AboutLabman Expertise housebreaking, chewing, feeding
Please do not send me questions on medical problems or AKC standards
Experience Through my volunteer work with a large dog guide school, I know a little about all the breeds they use including Goldens. I have extensive experience with the closely related Labs. The service dog schools have acquired a wealth of knowledge about raising well behaved, healthy dogs with long, active lives. They do not share it with the general public, but pass on the best of it to those like me that raise puppies for them. I am part of a group that has raised dogs for 6 different service dog schools. We meet monthly for training and share information.
Expert: Labman Date: 7/3/2008 Subject: 15 month old Golden Retriever skin/hair problem
Question Our 15 month Golden has developed two area on both her hind quarters just above the "knee". The areas are about 1 x 2 inches. She has alos developed a much lager, and similar area on her lower side. The skin in each case has turned a darkish color. She is also developing another area where the hip and side meet and, like the others started, it is a normal pink color with 3-4 small reddish "bumps/spots". The thyroid test proved normal and she is fed Canidae Lamb and Rice formula. She gets 3-4 miles of walking everyday and lots of ball retrieving. She is lively with lots of energy. Other than gnawing at the hind ares when they first developed she does not seem to be scatching. Can you give any guidance or help?
Answer Have you talked to the breeder you got her from? Sometimes you need to stick to the same chow as their food sensitive breeding stock does OK on. The working dogs I am familiar with seem to do fine on any of the comm0on brands. Yet I am forever reading on the net about dogs where the owner goes through a half dozen different types of chow before finding one that works. I see no pattern to it. Unless the breeder has a suggestion, one thing might be as likely to work as the next. Make sure the breeder know about the trouble. My feeling is that food sensitive dogs should be spayed, not bred.
