[Gee_Gee]

Hi has anybody else got a Toffee/blue? Pip if 14wks old and although his coat is shiny his skin is quite dry and has a a lot of dandruff. He is also starting to get a few bald patches. I have just started giving him Yumega Dog to help promote a healthy coat. He is on recommended dry food from the vets and also he gets boiled chicken breast. Has anybody who has a Toffee/Blue had the same problems with their pup?



Thanks Gee

 

[pupluv168]

It is common for blues to have skin and fur issues, unfortunately. Do you have him on a good fish oil? If not, I'd do that ASAP. Also, what food are you feeding him? Alopecia, or fur loss, is also unfortunately common in blues. There are several people on her dealing with it with their dogs.

 

[Gee_Gee]

Thanks for the reply, he is on Yemaga Dog which provides omega 3/6 oils. He is currently on Harrington's dry puppy food recommended by the vet with boiled chicken breast. However seems as he likes Wainwright's treats I was thinking of changing him to that brand. He was on Royal Canin before we got him though he stopped eating it.

 

[pupluv168]

I am in the US, so I am not familiar with these brands. Hopefully someone in the UK will be able to help.

I know many people in the UK swear by James Wellbeloved grain free. It is an excellent food easily found in England. Also recommended are Fromm, Acana, Orijen, and Ziwipeak (actually air dried raw). They can be more expensive because you have to ship them from the US, Canada, or NZ.

 

[pupluv168]

Alopecia is genetic, and may not be cured with fish oil and good food. But the dry flakey skin will hopefully clear up. It could also be allergies. Any other symptoms that you have noticed?

 

[Gee_Gee]

He gets 2.5ml of oil daily poured over his food from the Yemega dog oil, not really just the bald patches starting and dry skin. oh and also some of his fur easily comes out. The patches are mainly on his head there not very noticeable yet you can just see them starting.

 

[Wicked Pixie]

I would definitely change his food. Harrington's is a very low quality kibble. Anything sold in supermarkets is unlikely to be a good food.

Composition: Maize, Turkey Meal (20%), Rice (15%), Meat Meal, Porridge Oats, Poultry Fat, Digest, Beet Pulp, Linseed, Minerals, Kelp (0.2%), Yeast (0.1%), Citrus Extract (0.04%), Yucca Extract (0.01%).

As you can see it is cereal based, (First ingredient is maize, but it also has rice and oats) and only 20% turkey, which is 'turkey meal' and 'meat meal' which means all the by-products of processing rather than actual meat. Cereals are just cheap fillers, not necessary for any dog, but especially not for Chihuahuas where every bite counts because they eat such small quantities.
Getting him onto a decent food with a quality source of protein will have an almost immediate impact on his skin/coat, although as Ashley has said, the hair loss may be genetic.
Have a look on dog food adviser, not many of the brands are available over here, but it is good for teaching you what to look for in a quality food. I would recommend a raw diet for a dog with skin issues, the next best thing would be Ziwi Peak, which you can get on Amazon. If you want to feed kibble then Acana or similar imported brands are better than any that are easily available here, James Wellbeloved is probably the best British made kibble but choose the grain-free.

 

[LostLakeLua]

Agreed; veterinarians unfortunately are not always well-educated when it comes to nutrition. It's possible too that he doesn't even have genetic alopecia and it is just from poor nutrition. Either way, switching to a grain-free or raw/freeze dried will help his skin for sure!
Good luck.

 

[Gee_Gee]

HEY Pip's Coat Problem Sorted YEY

Pip's been to see the vet the problem was a fungal infection on his skin, he has to have a bath every two days with antibacterial and anti-fungal shampoo for 2weeks. The Yumega oil has really helped with his coat in the past 3weeks bald patches are nearly vanished!! and the shine on his coat :glasses8: even the vet said he's healthy and his coat is gorgeous it's just the problem with his skin. The only problem I now have is Pip hates bath time!

 

[AussieLass]

If you give him the chicken breast raw, it will be so much healthier for him than cooking it, ditto ALL meat!

He'll also benefit from raw bones to chew on if you're going to feed him kibble because it sticks to teeth like the proverbial does to a blanket and destroys them.

Sorry, but when it comes to decent food & nutrition, a Chimney Sweep knows much more about it than the average Vet (unless of course they're an Holistic Vet).

Feeding your dog kibble with cereal grains in it from the supermarket .... you may as well just throw him a cardboard box to eat, it'd have just as much nutrition but less poison/toxins.

 

[Gee_Gee]

Pip's Coat Problem Sorted YEY

He does have his chicken raw and his Yumega Dog oil 2.5ml contains omega fish oils 3&6 Daily with his raw carrots which he loves! his coat looks gorgeous it was just his skin but since going to the vets and finding out that it was a fungal infection it has started to clear up now with the shampoo he was given

 

[20887]

He does have his chicken raw and his Yumega Dog oil 2.5ml contains omega fish oils 3&6 Daily with his raw carrots which he loves! his coat looks gorgeous it was just his skin but since going to the vets and finding out that it was a fungal infection it has started to clear up now with the shampoo he was given

Did you try a different food as well? You can give as many oils/supplements as you want, but it really all comes down to nutrition in the food. Switching to a quality food would most likely help his skin issues. I noticed a huge difference in my dogs' coats after switching from a lower quality food to a high quality one.

 

[Gee_Gee]

He now has Hills Science Plan, I can assure you all he is a healthy pup, I have worked with dogs since I was 16 and my main concern is his health, but chihuahua's are new to me and I am glad that I can ask for advice from you all. Thanks Guys