Expert: Dr. Louis N. Gotthelf - 3/3/2006

Question
I have an 18 mnth old retriever, gold/blond colour with short hair. He losses hair on a dialy basis but the loss has become abnormal. He has no bald spots but the amount of hair shedding is quite high. I feed him high quality pet food but still no improvement. My local vet recons it's normal, but she hasn't seen the amount of hair that I sweep up or vacuum every day.
Can I try another diet supplement?
Thank you in advance for the help!  

Answer
You can try Omega3 fatty acid supplements.   These are available from most vets and health food stores.  It may take 60-90 days to work to improve the coat.  Sometimes even melatonin helps slow shedding and improve the function of the hair follicles. You might also ask your vet to check the dog for low thyroid hormone levels.