brookcove
Posted : 3/5/2009 10:31:29 AM
Coat turnover is about twenty-one days for most dogs so yes, that's more than enough time to see a difference.
You can try bathing them if this has helped before. Use cool not hot water though, and dilute shampoo, because dry winter air is definitely an issue, and if their coats are low in natural oils this could make it much worse.
We are keeping a pot of water on the stove because we are getting the late winter sniffles and dry skin here. And eye boogers, ick. Keeping the humidity up helps - it makes a huge difference in everyone's overall health, too. Low humidity is almost certainly one of the causes of seasonal affective disorder.
What can happen with different foods and coat is that they can use different fat sources. Even though the fatty acid balance may be the same or comparable or even more favorable on paper, it's up to your dogs, as to whether they can effectively use the PARTICULAR form of fatty acids provided in the food.
I'm drawing a blank as to what you were using before, but compare the fat sources. One of the chief culprits in a sudden coat change after a new food is introduced, is a change from an animal based fat to a vegetable fat. Or going from one veggie fat to another. Or from fish oil to chicken fat, or leaving out fish (or even leaving out chicken).
If it's the latter, you can alleviate the problem very easily. Try an omega-6 supplement. Or a balanced supplement like Derm Caps. For tiny dogs my very favorite is a human brand available from Nordic - the kids Omega 3-6-9. The capsules are sweet lemony flavored and Zhi eats them like candy. They are a safe dose to give them one a day so you don't have to mess around with trying to split up giant capsules, squeeze out part of them, or remember to give them on only certain days of the week.
This is the product Zhi uses (my kids too, LOL). How cute is it, anyway? Wookit the little fishy! Sorry, ahem, I've been looking at puppy pictures and I'm feeling a bit silly. 
