Supplements for shiny coat

[Pat, Mary & Cooper]

Hi everyone!

This past summer our vet gave us a bottle of fish oil to add to Cooper's diet.

In part to help with his coat and skin.

The first weekend that we introduced it to his diet turned in disaster!! Only a few drops were added to his food and he got diarrhea like you would not believe!! ( I'll leave out the details but it's wasn't pretty!!) Poor guy he felt bad that he had a ''little'' accident where he wasn't suppose to...

My husband took the bottle and threw it away!

Is there any other supplement or product to help with his coat. I find that he is not as soft or shiny as he used to be..

Thanks

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Instead of fish oil itself, it's better to use human fish oil softgel capsules. Much better quality than the stuff that's sold for dogs, at a lower cost. 

But even then, some dogs do get loose stools from it. My guy gets diarrhea from fish oil, so I use 500 mg. evening primrose oil softgels (human supplement) at the suggestion of JD's veterinary dermatology specialist. Does wonders for dry skin & coat, and it doesn't give him diarrhea. many others here use EPO with great results. 

[Pat, Mary & Cooper]

Thanks for the info, I will definitely look into it. Never thought of trying the human gel supplement.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

They're just like vitamin E capsules. Be sure to give them whole as you would a pill, and don;t puncture them. 

[Pat, Mary & Cooper]

Right, you are using the 500 mg , is it the smallest dose available?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I think so. Some people give 1000 mg capsules, some even more. I have given JD as much as three a day (1500 mg total) and no diarrhea. 

[Kathy Miller]

I've heard that coconut oil is good for skin allergies and coat.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

There's actually no benefit for dogs in taking coconut oil internally. Here's a link to an article by Lew Olson, PhD, canine nutritionist and author of the book Raw and Natural Nutrition for Dogs, explaining why coconut oil is not helpful and may even be harmful for dogs: https://www.b-naturals.com/newsletter/is-coconut-oil-useful-for-dogs/

[Pat, Mary & Cooper]

Will definitely look into it and take the time to read your article , it's hard , one study says something and another will say the opposite...and I want to do what's best for Cooper.

I will get more information and education on the subject.

Thank you all !

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The key word there is "study"; you want fact based evidence and not just opinions or anecdotes. 

For what it's worth, I've spent an awful lot of money with a veterinary dermatology specialist to treat my guy's Atopic Dermatitis, and she recommends the fish oil or evening primrose oil, which contain the Omega 3 fatty acids EPA and DHA in the case of fish oil and GLA in the case of the primrose oil.  You will find lots of studies on the effects of these in dogs. The same cannot be said for coconut oil. It won't hurt him, but it may give him diarrhea, just like the fish oil did. That's pretty common with fats and oils, which is one nice thing about the capsules. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

A little more fact-based info for you on the unsupported claims regarding coconut oil:

http://scepticalnutritionist.com.au/?p=844

[Pat, Mary & Cooper]

Wow , I just looked up coconut oil and I can't believe all the benefits ....

Will start with a small dose a day , they say about 1/4 of a teaspoon for every 10 pounds.

Thank you!

http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/the-health-benefits-of-coconut...

[Judy Densmore]

We have added coconut oil to his food daily.  Just a little, no problems but also cannot tell if there is a benefit.  He was having dry skin/hair thus scratching created hot spots.  No more.