

 

[alfyn]

Personally,i think you've got a bit of an unbalanced diet there which is causing the coat problem & it's certainly not good to feed 2 different types of complete feed.

Stick with the tripe & beef,add veggies & a natural terrier biscuit(Laughing dog).And for supplements give wheatgerm &/or evening primrose oil & seaweed & you'll son see a big difference! Oh,& you could throw in the occasional raw chicken wing! :thumbsup:

 

[*Lesley*]

Molly's could be hormonal both my girls got a bald spot on their tails after they had had a season which I was told was hormonal and it went away after that.

I give mine scrambled egg but I dont know about raw eggs sorry, it may be with them having complete foods and raw meat as there will be a lot of protein in that,

I'm not sure if you mean natures diet +redmills or natures diet or redmills if its both together you dont really need both because there is everything in redmills already.

Also it might be worth trying to cut one thing out for a little while and narrow it down by elimination as you seem to have a lot of variation, but i'm not sure,just trying to give some suggestion, I found when I gave mine chicken wings for any length of time they would get dandruff so i just give them now and then, do you give them wings?

I dont think the treats you are giving would cause it as long as they are not getting loads along with their feeds.

Hope it all works out :thumbsup:

 

[jezza]

Personally,i think you've got a bit of an unbalanced diet there which is causing the coat problem & it's certainly not good to feed 2 different types of complete feed.Stick with the tripe & beef,add veggies & a natural terrier biscuit(Laughing dog).And for supplements give wheatgerm &/or evening primrose oil & seaweed & you'll son see a big difference! Oh,& you could throw in the occasional raw chicken wing! :thumbsup:

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

Thanks for all the replies

I'm only really feeding two different completes because I wasn't happy with the Bakers so I changed to Red Mills but I still have some Bakers left so I wanted to finish it. Perhaps I should stop being so stingy :b

I've been worried about veggies so I've been giving some of that raw complete food (with veg included) but I know thats probably not enough. What else can I give?

I have also heard about laughing dog mixer before but when I did a search I found two sites of the same name!! Can anyone send me a link to the right/best one?

 

[*Lesley*]

I give mine rice crispies for breakfast ( a bit unconventional I know but they love them and fit and well with lovely shiny coats)or scrambled egg with a bit of cheese in it and Minced chicken(from the pet shop) I put in veg and pasta or rice for tea+ pigs ears tripe stick ect

 

[jezza]

Molly's could be hormonal both my girls got a bald spot on their tails after they had had a season which I was told was hormonal and it went away after that.
I give mine scrambled egg but I dont know about raw eggs sorry, it may be with them having complete foods and raw meat as there will be a lot of protein in that,

I'm not sure if you mean natures diet +redmills or natures diet or redmills if its both together you dont really need both because there is everything in redmills already.

Also it might be worth trying to cut one thing out for a little while and narrow it down by elimination as you seem to have a lot of variation, but i'm not sure,just trying to give some suggestion, I found when I gave  mine chicken wings for any length of time they would get dandruff so i just give them now and then, do you give them wings?

I dont think the treats you are giving would cause it as long as they are not getting loads along with their feeds.

Hope it all works out :thumbsup:

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

I think it could be hormonal as she only got bald spots after she was spayed. I'll take a photo tomorrow and post it (she is in bed now :wub: ).

It is natures menu that I give them, not nature diet (when I gave them that they looked at me as if I was mad!! for some reason they really don't like it except for one flavour). I do mix it with a small amount of red mills as the bag said it could be mixed with meat as long as the weight fed was reduced (it is tracker not racer). I think I will try leaving that out for a bit as they're not that keen anyway.

Haven't tried the wings despite everyone on here raving about them. I know that they are on the whole safe to feed but I am an excessive worrier :unsure: and having read once that small shards of bone (even when fed raw) can stick in the gut, its really put me off. I'm still undecided on that one.

 

[*Lesley*]

Molly's could be hormonal both my girls got a bald spot on their tails after they had had a season which I was told was hormonal and it went away after that.
I give mine scrambled egg but I dont know about raw eggs sorry, it may be with them having complete foods and raw meat as there will be a lot of protein in that,

I'm not sure if you mean natures diet +redmills or natures diet or redmills if its both together you dont really need both because there is everything in redmills already.

Also it might be worth trying to cut one thing out for a little while and narrow it down by elimination as you seem to have a lot of variation, but i'm not sure,just trying to give some suggestion, I found when I gave  mine chicken wings for any length of time they would get dandruff so i just give them now and then, do you give them wings?

I dont think the treats you are giving would cause it as long as they are not getting loads along with their feeds.

