Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2009 7:03 pm Post subject: Itchy dog
Megan the two year old lab is constantly scratching herself. I have no worries about fleas etc as both dogs are treated regularly with Frontline, Toffee doesn't scratch at all and I have not seen (or felt!) any evidence of the blighters).
Meg's coat seems to be slightly oily and when groomed a bit scurfy. Otherwise she is a very happy and healthy two year old girl. Lloyd thinks it may be anxiety related but I don't think so.
I'm wondering if it may be diet related. They are both fed dry dog food (no particular make) with tinned sardines (for Toff's rheumatics and Meg gets a dollop as well so she doesn't feel left out), leftover veg, gravy etc.
I have read and experienced (our lurcher Queenie) that some brands of dried dog food can cause this, my BIL's lab had terrible sores and itching. He kept slapping creams on while continuing to feed the cheapest food. Eventually he decided to try a better quality food, result, within 2 weeks the improvement was marked.
Any scurfiness/itching tends to be internal so I'd look at the quality of the food. Some of the stuff that gets put in dried food is disgusting, look at the ingredient list and check that there is actually some "real" meat in there. Our dogs all do better when they're getting raw meat, it could be frozen if Lloyd goes hunting. Our JR caught a rabbit and had the head gulped down in about 30 seconds flat. Chicken feet and giblets (poultry meat suppliers) are usually given away free and we feed them frozen. If you don't want to go down the raw meat route I'd definitely look for a decent quality dried food and stick with the same one if her coat clears up. Hope this helps.
you could also try putting powdered sulfur in her food...we are told by a homeopathic friend of ours that sulfur is good for skin ailments...works for the horses...
Thanks for the replies. I'm going to do a bit of research and see if I can source a good quality food. Nanny can I buy sulfur from an animal feed place?
Not sure I can go with the whole raw food diet either Kathy - chicken claws at 6.30am.....
Also going to see if I can make up a skin conditioning rinse for her.
We did use Burns CP but it didn't agree with the collies. Along with what ever raw meat we can get we use Wainwrights from Pets at Home, easy to get and not outwith a modest budget!
How's she doing CP? We've managed to secure a supply of meat for ours so minimal biscuits now and what a difference. Coats are shinier and there's hardly any waste/poo, much easier to pick up with a poop bag!
and i should apologise as i never answered you either
i think mr nanny did get it from one of the feed merchants round here in a big tub for the horses but presumably you should be able to get smaller quantities...
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