Rescue Dog - Coat and Skin

[Jay, Lola and Colonel Esau]

Hi everyone.  Question for Karen and anyone else who might have some idea.

I recently adopted Colonel Esau.  I don't know much about him or how he ended up in county animal control.  As you can hopefully see in the photo below, he has a scruffy, wiry coat.  He is probably 4 to 5 months old.

When I brought him home, he had recently been treated twice for mange.  It's definitely not contagious and he doesn't seem to be itching too much - although his skin is very dry and flaky and the coat is patchy - both where the mange was and in general.  He also had Giardia and his GI was very inflamed.  Have treated that too with the standard course of med's and I expect it is under control.  Will know for sure after fecal test next week.  He is undernourished and very thin, but he's putting on weight now and definitely on the mend.

SO ... in addition to and I'm sure because of all of the above, his skin and coat are still quite dry and flakey, included a number of bare patches.

MY QUESTION IS, is there a particular food or diet or supplement that I can give him that would be optimal for helping grow back the bare patches and getting his skin and coat healthy?  I have been giving him salmon oil everyday.  That seems logical to me but you all probably know more than I do.  Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thanks for the update, Jay, I'm so glad to hear it! 

Only here could anyone think of stool as a thing of beauty, lol! 

[Becka]

Indeed, Karen--I thought the same thing. Who else but my fellow DKers could understand the peace and joy I feel when Sadie makes a nice poop?

[F, Calla & Luca]

Delighted to hear this. 

[Deborah Brown]

Always good to read some happy news.  :)  Maybe it's time for new pictures?

[Jay, Lola and Colonel Esau]

Yes, you are right ... should def. get some new pictures.  Maybe tonight if I can get out of here on time.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Nothing like beautiful stool! I'm serious ;)
Great update. Job well done, Jay

[Jill, Woody & Maxi]

That is great news, I'm glad to hear this food is working for him..I totally hear you on the stools & beauty comment..lol!

[Camilla and Darwin]

Wow, this is great news!

[Jay, Lola and Colonel Esau]

Thanks everyone.  Haha, now that I think about it I guess that is a funny way to describe it - although it really is true.  Especially considering where we started.  At the beginning it was like a frothy psychedelic swirl of yellow, green and red that erupted violently and without warning to anyone (including Esau I think).  Now it is consistently large and well-formed.  As far as I can tell he is a picture of health.

The one thing is that the ear that had the mange seems to be lagging behind the other in terms of the cartilage being strong enough to hold it up on its own.  I'm sure this is in part related to teething and general malnutrition as well.  I've started using a breathe right strip help it heal and it seems to be getting stronger every day.

Housebreaking is about 99% at this point.  He's doing great with his obedience behaviors.  At this point we're just keeping it light and fun and he is enthusiastic and motivated and seems to be having a great time learning.  One of my very favorite things is calling out "come" and having an excited and joyful puppy come bounding towards me at top speed and then stop and front.  It's so heart warming.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I think Colonel Esau hit the jackpot :)

[Jay, Lola and Colonel Esau]

Here you go Deborah, as requested:

[Deborah Brown]

Awww... he looks great!  The eyes are just mesmerizing.  What a good looking guy.  :)