Expert: Dr. Louis N. Gotthelf - 12/14/2005

Question
My 2.5yr old Chocolate Lab has developed flaky skin.  It doesn't seem to itch him but I want to eliminate it.

I recently (about a month or so ago) put him on a weight management diet (Ol' Roy Weight Management Dog Food) because he's almost 100 lbs.  Maybe this food is missing fatty acids that he needs?

He stays in the house most of the time so possibly the air is too dry, though his hasn't been an issue before.  He also gets a bath every 2 weeks with a dry skin formula dog shampoo.

Are there any home remedies I can use?  I've heard of adding cooking oil or bacon fat or a raw egg to his dry food.  Will this work?  If so, how often do I add it and how much?  Is there a vitamin or pill I can give him?  Shouold I get a better brand of dog food (Iams and Eukanuba are expensive....others?)

Thanks for your help in this matter.

Happy holidays!

Answer
I would definitely use a better quality dog food.  Even though it is more expensive, it is also more digestible, which means that he will eat less and poop less.  It really costs about the same in the long run.

For the flaky skin, I would recommend using an antiseborrheic shampoo twice weekly for 20 minutes to remove the scale.

I would also recomend using an Omega3 fatty acid supplement added to the food.  These are specifically designed to re-oil the skin and make the skin less sensitive.  Ask your vet about that.