 Shedding after switch to RAW diet?
#143036 - 05/26/2007 02:26 PM |
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I've switched my 3 year old (F) Malinois to a RAW diet. It took about 4 weeks to get her converted over and get past the digestive upsets. She loves the diet and has TONS of energy.
However, she is losing lots of hair. She is on Advantage for flea prevention and gets 3 pumps of salmon oil in her food every day. This shedding looks more than just blowing the coat. The hair seems "dry". She scatches some but chews or nibbles her belly fur. Her skin seems fine. Am I missing something that she should get in her diet?
Any suggestions are welcome!
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Re: Shedding after switch to RAW diet?
[Re: John Hinton ]
#143038 - 05/26/2007 02:33 PM |
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I've switched my 3 year old (F) Malinois to a RAW diet. It took about 4 weeks to get her converted over and get past the digestive upsets. She loves the diet and has TONS of energy.
However, she is losing lots of hair. She is on Advantage for flea prevention and gets 3 pumps of salmon oil in her food every day. This shedding looks more than just blowing the coat. The hair seems "dry". She scatches some but chews or nibbles her belly fur. Her skin seems fine. Am I missing something that she should get in her diet?
Any suggestions are welcome!
Hair loss is not likely to be related to diet to that extent.... any diet. Dry skin, dry coat -- yes. But actual hair loss, not so much. At least, that's my experience.
Chewing belly fur, scratching some ... these could be allergy-related, but along with losing hair....
Are there any scaley red bumps?
Has there been bloodwork any time recently (with thyroid test)?
Is the dog itchy between the paws or along the back or near the base of the tail?
Is there any inflammation in the groin-armpit area? Are the ears reddened inside, or do they have any debris inside? Any odor?
These are all different questions about things that can cause hair loss/chewing.
As to what you might be missing: What is an average day's food?
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Re: Shedding after switch to RAW diet?
[Re: John Hinton ]
#143039 - 05/26/2007 02:34 PM |
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I had the same problem with Remi after switching, are you adding Vitamin E along with the Salmon Oil? It would also help to do a search as many others have posted the diet and gotten comments (including myself). 
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Re: Shedding after switch to RAW diet?
[Re: Jennifer Hart ]
#143040 - 05/26/2007 02:35 PM |
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Connie we were posting at the same time!! Your answer was better of course.
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Re: Shedding after switch to RAW diet?
[Re: Jennifer Hart ]
#143041 - 05/26/2007 02:36 PM |
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Oh, good catch.... Vitamin E does have to be given along with oil supplements.
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Re: Shedding after switch to RAW diet?
[Re: Connie Sutherland ]
#143052 - 05/26/2007 03:34 PM |
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FWIW, I had a dog lose a grapefruit-sized patch of fur at the application site of Frontline. Can't blame it for sure, but it seemed pretty coincidental... That was the only time he had any flea prevention at all, and it was the last. It was really horrible-inflamed, oozy, scaly...nasty.
I'd suspect an allergy to a protein source or the med, and not a general result of the diet change. Try an elimination diet, or skip the Advantage and see if the problem is alleviated.
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Re: Shedding after switch to RAW diet?
[Re: Jenni Williams ]
#143063 - 05/26/2007 05:26 PM |
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I would suggest having a thyroid panel run on your dog.
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Re: Shedding after switch to RAW diet?
[Re: Cindy Easton Rhodes ]
#143118 - 05/27/2007 02:50 PM |
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No red bumps, no sigs of itchy between the paws or base of tail. No inflamamtion in groin-armpit area or an ear problems. I have not had her to my vet to check thyroid.
I generally follow the sample diet that was posted on the web-site. She does not get the veggies at this time.
I use chicken necks, some chicken backs, ground beef or turkey, canned sardines and mackerel(x 1 each during the week)raw egg about 4 times per week. During the switch I had her on boiled rice/cooked chicken. I switch to about a pound of VERVE and s-l-ow-l-y added RMB. Total weight is about 30 oz./day. She weighes 59 lbs and is lean and has HIGH energy.
She does not eat liver, or gizzards.
As I type this, I wounder if the rsw egg could be the protein allergy problem?
My Border Collie switched the same time and loves the diet. He will eat anything. I could put a turtle in the shell in his dish and he would eat it.
How much Vitamin E should I add? Can I use the regular supplements you get in the store?
Thanks for all the great replies!
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Re: Shedding after switch to RAW diet?
[Re: John Hinton ]
#143124 - 05/27/2007 03:10 PM |
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I would second (third) the thyroid panel.
With this detail, the symptoms do not sound allergy-related. Of course, allergies can present differently, but this is not like the usual atopic dermatitis. It's more like a hypothyroid thyroid issue (which, BTW, is easily regulated, IME).
I would use a gelcap of E each day, preferably (but not necessarily) in the form of mixed tocopherols, of 200 IU for a small dog and 200-400 IU for a big dog.
BTW, I think you want to include 5 to 10% organ meat. You can work up to that, though.
P.S. Yes, you can get the E anywhere. My dogs readily eat the unpierced gelcap in their food.
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Re: Shedding after switch to RAW diet?
[Re: Connie Sutherland ]
#143172 - 05/28/2007 08:29 AM |
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I'll start the Vitamin E today and I'll get the thyroid panel done through my vet. Great advise!
I would like to get the Malinois on some organ meats. However, she and a (F) lab/mix turn their noses up at chicken liver, hearts, gizzards or beef liver.
I notice this morning the Lab mix is now blowing her coat (but no crewing or nibbling). I think this is her normal shedding. Our dogs are in and outside a lot. I know that can cause some problems.
Thank ya'll again for the excellent advise
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