[Scherry H]

Anybody notice sudden dog scooting after galliprant? My dog has never done this. Is this a sign of allergic reaction? His stool looks fine.

[haleycookie]

If you think he’s going to be over 55-60 lbs as an adult then he needs to stay on a large breed puppy food for at least a year and a half. Also avoid neutering him until then as well if he isn’t already neutered. I also recommend Fromm large breed puppy or wellness core puppy. Both are formulated correctly for large breed growth. However. I’ve heard the 4health is good for sensitive stomachs. I would try a large breed puppy food first (make sure it has the proper calcium to phos ratios though not all large breed puppy foods do) then if for whatever reason he’s showing to have a sensitive stomach I would then try the 4health. Also have you been to the vet for the scratching? I would do that first just to rule out any health issues and make sure it’s not environmental allergies.

[Anonymous]

The best way for you to truly understand the answers to your questions is as follows: Look up your current food on the alphabetical list of dog foods, both dry and wet. Each analysis will enable you to learn the reasons why certain ingredients are not recommended. Grains, by large, are simply fillers: the dog FEELS full … and the dog poops MORE. Some dogs are allergic to particular grains and/or to rice. There are many opinions regarding wet versus dry versus raw versus frozen. Again, if you read up on the recommended foods, the ones that are 4- or 5-star winners, you will begin to understand. There is a lot of homework for you to do and a lot of homework for each and every dog owner. We come to our own conclusions and biases. Personally, I feed my Beagle dry with two tablespoons of wet on top. My best friend does the rehydrated frozen food for her Boxer. Boxers have a sensitivity to chicken, so she can’t feed that. I had a Dalmation that was allergic to grain, so I made him his food. Every breed is different. Don’t be put off: it’s fun and educational learning all this … and isn’t it about time people started wondering about what we feed our pets? Good luck. Never hesitate to ask questions on this forum. There are people here who are experts: I’m not. This is just MY opinion. Have fun!!!

[Carol M]

Thanks for the suggestions. I’ll probably try the carrots or the cooked chicken breast. That’s easy enough for my busy schedule. My dog is allergic to grains. That’s why I was looking for a grain-free snack.

• This reply was modified 7 years, 10 months ago by Carol M.

[Michelle A]

My beagle has put on some serious weight in the past few years as he’s now a senior and just not as active. He’s always had food allergies, and our vet is now recommending a grain free, chicken free diet food, suggesting salmon, sweet potatoes, whitefish, etc.

Any ideas where I can find this?!

[Ciro R]

My 9 year old German Shepherd has battled allergies and yeast infections for many years, recently She began to develop infections in her armpits in addition to her normal ear issue. She’s been on all kinds of allergy meds that simply reduce the intensity but never solve the problem. I feed her Acana and Orijen mostly but I remembered when she was a pup she mostly ate raw and didn’t have any issues at all. Does anyone have any recommendations for a good raw diet for a yeasty dog that isn’t super expensive and that I don’t have to make myself (freeze dried is ok)?

[pitlove]

Hi Kimberly-

Susan hit the nail right on the head with her whole post. It’s too bad they won’t give you a refund on the blood test since it’s known to be so inaccurate! The vets I work for recommend an elimination diet like Susan had mentioned. This is the golden standard for assessing food allergies.

If you would be interested in doing a food trial, I will warn you that is it challenging to do correctly and it takes a lot on the owners part. Whether you choose to use a prescription diet or homecook for the dog yourself, you can not give anything extra at all. No treats, no table scraps, no favored medications, no eating stuff outside, no food from another pet, no chews (dental etc), literally nothing but the diet. If the dog gets ahold of something that is not apart of the diet meant for the food trial, the trial is then considered void and must be redone.

[Susan]

Hi Kimberly,
the only true 100% test for food Sensitivities & food Allergies is a food elimination diet, those blood, salvia & hair tests all give false positive results, go back & have the test done again thru another company & the test results will be different to the one you have had done & chances are what he’s eaten in the last 1-2 weeks a few of those ingredients will come up as an positive allergen, this is what my vet told me when I wanted to have a blood test done on Patch 4 yrs ago, in the end I did an food elimination diet instead & now I pretty much know what he can’t eat but cause of Patches environment allergies as well this can cause confusion to a new dog owner as the dog may eat his single novel protein & 1 carb meal, then go outside then start reacting to something outside & then the owner thinks its what he just ate but its probably something from outside, as they age they get worse with their allergies, I’ve even been thinking of trying the Apoquel or the Cyto Point injection as this is the worse Summer Patch has ever had but we have just moved here… Patch he reacts 20mins after he eats something he’s sensitive too, the other day the lady at the pet shop gave him a few kibbles as a treat they had Chicken in the treats, it was too late before I said NO Patch had gulped them down aaaaaarrrrrrhhhhhhhhhh then he was really quiet while driving home I looked thru the mirrow & he was licking his back paw it was red & hot, it needed a ice pack, thats how quick he reacts, food sensitivities can take anywhere from 1 day up to 6 weeks to react,Patch reacts within 20mins of eating the food …… You’d have an idea how quick your dog reacts when he’s sensitive to an ingredient start a elimination diet & add one of the ingredients on the list he’s sensitive too ingredient & see does he react?? pick an ingredient thats in most kibbles, cause your not going to find a kibble without lamb, chicken, turkey, kanagroo, rice, potato etc.

