Doggy Dandruff
- Thread starter Dogster
- Start date
Haven't read all the responses, but tons of good info here.
I think Chicken Soup is really good for the price, but chicken-based foods give Mud gas.
Lol. Also it was too low cal/low-fat for my dogs and I was having to feed way way way more than recommended. But I definitely don't think that is all dogs, so don't let that scare you away from it. It is certainly worth a shot.
If it is an allergy causing her dandruff, it could be something other than what she's eating--something environmental. Shampoos, household cleaners, type of grass/trees/flowers she is around regularly, so so many environmental things that could be the culprit, too. So if changing foods doesn't solve the issue, look for things in her environment.
I typically have a food that I feed regularly and split it with various other foods. I've been feeding Taste of the Wild for a while now, and once I got them switched to it I rotated between the TotW formulas, then started mixing other foods in too. I like the venison formula the best, but I do rotate still. With so many foods being in their diet regularly, they can just about eat anything without any tummy upset. When I first started this I would be careful to introduce the other food slowly, but now I just mix it all half-and-half and they are fine with it. Sometimes the extra food is Blue Wilderness, sometimes it's one of the Merrick foods, sometimes it's Innova....anything that is still a good food but isn't super expensive. They haven't had Blue Wilderness in a long time because I haven't been able to swing it, but I used to mix it pretty regularly.
As for high protein, from all the research I've looked at it seems that the type of protein is the key. If it is high protein, but all of the protein sources are easily digestible, then it's alright. If it's high protein and the protein sources suck, then it's not alright. All of the foods mentioned so far have all been foods that are safe as far as protein goes. My dogs have been on higher-protein diets for a long time now with no issues.
I also add in canned food and raw sort of at random, they usually get each at least once a week. I think with all this variety they really have tough digestive systems. Also since this Zeke has actually been super excited about mealtime--he used to not even care about mealtime. He never knows what he will get so he's excited to see what's coming.
As for canned/raw ruining a dog's appetite for kibble, it's mostly just a matter of how much you put up with. For instance, my mom's teacup Chihuahua ate crappy food for years. I kept trying to get him on a better food--he would eat it just fine for a couple weeks, then stop. Mom had it in her head that he would starve himself if she didn't put him back on his crappy food. Several food change attempts ended this way. He knew if he stopped eating what we were giving him, he could get something different. Finally around the middle of last year I somehow convinced Mom to just let me feed him what I wanted and stop catering to him. He's been on a good food ever since and eats it just fine. He knows now that he has to eat whatever is given to him, not whatever he wants.
Another example is coincidentally another Chihuahua I met several years ago...he had been on a diet of HOT DOGS(not kidding) for the majority of his life. His owners claimed that if he was given kibble he wouldn't eat. Dogs won't starve themselves, but they will test their limits to see if they can get something different. If we give them something different every time they don't eat, they know they don't have to eat what they're given---something else will come along. With some convincing, the Chi's family decided to try yet another good dog food. He had 10-15 minutes to empty his bowl. If he didn't start eating within the first few minutes, the bowl was put away. If you want to get to eat, then do it. If he had only picked at it in the 10-15 minutes, the bowl was put away. No more food until next meal time. He wasn't going to get something else just because he didn't eat what was given to him. In 1-2 weeks he was cleaning his entire bowl of kibble. The next time I saw them was about a year later, and he had lost several pounds(down to a HEALTHY weight!) and was off hot dogs. Still eating good food. Yay! His vet was very happy with the change.
Also how long do you normally take to switch foods for Shivon? I used to have a Weim/GSP with a really sensitive tummy, and we would take at least 2 weeks to transition him to a new food so it was extra-easy on his stomach. He went through probably 3 food changes with me and also had a mixed diet like I feed now, so by the time he was rehomed his stomach was much less sensitive and he didn't really need the 2 week transitionary period anymore.
I think Chicken Soup is really good for the price, but chicken-based foods give Mud gas.
Lol. Also it was too low cal/low-fat for my dogs and I was having to feed way way way more than recommended. But I definitely don't think that is all dogs, so don't let that scare you away from it. It is certainly worth a shot.If it is an allergy causing her dandruff, it could be something other than what she's eating--something environmental. Shampoos, household cleaners, type of grass/trees/flowers she is around regularly, so so many environmental things that could be the culprit, too. So if changing foods doesn't solve the issue, look for things in her environment.
I typically have a food that I feed regularly and split it with various other foods. I've been feeding Taste of the Wild for a while now, and once I got them switched to it I rotated between the TotW formulas, then started mixing other foods in too. I like the venison formula the best, but I do rotate still. With so many foods being in their diet regularly, they can just about eat anything without any tummy upset. When I first started this I would be careful to introduce the other food slowly, but now I just mix it all half-and-half and they are fine with it. Sometimes the extra food is Blue Wilderness, sometimes it's one of the Merrick foods, sometimes it's Innova....anything that is still a good food but isn't super expensive. They haven't had Blue Wilderness in a long time because I haven't been able to swing it, but I used to mix it pretty regularly.
