Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Dino my soon to be 4 year old (B-Day May 1st) JRT sheds excessivly and his hair is dry and brittle, I bathe him every 2 to 3 weeks depending on his smell. When i bathe him i usually shampoo him once with Hartz 2 in 1 Rid Flea Shampoo and a second time with either Hartz Whitener Shampoo or Hartz Medicated Shampoo. He seems to me algeric to flea bites and i have just switched from Advantage to Frontline b/c I moved into an area close to water I know this is not the cause. Any suggestions on how to rectify this problem?

the first thing i would try is adding oil to his diet.Fish oil is wonderful for dry skin & coat.
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Foxbridge Jack Russells& soon we hope red dog puppy

I had been giving him cod liver oil but i didnt see much of a difference, I currently give him Avo-Derm dry and can food

>>Dino my soon to be 4 year old (B-Day May 1st) JRT sheds excessivly and his hair is dry and brittle, I bathe him every 2 to 3 weeks depending on his smell. When i bathe him i usually shampoo him once with Hartz 2 in 1 Rid Flea Shampoo and a second time with either Hartz Whitener Shampoo or Hartz Medicated Shampoo. He seems to me algeric to flea bites and i have just switched from Advantage to Frontline b/c I moved into an area close to water I know this is not the cause. Any suggestions on how to rectify this problem?

Try bathing him with just plain water. Soap only "makes water wetter," and all this shampoo would have an extremely drying effect. With a JRT, you could even freshen the dog's smell by giving a sponge bath, warm water in a bucket, apply and rub with a washcloth, dry with a towel.

Grooming with a hound glove or giving rubdowns with your hands can also help the dog's smell, as well as the health of the skin.

Have the vet check the dog over, especially for hypothyroidism (it's a blood test), which affects the skin and coat among other things, and could be showing up at this age.

I believe Advantage may be milder to skin than Frontline--be sure to notice if there is a reaction to either one.

The best oil I've found for adding to the food to give more shine and health to skin and coat is extra-virgin olive oil. You wouldn't use much, maybe a teaspoon a day for a dog the size of a JRT.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series at www.veterinaryforum.com

I'm not a dog expert, but have you thought about a sensitive formular shampoo. I use a Baking Soda and Oatmeal Shampoo designed to releave itch, or at least help calm it. It also is a good smell and makes their coat softer.

I've also learned that sometimes the type of food you feed a dog tends to make their fur and skin not as healthy.
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Thanks...
Susan (Sea_Tuon@att.net)

I didn't read through all the replies, so forgive me if I'm restating what someone else said.

Feed the best food that you can afford.

Get to know some other JRT's and their owners. Make sure that what you perceive to be excessive shedding really is excessive.

If it is, schedule a consult with your vet. Do whatever tests she recommends.

I wish you luck. If you do just have a dog that has lots of hair, Kenmore vaccuum cleaners are great for dog hair.

Lynn

What food should i give him? I currently give him Breeders Choice Avo-Derm
Avo Derm

Hello, I may be missing something here, but I'd like to ask if you have always been bathing your terrier every 2-3 weeks? Or is this a recent bathing schedule for some reason.

Susan

yes i have b/c he starts to smell after about that time period, someone suggested that i start giving him pet botanics therasticks and a teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil every day, the olive oil seems to be working but i am unsure of the theresticks yet

I hope I am not missing something still, but will give this a shot....

If you have been bathing you terrier about every 3 weeks due to his smell, then dry coat and skin and excessive shedding would be expected as a result of frequent or over-bathing. The suggestions you have received may be helpful, but the remedies only address the symptoms or the byproduct of the underlying problem, which sounds to me as if it is still not known. The persistent odor coming from your dog is definitely not normal. I have heard that it can be from a health problem. Strong ordor/smells can be anything from an ear infection, gum or tooth disease, a kidney problem, skin problem, etc. If you haven’t had a vet look at him, I would suggest it. They may need to perform extensive tests (e.g., blood work, cultures). I’d try to determine what is causing the odor. The other problems (e.g., having to bathe him frequently, dry coat, excessive shedding) should go away or diminish greatly.

Hope this helps and I wish you the best in finding a solution soon.

Susan

Sounds like an allergy, for sure.

One of the most common things dogs are allergic to is corn in their diet. Check the label on your dog food for any corn products that may be included. It is a common ingredient.

I think you will like the Frontline. I love it for all my dogs. Frontline eradicated my fleas completely. I went about three years without doing any flea control, except for newcomers. We brought some fleas home from a show this winter, and now, we are back on Frontline again.

I had a bitch like this. You will think I am crazy, but, she found relief from the skin problems when I washed her with Betadine Surgical Scrub (I did it because she had been in a fight and had lots of small punctures... low and behold, there were two benefits from it!). It is an iodine based shampoo like scrub. It removes that doggie odor, and is a germicide and antifungal. It is iodine color, but does not turn the hair that color. The dog will be nice and white and smell better too. It is a bit expensive as I have only seen it in quart size bottles. It was about $15. Not really that bad, I guess. I also had fair luck by using Head & Shoulders, WITH CONDITIONERS, but it was not as long lasting as the Betadine Scrub.

This breed is not known for its non shedding qualities. My car and house can attest to that. Try a weekly brushing regime and see if that helps. It is also the time of year when they shed more than the rest of the year.

Do try changing foods. I have heard of others having problems with Avo Derm. My puppies had very soft stools with it. And, I was just trying to do well by them.

Good luck,
JRTerrier

He was diagnosed with Atopy when i took im to the vet yesterday, he was given a shot, some fatty acid tablets and benadril wo ill he howat works, thanks for your advice