Dog Fur Problems ?

October 3, 2024

A few solutions I have found to help in my life:

  1. Improving my Labrador’s Coat
    Logan always had a beautiful coat with not much fur loss, perhaps because he was a “Field Line” Lab rather than the more traditional one that we see at Crufts; he’s longer bodywise as well as legged and nosed. About four years ago, at his annual check up, it was suggested that he may benefit from a course of medication for an underactive thyroid which we tried for three months; it did not seem to have much effect on his coat or other demeanour but it was decided to continue for a further period of time to see. Roll forward a year and I was told that as part of his review, he would need a blood test (£70) which we did and were given further tablets. By the following year, the cost of the blood test had risen to £220 (the practice had recently been sold to a hedge fund). I spoke with the head vet and we both decided to stop the tablets and see if there was any deterioration – Logan continued in his usual goofy way and all was well, but the fur loss and tufts of hair sticking out of his coat persisted.
    I was reading about the benefits of sea kelp and decided to try him with some tablets; fast forward about five days and I thought there was less fur on the floor’ and his coat appeared better, but it wasn’t until couple of weeks later that I knew I wasn’t imagining it.I’m giving him 300mg Sea Kelp (Fucus Vesiculosus) which provides him with iodine; iodine contributes to the normal production of thyroid function and production of hormones.
    You can find out more about this kelp via the following Wiki link:
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fucus_vesiculosusYou can find a number of suppliers online that supply these capsules for dogs and cats.

    As always, check with your vet if you pet has any other condition and the question to ask would be something along the lines of:
    “Can it do any harm ?”

    You need an honest answer and not one based upon commercial needs…