Hoping for some respones this time :) need some help

[My baby*Fergie*]

Hello everyone, I have been posting but not getting many responses. Instead of writing different threads under different headings I am just going to write one. As you know I have Fergie who I love to death but been having a few issues with her. First is her coat, it is in rough shape, it is dry and her skin is dry too. I have used tea tree oil spray on her as well as mix a bit of oil in her food. I have also tried not bathing her that often. But nothing has helped. I have changed her food to Nutro Natural Choice from Performatrin and she seems just as bad...maybe even a little worse. And her tearing is extremely heavy, her eyes are always soaked...(i dont know if anything can be done for that). And on top of everything she has become fairly disobedient....she at one point was practically fully potty trained now she is slipping up quit a bit. Also she has a bitting issue...I cant brush her or even sometimes play without her getting mean...lol....I cant even scold her...cause she doesnt even seem to care.....no matter how mad I get. ..

So these are my issues lately with my little one....please some help or advice would be great....I havent been getting many responses..I hope to this time!

[LunasMomma]

Hi Love your baby's name, I bet she is Fergielicious!!

Anyhoo, I'm sorry that you didn't get much response. Sometimes we miss stuff around here I'll try to answer your concerns with what I've experienced or read here

Both of my girls had the most horrible dry, flaky skin when I first got them. I started giving them Missing Link in their food every day and while it did take a month, the flakes are GONE No more scratching either. Also, some dogs are allergic to certain proteins. What kind of meats are in the food you used to feed and the food that you're feeding now? Are they the same thing? If they are, you may want to switch (I know, again! ugh!) to a different protein ingredient. This could also explain some of her behavior issues as well, I don't feel like being good when I'm feeling icky either

The best way I've found to scold my two is to grab them by their puppy scruff, give them one firm shake (not TOO hard) and tell them in a LOW growly voice NO!. Then release and when the bad behavior has stopped, praise and pet up a storm. I have a problem with my Izzy sometimes playing too rough with Luna, who's half her size and I have to step in sometimes

Now Luna is my biter, and I am always having to scold her for it. Of course, it doesn't help that my husband allows her to bite him while playing But she pretty much knows better than to bite me, sometimes she forgets and I just grab her muzzle firmly yet gently, make her look me in the eyes, and tell her in that same low growly voice, NO BITE! Then she remembers and will usually lick me where she was biting me When you are brushing her and she's trying to bite the brush, it's kinda hard to get her brushed, huh? Luna used to do that too, but I've been consistant with the NO BITE and she's really good now. Someone on here, can't remember who, has two brushes and she lets her pup bite on one while she brushes with the other I think that's a great idea! At least temporarily anyway.

So I hope that I was a little helpful to you today. I'm sure that some others will chime in here soon with some good advice. I have learned a lot from everyone here, and by reading some of the older posts as well. The Search function at the top, in the blue bar, is very helpful as well.

[GracieGirl]

Do you bath her yourself? I would suggest a good high quality shampoo and conditioner for her skin. If you search shampoos on here I am sure you will find a lot of suggestions for good quality shampoos and conditioners.

You could also try Missing Link Supplement which you can get at Petco or Petsmart. Also I know Beyond Spoiled which is Kathyrn V's website who is a member on here she also sells it. Missing Link is widely used on this forum too by many members it improves coat and skin quality....however it does take a month or two to see results.

Cowboy Magic is good for the coat to which you can search that as well so a lot of good information.

Nutro Natural CHoice is a good food I am surprised that it has made her skin worse. Its a good food for skin and coat as well. Have u had her tested for allergies??? That might help.

Does she need her hair shaved in the corner of her eyes...sometimes it gets long and it gets in their eyes and causes tearing...maybe someone will have a suggestion for that

[marcerella02]

i wish i could help.. layla is ALWAYS tearing... i read somewhere on here to try distilled water.. but that didn't work for us... i'm just always wiping them and cutting the hair around her eyes. let me know if you find something that works!!

[My baby*Fergie*]

wow thankx to both of you for replying so quickly!!....well so far the thing you both mentioned was the missing link...hmm is there any other like home remedie type stuff that can help...that are known for good results? and also I will look up the ingredients on the food bags and see what i find for protiens...Thanx again for the help guys...ill post again if nothing is helping lollol......

