HoundsGood: Chronicles of a Virtual Volunteer

Long before I found my Alex, shown at left, I was going to adopt a different long haired dachshund. The lady at the rescue took me aside and told me in hushed voice, as if she was revealing a shocking secret. “Dachshunds bark. And Long Haired Dachshunds shed.”

No kidding! Well, they could have fooled me. I was sure she didn’t remember my story of owning them all my life, but maybe she thought I said I had Basenjis.

Throughout the years, my doxies have produced so many dust bunnies that I swear I could have made another dog out of it. I combat it by brushing, and making sure they have a healthy diet. However, I have heard of other people who just can never get a handle on the hair.  Their dogs shed all the time.  Did you know, that even with a long haired breeds, dogs do NOT shed year round? Nope.   If you are worried about having a long haired dog “because they shed,” that only should last part of the year.  Some dogs have a genetic condition, but for many, they are just not getting the nutrition from their dog food. Some are baked at very high temperatures to create the clean texture dry food has, but in the meantime perhaps not providing the fatty acids they need unless they are added or replaced.

There is actually a supplement now called Dinovite that addresses the nutritional concerns, and specifically targets shedding. They have other supplements, as well, but that is one of the most common complaints of people seeking help for their dogs. There is a solutions center on the site, where you can answer a series of questions to determine what you dog needs.

It struck me as funny when I came to this screen:

I noticed that the “small” dog designation stops at 15 lbs, and the “medium” dog designation picks up at 30 lbs. What happens to the dogs that are 15 lbs, one ounce, to 29 lbs? Are they what dachshund lovers call “tweenies” (in between-ies)? Of course, I know what they mean. You can pretty much classify an obese chihuahua as a small, even if they tip out of the small scale, and an underweight Basenji as medium. It is just a general assessment.

Al, who doesn’t have really any complaints, was recommended the Best O Show supplement.  As a senior, he is very healthy, but it would help keep him that way.  It is sort of like an “insurance policy” as well as filling the possible gaps.  Also, the important point is that they include digestive enzymes rather than just the vitamins.  My other dog, Ollie, was recommended Dinovite.  He has some thyroid related hair loss that may just be improved with a full spectrum supplement.

Have you tried Dinovite?  If not, do you already supplement the nutrition for your dogs, or have you been considering it?

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