Fish Oil

Anne, I ordered Ralph some bowWOW butter balm from happytailsspa.com for Ralph and his cousin Gizmo. They both have dry elbows, noses, and paws. I haven't got it in the mail yet, but I will let you know how it works. That website also has other items to treat dry and itchy skin! I haven't heard if fish oil works...but good luck with whatever you choose!

Definitely let me know how it works and i may order some. he's not out of control itchy, but i can tell he's uncomfortable. i've heard that fish oil helps with flakiness/dry skin so we'll see!

My paw pads are very rough and mom uses Eqyss Mega-Tek Coat Rebuilder on them. It's wonderful and mom says it smells like 'Pina Coladas' (whatever that is). It's a professional product, not sold in stores. She also just started using something called Cowboy Magic. It's also for professionals. It has silk polymers in it. The woman who developed it sent my mom a tube of it. She says humans can use it on their hair/skin too. You can probably order either of these from the vet or go to: http://www.cowboymagic.com

We give our dogs fish oil all of the time. It is perfectly fine to use the people version. Try and find salmon oil rather than just cold water fish oil. Just prick an end of the gel cap and squeeze it onto the dog's food. They generally like it (and if you have a cat, make it's day and give it some). This is wonderful stuff for skin issues. Also, consider something like Missing Link, which is a power supplement you sprinkle onto food.

Thanks Connie! - do you just give 1 gelcap a day, or (as we feed 2x/day) 1 in morning, 1 at night? I don't want to OD him on fish oil :)

prick it and squeeze it on the food? Pshaw.. too much work. Hand it to me and I'll pop it open and chew it up. Ojo does too but not as quick as me.

I've tried that, but my dogs just won't eat them. But Batman will roll the gel cap across the floor. :)

For a dog Batman's size, I would do two a day, but to start with, just do one for a few days to make sure you don't get any reactions. I always start new supplements slowly just in case.

Hey how did the fish oil work for you?

Rosey is sooo itchy - and i can't give her a bath yet b'cos of her stitches from getting fixed. I feel bad for her - always itchin'

I think it has worked.. he's scratchy/itchy but not as much AND i think it has done great things for his coat... he's shedding LOTS less and it seems shinier and softer.

I know that you can give benadryl, but I'm not sure how much you'd give a little beagle. I gave Nigel 1 caplet when he was at his itchiest and it seems to work. Rosey may need child doses.

Nice thought. Maybe i'll try the benedryl - until i can finally give her a bath. I think that's part of it too - she hasn't had a bath to help her skin moisturize.

And since i already have a 6 year old - you know i have the benedryl. HA! I'll try the fish oil too - since you said it's helps with the shedding.

I know it's a secondary concern here but you can always dab a little bag balm on crusty elbows and dry foot pads. Last winter Titus's foot pads got so dry I was scared they might crack. Which is a whole big can of worms that I didn't want to open. I got the best results by applying the bag balm while he was really relaxed, almost asleep. That way he wouldn't just lick it all off right away.