Double Coated Dog Breeds (More Specifically:Blow Outs)

[NHMountainMan]

Even though the hot spots are gone- Is he doing a lot of scratching? My Pyr mix has the big shed, but never looked like he lost hair. He did get hot spots and/or itching. I tried at least 20 different foods and only found 2 that worked- Hills science diet sensitive skin and stomach. Merrick game bird protein also worked but was more expensive.

 

[WhoDatChick]

When I took my dogs and cats off of commercial dog food and started feeding them a raw diet, the shedding decreased dramatically. No more puff balls all over the house, no more crazy blow out for the seasonal shedding. I've had 2 Samoyeds, a Great Pyr, 3 Golden Retrievers, and a few mixed breads. I adopted a friend's 5 yr old part Maine Coon cat who doubled in size because of his coat improvement when I put him on raw. When they later saw him, they couldn't believe it. They didn't remember him having so much fur. Also, I rarely bathe them anymore. I used to bathe often, now they don't smell, don't poop as much, don't have skin issues. the raw diet has made them much healthier.

What exactly is the raw diet...?

 

[Cyprus]

This is so my dogs. 2 Siberian husky females. 5yrs old each.

Twice yearly blowout in spring and fall. Fall is heavier.

One sheds individual hairs in a a flurry on the daily (Silica is her name). Other sheds in hige chunks which can be harmlessly plucked by hand (Storm is her name).

Silica is allergic to chicken, and it makes her itch bald spots and loose all her fur all over down to the skin.

Storm is prone to hotspots. We have a medicated shampoo we got from the vet that we use on her hotspots.

In my experience, heavy twice yearly shedding is normal.

 

[Kholts]

Even though the hot spots are gone- Is he doing a lot of scratching? My Pyr mix has the big shed, but never looked like he lost hair. He did get hot spots and/or itching. I tried at least 20 different foods and only found 2 that worked- Hills science diet sensitive skin and stomach. Merrick game bird protein also worked but was more expensive.

Not too horribly much. Less so after I brush him.

 

[Kayla's Lunch]

What exactly is the raw diet...?

Basically, you feed a lot of raw meat, a little bone. Some people add pureed veggies or cooked veggies, some don't. In general I feed chicken leg quarters (they're cheap) and boneless pork. So, depending on size, my dogs get a leg quarter and chunk of pork. When I find cheap beef, they get that. There is some trial and error when you get started. In general you feed 2%-3% of the dog's weight. So a 100lb. dog would eat 2-3 lbs. of food a day. My Cattle Dog mix is half the size of my Golden Retriever, but they eat the same amount of food because the Cattle Dog never shuts off! When I had my Great Pyr, she wasn't huge and ate less than my Golden. She wasn't a working dog, just a pet. Here is a group that would help you get started: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rawfeedingcarnivores/

 

[Mimi13]

When I took my dogs and cats off of commercial dog food and started feeding them a raw diet, the shedding decreased dramatically. No more puff balls all over the house, no more crazy blow out for the seasonal shedding. I've had 2 Samoyeds, a Great Pyr, 3 Golden Retrievers, and a few mixed breads. I adopted a friend's 5 yr old part Maine Coon cat who doubled in size because of his coat improvement when I put him on raw. When they later saw him, they couldn't believe it. They didn't remember him having so much fur. Also, I rarely bathe them anymore. I used to bathe often, now they don't smell, don't poop as much, don't have skin issues. the raw diet has made them much healthier.

I don’t know how in the world you feed that many a raw diet. Those would be the equivalent of two more entire families.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

Pretty much what the title states.

Who has a double coated breed and is currently battling the nasty coat blow out?

It is fall here in Alberta, CANADA with temperatures fluctuating from +10C to -5C depending the day. Some mornings we are waking up to frost and iced over water dishes only to be in t shirts by noon.

My Great Pyrenees/Turkish Kangal who turned 2 in the spring has been going through HEAVY shed for the last month & I don’t know how but I’m still getting a grocery bag full of undercoat out every week. He has gone from looking like fluffy Butted Royalty to looking like he’s homeless! I can actually feel his skin through his hair and I swear all he’s got left is guard hair which stands up off his body.

We have been battling allergies the last 6 months. He’s gone from a chicken formula dog food to a lamb & rice in the last 4 months & is now hotspot free. I’ve recently put him on a salmon oil supplement in hopes of giving him extra nutrients to help grow back his coat.

I don’t know whether to attribute his loss of this much undercoat to seasonal changes or if it’s allergies manifesting in a different way.

Anyone else’s dogs blow their whole coat out BEFORE winter starts? I could see this type of blowout in the spring but winter?

Any tips you have feel free to share!

Here are some pictures:

This was him in the early spring. I don’t know if you can tell a coat difference.
View attachment 1925511

This is him currently. Well a couple weeks ago...he’s down more hair since
View attachment 1925512

Wow, that looks like a skin condition. It looks like more than just regular shedding. Does your dogs for fur feel oily at all?

 

[DiYMama540]

I would start with adding some olive oil to the food, you can also safely give him a fish oil supplement as well. The natural oils in their skin and coat can become imbalanced from time to time and need a bit of a boost. Continue brushing, but cut the baths completely until you notice some improvement! Beautiful dog you have!!
My advice comes from dealing with a lab/golden mix with the golden's coat for 12 years. Never thought I would, but I miss the dog hair tumbleweeds from her

 

[Halfpasthen]

Pretty much what the title states.

Who has a double coated breed and is currently battling the nasty coat blow out?

It is fall here in Alberta, CANADA with temperatures fluctuating from +10C to -5C depending the day. Some mornings we are waking up to frost and iced over water dishes only to be in t shirts by noon.

My Great Pyrenees/Turkish Kangal who turned 2 in the spring has been going through HEAVY shed for the last month & I don’t know how but I’m still getting a grocery bag full of undercoat out every week. He has gone from looking like fluffy Butted Royalty to looking like he’s homeless! I can actually feel his skin through his hair and I swear all he’s got left is guard hair which stands up off his body.

We have been battling allergies the last 6 months. He’s gone from a chicken formula dog food to a lamb & rice in the last 4 months & is now hotspot free. I’ve recently put him on a salmon oil supplement in hopes of giving him extra nutrients to help grow back his coat.

I don’t know whether to attribute his loss of this much undercoat to seasonal changes or if it’s allergies manifesting in a different way.

Anyone else’s dogs blow their whole coat out BEFORE winter starts? I could see this type of blowout in the spring but winter?

Any tips you have feel free to share!

Here are some pictures:

This was him in the early spring. I don’t know if you can tell a coat difference.
View attachment 1925511

This is him currently. Well a couple weeks ago...he’s down more hair since
View attachment 1925512

I’m a professional groomer. Couldn’t live without my coat king. Best tool I’ve ever used for double coat de-shedding. Use discretion, you can create bald patches if you over brush. Also be careful not to catch a flap of skin like the tuck up in the blade.

 

[Kayla's Lunch]

I don’t know how in the world you feed that many a raw diet. Those would be the equivalent of two more entire families.

Sorry, I guess I didn't make it clear. I'VE HAD all those different dogs, plus some others. Some I listed because of the amount of fur they had. I've never had more than 4 dogs at a time. I've been feeding a raw diet for over 20 years. When I first started, I saw my vet bills reduce drastically. They need very little vet care once on raw. The food may cost a bit more (unless you hunt or know hunters), but you save way more on vet bills.