Lefty's skin has become VERY dry. He eats Diamond L&R. He has been fine on it until now. Do you think adding a teaspoon of oil might help? What about a vitamin?

I don't feed oil, but I do feed flax meal (and rice bran) for the extra fatty acids. I also use Synovi G3 a vitamin/joint supplement.

Our lab is on kirkland lamb and rice- with these extras added and he has a terrific coat...

You might try switching foods, too. Our guys just seem to be much better on this combo... I just go with it!

Heather, where do I get the flax meal and is it in a pill form or package. I only know of flax seed oil. Where do I get the other vitamin? Thanks for your help.

I buy the Bob's Red Mill Flax Meal at Safeway, its about $3.50/lb. I keep it in the freezer and give 1/2 tbsp with each feeding. I originally was looking for a way to add fiber due to anal gland issues- and Tyson was not fond of canned pumpkin at the time. I did notice a difference when I discontinued it and have since been using it all the time, on both dogs.

The Synovi G3 I buy online- most recently at petvetdirect.com for $41.99 for the 960g tub. This is enough to do both of my dogs for 2 months. It is complete with joint supplements, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, msm, etc. The vet put our lab on this as his grandfather came down with arthritis at 7 1/2. We figured a little prevenative would be helpful.

We have since been doing both dogs and it has made a big difference in Jake, our older dog. Now he only gets stiff on the morning after he really out does himself....

As for the rice bran... I found the recommendation on labradorwell.com website. I decided to try it out since I was already feeding the horses the same supplement. They don't miss the 1/2 tbsp/feeding the dogs are getting!

I've heard some dogs get really itchy from flax. McBain doesn't, but if you notice your dog itching after adding flax oil, or seeds or whatever that could be it.

Allot of people feed their dogs sardines once a week or so for the fish oils. Also you can buy cold water fish oil supplements to put in their food. I've heard Artic Vigor is good, I use a brand called Urban Carnivore that you can buy on the internet. It was about 17$ Canadian but it lasts for quite awhile.


www.urbancarnivore.com

I give Joey a couple of scrambled eggs w/some olive oil mixed in his dry food a couple times a week - I also give him two Lipiderm tablets daily (I get them on-line at Petedge.com). This has helped his dry skin a lot!

Good luck.

We use salmon oil a few times a week. It absorbs better than what's in the kibble or so I was told by a holistic pet store. Don't know if it's making a difference or not though...he didn't have dry skin to begin with.