Hey

Ollie's been fed Burns for about 2 years now and never had any problem with it. His weight is fantastic on it, his poos are small and firm. However his fur is quite dull once it grows out from a short clip. It's not shiny at all. His fur is better after being washed but I can't wash him all the time to maintain his coat. But he's never been shiny. I wonder what the reason for this is? Is it diet related or does his fur just not reflect light and make it shiny?

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I OWN A CHOCOLATE ROAN COCKER SPANIEL
RIP David xx Run free at the bridge. Love you always xx 19th February 2011
RIP Jack and Mickey xx Run free at the bridge. Love you forever xx 20th June 2011

Hubby's rottie was the same, he started feeding her Fish oil (Not cod liver oil but actual fish oil) and now she's become really soft and shiny. I've been feeding Maya on it and must say i've noticed a nicer looking coat, maybe give that a shot?

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R.I.P Barney, I had 4 wonderful years with you, Thank you-29/04/06-25/11/09
The dog who saved my life
Proud owner of Maya, the Rescued Alaskan Malamute

http://www.dog-breeds-plus.com
Mine and My husband's Dog breed website

I'd hazard a guess at it's the clip and/or coat type. Some coat types and colours just don't shine - my wirey white Westie for example doesn't, his coat is healthy and his diet is good, but his coat doesn't have a natural shine.

It wouldn't hurt to add some extra essential fatty acids to his diet though, a spoonful of salmon oil daily maybe.

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''Dogs are like chocolates, you can never have just one!''

Bailey is the same. He gets terrible dandruff too. I'd try either salmon oil or yumega oil.

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My pup's coat was dull for a while since giving him fish4dogs sea biscuits/jerkys and they're salmon mousse his coat is very soft and shiny.
I would recommend them

I've been spraying coat conditioner on him every couple of days to make his coat soft and shiny. His coat is softer but it isn't shiny.

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I OWN A CHOCOLATE ROAN COCKER SPANIEL
RIP David xx Run free at the bridge. Love you always xx 19th February 2011
RIP Jack and Mickey xx Run free at the bridge. Love you forever xx 20th June 2011

I did find this with Henry when he was on Burns. It's a good food but quite low in oils, therefore you could try adding some Salmon Oil or Yumega to his food. Can he eat the Fish4Dogs treats? Henry has one of those a day and his coat is gleaming (combined with the Acana and ND, etc, his coat has never looked so good).

I dont think its diet related, thats what clipping/shaving does, my cocker and springer looks the same, mollys doesnt need clipping and her's well the liver on her is always shiny.

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[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

his ears have never been clipped but they aren't shiny.

His fish skin treats made him have diarrhoea so don't really want to give them to him again.

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I OWN A CHOCOLATE ROAN COCKER SPANIEL
RIP David xx Run free at the bridge. Love you always xx 19th February 2011
RIP Jack and Mickey xx Run free at the bridge. Love you forever xx 20th June 2011

To be honest I reckon its his type of fur? I imagine he's quite soft and that his hair is quite fine if you compare him to a labrador sort of thing?

Milo our labrador is a shiny thing, Rupert the golden catches the light a bit but you never get a shine like you do off Milo and I've put it down to the coat types. Rupert's fur glistens in the sun but then its of a colour to do that really and its only his topcoat, the lighter colour and his undercoat never do.

If you are worried I would try some fish oil as I don't know what else to suggest. Maybe some tinned fish once a week as a treat or something? Rupert had some pilchards yesterday and loved them!

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