It’s very rare to be sensitive to all those meat proteins, he’d have IBD as well, I really wouldnt believe in the blood test it will drive you mad, cause there’s no kibbles out there you are looking for unless you try a vet diet a Hydrolyzed vet diet Purina HA, Royal Canine Allergenic google & have a look at all of the Royal Canine vet diet formula’s or look at Canadian “Rayne” formula’s or a look for a premium kibble that has 1 carb & 1 meat protein diet or feed homemade raw diet thru a nutritionist…..

Have a look at Canidae’s “Under The Sun” Whitefish a few people who have dogs with bad food sensitivities feed “Under The Sun” Whitefish formula, also look at all Canidae Pure formula’s Pure Wild Boar has, Wild Boar, Pork Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Peas, Chickpeas, Canola Oil, Suncured Alfalfa …
Here’s the Canidae link just scoll down little look at the UTS formula’s then look at the pages on your right, Wild Boar is page 3
https://www.canidae.com/dog-food/products

[Sheila H]

I have our third Shiba Inu with multiple allergies. I had to resort to home cooking with her but this has turned out easier than one would think and requires a simple list of ingredients and no crockpot. I got the recipe from “Home-Prepared Dog and Cat Diets,” by Donald R. Strombeck, DVM, PhD. He has a website: http://www.dogcathomeprepareddiet.com. Because he is a vet and has been doing this for so long I trust him implicitly.
She also has a heart valve problem and has successfully lost the required amount of weight on this diet. I am now keeping it as maintenance.
I use his “Poultry Meat and Boiled Rice Diet (low fat).” I make her food twice a week and store it in a large zip loc bag. it uses rice, ground cooked chicken and a few beneficial additives (salt substitute, bone meal powder, salt). You could easily add veggies you know your dog can handle, but I feed mine a separate bowl of frozen, slightly thawed in the microwave (50 sec), cut green beans. Our dog is on a weight loss diet and the beans in the extra bowl of food perk her up for very few calories.
I buy prepared rice which comes in 2 cups per bag, and cooks for 90 seconds in the microwave. I cook a large breast of chicken, usually larger than the 6 ounces the recipe specifies, but I increase the other ingredients accordingly. She gets fed three times a day, and also gets a pet multi-vitamin and half a Dasuquin as treats.
Her allergies are under control her coat looks good and I don’t have to read the fine print on can labels.
She is at her desired weight of 20 pounds. She receives 3/4 cup chicken-rice mixture and 1 cup of cup of green beans three times a day.
You can go crazy with every idea on the internet. Trust a vet who has devoted his life to this service.
Good luck

[JILL N]

Good heavens! What a plethora of advice (some good, some not so much), mostly just confusing. I’ll try to give just basic advice. Raw food is going to greatly benefit your fur buddy: white teeth, free of tartar and dental disease, shiny, smooth, oil-free coats, flake-free and itch-free skin, chronic allergies and infections subside and/or disappear, odorless breath and body, improved energy and vitality, decreased visits to the vet, positive changes in poop (consistency, less frequent, smell), mental stimulation from working at mealtimes. Here are the raw food basics: your dog needs raw meals that are composed of “complete” nutrition. “Complete” meals are “whole prey.” For instance, the entire chicken (muscle meat, bones, organs, head and feet). All the nutrition your dog needs is in the entire animal or whole prey. Add some raw fish (mackerel, sardines) 1-2xs week (optional) and you’ve got a good raw diet for your dog. Don’t freak out, your dog’s teeth and digestive system will make quick work of raw and raw/meaty bones. Never give your dog cooked bones. Your dog does not need veggies or fruit for complete nutrition. However, veggies and fruit are great as treats or mixed into your ground complete meals as a bonus. Here’s a great site for creating balanced raw meals for your dog:
https://keepthetailwagging.com/how-to-create-a-balanced-raw-diet-for-a-dog/
If you’re not into customizing each meal (hmmm, shall I give Spot the lamb shank with calf liver tonight or the Turkey Offal with a marrow bone?), then chk out Raw Paws Pet Food at
http://www.rawpawspetfood.com for complete meal orders with free shipping. They also have a raw food calculator based on the weight/age of your dog (type “calculator” in the search field) so you can know how much to feed. Also, review Suzie’s Doggie Delights at http://www.freshrawdogfood.com for complete meals and a la carte items. They have a $10.00 shipping fee but their prices on fresh (shipped frozen) raw meats and bones are cheaper. If you decide to order raw in bulk or per month (so much cheaper!!), you’ll need a food scale (AccuWeight Digital Kitchen scale, $9.99 at Amazon.com), and a 5.0 cu. ft. freezer chest for food storage. Congratulations on making your pet healthier!

