Really Bad Dandruff

[Jada]

I have a 15week old male and I recently took him to the Pet Smart groom. Once I got him home I started smelling how fresh he was and I noticed lots and lots of dandruff. I never noticed this before. Could it be some kind of bad shampoo that the Pet Smart used. I am currently feeding him Nutro Large Puppy Breed (The one with the Rottie on the cover). So I dont think it is the food. I was told that this was the best food for rotties since it had no byproducts in it. I called the Pet Smart and they suggested that I beat an egg and mix it in the food to curb the dandruff. That sounded kinda weird I have never heard of giving a puppy a raw egg. Does anyone have any advice about this dandruff?

[alexav]

The flakes could very well be SOAP flakes. They might not have rinsed your pup very well. If he didn't have flaky skin before you had him groomed, it's unlikely that's what it is. Is he scratching too?

Also, please don't take your pup to a commercial grooming facility until he's older and has more immunity. He's exposed to way too many germs while he's there. Hopefully you were lucky this time but please don't chance it again.

[Troy]

Hi Jada...

Nutro is a marginal food... I would recommend supplementing your dog's diet with fish oil capsules.

My boy used to have flakes (especially in the winter)...since I switched foods and started giving him 2 fish oil capsules a day, the flaking has disappeared.

Go through our food archives and do a search for super premium foods like: Innova, Canidea, Solid Gold, Healthwise, Wellness...they are a much better choice in food than Nutro.

Good luck!

:)

[Jada]

No hes not scratching. heh I always thought Pet Smart was reputable establishment. I kinda figured that he would be safe there at any age. He got his distemper and worming in the same store. But I appreciate the advice and I will be cautious on where I leave him. Any thoughts on the raw egg idea?

[Judi W]

It is not unusual for a dog to break out with flakes from a bit of stress. Could be........ That's a bit young to be dropped off at the groomers for a bath.

[Homerhomer]

Raw eggs IMO great for adult dogs but not for puppies. They contain enzyme inhibitors and are not suitable for pups.
Nutro isn't the best food out there, it is however the best food that petsmart sells.
Fish oils are great for dogs.

[Roscoe's dad]

I don't know where you are located, but if it is cold and you got the heat on with no humitity that could also be a factor.

[voice4rotts]

If you can determine for sure that they are not soap flakes, there are many reasons as mentioned for flakes. I disagree with using a raw egg though, just for potential bacteria threats especially since your dog is young with not full immunity built up.
Nutro is ok, which meat is it? Lamb and rice can help if the flakes are caused by a food allergy. In the meantime I would add a tablespoon of olive oil to your dogs food.

[schultz]

I second the suggestion that you only to petsmart for the necessary items(except their foods). I had my schultz groomed there and the groomer I dropped him off with wasn't the one who performed the grooming. When I picked him up he was terrified and his toenails had been cut too short causing bleeding. When I asked if they had a stypic pencil or powder the "slow" individual looked confused. He also wondered why he got NO tip. I hope this was a learning experince for you as it was for me. It would be wise to talk to a few local vets and establish a long term business with one. Good luck with your Rottie!;)

[rottnkidd]

Jada - I'd have to agree that you should look into a better food for your puppy. I don't know who told you that Nutro is one of the "best foods for a rottie", but if you read the ingredients, I don't think it's a good food to feed any breed. There's barely any meat in this food! Other then "dried chicken meal", it's loaded with ground rice, corn, wheat and rice flour, etc. That's alot of grains in there. Dog's don't need grains. They're carnivores and need animal fat and protein to thrive. Look for a food with the LEAST amount of ingredients, like California Natural, if you're going to feed kibble.
The other suggestion I'd like to make is to avoid Petsmart for
vaccines. I know they're reasonable, however, the disadvantage of the "discount" vac is that no exam is given. If a young pup were ill and vaccinated, the results could be fatal. They should be seen in a vet's office for vaccines and/or exams
for a good start to a long, healthy life. Consider a premium food for your pup. It will pay off later in his life. Good luck to you, and keep us posted on his development.
kathy