Hope it all works out :thumbsup:

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

I think it could be hormonal as she only got bald spots after she was spayed. I'll take a photo tomorrow and post it (she is in bed now :wub: ).

It is natures menu that I give them, not nature diet (when I gave them that they looked at me as if I was mad!! for some reason they really don't like it except for one flavour). I do mix it with a small amount of red mills as the bag said it could be mixed with meat as long as the weight fed was reduced (it is tracker not racer). I think I will try leaving that out for a bit as they're not that keen anyway.

Haven't tried the wings despite everyone on here raving about them. I know that they are on the whole safe to feed but I am an excessive worrier :unsure: and having read once that small shards of bone (even when fed raw) can stick in the gut, its really put me off. I'm still undecided on that one.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

With mine the bald spots were very weird they just appeared and looked as though they had singed there hair of in one spot (w00t) I hope she is feeling ok after her op :huggles:

 

[Seraphina]

I believe that more variety of food you give to your dog the better chance is he is getting everything he needs, Of-course, EVERY manufacturer of dog food will tell you that theirs is complete and you should give nothing else. Naturally, if you give something else you get less of their product... :- "

When I lived in the country and had chooks and ducks, my dogs used to just help themselves to the eggs. They very carefully punctured it with their canine and suck out the whole contents. The egg white is not good for dogs, so i tried to stop them, but they were too clever and the chooks obligingly laid some eggs for them in the bushes. Basically i had no chance. They certainly had beautiful coats.

You can try to give the yolk couple of time a week, also little bit of wheat germ or wheat germ oil, but careful with fish oils.

However, if your dog's coat is dry I would first worm her, some worming products do not work properly anymore. I use Drontal, always weigh the dog carefully beforehand and use the maximum dose.

But I do think the people who suggested it may be hormonal are probably right. Some bitches coats do go weird after they are spayed; I remember saluki who looked as an afghan cross (w00t) after her op :luck:

Lida

 

[jezza]

Molly's could be hormonal both my girls got a bald spot on their tails after they had had a season which I was told was hormonal and it went away after that.
I give mine scrambled egg but I dont know about raw eggs sorry, it may be with them having complete foods and raw meat as there will be a lot of protein in that,

I'm not sure if you mean natures diet +redmills or natures diet or redmills if its both together you dont really need both because there is everything in redmills already.

Also it might be worth trying to cut one thing out for a little while and narrow it down by elimination as you seem to have a lot of variation, but i'm not sure,just trying to give some suggestion, I found when I gave  mine chicken wings for any length of time they would get dandruff so i just give them now and then, do you give them wings?

I dont think the treats you are giving would cause it as long as they are not getting loads along with their feeds.

Hope it all works out :thumbsup:

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

I think it could be hormonal as she only got bald spots after she was spayed. I'll take a photo tomorrow and post it (she is in bed now :wub: ).

It is natures menu that I give them, not nature diet (when I gave them that they looked at me as if I was mad!! for some reason they really don't like it except for one flavour). I do mix it with a small amount of red mills as the bag said it could be mixed with meat as long as the weight fed was reduced (it is tracker not racer). I think I will try leaving that out for a bit as they're not that keen anyway.

Haven't tried the wings despite everyone on here raving about them. I know that they are on the whole safe to feed but I am an excessive worrier :unsure: and having read once that small shards of bone (even when fed raw) can stick in the gut, its really put me off. I'm still undecided on that one.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

With mine the bald spots were very weird they just appeared and looked as though they had singed there hair of in one spot (w00t) I hope she is feeling ok after her op :huggles:

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

Oh she was fine after her op, it was done quite a while ago now but I've only just read recently about a possible link between the op and coats condition so thats why I mentioned it. You wuldn't have guessed she'd just had a big op if you'd have seen her the next day (w00t) what a little devil she was. She acts all mature now she has a younger 'brother'

I'm gonna post a picture tomorrow, she has bald patches on her thighs and no fur on her tunny at all. She gets the most horrendous (sp) rash when she's been running in wet grass, really puts you off your lunch

 

[belle]

Molly's could be hormonal both my girls got a bald spot on their tails after they had had a season which I was told was hormonal and it went away after that.
I give mine scrambled egg but I dont know about raw eggs sorry, it may be with them having complete foods and raw meat as there will be a lot of protein in that,

I'm not sure if you mean natures diet +redmills or natures diet or redmills if its both together you dont really need both because there is everything in redmills already.

Also it might be worth trying to cut one thing out for a little while and narrow it down by elimination as you seem to have a lot of variation, but i'm not sure,just trying to give some suggestion, I found when I gave  mine chicken wings for any length of time they would get dandruff so i just give them now and then, do you give them wings?

