Puppy has dandruff

Cottage Rose · Post by **Cottage Rose** » May 18, 2008 9:23 pm

Our 3 month old "Decker" Rat Terrier Shelby has dandruff. Her coat is shiny and silky but she has tiny white flakes over her back area. Maybe it just shows up better due to the black color there.
We feed her Purina ONE Puppy Formula which is
25% protein and 16% fat.
First 4 ingredients. are: lamb, corn gluten meal, oat meal and fish meal.
I've used premium brand dog foods (Eukanuba etc.) but when comparing the ings. and protein/fat content they are the same.
Is there a better dog food I could give her or should I just add some oil to her kibble?

LucyGoose · Post by **LucyGoose** » May 18, 2008 11:21 pm

Try better food. I have learned lots from a dog forum I am on and the people in the agility class we are in, feed quality foods....Purina is ick.....

....Eukanuba is not premium either. I have Willie on the Innova Evo Red Meat, (small bites) He has been on the Solid Gold just a wee bit, also....I change with each bag...(which takes a while at 1/2 cup-3/4 cup a day) I am not sure about the puppy formula's as I do not have a pup anymore.....but just read.....There is way, way better that what you are feeding.....I can tell with Willie in his coat....and less poop, too.....Just read on some of these foods......

Good Luck!

http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/
Make sure you see the index at the bottom left.....there you will find every food on the planet....

http://www.dogforums.com/
Go to the dog food forum

caliloo · Post by **caliloo** » May 19, 2008 2:40 am

Innova is certainly one of the best foods on the market. I tried to switch Diva to it - and she wouldn't eat it! I tried mixing it into her previous food, adding a tiny bit of canned... it didn't matter. A dog food is only as good as what goes into the dog - if the dog won't eat it, it doesn't matter how good it is! Also - I have heard from a LOT of people that Innova will make most dogs hyper. LG have you noticed anything like that with Willie?

Diva just recently started developing flakies, so I am still trying to find a brand of food that works for her, that she will eat. When I make some progress, I will let you know what we end up with. I wouldn't add cooking oil to the dogs food though - that really won't do much except give them the runs.

Take a look at the link, it may help you determine which foods to try.

http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/

Alexa

LucyGoose · Post by **LucyGoose** » May 19, 2008 7:26 am

caliloo wrote: Also - I have heard from a LOT of people that Innova will make most dogs hyper. LG have you noticed anything like that with Willie?

.......Nope, never heard that or read that.....

......Well, I will let ya know after this bag.....because when it's gone, I am going to be slowy switching over to the Solid Gold Hund-N-Flocken for this bag....that is a good question, though. Just great as this boy doesn't need more hyperness....

caliloo wrote:Take a look at the link, it may help you determine which foods to try.

http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/

Alexa

Did I not post the same link?? ...

..

I will add, that you could start giving him something like Lipiderm or something for dogs that will give him the Omega Fatty Acids......Look at the pet stores....

wishiwere · Post by **wishiwere** » May 19, 2008 8:04 am

Ask your vet about allergies. I have one cat that has exema from foods, and such and we had to cut out corn and such from her diet. I can't remember now, but there were 3 or 4 things he said to watch for in the food. She's on the wellness program and it's great for her.

Hyper huh? Hey LG? I don't think it's his food, he just takes after his mother!

LucyGoose · Post by **LucyGoose** » May 19, 2008 8:14 am

wishiwere wrote:Ask your vet about allergies. I have one cat that has exema from foods, and such and we had to cut out corn and such from her diet. I can't remember now, but there were 3 or 4 things he said to watch for in the food. She's on the wellness program and it's great for her.

Hyper huh? Hey LG? I don't think it's his food, he just takes after his mother!

Yep Jane.......from what I have read, the allergies usually come with feeding the low grade foods.....so, your right.....that forum link I posted is so full of information....it moves soooo fast....

Missy......You *could* say he *does* take after his mother......He is beautiful!!

wishiwere · Post by **wishiwere** » May 19, 2008 8:25 am

I could say that? Okay..

The little hairy man, with huge ears and hyper attentive attitude takes after his mommy, he's beautiful as she is too

Is that good? Did I do good? Huh? Did I? Huh?

