Is there a food that helps...
 

Is there a food that helps with hair? I don't know if it is what my Gus eats or if this is just his hair type, but it is so different from my other 2 yorkies. My Daisy's hair is nice and soft to the touch, Gus's mom Molly, her hair is soft and thick, but Gus's hair is wiry! And he looks scraggly. He is 7 months old. Could it be puppy hair? I love him no matter what, but I still wanted to check.:animal36

You can try giving some salmon oil or squirt 1/2 of a fish oil cap on his food each day.

do you buy this at the grocery store or pet?

What kind of food do you feed? If you're already feeding a high quality food, then you might consider adding the fish oil as suggested by the pp, but fish oil works best if given with vitamin E. So, you could squirt some vitamin E in the food as well.
The fish oil contains Omega-3 fatty acids that will help with the hair, etc. and vitamin E is all-around good for them.

You can buy it at a vitamin store. It doesn't have to be pet products.

Flaxseed oil is really good for their coat, skin and eyes. (Plus, new research suggest that it is beneficial in preventing certain types of cancer.:thumbup:)
You also could try glucosamine...either by getting a food that contains it or adding it to their diet as a supplement. It is good for their joints and their coats. Just be careful w/ it as it could trigger an allergic reactions w/ dogs that are sensitive to shellfish. :eek: (Learned that the hard way.:()

Food can make a difference.
what are you feeding?

Missing Link is an excellent supplement for their food and made a big difference in the coat of my 2

ok don't yell at me, but... there are so many foods out there and I just don't know what to choose...My vet gave us science diet puppy and I have left him on that. Please! if any one has a good suggestion and why you like it, it would be helpful. I want to give him and my other dogs the very best. I get so confused when reading the labels. Thanks!

No one is going to yell at you :):confused:

I understand that the labels are hard. But the biggest thing you want is all natural ingredients - not corn, not by-products.

I feed Innova. I think it is excellent.

You can go to Dog Food Analysis - Reviews of kibble and read about a ton of foods. I would recommend looking at 4 or 5 star foods. A 6 star food might be too high in protein. Remember the opinions there are just an opinion, but it does point out some good points & list all the ingredients in the food.

So go compare on that site the Science Diet & then a five-star food - you'll probably know what everything is in the 5 star food & be wondering what is in the SD

Ok and when i switch him over to a new food, do I just do it gradually, maybe mix it with his food he has now or just go cold turkey?

most people will say gradually, but being a smart pup, he'll probably just pick out the really good stuff if you mix the two together.

I would do it gradually. Not only could your dog resist the change, but a sudden change in diet can actually cause digestive upset. (including poopy problems!)

There are tons of sites you can used during your search for the non-existant perfect diet. One site was already given by the previous poster. dogfoodanalysis.com has alot of good information that will help you, however, it is based entirely on the opinions of the site editors, not long term, professional research. Don't let your research start and end there.

I would also suggest you try : Dog Food Review Ratings

It will link you to several different sites that have information on commercial kibble, raw feeding and home cooking and examines the pros and cons of each option.

Also, there is a sticky at the top of this sections that give you contact information for many of the more well acclaimed manufacturers. Several of them will send you free samples to try or coupons.:thumbup: If you have the opportunity, speak with a canine nutritionalist or a trusted vet who is well educated in nutrition. (Not all are.)

Just keep in mind, what is best for one person's dog may not be best for YOURS. Try out some different options and determine what works best for YOUR dog. You will know when you have found a good match from the results you see in your pooch. Supplement his diet as needed to give him any extras he may need in addition to his food.

Good luck!:)

Wow! Once again I start reading and begin to wonder what have I been feeding my dogs! I'm almost afraid to know! I have my work cut out for me...But it will be worth it when I find the right food for my babies! Back to reviews.................