UNDERCOAT SHOWING THROUGH TOPCOAT

[Lady B]

Before I absolutely panic and take my Lady-B to the vet for a blood test (hypothyroid or whatever else) can any of you tell me about extreme cases of undercoat? I mean her silver grey undercoat is showing through at her neck, shoulders and hips. I would almost swear she has GSD in her line from her current looks.

First of all let me explain. Lady will be 4 the 15th. She blew out her ACL at age 12 mo, which was repaired with a TPLO, bonegrafting and plating (marginally successful). I swim her in Puget Sound as much as reasonable and possible - like nearly daily, according to the outside temperature, due to her knee. The Sound is normally 42 degrees year round and a human would last about 15 minutes before
hypothermia would set in!

This first started at the end of this summer, blew out horribly in November. Lackluster coat, extreme shedding and then plateaued with a shiny top coat and this "UNDERCOAT" showing up like a neon sign.

She has not lost weight or appetite. And is as active as ever -- like extreme high drive all the time!!

My vet, this week when he saw her, asked me what it was. I told him I felt it probably was due to her swimming in the Sound practically every day and our weather. He agreed with me -- but then again I am always dubious of the "medical profession".

What are your opinions before I subject Lady to a more intensive scrutiny by my vet?

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[Liz]

While she will develop a heavier undercoat in the winter, she should still have her topcoat - usually the topcoat hairs grow longer to cover the undercoat in dogs who are exposed to cold temperatures.

This could just be a conformational flaw, some dogs just have excessive undercoat to begin with and thinning topcoat, especially in the areas that you describe. Since Puget Sound is 42 degrees year round, it's probably not the water temperature that's affecting her undercoat, it's the temperature of the air outside prior to and post-swimming. In addition, any walking you do with her is going to expose her to colder temperatures as well. Usually indoor dogs do not develop an undercoat like that in the winter, but all dogs are different

If her appetite is good, weight is normal and condition looks good, I would doubt that it's a thyroid problem, however, checking thyroid is just a simple blood test and should cause her no stress. You might try adding a dietary supplement to her food to help her coat, like Fast Track or Hokamix, available from: (<a href="http://www.naturmix.com">Naturmix</a>).
Other supplements that might help are walnut oil, about a tablespoon per day, powdered kelp, about a teaspoon per day, and 400 iu's of Vitamin E per day.

If the look bothers you and you don't feel that the undercoat is necessary to her warmth, you can always thin it out with a stripping knife (<a href="http://www.drsfostersmith.com">Drs. Foster & Smith</a> item #8Q1887 - Coarse stripping knife - $22.99). I'd just leave it alone though - she'll blow coat in the spring, so perhaps a Hoover Wind Tunnel might be a more appropriate purchase than a stripping knife - although decidedly more expensive

Liz

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[Lady B]

Thank you!! Felt the undercoat was normal for what she does. She actually begs to go swimming, regardless of the temperature!! Lady never did have an excessive undercoat until now so figure it's a natural occurrence to the colder weather and swimming. And she does look like a large sun bear when swimming!



[Note: This message has been edited by Cosmo]