What does she eat...?I have a 1 year old female - not fixed - sheltie that sheds all the time. I would like some info on what can be done to help us with this problem. Anything will help. She is brushed regularly as well...
Thanks...
Kibbles and Bits - WholesomeWhat does she eat...?
I suggest you take her off of it right away. Corn is the first ingredient, which is a no no. Corn is a major contributor to allergies and the coat. If you are interested, you can read more on the PMR diet. Or, you should think about switching her to a better quality kibble and add some fish oil to her food. Fish oil is rich in omega's which is good for the coat. Does she shed a lot?Kibbles and Bits - Wholesome
I am sorry but I do not know what PMR diet is. Can you give me some help on that?I suggest you take her off of it right away. Corn is the first ingredient, which is a no no. Corn is a major contributor to allergies and the coat. If you are interested, you can read more on the PMR diet. Or, you should think about switching her to a better quality kibble and add some fish oil to her food. Fish oil is rich in omega's which is good for the coat. Does she shed a lot?
I am sorry but I do not know what PMR diet is. Can you give me some help on that?
What dog food would be a good one to change her to?
Yes, she sheds a lot. And while I am at it, I wash her with Adams flea and tick shampoo. Could that also contribute to the shedding?
Bathing with a flea and tick shampoo regularly is harsh on the coat and skin. Yes, I think this could also contribute to the shedding. But, I think the food she's on now is the major contributor. How often do you bathe her?
Thanks for the file and for the info. This will help me find a better dogfood that I will be picking up either tonight or in the morning.K&B is one of the worst things you could be feeding really. Pretty much anything that can be found at grocery store is basically garbage.
If you want to learn more about nutrition, please read the following:
4shared.com - document sharing - download Complete and Final.doc
I personally reccomend a grain free, meat based food, whether you chose to feed kibble, raw, or homecooked. Its difficult for dogs to digest grains and they end up pooping out majority of the food you give them.
Most people here that feed meat based foods can vouch for the fact that they feed 1/2 the ammount or less of grocery store brands and their dogs have very small/firm poops.
Keep in mind that "premium" foods may initially seem costly, but they are generally nutrient dense, meaning your dog will be eating less and saving you money in the long run ( not to mention vet bills).
If youre looking for a decent quality, but not too expensive kibble, check out Taste of the Wild. A lot of people that have dogs with allergies, skin/coat issues swear by it.
Taste of the Wild : Home
Thank you.. I had a sheltie years ago but I just got this one a year agao. I have bouts with cancer, clean right now and know the benifits of have a dog as a healing process...I'm glad youre willing to learn and help your dog on a path to a better life, we need more pet owners like you!
Make sure to transition slowly, you can add some plain yogurt to the food to help with digestion.
When you find the new food you're going to use, start the transition by mixing 25% of the new food with 75% of the K&B. Do this for a couple of days, and then up it to a 50/50 mix for a few day before going to 75% new food, 25% K&B... and then of course onto taking the K&B out of the diet entirely.I understand the transition, but can you give some sort of example, please...
Bathing a dog every 2 weeks can strip the coat of it's natural oils. If she gets dirty and stinks by 2 weeks, then bathe her. If not, I wouldn't bathe too often. I bathe Aspen every 7-8 months. He's a very clean dog and HARDLY gets dirty and doesn't smell (one of the advantages of a PMR diet). His coat has a nice glossy sheen to it. Like Unosmom, I also use Earthbath. I use the Oatmeal and Aloe shampoo. It's very gentle on the coat and skin. It leaves his coat really soft. Like I used conditioner, but didn't. And the good thing about it is that it doesn't have that strong perfume smell that some shampoos have. What does Aspirin do for the coat?She is bathed about every 2 weeks... Is there a better less harsher shampoo? I used to live in Indiana and the vet made her own, it smelled like mint, was easy on the coat and had asprin in it as well.. really good shampoo to bad I moved and the vet retired..