Do I Need An Oil Supplement?

[our1stboxer]

If I use a good dog food (right now I switch between Timberwolf Organics and Merrick Wilderness Blend), and these foods already have a good source of Omega 6 & 3, should I bother adding an oil for help eliminating shedding?

I have used one routinely since we had Gunnar as a puppy, but he still have the occasional shedding. I just wonder if I should just eliminate the extra oil?

By the way, we live in upstate NY. Are there certain times of the year when you can expect boxers to shed?

Thanks for any info.

[lisasentous]

I may be wrong in saying this but all animals and humans need to shed sometime or other.
Like we humans are constantly loosing hair.

I give Lisa the odd portion of oily fish, say once a week. She has a lovely glossly coat and sheds occasionally.

[GoCougs]

A little extra fish oil supplement every few meals certainly isn't going to hurt anything. Although, I'm more apt to give whole foods when I'm looking to add something to the diet, rather than supplementing "components". For example, instead of giving fish oil, why not feed a meal (or part of a meal) of whole fish. That's just my own personal preference.

Either way, adding more omega fatty acids to the diet is not going to prevent shedding. It will certainly help with dry skin, and give a shiny coat though. Shedding is natural, and some dogs shed more than others, but there is no such thing as a boxer that doesn't lose coat. Seasonal shedding is usually more noticable in dogs that spend alot of times outdoors when it's body can detect the change of seasons. Dogs who spend most of their time indoors, like boxers, usually don't register this change and shed year round. Still, there are plenty of boxers who do seem to shed more heavily at certain times of the year from any number of reason. Often it is climate related, or as in the case of my boy who suffers from environmental allergies and tends to shed more heavily when weeds and pollens are particularly high.