[kimberley w]

He has a host of environmental allergies as well. The heavy hitters there are sweet vernal grass, dust mite, storage mite-tyrophagus and acarus siro

[anonymous]

The blood test, that’s what I thought.
Most allergies are environmental. Ask your vet if a referral to a veterinary dermatologist for intradermal skin testing is indicated if he doesn’t have a positive response to the diet changes and treatment in a reasonable amount of time.
Especially if the symptoms have been going on for 4 seasons/1 year without significant relief from symptoms.
Hope this helps

Evidence Update- Evidence-based Canine Allergy Treatment

[anonymous]

What type of allergy testing was done?

PS: Because if one were to believe the results you have presented. There is no commercial dog food that will meet your criteria. Cross contamination and all.
You would either have to go with prescription/therapeutic food or consult a veterinarian that specializes in nutrition.
Not the internet.

Food allergies are rare and food sensitivities tend to fluctuate. I would consider consulting a veterinary dermatologist for a second opinion, intradermal skin testing (the most accurate way to identify environmental allergens).
Good luck

[kimberley w]

I just used your tool and I can’t thank you enough! My dog is allergic to almost every protein along with rice, potato, soybean and barley. I finally found a food to try. cross your fingers!

[anonymous]

What dog food is he on? If he has no issues why do you want to switch?

Hope these sites help

https://www.mspca.org/angell_services/choosing-the-right-diet-for-your-pet/

and http://skeptvet.com/Blog/category/nutrition/

I lean toward fish based, Zignature or Nutrisca but that is because one of my dogs has environmental allergies and does best on fish as a base.
I have heard good things about Pro Plan Focus Salmon and may try it in the near future.
I avoid potato, not that there is anything wrong with potato, but I don’t think it should be more than 10% of the diet.
Some kibbles are LOADED with potato (cheap starchy filler)

PS: You may enjoy this 🙂

Ahhh, Dr. Google

[Susan]

Hi RollTide10,

some vets + Anon 101 who aren’t up to speed with what a Dermatologist recommend to do for itchy dogs with allergies, yeast dermatitis, food sensitivities & other skin problems, will say bath less, this is old school now, “if you wash a dog you’ll dry out his skin, you’ll wash away their natural oils” this is not true, if your dog is eating a healthy balanced diet & the shampoo you’re using is a shampoo that moisturizes the skin, paws etc & agree’s with the dog skin, baths are the best thing to do for itchy skin & paws, the dog will be better off & can be bath daily if needed, we humans feel heaps better after a bath/shower especially if we have itchy skin, once you’re using a medicated shampoo like “Malaseb” medicated shampoo you can bath the dog daily if needed, Malaseb has ingredients to keep the dogs skin moisturized soft & beautiful, after I bath Patch in his Malaseb shampoo he feels so soft, silky & stops his scratching & it relieves his itchy paws & skin… I bath Patch as soon as I see him starting to scratch & he’s itchy, it’s Summer here in Australia & Patch has Seasonal Environment Allergies & Food Sensitivities so he also gets yeasty smelly paws, ears & skin if he eats ingredients he’s sensitive too, I’ve finally worked out his food sensitivies but with environment allergies it can be so many things he’s sensivtive too & I cant put him in a bubble…so baths is the next best thing.

Join this face book group called “Dog Issues Allergies & other information support group” a Dermatologist, Karen Helton Rhodes from “Healthy Skin 4 Dogs” frequents the f/b group she highly recommends bathing…

Why the Royal Canin kibble was helping your dogs skin the Omega oils were probably balanced properly, start looking for a few new kibbles that have better ingredients & make sure the Omega 3 & 6 are balanced properly, also add either the tin sardines/salmon daily or fish/salmon oil capsule daily or Krill Oil capsule daily if dog has stomach problems & make sure you keep your fish oil capsules in the fridge out of the heat.