I dont think the treats you are giving would cause it as long as they are not getting loads along with their feeds.

Hope it all works out :thumbsup:

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

I think it could be hormonal as she only got bald spots after she was spayed. I'll take a photo tomorrow and post it (she is in bed now :wub: ).

It is natures menu that I give them, not nature diet (when I gave them that they looked at me as if I was mad!! for some reason they really don't like it except for one flavour). I do mix it with a small amount of red mills as the bag said it could be mixed with meat as long as the weight fed was reduced (it is tracker not racer). I think I will try leaving that out for a bit as they're not that keen anyway.

Haven't tried the wings despite everyone on here raving about them. I know that they are on the whole safe to feed but I am an excessive worrier :unsure: and having read once that small shards of bone (even when fed raw) can stick in the gut, its really put me off. I'm still undecided on that one.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

With mine the bald spots were very weird they just appeared and looked as though they had singed there hair of in one spot (w00t) I hope she is feeling ok after her op :huggles:

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

Oh she was fine after her op, it was done quite a while ago now but I've only just read recently about a possible link between the op and coats condition so thats why I mentioned it. You wuldn't have guessed she'd just had a big op if you'd have seen her the next day (w00t) what a little devil she was. She acts all mature now she has a younger 'brother'

I'm gonna post a picture tomorrow, she has bald patches on her thighs and no fur on her tunny at all. She gets the most horrendous (sp) rash when she's been running in wet grass, really puts you off your lunch

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

Do you have a cat? One of my dogs had bald thighs every so often and I twigged it was an allergy to cat fleas.

Hope you find an answer :unsure:

 

[shane]

Mine have fish, tuna /sardines and have soft silky coats from the fish oils. )

 

[*Lesley*]

A few months ago i put a thread on because Callie has a bald belly although her sister Sienna has a really hairy belly, although she had treatment from the vet she still has a bald belly it doesn't cause her any problems though, I think it's just one of those strange whippet thing :wacko:

Sienna always gets a rash on her chest when she's been out running in the grass which goes away after a bit.

I've put on a couple of links you might find useful one from what the vet did for me with callie and one from Janimal which she put on recentley about rashes

http://www.k9community.co.uk/forums/index....wtopic=8081&hl=

http://www.k9community.co.uk/forums/index....showtopic=14328

 

[Seraphina]

Hope it all works out :thumbsup:

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

Oh she was fine after her op, it was done quite a while ago now but I've only just read recently about a possible link between the op and coats condition so thats why I mentioned it. You wuldn't have guessed she'd just had a big op if you'd have seen her the next day (w00t) what a little devil she was. She acts all mature now she has a younger 'brother'

I'm gonna post a picture tomorrow, she has bald patches on her thighs and no fur on her tunny at all. She gets the most horrendous (sp) rash when she's been running in wet grass, really puts you off your lunch

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

The hormonal changes may take sometime to become obvious.

Lida

 

[alfyn]

Here's the link for laughing dog

http://www.ld7.co.uk/

 

[~JO~]

The point of a complete food is that it is completely balanced when you start adding other food it unbalances it! I know plenty of people that do it - but mixing complete with fresh food is really not a great idea. In fact there even seems to be some sort of correlation between bloat and the dogs eating a mix of the two.

If you have to do it feed a plain complete meal for one meal and fresh for the other.

People often want to add food to complete because it looks so boring.

Anyway your girls problem definitely sounds hormonal, the best thing for her is a very high grade Evening Primrose Oil, it helps balance hormones and I always recommend it for bitches that have been spayed or have just had a season, it is also excellent for growing coat and has the added bonus it makes it very shiny and lustrous.

If I was you I would drop the complete (but thats just me!!) if you have to keep her on it just feed her a meal of it in the morning, feed fresh in the evening with evening primrose oil on it and kelp seaweed (for natural minerals) keep up the sardines etc a couple of times a week and that should help.

Good luck

 

[Karen]

I wont recommend you feed anything else because there are too many conflicting opinions already.

To me your dogs diet is FAR too high in protien which leads to a heating of the blood which in turn leads to coat loss. More is definately not better. See how much protien is in the pigs ears and all the snacks, far too much would be my guess.

If I were you, if your dogs are not doing a lot of work, ie racing or herding sheep, I would make sure thay had around 21% protien in there food. Your complete food will have this written on the bag and if your snacks are in bags look at those also for the protien levels. High protien levels can also make your Whippet excitable and restless as its body tries to burn them off.

Best of luck, hope you manage to sort things out.