Shedding

[toyfoxterrierowner]

Thanks everyone.. I usually feed her Beneful dry dog food or mighty dog cans of beef... She is pretty healthy she was just at the vet...

[borzoimom]

Beneful is high in carbs, and low process protein. Its not bad for a commercial diet, but with the added grains and low protein, it is probably why the dog is not holding a coat. If you have to feed a kibble diet- and considering you feed less of the ones I am going to list- it actually costs you the same amount of money- Chicken Soup for dogs, Solid Gold, Bil Jac, Nutro lamb and rice... Here all 4 are available petsmart- not sure about your area. Change the diet, then wait 6 weeks. Keep in mind the first week the dog will shed more- the reason- the dead coat that is rejuvenating is dropping, in week 2 it will decrease and by week 4 totally normal.

[toyfoxterrierowner]

Thanks borzoimom.. Just wondering what do you feed your dogs? I hear a lot about making your own dog food at home, but I just don't know much about it.

[K9karen]

It's hard to keep a GSD from shedding, but I find brushing her quite often helps. I also add a tablespoon of EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) to her food and gone is the dandruff and dry skin and heavy shedding. *Sigh*. I indulged in an Electrolux vacuum cleaner!!!!! I figure shedding is the worst thing she does!

[borzoimom]

Thanks borzoimom.. Just wondering what do you feed your dogs? I hear a lot about making your own dog food at home, but I just don't know much about it.

I feed raw, and have for 19 years. I even tried this month putting them back on Bil Jac and Solid Gold. They did fine on it, but we went back to raw. ( The reason I changed them is that with a coming surgery, other people will be caring for them, and I was trying to make it easier on the care givers to feed). Most people that feed raw have medium to large dogs. I started raw after losing a shepherd to bloat, and never looked back. I have found that not only do my dogs do better on raw, but its also cheaper than any good food would be. It does however take planning. It does take time to let it warm up to room temp without defrosting in microwaves, or even hot water etc. Also- on raw diet, you can not flip back and forth from raw to kibble back to raw without a 14 hour fast. The reason is on a raw diet they eat certain types of bones, and the bones would usually clear the intestine fast- but if kibble is added, the kibble will slow this down, making potentially a dangerious situation. The only dry food I have found safe with a raw diet is Bil Jac. It turns to mush instantly, and desolves quicker.
Feeding raw takes committment. however to me- it has become habit. All my friends locally one by one have converted to raw, but the there are only two with small dogs- a pomerain, and cavaliers. I know what their receipes are. But this does take some consideration to do. I will say this- since I started feeding raw, not just my dogs, but others as well that feed raw, we have found the dogs live longer, usually healther and seem to do better. We were told when HOttie was 2 he would not make 5. He is 9. I really do believe the balence of calcium and phorphrus has kept Hotties condition from deterioting to the point of losing him.
Even just a better digestable diet would do the trick for you. With a better quality fat, and meats. Also remember the company that makes Beneful, the grains comes from rejects from their human cereal processing.. ...