New Member

Posts: 4
From:Naples, FL, USA
Registered: Mar 2004

posted 03-13-2004 11:45 AM         

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I have a black miniature poodle that is 4 months old. I noticed that after grooming his coat gets very dry and dull looking. It is not so curly and shiny as it used to be. I got him the "Skin and Coat food supplement with Zinc" to see if that will help but it didn't. I don't know what to do. Please give me some advice so that my little puppy can have his beautiful shiny coat back. THANK YOU!!!

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Member

Posts: 160
From:Columbia, SC, USA
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 03-13-2004 12:12 PM         

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What kind of food are you giving him?

My advice would be to give him the premium dog food.

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Member

Posts: 1387
From:Portland, Oregon US
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 03-13-2004 12:50 PM         

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I agree, take a good look at your food first, good quality food goes a long way in a nice coat and skin. If after your dogs diet has been improved there are still some issues with skin or coat, you can add a very small amount of olive oil or something similar to her food. Check out the FOOD FOR THOUGHT thread by using the search feature offered here, to find out how to look at a label and know what kinds of ingredients you want in a food. There are also supplements out there that you can give to your dog...but I would prefer to make sure the main diet is a healthy balanced one first.

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New Member

Posts: 4
From:Naples, FL, USA
Registered: Mar 2004

posted 03-13-2004 12:53 PM         

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I am giving him dry food the Ol'Roy dog food-puppy formula and sometimes (2-3x a week) mix it with chicken can and also he's got his milk-bones as a treat. Do you think that the problem is in food? I'll try the premium dog food. THANKS

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Posts: 1387
From:Portland, Oregon US
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 03-13-2004 01:27 PM         

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Since you asked....yes I think the food is the problem. That is in my opinion a very poor quality food. I can help you figure out what kinds of ingredients you may want if you wold like. There are so many options for food it's hard to sort it all out. Since you have a poodle..I assume you have a groomer..if so, the groomer may sell some of those really good foods. Some to check into are.....
Canidae
Solid Gold
California Naturals
Natural Balance
Wellness
Canine Caviar (my poodle loved this one)
Paul Newman Organics

and a whole host of others. You will not find those in your grocery store or even PetsMart, look at small shops, groomers etc.
Same applies to treats as does food.
Let me know if you have more questions and really do check out that FOOD FOR THOUGHT thread. There is alot of debate and ALOT of good links.

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Posts: 61
From:Australia
Registered: Feb 2004

posted 03-13-2004 02:01 PM         

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I feed my dogs sardines a couple of times a week (amoung other things that probably help) and my dogs coats are soooo shiny!

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New Member

Posts: 4
From:Naples, FL, USA
Registered: Mar 2004

posted 03-13-2004 02:43 PM         

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Thanks a lot for your help. This is my first dog so I had no experience. I'll get in touch with my groomer and see what he has to offer. THANK YOU and I'll let you know how it's going.

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Posts: 77
From:
Registered: Feb 2004

posted 03-13-2004 05:17 PM         

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A dry, dull coat can be revived by feeding a teaspoon of safflower oil mixed in with food daily.

But if you're noticing the problem mostly after grooming... the problem could be there. Perhaps the shampoo isn't being rinsed thoroughly, or maybe they're not using a conditioner? For a dull coat, I'd shampoo and then try rinsing with a bit of vinegar diluted in water. Then rinse that out, and follow with a good conditioner.

You also say that's it's not as curly-- fluff-drying after a bath will definitely straighten the hair. Most groomers try to do this, but if you like it to be curly you can ask the groomer to crate-dry your poodle so that it comes out a bit more curly.

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Member

Posts: 25
From:Roy, Washington
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 03-13-2004 06:34 PM         

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Also, remember your 4 month old is going through a lot of coat changes. I see a lot of poodles go through a dull dryish looking coat during their first year. Go easy on the oils at this age, but fish, flax, borage and safflower oils have the omega 3 & 6 to help create a healthy, shiney coat not to mention all the other benefits.

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Moderator

Posts: 1591
From:NY, USA
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 03-13-2004 07:24 PM         

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quote:

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I am giving him dry food the Ol'Roy dog food-puppy formula

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My neighbors dog also had a very dull, dry coat while on Ol'Roy. Its a very low quality food, IMO. If your funds are limited, Diamond is a decent cost effective food...that is what my neighbor switched to and his dog does much better on it than he did on the Ol'Roy.
Just a suggestion.

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Posts: 275
From:My IQ is higher than yours, I guarantee it.
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 03-13-2004 08:14 PM         

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I was about to jump into the conversation and slam science diet iams eukanuba ol roy etc until I read the key word that I think many of you missed "poodle"

A poodles coat will change from when it is a puppy to when it is an adult. This change can happen anytime all the way up to when they are 2 years old. A poodles coat is not meant to be shiny like a labs coat is. Poodles have a completely different kind of coat that is a hair and not a fur and honestly you wont notice the difference in different kinds of food nearly as easily as you would if you had a chihuahua. You might notice dandruff but only if your dog is black. Anyways...when poodles get groomed, their hair is blow dryed straight and fluffy. This process makes the hair look dull and the coat look cottony. Ever looked at a cotton ball? It is definately not shiny. The goal of a groomer is to make a poodle look like its made of cotton.

Anyways....if you see dandruff...switch the food to something good and wait a month. Lamb and Rice Nutro Natures Miracle for example. You WILL notice a difference. If you don't see dandruff everything is fine and that is just how the coat is supposed to look like.

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Posts: 1591
From:NY, USA
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 03-13-2004 10:03 PM         

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Good point Mistresskela. I would'nt have thought of that.

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New Member

Posts: 4
From:Naples, FL, USA
Registered: Mar 2004

posted 03-14-2004 04:36 AM         

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elizavixen, Maisey, knobbles, karma, raindigger, nern and MistressKela, that was very interesting and helpful. Thanks.

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Member

Posts: 1387
From:Portland, Oregon US
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 03-14-2004 06:49 AM         

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Hey Benny, congrats on the first time doggieness! Although I have a Poodle, I got him when he was close to a year old and did not see his puppy coat. I actually find it difficult to judge how his coat is doing and usually go deeper to the skin and use that as a guide. He is white which I think makes it even harder to see a "shine". My mother used to show and breed Poodles..of course I paid no attention! I have no doubt she will inform me if my Poodle is lacking in coat or skin health, LOL, mothers always do! At any rate, MistressKayla is right, that should be considered as well...and your groomer could help you with that as well.
Welcome to the board!

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Member

Posts: 275
From:My IQ is higher than yours, I guarantee it.
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 03-14-2004 08:34 AM         

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If you have a white poodle and want to know if it has dandruff or not...get ahold of a black light =)

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