What to feed a dalmation that is underweight and has a really coarse coat that sheds....?

Question

my dad suggested giving her a vinegar bath. im not sure why....

im starting to wonder if she had worms?

(I JUST GOT HER FROM A PREVIOUS OWNER BTW)

her nails are really thick and long so my neighbor suggested walking her on the pavement everyday.....

any tips for her coat or how to bulk her back to a healthy weight?

Answer 1

Please take her to the vet. Those nails need to be cut professionally as the pavement really only helps keep them short not get them there. Also the vet can give you a good way to put weight back on without endangering her health. If she is fed the wrong kind of food she might put to much in fat on and she could end up with fatty liver disease.

I hope you can do this as I really think she needs a good vet checkup

Answer 2

Look into a raw diet or a high quality kibble such as Evo, Orijen, taste of the wild, wellness core, or solid gold barking at the moon.

Raw even as a treat will help her coat and weight.

www.bigdogsporch.com

www.rawfed.com/myths

www.rawmeatybones.com

www.rawlearning.com

Raw eggs, shell and all, are good for the coat, but shouldnt be fed more than 5 times a week.

For her nails, take her to get them cut. Most dogs that live in houses with the human species do not walk near enough to wear down their nails. Dogs/wolves travel miles in the wild, but in a domestic situation that is not possible.

Avoid any dog foods that contain Corn, soy, wheat, by-products, colors, ethoxyquin, menadione, euthanasia drugs, or grains. Your dog needs minimal filler.

If she has worms, a raw diet will expel them. www.bigdogsporch.com can tell you more about worms being expelled during detoxification.

A oatmeal bath and a raw diet is what I would do. For loose stool, feed mashed pumpkin(not the pie filling) and it doesnt take much.  

Answer 3

First off what kind of dog food are you feeding her. Many dogs foods contain a lot of grains which tends some dogs tend to be allergic to and makes their hair shed. If your dog food contains a lot of grains then slowly switch her to a better dog food. I had to do that with my Beagle. He was on Royal Canin which has a lot of grains in it. I switched to Orijen and now his coat is better and not shedding like he was. He was loosing so much hair & his coat looked like c**p. I like the food as it has 70% protein, 30% fruits & veggies and NO GRAINS.  

Answer 4

First of all, take this dog to the vet and have full blood work run. A full chemistry panel, CBC (Complete Blood Count) and a Thyroid panel. I would also ask the vet about checking for Addison's or Cushing's disease. Dalmatians are notorious for Thyroid problems. The shedding, coarse coat, thin body mass, and thickened nails are all symptoms of a health issue. Don't ignore it. The blood work and exam will run at least $200. But I'll bet money this dog has health issues.

Answer 5

To bulk her up I recommend puppy food. It has lots of nutrients in it and the kibble is small so it won't hurt her throat as bad.