As for high protein, from all the research I've looked at it seems that the type of protein is the key. If it is high protein, but all of the protein sources are easily digestible, then it's alright. If it's high protein and the protein sources suck, then it's not alright. All of the foods mentioned so far have all been foods that are safe as far as protein goes. My dogs have been on higher-protein diets for a long time now with no issues.
I also add in canned food and raw sort of at random, they usually get each at least once a week. I think with all this variety they really have tough digestive systems. Also since this Zeke has actually been super excited about mealtime--he used to not even care about mealtime. He never knows what he will get so he's excited to see what's coming.
As for canned/raw ruining a dog's appetite for kibble, it's mostly just a matter of how much you put up with. For instance, my mom's teacup Chihuahua ate crappy food for years. I kept trying to get him on a better food--he would eat it just fine for a couple weeks, then stop. Mom had it in her head that he would starve himself if she didn't put him back on his crappy food. Several food change attempts ended this way. He knew if he stopped eating what we were giving him, he could get something different. Finally around the middle of last year I somehow convinced Mom to just let me feed him what I wanted and stop catering to him. He's been on a good food ever since and eats it just fine. He knows now that he has to eat whatever is given to him, not whatever he wants.
Another example is coincidentally another Chihuahua I met several years ago...he had been on a diet of HOT DOGS(not kidding) for the majority of his life. His owners claimed that if he was given kibble he wouldn't eat. Dogs won't starve themselves, but they will test their limits to see if they can get something different. If we give them something different every time they don't eat, they know they don't have to eat what they're given---something else will come along. With some convincing, the Chi's family decided to try yet another good dog food. He had 10-15 minutes to empty his bowl. If he didn't start eating within the first few minutes, the bowl was put away. If you want to get to eat, then do it. If he had only picked at it in the 10-15 minutes, the bowl was put away. No more food until next meal time. He wasn't going to get something else just because he didn't eat what was given to him. In 1-2 weeks he was cleaning his entire bowl of kibble. The next time I saw them was about a year later, and he had lost several pounds(down to a HEALTHY weight!) and was off hot dogs.
Still eating good food. Yay! His vet was very happy with the change.Also how long do you normally take to switch foods for Shivon? I used to have a Weim/GSP with a really sensitive tummy, and we would take at least 2 weeks to transition him to a new food so it was extra-easy on his stomach. He went through probably 3 food changes with me and also had a mixed diet like I feed now, so by the time he was rehomed his stomach was much less sensitive and he didn't really need the 2 week transitionary period anymore.
Dogster
Honored Member
UPDATE:
So, I have finished mixing the first 2 foods (Blue Wilderness and Orijen). She is doing REALLY well, no vomiting, no loose stool, no other problems, so I will get more foods this week.I have also been mixing kelp with her food, and she is perfect!!!!!
One problem though....She threw up today. It was yellow and the consistency of mucus.
Do not know what it is, and she also did not eat today, please help!!!!
tigerlily46514
Honored Member
well, dogster, one isolated puke could be anything.
if Shivon puked after having a new food, you have reason to be suspicious it *might* be the food, but who knows? who knows what item Shivon might have swallowed when no one is looking?
did Shivon have anything new in the day or two prior to the vomit? Is the vomitting STILL going on, or just the one time??
if Shivon puked after having a new food, you have reason to be suspicious it *might* be the food, but who knows? who knows what item Shivon might have swallowed when no one is looking?
did Shivon have anything new in the day or two prior to the vomit? Is the vomitting STILL going on, or just the one time??
tigerlily46514
Honored Member
oh, sorry, dogster editted her reply while i was typing mine, i did not realize Shivon was not eating, either.
do offer Shivon some frozen Pedialyte. Now i keep some frozen Pedialyte in my freezer at all times.
I poured some pedialyte into some shallow dishes, froze them, like 1/2 inch deep.
Popped the frozen pedialyte out of the dishes, put these slabs of frozen pedialyte into freezer bags, and always have them ready.
*my* dog loves ice, so for *him* it's a good way to get nutrients into him.
Is Shivon constipated?
do offer Shivon some frozen Pedialyte. Now i keep some frozen Pedialyte in my freezer at all times.
I poured some pedialyte into some shallow dishes, froze them, like 1/2 inch deep.
Popped the frozen pedialyte out of the dishes, put these slabs of frozen pedialyte into freezer bags, and always have them ready.
*my* dog loves ice, so for *him* it's a good way to get nutrients into him.
Is Shivon constipated?
Dogster
Honored Member
I started to feed her Blue food on Monday. I do not know why she is not eating, maybe she feels sick... she has been looking kind of depressed since I came home...
Tigerlily, she just vomited this one time. She used to vomit before, (when she was hungry) but since we have been feeding the kelp, she has been fine. That is why it concerns me today.
I am not sure if I should take her to the dog park today since she is not feeling well, usually after a lot of excercise she will eat if she has not eaten before....
Right now, she will stare at her food and sniff it, but will not eat it (there is some yogurt and kelp in it, to help her eat)
Tigerlily, she just vomited this one time. She used to vomit before, (when she was hungry) but since we have been feeding the kelp, she has been fine. That is why it concerns me today.
