Hair Loss and Dry Skin

[godfreyc]

My 8 year old female has had trouble with her coat since she got a really bad staph infection almost a year ago. Whatever caused the original problem she had little bumps all over her skin and an infection that made her lose about half the hair from her neck down her back. Since then her coat is very dull. Also the hair that grew in at the site of the infection looks nothing like the rest of her coat. Now around her front arm pits?(if dogs have those) her hair is falling out again and her skin seems very dry. For all of you that supplement regularly what can I give her to help with the dry skin and do you think that could be causing the hair loss? Thanks in advance.

[samanthac]

Omega 3 and 6 Fatty acids. Ask your vet. They usually carry an all in one Essetial Fatty acid supplement...they look like giant viatmin E pills.

[Rott-Wiley]

I've had real good results using a product called Dermatrix. You can get more info on it here: http://www.kalahealth.com/dermatrix.htm

[mmgy]

Ditto on the EFAs, and I think I might look for some yucca drops. Yucca can be used as a natural replacement for prednisone, and is often successful in helping dogs with ongoing staph issues.

[godfreyc]

Thanks all very much.

[ILoveRotts]

Have you had your dog's Thyroid checked? An entire panel not just a simple blood test?


This is exactly what happened to my Drake. He got a staff infection 1st which we treated as such, then his hair got really thin, then he got tiny bumps on his skin all over , flaky dandruff all over and he also had very scaly elbows even though he was a couch potato. He was misdiagnosed by several vets until he had gained so much weight and lost all energy so that he couldn't get up one day. We finally found a great vet who had him properly diagnosed.

He now takes 1 pill twice a day and his fur is beautiful! No more bumps, no dry elbows, no flakes - just a beautiful thick coat. He's svelt and very energetic.

I highly recommend the thryroid test. The pills are inexpensive and small. Drake takes his in a mini marshmellow. He loves it.

[godfreyc]

ILoveRotts that sounds exactly like what's going on with my girl. She's due for her yearly exam, I will have to have them run a panel when I take her in.

[Lorrie]

Originally Posted by ILoveRotts

Have you had your dog's Thyroid checked? An entire panel not just a simple blood test?

I would second the Thyroid suggestion .. have a thyroid dog myself and it is not uncommon in Rotts.

[godfreyc]

I'm going to get Chi's thyroid checked at her annual exam but have to go to Wal-Mart tonight. Can I get the Omega 3 and 6 Fatty acids there?

[Rott-Wiley]

Originally Posted by godfreyc

I'm going to get Chi's thyroid checked at her annual exam but have to go to Wal-Mart tonight. Can I get the Omega 3 and 6 Fatty acids there?

Yup, they have them there. You should be able to find them in one capsule.

[godfreyc]

I found an all in one 3, 6, 9 Omega Fatty Acid supplement it doesn't say how much overall but from reading the label it seems to round out to about 1000mg in total how many should I give her today. I gave her one this morning and she didn't even notice.

[Rott-Wiley]

I know some people get really carried away giving as much as 7000 mg per day. I give 1000 mg about 3 or 4 times a week. I would read the label on the bottle and give the recommended daily adult dosage. You could double that for the first 2 weeks.