Thinning hair help!

[Dana]

Hi everyone! I’m a new member to Doodle Kisses and have some concerns about my 13 month old Goldendoodle. Starting at 10 months he started to shed like crazy! In the last 3 months his plush leg hair has been disappearing and he’s left with hair that’s maybe 1/2 inch long. It’s disappearing from the front of his legs and thinning at the back and feet. His hair is still very thick on his neck, chest, head and tail. I’ll attach some photos of Blue. He is an intact male, 13 months old. His diet hasn’t changed. He eats Fromm large breed puppy food. No change in appetite or behaviour. Just last Friday I started him on Dr.Maggies skin and coat as suggested by a friend. 

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[Dana]

So we’re back from the vet. They told me basically that he may have more of the retriever coat but that his hair does feel and look very dry. I told them about Dr. Maggies and they said exactly what you had told me that they can’t convert plant based omegas. He now has a prescribed omega 3 from the vet to take daily. His skin looks fine to them and they don’t see any need for bloodwork at this time. They said when we go back in June for updated vaccinations they’ll see how his coat is making out. They also suggested a possible change in his food.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

This sounds pretty good to me, and makes sense. If you do decide to change foods, I'd strongly urge you to look at a fish based formula from Fromm or another of the brands on our recommended list, and to steer clear of the brands that the vet may recommend, which are always Purina, Hill's and/or Royal Canin/Iams. :) 

[Dana]

High quality food is top priority. He seems to really like the Fromm so that will be our preference. My only worry is if they have a fish based one for large breed puppies? I don’t want to take him off puppy food yet. I’ll have to do some research. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Dana, you really don't need a "large breed" formula. They are really intended for the giant breeds, dogs like Newfoundlands and Great Danes who are expected to top 100 lbs as adults and don't reach full bone growth until well into their second year. I know the labels say "over 50lbs" but that's marketing. There is very little difference nutritionally between regular formulas and "large breed" formulas. The main difference is that the "large breed" formulas are lower in fat and calories to slow down growth in giant breeds so that they don;t gain too much weight before their bones are ready for it. At 13 months, your guy doesn't need a puppy formula at all, he's an adult, and he doesn't need a "large breed" formula. 
In fact, many puppies never eat "puppy" food; they are started on ALS (all life stages) formulas and they do just fine. My current dog came home from his breeder on Fromm's Four Star ALS line and he's done great. My last dog weighed over 80 lbs and never ate "large breed" formulas, and though he was a puppy mill dog with many health issues, he did live to be 13 and none of his health issues were caused by food. According to Marion Nestle (PhD Prof. Emeritus of Clinical Nutrition, who has written extensively about pet foods as well as human foods, all of those age & size specific formulas are just marketing gimmicks. But at any rate, you no longer need puppy food.

[Dana]

Interesting! I was under the impression he needed large breed puppy food until at least 15-16 months. He’s 63 lbs now and in the last few months he’s only gained 3 lbs so he should be at/close to full size weight now. So it makes sense. 

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Riley is about the same size (50 lbs at 7 months so I'm guessing will top out around Blue sized) and also feeding fromm large breed puppy.  We stuck with the large breed because she is a chow hound and she gets more food with the large breed since it's less calorie dense.  It's a little more expensive but she loves to eat :p

Might switch to regular instead of large breed when she is off puppy food at a year though I'll have to compare feeding amounts.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Riley is also half Bernese Mountain Dog, which is in the "giant breeds" group, so.... :)

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

True, I don't think she'll get anywhere close to 100 lbs though.  A friend's bernese is 120 pounds (male)... a giant for sure :p

One of my neighbors has a 100 lb goldendoodle too.  He's a big boy!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I agree, her slender Poodle genes will keep her from getting huge. 

[Dana]

Hey Karen. So it’s been almost 3 months since my doodle has been taking Omega’s from the vet and switching to a fish diet. He’s on Open Farm whitefish and green lentil. The hair loss is not improving. He seems to be thinning on the outer coat and left with the inch long undercoat (except his head, neck and tail). I’ll insert a photo. He’s due for a vet appointment in a couple weeks but thought I might pick your brain. He’s also only eating half of what he’s supposed to and typically leaves his food all day until midnight then goes out and eats it. I’ve noticed too over the last 2 months he’s chewing at his legs and thighs. He is now 16 months old and not neutered yet.

[Dana]

Hair growth has slowed tremendously. I used to have to clip the hair from his eyes every couple weeks. I haven’t had to do that in at least 4 months.

[Dana]