labrador coat have you had this problem?

W

willowbank

Well-Known Member
Supporter
Good morning chaps can someone help, one of my labs has developed what can only be described as an unpleasant coat, the dogs are kept outdoors and until about 2 months ago had really nice thick glossy coats, frontline and drontal used, changed food from high protein working crunch at end of season to lower protein chicken and rice,always had cod liver oil and raw beef bones, bedded on shredded newspaper, no other changes to environment or diet.

Took her to the vet and they sold me some shampoo containing Aloe Vera and gave me a bill of £45, it has made no difference.

The condition of her coat is worrying as it is very dull and she has started losing hair, there is a quite severe crusty outbreak along her back with alot of dandruff, she scratches sometimes but no sign of flea problem,

Apart from this she is a fit and happy dog, eating well, poo is normal and regular.

The other dogs run with her at exercise and so far seem unaffected.

Any advice, apart from obviously changing my vet, would be great.

I will be checking in everyday, hopefully advice incoming?

Thanks WB.
 
Not sure about the scabby bit mate unless she's scratching and irritating it, being a lab I'm sure she done some swimming during the season a lot of ponds seem to give dogs a good coat, I would add sardines to her diet I feed my dogs them at least twice a week they are only 50 p a tin give her some them get some oils in the coat, frontline and wormer doesn't kill everything, if ask for a dose of advocat if the fish doesn't help mate it's about 7.50 a dose from the vet tho but kills a lot of things.
 
Been anywhere near a mangy fox? Get the scabs tested ! Take a scrape and get it to a lab for analysis would be my cause of action .
​norma
 
Mange would be showing on the other dogs I'd dose with advocat before paying for a vet lab to analyse, could be mite or anything advocat kills most.
 
The dog needs further investigation. Some kind of mite or allergy would be very common. A proper skin work up need not cost a lot of money and will yield a lot of useful information.
 
One of my labs had something similar a few years ago when we brought her in from the kennel, she started to moult really badly and get bald circles appearing on her, the vet told us the cause of it was the temperature change from being outside 24/7 to being in the house. We started to put some sardines in her feed and got tablets from the vets to stop her itching. I was later told that a part of the cause was due to insect bites she got while in the long grass aswell.

Stacey
 
I stopped using "Frontline" over a year ago, it just wasn't doing the job. I now use "Stronghold" and the difference in my Labradoodle was immediate, no more scratching or constant nibbling the fur, my GSD also seems to get along better.
I spoke to a friend yesterday who said her vet had stopped using frontline as it seemed fleas etc were becoming immune to it.
Good luck with your dog.
​
 
2p worth but work for us.
it still could be a reaction to flea dirts in coat! . but it do's not mean dog has fleas . it looks like the coat its falling out on side or sides and a bit like what babys get on there heads or something like the dog is growing it back after an operation, try fish oil by way of some sprats in the food and one piriton tablet in a treat may help request a vet do's a scrape test to test you dog my old dog that i had would just salervate like mad after FL then we use SH on him and a good brushing each week took around 4 weeks but that sorted out
 
Lakies said:
Not sure about the scabby bit mate unless she's scratching and irritating it, being a lab I'm sure she done some swimming during the season a lot of ponds seem to give dogs a good coat, I would add sardines to her diet I feed my dogs them at least twice a week they are only 50 p a tin give her some them get some oils in the coat, frontline and wormer doesn't kill everything, if ask for a dose of advocat if the fish doesn't help mate it's about 7.50 a dose from the vet tho but kills a lot of things.
Click to expand...

You can buy a 75cl bottle in Tesco for about £12.00 . . .it might not help the itch, but it'l make your dog sing a grand song :rofl:
 
Had a Lab a few years ago, which developed a similar condition. Vet gave special shampoo, antibiotics, and a big bill, to no avail! A mate suggested change of diet, her food contained molasses, changed it and it cleared up! Maybe the change in diet, triggered this condition? Worth a punt!
Kev.
 
This might sound really stupid but are you brushing her regularly (ie at least once a day...?). I ask because I have a thick coated curly lab bitch, and she moults like crazy when it gets hot like it is currently.
If I dont attack her at least once a day with a Furminator she looks dull,and spends most of her day on her back wiggling to get rid of the excess fur. I currently use these as they re cheaper than furminator but do the same job. Dog Products: Grooming: Ergo Tools (shedmaster) first thing in morning and last thing at night =
1 happy pooch.

oh and other than having an excessively thick coat she is perfectly healthy, just as you describe.
 
Last edited:
Hi yes she is brushed at least every other day as she is in moult at the moment in this heat, as mentioned I changed the diet just under 3 months ago to what is possibly an inferior food so have now gone back to feeding working crunch, high protein but they did very well on it and had no coat problems throughout the season.

Thank you for all the comments and suggestions,

Regards WB
 
willowbank said:
Hi yes she is brushed at least every other day as she is in moult at the moment in this heat, as mentioned I changed the diet just under 3 months ago to what is possibly an inferior food so have now gone back to feeding working crunch, high protein but they did very well on it and had no coat problems throughout the season.

Thank you for all the comments and suggestions,

Regards WB
Click to expand...

roger that WB,

we use 'PERO Labrador life' for our girly. Tried frikking loads of different foods (and was even a donor dog for new Pedigree product!) however none of them are a patch on this food.

Cannot recommend it enough, she is fit, full of energy, he correct weight, shiny coat, good digestive system, and none of the other foods (some way more expensive that this one) worked anywhere as near as good as this.

It is designed and made specifically for Labs and is simply fantastic.

​Bob.
 
I have a similar problem with my lab and am looking for an answer. Mine has red patches under his ears too and shakes his head and scratches his ears. Also licks and chews his feet a lot.

sorry to hijack.
 

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Does the dog go in long grass/ alot? Grass seeds can severely irritate ears and feet .They can cause ear discharge/irritation and can get into the sweat glands between the toes causing alot of irritation and even infection.Also parasites can get onto the dog from the grass,Ticks,mites etc.
 
Little Terry said:
I have a similar problem with my lab and am looking for an answer. Mine has red patches under his ears too and shakes his head and scratches his ears. Also licks and chews his feet a lot.

sorry to hijack.
Click to expand...

This is not a good way to practice medicine, but your dog likely has allergic skin disease or atopy.

Can be managed once certain triggers are excluded (parasites, food etc). Sometimes avoidance of triggers is sufficient, but many dogs require lifelong medication.

Your dog need a proper investigation by your vet.
 
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