[marcerella02]

OH i missed the part where you asked about dry skin.. we know all about that! layla is a flaking MACHINE!! i am hoping it is just our cold winter! however.. here are some suggestions... break open fish oil capsules into some wet food or yogurt.. the omega 3 oils are supposed to really really help! also you can try giving her an oatmeal bath.. layal gets one every two weeks... on her tummy.. if it is dry.. i put aveeno baby oatmeal lotion.. and how about a humidifier??? we run one in our room at night.. i see you are from canada.. so chances are the air is dry and cold!

[LunasMomma]

Oh yea, the eye boogie thing? Beef liver Get some of those liver treats that are freeze dried and feed a small piece every day. I swear by it! There's a product called Angels Eyes that I used to use for them, but it's very expensive and all it is is beef liver

Good luck

[My baby*Fergie*]

hello fellow flaky yorkie owner...lol....yes it is dry here in canada...is canola oil mixed in her food okay?? i dont know much about this stuff. And for the oatmeal bath...do you use actual dried oatmeal?? and how do youi bath her...lol i sound kinda dumb...but i never thought id have to worry about her dry skin ....im worring about everything about her...its like she is a kid or something...lol

[marcerella02]

i feel for you.. layla is sick today and i am just a mess worrying

yes ... until i acutally pick up the fish oil capsules, i use olive oil

and the oatmeal bath.. it's very nice... also recommended for people! i put some oatmeal (instant) in a stocking or pantyhoe (sp?) and run the bath.. then i use the stocking as a wash cloth and just squeeze it over her body. makes her fur nice and soft!!!

[celstu1]

My little one has extremely teary eyes, vet said it was just the way some are, when I got him groomed the fur around his eyes was drier more of the time. Maybe get her groomed, or at least her eye area. Seemed to help my little guy. I wish I knew what to tell ya about the other things, the only thing I can say I did was get a conditioner from the vet. Its a leave in conditioner. I put it on my pups after I bathe them, then they dry naturally and I brush them out since the conditioner makes their hair crunchy like, but it brushes out soo nice and soft!

With the aggression, try holding her little snout shut with your fingers, don't be aggressive or mean about it, just be authoritative and get her attention, hold her mouth shut for a minute, look her dead in the eyes and say "NO!" That worked wonders for my guys, neither one is aggressive at all!

Good Luck!!!

[My baby*Fergie*]

sorry to hear your little one is sick....hope she gets better!!

[LunasMomma]

Originally Posted by My baby*Fergie*

wow thankx to both of you for replying so quickly!!....well so far the thing you both mentioned was the missing link...hmm is there any other like home remedie type stuff that can help...that are known for good results? and also I will look up the ingredients on the food bags and see what i find for protiens...Thanx again for the help guys...ill post again if nothing is helping lollol......

You're very welcome Remember that anything that you try is going to take a little time to work, so don't give up too soon Also, if you go with the Missing Link, I forgot to say that you should start her very gradually on it. It's a teaspoon for up to 20 lbs, but my girls are 5 and 2.8 lbs and I give them each about a 2/3 of a tsp. a day total. My girls poop so good and firm too since starting on the ML haha

It's all trial and error, and you're doing great!

[marcerella02]

OH.. for the agression.. i grab layla and turn her on her back (showing i am in control) and look at her and say no... scares the crap out of her and she quickly gets the idea!

[JCarlson2004]

TEARING - Try putting some apple cider vinegar in her water. This is the type I use and I highly recommend it:

http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/store/e...equestid=58162

HER COAT - I would recommend you buy a really good quality shampoo/conditioner (something breeders use). I wonder ... does she have allergies? Maybe you need an oatmeal based shampoo or even a medicated shampoo. You could also try adding either Missing Link or Grizzly Salmon Oil to her food.

[celstu1]

Originally Posted by My baby*Fergie*

hello fellow flaky yorkie owner...lol....yes it is dry here in canada...is canola oil mixed in her food okay?? i dont know much about this stuff. And for the oatmeal bath...do you use actual dried oatmeal?? and how do youi bath her...lol i sound kinda dumb...but i never thought id have to worry about her dry skin ....im worring about everything about her...its like she is a kid or something...lol

Can you use Aveeno Oatmeal bath? I had a food allergy myself and developed a rash, the doctor told me to take a bath in that, and wouldn't you know my boys were trying to get in the tub with me to drink the water cuz of the smell. I don't know if it has chemicals or not, but I know they definately want to eat it so make sure you read the label before buying it.