how long does a coat transition last??
She has no fleas, her food does not have anything in it that causes the usual allergies (Costco brand). Seems she first started this after a trip to the groomer and it has progressively gotten worse. The groomer used an oatmeal shampoo on her the next time just in case she had a sensitivity to the other, but she is still scratching hunks of hair out. Her eyes are not gunky like some dogs I've seen with allergies either. Hopefully some of you OES pro's out there will have some ideas for me! Donna |
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| Scratching out clumps of hair is not common in Old English Sheepdogs. During the transition from puppy to adult coat you do have the matting. The scratching is a huge concern and regardless of the food you are feeding, there could be something in it that your dog may be allergic to. Just like people, different dogs may be allergic to different things. We've had more problems this year with seasonal allergies which will hopefully subside after winter really hits here.
It sounds like your girl's coat has gotten away from you. It would be kinder to just clip her down at this point. You'll then be able to see the extent of her skin problems and give her adult coat a chance to grow in nicely. It's a great time for her to become accustomed to regular grooming if she doesn't currently enjoy it. Her coat transition should be over by the time it grows back (although not all OES coats mature at the same age) and should be more manageable. But, you have to line groom frequently to prevent matting regardless of their age. If there's any doubt about the cause of her skin problems, consult a vet. It may be something simple requiring an allergy shot or dose of Benedryl or something more serious such as a thyroid problem. An allergy to a food may require trial and error to resolve. A flea bite can cause a full breakout in some dogs. Grass and weeds may cause seasonal allergies like they do in humans. Your vet will help you work through it and find the cause. |
| You also don't mention consulting with your vet. That would be one of the first things I would do. |
Maggie McGee IV wrote: Her coat transition should be over by the time it grows back (although not all OES coats mature at the same age) and should be more manageable.
Or, like my two girls, it can go on well into their second year. I think patience, a yearly (or bi-yearly?) trim down, and lots of brushing is the way to go. We're in month 25, and growing out our second trim down. The girls still mat up pretty badly, but I find I can go longer between times when I throw my hands in the air and have to call my groomer to de-mat them. 
I have to admit; I have never cut out a mat. I pull them apart with my fingers, use a de-matting rake (mat-breaker), slicker, and comb. You may want to invest in some de-matting tools. My girls coats look a little thin due to alot of the dematting, but I would be afraid that if I just cut the mats out, we'd have bald spots. |
| The only time Tiggy was scratching clumps of coat out I found a tiny lump near her tail that I thought might be a flea bite.
I never actually found a flea or even any flea dirt but I used Frontline for fleas and she stopped scratching. So my vet thinks it was almost certainly a flea. Apparently it only takes on flea bite to set off an allergic reaction. |
| Well upon a very careful inspection today while grooming Tinker, I did indeed find 2 fleas!!!!
Oh my goodness, my poor baby, all this time I thought it was something the groomer had used. That'll teach me, I will continue to give her the flea med, even if I do not find a flea on her! She is already much more comfortable as I write this, not scratching hardly at all now. Duh, I should have known, as she is very sensitive to those little boogers. Yay, now I will not need to have her clipped down, as before I was thinking she would need to be if I couldn't keep up with the matts. Today I managed to get the 3 knotted areas dematted and she is now tangle free! Hopefully, since she is no longer scratching, the matts will not return. Thanks guys, for the helpful comments! |
| "How long does the coat transition last?"
About twenty minutes if you have a good set of clippers.  |
Willowsprite wrote: "How long does the coat transition last?"
About twenty minutes if you have a good set of clippers. |
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