my dog's coat is really dry...

• my dog's coat is really dry... les Posted : 10/1/2006 10:20:41 PM I was wondering if i could use human conditioner for my dog's coat??? thanks[]   LIKE 31 REPLIES 6900 VIEWS LAST POST KENNEL_KEEPER Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Xebby Posted : 10/1/2006 10:29:21 PM Nope, stay away from that stuff, it drys the fur out even more and removes oils that are important the help protect the skin. Use a dog shampoo/conditioner that contains oatmeal. Most of the dryness comes from what you are feeding the dog. You could try adding suppliment to the diet. Bioten, flax seed, fish oil or add canned or fresh salmon to the diet, any other kind of fish is good as well. What do you feed your dog now? 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• les Posted : 10/1/2006 10:34:51 PM Thank you! for answering my question! I use Pedigree dry dog food. I'll try the fish oil stuff, thank. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• les Posted : 10/1/2006 10:36:44 PM can you use olive oil instead of fish oil? just wondering?   0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Xebby Posted : 10/1/2006 10:54:45 PM I'n not shure if olive oil is safe for a dog, I know fish oil work well. Raw egg yoaks are good for shiny fur as well, just remove the raw white before feeding, some will say the raw white is safe but I don't agree, it's really up to you what you think about that. Pedigree is not that great of food no matter what you hear on TV and that may be why the fur is so dry. It just doesn't have the nutritents your dog needs and is full of grains with little meat if any at all. I would suggest something from petco like Natural balance, Nutro... look at this thread to get a good idea of what to feedhttp://forum.dog.com/asp/tm.asp?m=151532 it's a bit long but gives you a good idea of what's good for your dog. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• ColleenC Posted : 10/1/2006 11:02:01 PM Olive oil is safe and I use it sometimes.  I agree that a better food will make a big difference though. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• les Posted : 10/1/2006 11:09:14 PM wow, really, well now that i know how terrible pedigree is, i'll change that, thanks everyone.   0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Xebby Posted : 10/1/2006 11:16:33 PM No one ever get the food thing right the first time. I thought Eukanuba was the greatest food for the longest time but after joining this forum I learned fast that there is food for the same price but is so much more healthy for my dog then Euka. Thats why I love this forum, it's great for anything you need to know about dogs. Welcome to the forum! Now, we are going to need your cover charge, some pictures of your dog.[] 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• jennie_c_d Posted : 10/1/2006 11:32:22 PM A *good* human conditioner is perfectly fine. Anything you get at Walmart is not good. I won't use that stuff on my own hair, much less my dogs'. My Avalon Organic conditioner is oil based, and does not contain alcohol or silicone derivatives. It's perfectly fine, to use on everybody. Olive oil is safe, but not typically well broken down by dogs. They seem to do better with animal based fats, rather than plant based fats. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• sallya Posted : 10/2/2006 1:29:50 PM Yes, do change your dog food for sure. There are many good ones nowdays thank goodness! I love Natural Balance, fish. Good oils and great for allergy and coat. Easy to find, Petco.   I use Solid Gold Shamp. and conditioner. They work great. I bathe my Trudy once a week. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Pauline Sutherland Posted : 10/2/2006 3:20:52 PM The question of human shampoo/condtioner is a mixed one. At a groomer I say never as I have seen some really bad reactions. Its not an absolute sometimes nothing happens and somtimes it does. So to be safe I say never use human product on a dog. There are excellent dog products out there and  you do not run the risk. I also agree with the others about food. I found that most coat problems come from nutrition or health issues. A condtioner will help but not fix the source of the problem. Good luck. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• jennie_c_d Posted : 10/2/2006 9:56:23 PM On the other hand, I am a groomer-to-be (not quite there yet, but almost), and I won't use anything on my dogs that I won't use on myself. That means that I have washed my hair in Buddy Wash (which was REALLY nice!), De Flea, and that stinky Tar-Ific shampoo. I've had horrible reactions to pet products, and I've seen my dogs have horrible reactions to them. I'd rather have a reaction, and not use it on them, than have them react. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• kennel_keeper Posted : 10/3/2006 5:39:58 AM With all due respect, Jennie, your dogs are the exception and not the rule. They have alot of "issues" but typically, it's not a good idea to use human products on dogs. As a professional groomer (or wanna-be), recommendations should be made based on what's best for pets, not what your personal experience has been with yourself. While these pet products have been developed for the use on pets, some will have reactions (as they will to anything), but they are generally safe and effective.   As far as coat condition, I do 100% agree with the other posters, that diet can cause a variety of skin and coat problems and it can also help improve it as well. If you find a *good* food, possibly add a quality Omega 3 & 6 supplement, and use a good [linkhttp://www.naturespecialties.com/Products/NSAloeRemoisturizer.html]remoisturizer[/link] (for dogs), you should be able to get this problem under control and see a marked difference in your dogs coat. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• jennie_c_d Posted : 10/3/2006 2:10:31 PM *shrugs* I use human products on a LOT of pets, and haven't had a problem. And FWIW, most people don't appreciate being called wanna-bes. I've been in the professional pet grooming business for over two years, and while I may not be as experienced as you, I am a professional. Just because I cannot give a Poodle a show quality cut with a #40 blade does not mean that I don't have more experience than the typical pet owner. ETA: How is a water based product that contains alcohol moisturizing? 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Cally01 Posted : 10/3/2006 4:38:03 PM Great advise given, you should look at the diet first and add omega 3 fatty acids into the diet.  jennie_c_d, no worries, I don't think your a wanna be[]  There are many professional show people who use Pantene on their show dogs and have been for years.  So, it's not as if human shampoo's or conditioners ruin a dogs coat...in some cases is enhances the coat.  Plus, many show people use Joico a professional human shampoo/conditioner on their show dogs as well.    There are some good quality dog shampoo's & conditioners that don't agree with all dogs as well.  We've had some dogs that could not tolerate most of the top quality dog shampoo's...Oat's fur Coats was one that a lot of dogs did not tolerate.    Although I haven't used it personally, nor my Sister is Earthbath products.     0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login