I am not sure if I should take her to the dog park today since she is not feeling well, usually after a lot of excercise she will eat if she has not eaten before....
Right now, she will stare at her food and sniff it, but will not eat it (there is some yogurt and kelp in it, to help her eat)
Dogster
Honored Member
No, Shivon is not constipated, although I need to take her out as she has not done her buisness from the morning yet. Took her out before and she did not want to.
Sorry I sound like a robot when I am typing. Cannot make an apostrophe for some reason, this comes out instead: È
cannot do a question mark either: É
Oh, technology....
Sorry I sound like a robot when I am typing. Cannot make an apostrophe for some reason, this comes out instead: È
cannot do a question mark either: É
Oh, technology....
tigerlily46514
Honored Member
Me, i'd be suspicious that 3 days on this food *might* be a factor.
some dogs puke if they are constipated.
i am sorry your dog is sick. I don't know what to say about the dog park, i know i wouldn't do it, but that doesn't mean my idea is right. I always worry unnecessary about bloat. My mind always tend to go "there" when a dog is sick, but this is a flaw in my own mind.
A friends dog died of bloat, and i'm real picky about allowing my dog to run when he is full. but obviously Shivon is not "full", but, if it was Buddy, i'd let him lie low, and let Buddy decide how playful he wants to be, or let him decide if something is telling him to rest, i'd let him.
but, that's just me, and i freely completely admit, 100%, to being a bit of a worry wart about my dog.
I DO go a lil bit overboard worrying about my dog. so take anything *i* say with a BIG grain of salt!!!
some dogs puke if they are constipated.
i am sorry your dog is sick. I don't know what to say about the dog park, i know i wouldn't do it, but that doesn't mean my idea is right. I always worry unnecessary about bloat.
My mind always tend to go "there" when a dog is sick, but this is a flaw in my own mind. A friends dog died of bloat, and i'm real picky about allowing my dog to run when he is full. but obviously Shivon is not "full", but, if it was Buddy, i'd let him lie low, and let Buddy decide how playful he wants to be, or let him decide if something is telling him to rest, i'd let him.
but, that's just me, and i freely completely admit, 100%, to being a bit of a worry wart about my dog.
I DO go a lil bit overboard worrying about my dog. so take anything *i* say with a BIG grain of salt!!!
tigerlily46514
Honored Member
oh, sorry, we posted at same time, glad Shivon is not constipated, so THAT'S not it. yay.
tigerlily46514
Honored Member
wow, i'd try to get Shivon to eat some frozen pedialyte, offer her some rice dinner or something tonight, put the new dog food away for a few days, to observe how Shivon does.
if Shivon pukes again, when you REintroduce the food, then you might be onto something...?
it could be the poison on the grass, i don't know. I'd let her rest tonight, and if she is still puking tomorrow, maybe call the vet, i don't know.
but again, i am notorious 100% worry wart, you need a calmer, more knowledgeable person here to help you, so i will leave thread. sorry Dogsters, hope Shivon is her old self again in the morning!!!!
if Shivon pukes again, when you REintroduce the food, then you might be onto something...?
it could be the poison on the grass, i don't know. I'd let her rest tonight, and if she is still puking tomorrow, maybe call the vet, i don't know.
but again, i am notorious 100% worry wart, you need a calmer, more knowledgeable person here to help you, so i will leave thread. sorry Dogsters, hope Shivon is her old self again in the morning!!!!
tigerlily46514
Honored Member
Sara, most of the US has had freakishly warm winter, very little snow, and extremely early spring. We are usually still in snow on my birthday, and it was 85 degrees here.
We will even have to cut our grass soon!!!!
We will even have to cut our grass soon!!!!
tigerlily46514
Honored Member
yeah, Sara has good idea--walking the dog is good, helps colons get busy, too, when our feet move. (even for humans with that problem. We nurses have always had to drag ppl around to walk, even they when don't feel like it. the docs would say, "Your colon is only as active as your feet are" )
)
But it's freakishly warm in Ontario right now too 
tigerlily46514
Honored Member
OH, Canada is having early spring, too? wow!!
i'm very close to Canada, can get there by driving east for a few hours, but, my area tends to get SLAMMED with "lake effect snow", evne more than many areas that are farther north of my town,
but not this year....but, i did not really miss it much.
wow!!i'm very close to Canada, can get there by driving east for a few hours, but, my area tends to get SLAMMED with "lake effect snow", evne more than many areas that are farther north of my town,
but not this year....but, i did not really miss it much.
Dogster
Honored Member
During the time I was not responding, she was eating (sort of). Well, from my hand (oh joy). She ate about 3 quarters of it. I just added the tiniest amount of chicken.... Whoops, maybe I should not have done that.... I will take her for a walk now and see if she feels better.
Yeah, it IS freakishly warm here... after today, not really
). She ate about 3 quarters of it. I just added the tiniest amount of chicken.... Whoops, maybe I should not have done that.... I will take her for a walk now and see if she feels better.Yeah, it IS freakishly warm here... after today, not really