Vizsla dandruff after switching to raw diet

Dandruff along the spine after switching to raw is actually a recognised pattern — it usually means the new diet hasn't yet stabilised your dog's skin barrier, and the fatty acid balance has temporarily shifted. Before I point you toward a fix, a couple of quick questions: how long ago did you make the switch, is the dandruff dry and flaky or is there any greasiness or redness alongside it, and is your Vizsla scratching or just shedding skin without seeming bothered?

Six weeks is long enough that it's unlikely to self-resolve without some help. Dry, spine-focused dandruff with only mild itching in a Vizsla points strongly to an omega fatty acid deficiency rather than an allergy — raw diets can be brilliant but they vary a lot in their fat composition, and unless the mix is carefully balanced, dogs often miss out on the omega-3s and omega-6s they were quietly getting from fortified kibble. One more thing: are you feeding a commercial raw blend or one you're putting together yourself?

That's helpful. Commercial blends from small suppliers are often heavy on omega-6 from poultry fat but light on omega-3, and Vizslas in particular have quite sensitive skin — it's a known trait in the breed. What I'd recommend is adding a dedicated skin oil supplement rather than switching the food again. The one I'd go for is Yumega Plus by Lintbells — it's a blend of starflower oil and salmon oil, specifically formulated for dogs with dry or flaky skin, and it's one of the most consistently effective products I've seen for exactly this presentation. A few pumps on her food daily, and most dogs show noticeable improvement within three to four weeks. It's widely available on Amazon UK and comes in a pump bottle which makes dosing easy.

The oil will do most of the heavy lifting. A couple of things worth doing alongside it: make sure she's well hydrated — raw-fed dogs sometimes drink less because there's moisture in the food, but adequate water still matters for skin health. Also, if the dandruff hasn't improved meaningfully by week four on the supplement, that's the point to see a vet, because a small number of cases have an underlying thyroid or hormonal component that won't respond to diet tweaks alone. But given the timing and the presentation you're describing, I'd expect the Yumega Plus to sort it.

Good — the 300ml bottle will last a decent while at the standard dose for a Vizsla's weight. Give it the full four weeks before judging it, and if things haven't shifted by then, don't hesitate to loop in your vet. Hope she's looking glossy again soon.