Thanks everybody. I'll try not swimming for a bit and keeping a log. I guess that's the best approach at this point. I haven't talked to the vet about it b/c he *looks* good. Coat is in good condition and shiny, and there are no obvious signs of anything other than occasional itching.

Leih - what you described sounds a lot like what's going on, and since he's a lab-mix, I think it's possible that the water (and the dry winter air) are giving him dry skin.

The "new" Canidae is much grain-heavier than the previous formula. Could he have a grain-related problem that is just exacerbated by the swimming? How are his ears? What does the skin between his toes look like? I have had 2 dogs w/yeast issues and great coats. Sometimes you have to look further than the obvious signs.

OK so I haven't had him out swimming since Fri and I think his dandruff is slightly worse today than it was yesterday. I'm starting to wonder if he has a slight food allergy. Here's two questions that hopefully somebody will have an answer to:

1) assuming he has a food allergy to something, how long after eating that substance does the reaction manifest? For example, if his skin is a little worse today, then would that be from something he ate yesterday or last night?

2) if he's allergic to beef, could he have a reaction from gnawing on a big beef knuckle bone? It's just a bone - there's no meat on it - but he's been working on that a lot lately and I'm wondering if it could be the culprit. Also, if it's a beef thing, then buffalo is still ok right? I mean, they are similar critters, but not exactly the same as far as allergies go...

How itchy is he?

For example, is his sleep disrupted? Is he breaking skin?

And, as mentioned above, how do his ears look (inside)? How about between his toes?

Is there any odor anywhere?

Where (on his body) is he scratching most?


P.S. If he does have an allergy or allergies, food is not the most likely culprit.

Hi Connie - he's not that itchy. He seems to sleep ok and he's not breaking skin, though it *is* a distraction for him in training sometimes.

I'm not totally sure what I'm looking for, but his ears and toes seem fine to me. Smell is normal - nothing funky there.

The scratching is sort of all over: on his head below the ears, on his shoulders, groin area, on his hips and sides, on his front legs.

Hi, I am having a similar problem with my dog too. She doesnt swim though. Water is very drying especially in Winter with the furnace going. I live in New Mexico where it is very dry, and I notice it even more having moved here from Northern California where there is much more humidity. I MUST use some sort of oil or lotion after showers here or my skin is truly in pain. The furnace spewing out warm/hot air is drying in general.

I am substituting olive oil for the fish oil for now and it is helping or seems to be. My German Shepherd is also blowing her coat and I am not sure if the itching is related to this too?

From what I have learned, and after ruling out fleas, mites etc--dry itchy skin is most often caused by a food allergy. I have had my dog tested for mites, etc by way of an ear scrape and she doesnt have fleas.

I havent seen any response yet to your question could the dog be allergic to the salmon oil? I asked this too as the itching seemed to get worse not better when I started pumping more salmon oil into her food thinking this would help.

From what my Vet told me, Yes, the dog could be allergic to a fish based product although fish is usually pretty far down on the allergin list. Also, to make matters more confusing and difficult, dogs can suddenly develop allergies to foods that they previously were just fine with.

Duck and Potato is the most user friendly food so to speak for dogs with sensitivitys. I am going back the the pinnacle duck and potato which she seemed to do so well with.

I will be watching this thread since I am also seeking to find answers/solutions the the dry, itchy skin problem.

Good Luck

First some misconceptions :

QUOTE: From what I have learned, and after ruling out fleas, mites etc--dry itchy skin is most often caused by a food allergy. END

Food allergy is the least likely of the three major dog allergies. Flea hypersensitivity is #1 and environmental/inhalant is #2, both way ahead of food allergies.

Allergy to fish oil is possible but so unlikely that it would be the last thing I'd suspect. In fact, allergy to the gelatin in capsules (some give fish oil in capsules) is more likely than the actual fish oil.

Olive oil is fine as an addition, but it does not supply the long-chain Omega 3s that fish oil does.

Dogs DO develop allergies to foods they used to be fine with. The very mechanism of food allergies requires that the food NOT be a new (novel) one for the dog to have an allergic reaction to it.

How itchy is the dog? Does it disturb the dog's sleep? Is the dog breaking skin? What do the inside of the ears look like? Clear and pale pink, or red, with debris?

QUOTE: Duck and Potato is the most user friendly food so to speak for dogs with sensitivitys.END QUOTE
This is highly individual. A dog who is allergic to duck would not find it user-friendly.

Matt,

Just tossing something out there....

Walking dandruff. If its bad enough, running your fingers down the spine will make the skin "crawl". Supposedly, you can comb and take a magnifying glass and see the mites. Uck.

I had a dog with this, but so long ago, I don't remember what was done, but Googling the boogers will give you an idea.

Just a thought.

Sorry to say Connie, that food allergy is a very common problem especially from wheat. All one needs to do is google "dog itching constantly" and talk to a number of vets to see how big of a problem food allergies are.

I was really surprised myself when after doing tons of research and talking to vets, food specialists etc, that this is what came up after fleas and mites.