Loosing hair or normal shedding?

Question
QUESTION: Hi. My 11 month old cocker spaniel girl has had a number of health problems so I am the over protective paranoid mom that notices every little thing.

With that said, her hair seems to be shedding excessively when combed with the shedding comb, particularly her ears.  I comb them about every other day or so and I know about how much hair comes out.  Well today, no matter how much I combed it kept coming out more than 6 times the normal.  So I stopped combing and got on the Internet.  I did not know if this was a seasonal normal thing, or a sign that something could be wrong.  
We just changed her food from royal canin to prescription science diet ultra for allergies.  She does not have allergies that we know of but has had chronic vomiting, (daily) for nearly 7 months.  We did every test possible at a specialist just to come up with the vomiting as undiagnosed.  That is why we switched her food to see if it would help the vomiting.  The vomiting is a separate issue but I see that you like a background health on the dogs.  She is currently n antibiotics as well, clavamox, because she got kennel cough, (again.sigh).  But she has been on clavamox before and did not have any side affects.  And for a background reference, she also has Laryngeal paralysis and chronic puppy pyoderma near her private area,(common staph infection in puppies.)  With all of these health issues the moment I notice any change, I check it out because you never know.  So my question is about the hair falling out.  She has not been itchy.  We live in Florida so we don't really get seasons, it is pretty much always hot.  I did not know if this was worth a trip to the vet or if it is just a seasonal thing maybe.  Any information would be helpful!  
Thanks,
Andrea

ANSWER: I'd wager a good guess that all these things are connected.

First - Science Diet is total crap.  There's just no elegant way to put it :)  And are you feeding her just kibble?  

Can you tell me what flea/tick product she's on (in Florida, I know, that's essential) and anything else you're using?

How are you topically handling the pyoderma?  Was it diagnosed as staph?

How long after eating does she vomit and how many times a day do you feed her?  Is it food or bile?

How often is she bathed?  

I'm pretty sure this isn't a reaction to Clavamox (which is a fairly benign antibiotic) - but is she boarded, goes to daycare?  how did she get kennel cough?  How long has she been on the Clavamox?

And you're not paranoid :) - you're a good Mum !
Delores

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I know science diet is crap, but just following the doctors orders.  She gets just the kibble and the hypo allergenic treats.  We just started the food about a week ago, and slowly introduced it.  

We use advantage multi for flea and heart worm

The pyoderma the doctor said not to worry about.  It is going on about 4 months or so, we get antibiotics and it goes away, then comes right back.  We stopped treating with antibiotics because this kid has been on medicines really her whole life.  We have a topical spray we put on it, similar to neosporin from the vet.

We don't bathe very often at all.  I groom them myself and only bathe in serious times of mud.  :)  (a few times a year)

As far as the vomiting, it is vomit and not regurgitation if that's where you were leading with that question.  There is no common denominator with when or what she vomits, mostly bile or mucus, sometimes food.  Usually with excitement or play, but sometimes in the morning or middle of night.  We spent 3k trying to diagnose it. Did every test.  all came inconclusive.  I still think it could be a sliding hiatal hernia, but the test is expensive and usually inconclusive and we already did it once.  The food allergy is unlikely but that's why we changed her food, thought we would give it a try.  The vomiting could simply be a reaction to her laryngeal paralysis, although unlikely.  She gets fed morning and night, the recommended amount.  

She does not go to a kennel or get boarded, but we do occasionally take her to the puppy park.  I know it can be dangerous, but we live in a town home and have no yard and the kid needs to exercise.  Apparently there was an outbreak of kennel cough at the puppy park, a lot of the dogs are "out sick"  She had an extremely mild case and went to the vet with the first little cough.  I don't mess around!  :)  It was gone in three days.

She did originally come from a pet store.  I had never even heard the word puppy mill until after we got her and she was so sick.  Had kennel cough for months, along with upper respiratory infection and chronic bronchitis.  And those diseases were masking the real problem, laryngeal paralysis.  She was misdiagnosed and treated for things she did not have for months.  I would say that she has been on antibiotics for at least 85 % of her life already at the age of 11 months.  Because of all of this I know her immune system is weakened, and because of what she has been through and where she came from, she is more susseptible.

I just wanted to know about the "excessive shedding" could be a sign of something more serious.   Her coat otherwise is pretty healthy.  

She is my husband and I's first dog.  She has a younger and perfectly healthy "brother" that came form a reputable breeder.  She has certainly been a handful, but we love her very much.  Anyway.......excessive shedding?  reason to worry or seasonal thing?

Answer
Okay...I'd most definitely advise feeding her multiple times a day (same amount, just split into at least 3 meals..four is better.. and would "slowly" switch from kibble to canned.  The reason being that kibble is extraordinarily high in carbs and cockers don't do well on that.
Even the "good stuff" is too high and you haven't been feeding a high quality food.  I suggest a combination of either Canidae or Innova EVO(canned & kibble).

You're totally right to be concerned about endless antibiotics for her skin issues and I'd surely try more topical treatments.  Kennel cough is usually self-limiting (the equivalent of the human cold) but yes, a serious case can need antibiotics.  And yes, you're right...her immune system is being weakened by all of this.  Doctors tend to reach for the "big gun" medication and, to be fair, a lot of owners just "want it gone" and won't do any work.

Listen to your own instincts...you're right.  

Here's what I'd do - start her "slowly" on a premium food, more canned than kibble and feed her (to the extent you can) multiple meals a day.  I'd use Nizoral shampoo (a favorite of vet Dermatologists") on her pyoderma and also use a plain old half white vinegar/half water on her skin problems.  The Nizoral kills yeast, bacteria and fungus and a final "rinse" of vinegar & water will help too.  The Nizoral needs to be left on for 10 minutes (take a timer - feels like an hour:).  Rinse well - towel her up and take her for a walk.  Do it every day for 3 days - then every 2nd day.

And because she's a cocker and they do have a syndrome actually named after them ... Vitamin A Responsive Dermatosis in the Cocker Spaniel...I'd definitely try that.  I can tell you what to buy - dosage - and for how long.

Here's what a good Dermatologist would do:
1.  Test her thyroid (but not at 11 months..so cancel that)
2.  Address any real infection with appropriate antibiotic
3.  Vitamin A therapy
4.  Shampoo therapy
5.  Wait and see what happens

I'd also ask if you're willing to home cook for her?  
I won't kid you - it's more work but any Holistic vet will recommend it.
Delores