Excess Shedding

Question
Hello, I have a one year old Beagle named Buddy. About two months ago Buddy began to shed in excess. Just by running your hand down his back (petting him) ten times, a small mound of hair collects. If you kind of "pinch" his skin about ten hairs come out, and those hairs even have that white bulb at the end of it (it looks like skin). I think it might be a lack of some vitamin or mineral because it began when we switched his food. He was eating Nutro Natural puppy food, but then he got sick and the vet put him on this perscription dog food for about two weeks. After he got better we gave him his old food again but he didn't want it anymore. So we switched him to half Beneful and half Nutro Natural Max Adult food. Do you think he is not getting enough of some vitamin/mineral and which one he is missing?

Answer
It's hard to say what he may be missing, but I suggest you bite the bullet and have a thyroid test done on him. If he's not 'itchy' and loosing hair that way, he could have a thyroid problem and you wouldn't know it. Beagles are a breed CAN have that problem, though he is young for it to show up.

In the meantime, try "Kirkland Lamb and Rice formula" dog food at Costco. I have used that when my brood bitches loose hair after whelping, and it works wonders, it may just help your boy out!

TR