Bad Dander

Joined
Feb 21, 2005
Messages
7
Likes
0
Points
0
#1
I adopted a new 2 year old brown lab. When we received him he had the shiniest coat and hardly shed at all. He coat now is dull and his skin is very dry and he is shedding a lot. He seems to be in very good condition and he eats the same food as when he was at the kennel.
 

Ash47

Taco Dog
Joined
Jan 20, 2005
Messages
3,069
Likes
0
Points
36
Location
Deep South
#2
May just be skin allergies. You could just get a medicated shampoo like Aloe and Honey. Or you could try some Malaseb. It does great on flaky dried up skin. Clears it right up.
 
Joined
Feb 21, 2005
Messages
7
Likes
0
Points
0
#6
He eats medi-cal. He has been on this food since adulthood. I buy it from the same breeder he came from.

A friend suggested putting olive oil or sardines in his food. Where would I find Malaseb.

Would the shedding be related to the dry skin?

Thanks for the help.

LBD
 
Joined
Dec 20, 2003
Messages
94,266
Likes
3
Points
36
Location
Where the selas blooms
#7
Hmmm. . . not familiar with either Medi-cal or Malaseb. If he's two years old he's really just fully becoming a mature adult.

Rather than saying the shedding was related to the dry skin, I'd say the shedding AND the dry skin may have the same cause. Not being familiar at all with the food he's been eating, I really can't say with any real surety, but I usually suspect either stress or a fundamental dietary lack, such as usable protein, when I see that kind of symptoms and there's nothing physiologically wrong like an infection, worms or a disease. You have to rule out those three things though.
 

GSDFan05

New Member
Joined
May 15, 2005
Messages
187
Likes
0
Points
0
#8
To answer your question about Malaseb, ask your vet about it. I work for a vet clinic and we use it and sell it also, I have never looked for it in a store, but if your vet doesn't sell it he/she should at least know where you can buy some. It does great for dogs with skin problems.

It does sound like it could be diet or stress related, though. How much time does the dog spend inside/outside? How long was he with you before you started to notice the severe dander?
 

Ash47

Taco Dog
Joined
Jan 20, 2005
Messages
3,069
Likes
0
Points
36
Location
Deep South
#9
Sorry it took me so long to answer your question, but GSD answered it for me! Your vet should have some Malaseb. The skin problems begin healing soon after we use it. But there could be some underlying problems also.
 

Athe

New Member
Joined
May 31, 2005
Messages
384
Likes
0
Points
0
Age
55
Location
Canada
#10
It may be time for a diet change. I fed Medi-cal dog food to my dogs in the past, I was horrified at the ingredients when I later learned how to really read them :eek:
You might want to start on a good quality dog food which has good quality protein sources. There should also be more than one protein source and a grain should never be the number one ingredient. I like foods like Natura, Wellness, Solid Gold etc. You could also give your dog a little variety in his diet. I find this is the mistake many people make, choosing one dog food brand and sticking with it for too long. You might want to add some good oils like Hemp seed oil (which has a perfect ratio of Omega 3,6 and 9 fatty acids). I like to add sardines and canned wild salmon to their food as well. You might even want to substitute a few meals with a home made diet, if you cook the meat then add some digestive enzymes and I would also add probiotics for gut health.
Also make sure you are brushing your dogs coat and are distributing the oils throughout the coat. I have seen dogs get dander as well after a bad bath where the person did not get all the shampoo out.
My Rottweiler has almost the same coat type as a Lab. She gets dander during the changing seasons when her coat is blowing out. Make sure you are brushing your dog to get all the old coat out, pick up a shedding blade. I also found that the winter zapped a lot of moisture out of her coat, then come nicer weather it some times gets a tad bit more oily.

Of course, the other advise you received is good. You may want to have a vet look your dog over just in case it is a medical reason. ;)
 

Members online

Top