LucyGoose · Post by **LucyGoose** » May 19, 2008 8:29 am

Excellently done, Jane!!

Cottage Rose · Post by **Cottage Rose** » May 19, 2008 8:45 am

Thanks much for the info and links. I guess I wasn't aware there was grain free dog foods out there but I would be concerned about making her more hyper since shes already a high energy breed. We got her for rat patrol on the farm and hunting with hubby. Do these all meat brands make puppy formulas?

Cottage Rose · Post by **Cottage Rose** » May 19, 2008 8:46 am

By the way...theres so many brands to choose from, which seems to be the most popular?

LucyGoose · Post by **LucyGoose** » May 19, 2008 9:34 am

I had not heard of that hyper thingy before Alexa mentioned it......I guess I should ask on the dog forum.....Like I said, I can not tell any difference from using the Solid Gold, to the Innova EVO....(He is on that now, but just has maybe a quarter of a bag left)....then I will be mixing the Solid Gold Hund-N-Flocken soon to switch.......they say it's good to switch here and there......instead of one food for 15 years....so that is what *I* am doing....not that, that is what *YOU* should do......like I said, take your time, and read that forum......join it and ask them yourself......there is one guy there that swears by the low grade food and some of what her says makes some since......Just do what your dog does best on.....trial and error.....Willie seems to be doing lots better on the EVO and he did good on the Solid Gold......My vet, had me put him on....sheesh......I can't think of it......but he had itchy skin too.....they had me spray this good smelling oil stuff and it did help.....then I found out about the better foods and he is lots better......AND now that I have talked all around, seems lots already feed like the Solid Gold and such. Now I just ask people what are you feeding your dogs....

kHT · Post by **kHT** » May 19, 2008 9:51 am

I have to agree with Goose, since we started feeding Mitzy Solid Gold wee bites she doesn't itch!! I had DH check to see what they feed the dogs with the badges and that is also what they are fed. Our Vet said it was allergies, I'm sure it was the food.

Thanks Goose for the education on the SG!!!

Cottage Rose · Post by **Cottage Rose** » May 19, 2008 10:12 am

I've been reading all morning and one reoccurring theme is the premium foods give a lot of dogs diarreah....not from switching too fast but apparently because of the high meat content.

LucyGoose · Post by **LucyGoose** » May 19, 2008 10:23 am

You won't know till you try it.....Willie sometimes have a soft poop, but he is a dog, like yours, with high energy. I do agility and he get all grain free treats, and string cheese cut teeny tiny for class.....He LOVES the dehydrated lamb lung.....

.......so, you decide.....dry flaky skin, poops 40 times a day, or nice coat, poops maybe twice a day. I am no expert, but don't let that scare ya into trying a new food.....Solid Gold is sold at the Petco's.....Pet Smart has all junk (I am pretty sure) and then we have a store here called Pet Supplies Plus that have lots of quality foods.....

Gotta run.......AGILITY is today at 10am....

Cottage Rose · Post by **Cottage Rose** » May 19, 2008 1:38 pm

I planned on trying the better dog food. Just hope there not too much trial & error.
I may very well have to do agility with this dynamo.
Shes VERY intelligent and will need something to channel that into.

Spider · Post by **Spider** » May 19, 2008 3:36 pm

LG, you said Willy takes after mom in beauty with long hair and such....Do you really have all that hair on/in your ears??

wishiwere · Post by **wishiwere** » May 19, 2008 4:00 pm

Spidey, I like you!

LucyGoose · Post by **LucyGoose** » May 19, 2008 5:39 pm

caliloo · Post by **caliloo** » May 19, 2008 6:19 pm

Sorry Goose

- I missed your link to the dog food analysis.... must have been before my 2nd cup - many apologies!

And yes dog owners quite often look like their dogs so it is no surprise to me that the Goose would have a gorgeous dog!

Alexa

kHT · Post by **kHT** » May 19, 2008 8:41 pm

Cottage Rose, we tried the Wolf for older dogs and Mitzy turned her nose up. We mixed it with Wee bites and she would dig out what she wanted. NO, loose stools here, she is just picky!!