Expert: Delores Beck - 1/2/2008

Question
How can I control her excessive shedding? She is a 3 year old female cocker spaniel I feed her science diet and put an oil emmulsifier on her food with saflwer oil and omega. I also bathe her one a month. What can I do? and what is causing the problem.

Answer
Feeding her Science Diet isn't helping, especially if it's kibble.
The first thing I'd do is switch her to a premium canned food (Canidae - Innova - AvoDerm are a few).
I'd stop using safflower oil and give a high quality salmon oil plus a vitamin E. (I can give you dosages)

I'd also like to know if shedding is the only thing you're seeing. Can you define "excessive"? Is her skin very dry?  Flaking?  Is she itchy?
And how long has this been going on?

Depending on the answers, I might advise bathing more frequently.
Delores