My GR sheds so much

[jeandecker76]

Hi, guys!!!

I have a 1-year-old Golden Retriever who sheds so much. I brush her every morning and vacuums in the evening but every time I wake up, there's just so much on the bed and these past few weeks my allergies are getting worse. My eyes are irritated and red when I wake up but I don't ever want her not to sleep beside me.

Her diet is chicken and liver with dog food sometimes. (I'm still debating whether to start raw feeding because I am scaaaaared) She also snacks on apples and pumpkin. Her shampoo is Fur Magic, I don't know if you have it in your country.

Can you help me with my issue, pleasseeeee fur parents. Thank you so much!

 

[JudyN]

If you're feeding her mainly on cooked chicken and liver, her diet probably isn't balanced, which may be part of the problem. We have an article on raw feeding here: Raw feeding I put it off for a long time thinking it would be tricky, and messy, and hard work but it absolutely isn't. A lot of people see benefits in their dog's skin and coat condition after switching to raw so it would be worth trying.

 

[excuseme]

Most of our dogs moult twice a year (Spring and Autumn), some are more noticeable than others. Some will always produce loose hair but may not be noticed as much.

Bathing our dogs too frequently is not good for our dogs skins as it removes much of the natural oils from the skin and coat.
Our lot only get a wash when they are covered with mud, this is water only and NO shampoos. You can use water washes as frequently as you wish, it does not harm the natural oils in the coat.
A cooked diet, although I believe it to be better than the highly processed/cooked kibbles, it still loses a lot of benefits by cooking it. Cooking alters the proteins,vitamins, fats, minerals and enzymes, that are so important to our dogs good health.

Your suggestion of trying a Raw diet, would be a good place to start. It is much easier than some think, you can feed your dog an assortments of Raw products with confidence

If you have time, do take a look at the link that @JudyN has mentioned; Raw feeding .

I have also attached a link from the Myths link in Judy's article.
Myths About Raw: Are cooked diets a better alternative to raw?
.

 

[Buddy1]

I think learning to tolerate dog hair (and vacuuming) are part and parcel of owning a retriever I am afraid. While raw feeding might improve the quality of the coat, I wouldn’t pin your hopes on it reducing moulting. Obviously, it's your choice but if you are suffering from allergies as a result of the dog hair, I think your best bet is to stop your dog sleeping on your bed (if this is what she is doing).

 

[jeandecker76]

If you're feeding her mainly on cooked chicken and liver, her diet probably isn't balanced, which may be part of the problem. We have an article on raw feeding here: Raw feeding I put it off for a long time thinking it would be tricky, and messy, and hard work but it absolutely isn't. A lot of people see benefits in their dog's skin and coat condition after switching to raw so it would be worth trying.

Thank you for the discussion recom on raw feeding!! It's really helpful and I might start in the next few weeks. I'll update here too.

 

[jeandecker76]

Most of our dogs moult twice a year (Spring and Autumn), some are more noticeable than others. Some will always produce loose hair but may not be noticed as much.

Bathing our dogs too frequently is not good for our dogs skins as it removes much of the natural oils from the skin and coat.
Our lot only get a wash when they are covered with mud, this is water only and NO shampoos. You can use water washes as frequently as you wish, it does not harm the natural oils in the coat.
A cooked diet, although I believe it to be better than the highly processed/cooked kibbles, it still loses a lot of benefits by cooking it. Cooking alters the proteins,vitamins, fats, minerals and enzymes, that are so important to our dogs good health.

Your suggestion of trying a Raw diet, would be a good place to start. It is much easier than some think, you can feed your dog an assortments of Raw products with confidence

If you have time, do take a look at the link that @JudyN has mentioned; Raw feeding .

I have also attached a link from the Myths link in Judy's article.
Myths About Raw: Are cooked diets a better alternative to raw?
.

This is a good read! Thank you! Do you ever wash them with shampoo or there's really no shampoo? I'm curious about this!!

Since she likes chicken and liver a lot, I might try with liver first.. We'll see!! I'm going to update here!

 

[JudyN]

Since she likes chicken and liver a lot, I might try with liver first.. We'll see!! I'm going to update here!

I'd start with chicken... liver is rich and should only make up 5% of a raw diet in total. Too much, particularly when first raw feeding, can cause a very runny bum! Of course, she might be OK as she's already used to cooked liver, but raw might have different effects.

 

[excuseme]

This is a good read! Thank you! Do you ever wash them with shampoo or there's really no shampoo? I'm curious about this!!

We never use shampoo!
We have 7 dogs, and we use them in the winter while out "Beating", it makes their day and ours. Being family members with us is far more important than the shooting season, they all live indoors with us.
At the end of a days beating they can be absolutely filthy soaking wet and very muddy, (sometimes up to 3 - 4 times a week) although not all together, PHEW!

They will each get put in the bath and showered until the water runs clear, (NO shampoo).
Their coats remain shiny with no smell, and still waterproof.
They never get washed between February to October, they just don't need it

They are Raw fed with occasional household scraps, fruit and veg.

.


.

 

[jeandecker76]

I'd start with chicken... liver is rich and should only make up 5% of a raw diet in total. Too much, particularly when first raw feeding, can cause a very runny bum! Of course, she might be OK as she's already used to cooked liver, but raw might have different effects.

Oh okay!! How about ground chicken?

 

[jeandecker76]

Oh that is so cool!!! I'm definitely going to do this! I have always wondered if shampoo makes them have the "dog smell".

 

[JudyN]

Yes, ground (minced in the UK) chicken is a good place to start! Ideally it should contain bone as well as muscle meat, so you'd either want to buy a commercial one intended for dogs, or grind your own from a whole chicken, or sweet-talk your butcher...

 

[Stephanie Jane O'Hara]

Hi, guys!!!

I have a 1-year-old Golden Retriever who sheds so much. I brush her every morning and vacuums in the evening but every time I wake up, there's just so much on the bed and these past few weeks my allergies are getting worse. My eyes are irritated and red when I wake up but I don't ever want her not to sleep beside me.

Her diet is chicken and liver with dog food sometimes. (I'm still debating whether to start raw feeding because I am scaaaaared) She also snacks on apples and pumpkin. Her shampoo is Fur Magic, I don't know if you have it in your country.

Can you help me with my issue, pleasseeeee fur parents. Thank you so much!

Hi unfortunately for you this is part and parcel of the breed and no amount of brushing or diet will change the fact the dog sheds a lot - the best thing you can do is accept it and keep your dog only in the areas of the house where you can manage the casting via hoovering and cleaning. I couldn’t believe how much our golden shedded when we first got her but I am now in the routine of vacuuming twice per day as well as brushing and having her groomed we don’t allow her on to beds and she sleeps in her crate at night. It’s a small price to pay for such loveable dogs! Good luck x