Dry fur on raw diet

[I_LOVE_MY_MIKKO]

I don't know if it's the dry winter weather or Mikko's diet, but lately his coat has been a bit dry and you can see the dead undercoat (looks reddish) when you move his hair around.

Maybe he's not getting enough fat? Or enough fish oil? Is adding more fish oil just a way to treat a symptom of a deficiency-or could that be a deficiency in itself?

Here is his daily typical diet:

Variation #1:
-1-2 all natural/free range chicken necks (was getting ones with skin, but the farmer I just started buying them from-after the dry fur started-takes the skin off).
-approx 1 ounce all natural/free range chicken liver
-12oz grass-fed beef ground mix (beef neck trimmings, hearts, and some organ meat)
-2-4 ounces cooked veggies (for him to feel more full)
-Alaska Naturals salmon oil (2000mg DHA, 1820mg EPA)
-1 tablespoon coconut oil
-200IU vitamin E
-various joint supplements

Variation #2:
-14oz ground meat with bone (either venison or duck)
-2oz all natural/free range chicken liver
-2-4 ounces cooked veggies (for him to feel more full)
-Alaska Naturals salmon oil (2000mg DHA, 1820mg EPA)
-1 tablespoon coconut oil
-200IU vitamin E
-various joint supplements

Variation #3
-14oz tripe
-2oz all natural/free range chicken liver
-2-4 ounces cooked veggies (for him to feel more full)
-Alaska Naturals salmon oil (2000mg DHA, 1820mg EPA)
-1 tablespoon coconut oil
-200IU vitamin E
-various joint supplements

Variation #4
-Whole cooked turkey (with soft bones) with various veggies
-Alaska Naturals salmon oil (2000mg DHA, 1820mg EPA)
-1 tablespoon coconut oil
-200IU vitamin E
-various joint supplements

Variation #5
-Canned mackerel/salmon/or sardines
-2-4 ounces cooked veggies (for him to feel more full)
-1 tablespoon coconut oil
-200IU vitamin E
-various joint supplements

I just started the coconut oil a couple of weeks ago to see if that would help. Also, a couple of times a week I started substituting an egg for an ounce or two of meat (was feeding eggs, but I realized not often enough).
I finally found a good source for kidneys (all natural/cage free pork kidneys), so I'll add those too.

Anyone see a possibly nutritional deficiency? Do I just need to add more fat or oils?

Thanks!

[GatorBytes]

The only thing I could suggest is perhaps subbing the chicken liver with beef (baby calves specifically) liver - higher in zinc

or a zinc/copper supplement, maybe some ground organic pumpkin seeds (good for parasites too)

[lhczth]

Another good source of zinc are oysters.

I was also feeding a lot of chicken livers and have gone back to feeding more beef liver. I didn't like Deja's coat. I also increased the amount of red meat in the diet again (was feeding too much chicken). I also feed the salmon oil 2X per day. I have noticed a huge difference in the quality of Deja's coat after about 6 weeks. My dogs get a lot of eggs from free ranging chickens. Since I eat the whites, they get the yolks and then whole eggs too. I also was using pork heart as my main MM and am now using more beef heart again.

I do not feed veggies, though my guys enjoy treats of frozen berries and get the occasional (very very occasionally) table scraps of leftover cooked veggies.

[kbella999]

I would look more closely at the various joint supplements you are feeding. They may contain something such as soy that is having a negative effect on your dog. I had to take my boy off Dasuquin because it made him itch.

[I_LOVE_MY_MIKKO]

Thanks everyone! I will get beef liver (there is some in the beef grind he gets, but probably doesn't get enough)-it's a bit expensive at $8/lb, but for the amount of organ meat he gets, it won't be a big price difference compared to the chicken liver.

I'll add eggs more frequently too.

Belinda-thanks for the suggestion about the supplements. His joint supplements are: Annamaet Endure (green lipped mussel, glucosamine, chondroitin, pysllium, vitamin C), hyaluronic acid, and microlactin, and I forgot he gets Ester-C too. During agility trials he gets Rimadyl (but that's only like 2 pills/month sometimes 4). I'll look into the ingredients in everything.

I feed the veggies b/c his metabolism slowed as soon as he hit 7 years old, so he doesn't get very much food. I give him veggies so he's not starving

He's not itchy at all, but his coat just does not have the luster that I think it should, and it feels and looks dry.

[GatorBytes]

Here's a rudementary link comparing Chicken liver/beef/beef "calf" liver - baby liver has 3x the zinc of grown cow

Liver Nutrition Facts

[kbella999]

That is interesting information. I usually feed beef liver but I will start throwing in some calf liver now.

Originally Posted by GatorBytes

Here's a rudementary link comparing Chicken liver/beef/beef "calf" liver - baby liver has 3x the zinc of grown cow

Liver Nutrition Facts