Question:
I have a one year old black lab who lives inside. He sheds more than any other dog I have ever had. He also has dry skin. I would love any advice as i don't want to send him outside but if i can't get this licked, I can't have my 8 month old crawling around with all this hair!!

Answer:
What other dogs have you had? Labs generally shed a lot and they are not outside dogs.

What are you feeding? A high quality food can significantly reduce shedding.

A salmon oil supplement can help with the dry skin/dandruff too, but diet would also need changing. This is the supplement I use for my doggies: http://www.biologicnr.com/biologicve...ts/biofats.htm

Answer:
I agree.....a premium quality dog food will definitely reduce the shedding. I have a lab that spends more time inside than out as well. I do vacuum every day though but don't have any babies crawling around.

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He is on a high quality food. I have always had labs. Here we sit in the middle of a nebraska winter and my dog, Duke, is shedding like its spring or worse. I can actually grasp clumps of hair from him. He walks through the room and there is a trail of hair. I also have him on an omega 3 suplement for his pads as he is a hunter. However he has only been on this for a month, is that long enough??

Answer:
What food are you feeding?

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I know that my dad's lab sheds a lot too, year round. She's not meant to be an outside dog either, though. I think her fur is too thin, especially around her belly area where she would need the warmth. Anyway, they put some type of oil in her food, which has helped tremendously. She's on a special food for her allergies too, not sure what it's called though. Plus vitamins. So her shedding has cut waay down. Have ya'll had a warm winter up there? We have and my dogs are shedding their winter coats already!

Answer:
Its called Exclusive lam and rice. Its what we've fed all our dogs and they never had this problem. I'm at a loss. Maybe its because I've always have carpeted homes and now i have hard wood floors. Maybe its him. Maybe its because i have my baby and am paranoid. But she certainly isn't my first. Idon't know...

Answer:
Even if you've always fed a food, some dogs develop allergies to it.

My dad's dog shed like crazy all the time, and he switched to a fish based food and has done really well on it fur-wise...

Here are a couple of fishy foods I like:
BATM
DVP Natural balance fish and sweet potato

Answer:
I agree with the other's advice. Often a food that worked great for one dog will not work for another. I also have two labs that shed a fair amount. I find that a good brushing combined with high quality food and some salmon oil has really helped. Please do not consider making your dog an outside dog as this will just invite a host of other problems. Labs are very family oriented and need to be indoors with their family. It has been a bizarre weather pattern for many areas which I think has contributed to some extra shedding.

Studies have also shown that kids growing up with pets can have fewer health/allergies later in life . Swiffers are also a great quick way to pick up stray dog hair on hardwood floors.

Answer:
Thanks for the advice. I'll try a different food and maybe some oil. How much should I try? A table spoon or so? It certainly has been a strange winter. We have -35 wind chills today, and it was almost 40 yesterday. That may well have something to do with it. Could it also be that he's loosing his puppy hair?

Answer:
yes he could very well be losing his puppy coat despite the insane weather I agree with the others though... there is no one food that will work for every single dog. Also contrary to mainstream belief... Iams is NOT a quality food. One look at the ingredients tells the story... meat by-products, corn, inferior grains, lots of grains... not good. Plus they still conduct cruel animal testing in their labs. I'm sure loving dog owners who know about this will not want to support such a company

Besides vigorous daily brushing, Omega-3 supplements and a switch to a new, quality food (try a grain-free formula!) you can supplement with canned oily fish packed in water (salmon, sardines, mackeral are great choices), raw eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese, raw meaty bones for snacks... everything for your boy to build a healthy body & coat around

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