Zinc and Biotin Supplements for Labradoodles

That's actually a reassuring starting point — your vet has already done the important work of ruling out thyroid problems, which means you're not chasing a mystery. Zinc and biotin deficiencies are a genuine and correctable cause of coat and skin decline in older dogs, particularly in Doodle breeds, which can have higher zinc requirements than many others. Before I point you toward something specific, a couple of quick questions: what are you seeing on your dog right now — is it mainly dullness, flakiness, thinning coat, or a mix? And what's he currently eating day to day?

That pattern — dullness, wiry texture, and flaking at the shoulders and tail base without much itch — fits the zinc and biotin picture well. James Wellbeloved is a decent food but it's not particularly high in omega fatty acids, and the zinc in dry kibble can be poorly absorbed, especially as dogs age and gut efficiency drops. So your vet's read on this sounds right. One thing worth knowing: biotin works best when delivered consistently over at least 8 weeks, so this isn't a quick fix, but dogs that respond do respond clearly. Is he on anything else currently — any joint supplements or medications?

Good — Yumove is worth keeping, and it won't interfere with what I'd suggest. My recommendation is YuMEGA Plus Skin and Coat Oil by Lintbells. It's the same brand as Yumove, which your dog is already tolerating well, and it's specifically formulated with the omega-6 to omega-3 ratio that supports skin barrier function, alongside biotin. It doesn't contain zinc on its own, so I'd pair it with a separate zinc supplement — Dorwest Herbs Garlic and Fenugreek tablets are sometimes used, but for targeted zinc I'd actually suggest adding a small daily amount of a zinc-specific dog supplement like Pooch & Mutt Bionic Biotic, which covers zinc, biotin, and gut health together. That combination — YuMEGA Plus for the fatty acid and biotin side, Bionic Biotic for zinc and gut absorption — directly addresses what your vet flagged. Both are on Amazon UK. Would you like any detail on dosing or how to introduce them?

For YuMEGA Plus, the dose for a dog his size — Labradoodles typically run 25–35kg — is around 4ml per day, drizzled over his kibble. It's an oil so most dogs take to it easily. Bionic Biotic is a powder; for a dog over 20kg you'd use a full scoop daily, also on his food. Start both at the same time rather than staggering them — there's no need to introduce them slowly. In terms of timing: skin cell turnover in dogs takes roughly 3–4 weeks, and coat growth is slow, so be patient. You should start to see the skin flaking reduce within 4–6 weeks. Coat texture and shine typically improves between weeks 8 and 12. If you're not seeing any change by 10 weeks, that's worth reporting back to your vet — it's rare but occasionally there's a secondary factor that needs a closer look.

Great — you've got a solid plan and the advantage of a vet who already pointed you in the right direction. Stick with it for the full 10–12 weeks before making any judgement on whether it's working. Given his age and the fact this has crept up gradually, a consistent daily routine is the main thing. Hope his coat comes back well.