Start joining/following groups, sites that support natural healthy dog health, “Rodney Habib” has a few really good post at the moment on his f/b page…. https//www.facebook.com/rodneyhabib

[anonymous]

“Lastly, I was told to by the vet to wash him once every month. How come you suggest a weekly bath? Is it to wash off the allergens? Wouldn’t over-washing also get rid of the healthy oils?”

I would go by what your vet advises. He has examined the dog and he is a veterinary healthcare professional.

Without a diagnosis for his skin condition you don’t know what you are treating, medical causes need to be ruled out first. Work closely with your vet, ask for a veterinary dermatologist if you don’t see improvement in a reasonable amount of time.

There are many conditions besides allergies that could cause the symptoms you described.
And again, take a look at pet health insurance before your dog is officially diagnosed, it may be cost effective for you in the long run.

PS: I would definitely go back to Royal Canin if he was doing well on it. Simple 🙂
Maybe this article written by a veterinarian that specializes in nutrition and is affiliated with one of the best animal hospitals in the country will help
https://www.mspca.org/angell_services/choosing-the-right-diet-for-your-pet/

[pitlove]

Hi RollTide10-

You are correct, at 2 years old your mix breed is capable of regulating his calcium uptake now and no longer requires a large breed puppy diet or for you to be concerned about the ratio of calcium and phosphorus. He can now be placed on an adult maintenance diet or all life stages formula. Most importantly now is keeping him lean (4/9 on BCS).

As far as foods go, it sounds like he was doing much better on Royal Canin, so if I were you I would put him back on that since it was already established that he was doing well. Itching his back a little bit is not an indication of allergies. Dogs get little itches just like we do, doesn’t mean we are having an allergic reaction and same is true for them. However with WEF it does sound as though, either the source of the Omega 3s is not as quality of a source as with Royal Canin or its not enough. BTW, as an aside, ingredient lists tell you nothing about the quality of a food, only what should be in it. Royal Canin has strict sourcing and has often denied shipments of corn that Kelloggs then buys from them for our cereal. So I would not worry about their ingredients being of poor quality.

[Susan]

Hi RollTide10,

If you want more info on a dog kibble its best to send the dog food company an email & ask what the Omega 3 % is & what is the Omega 6% is, the Omega 3% should be around 1/2 or a bit under 1/2 of what the Omega 6% is, “Rodney Habib” is really good to follow on his FaceBook page….Last year Rodney sent away a few popular dry kibbles & results found most of the kibbles that they tested were unbalanced & the Omega 3 was very low & the omega 6 was very high, this can cause skin problems in a dog, so it’s best to buy tin Sardines & tin Salmon in spring water & add about 2 spoons of the sardines or salmon to 1 of his meals a day, Omega 3 is Neutral-anti inflammatory & Omega 6 is Pro-inflammartory…. Omega-3 fatty acids help reduce inflammation, and some omega-6 fatty acids tend to promote inflammation. … Most omega-6 fatty acids in the diet come from vegetable oils, such as linoleic acid (LA), not to be confused with alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which is an omega-3 fatty acid.
If you want to continue feeding dry processed kibble to your dog then make sure you start rotating between a few different brands & meat proteins, eg: 1 month feed salmon kibble then next month change to another brand & feed lamb, the next month feed Turkey dont just feed the same brand & formula of kibble 24/7 this is when health problems can occur especially if the kibble is unbalanced or very high in toxins…

Have a look at “Wellness Simple” Turkey & Potato the Omega 3%-1.00% the Omega 6% is 2.80% it also states on the Wellness Simple kibble bag,”Skin health & for dogs with food sensitivities” there’s also the Wellness Simple” Salmon & Potato formula, Omega-3%- 1.00% Omega-6% 2.75% so you can rotate between them but not straight after each other feed another brand inbetween “Canidae” Pure Sky, Pure Wild & Pure Sea are really good for dogs who have skin problems…

another thing google “How long does kibble last once opened” Steve Brown wrote a really good article, after you open a bag of kibble it has a life of 14 days the air gets to all the oils & the oils start going rancid, so make sure you keep some kibble in a air tight container that you use daily & the rest of the kibble bag close & seal air tight as good as you can then put in the coolest place in the house, I leave in the air con room & put the kibble bag in another plastic bag seal with sticky tape then put in one of those storage containers…
another good reason why its best to add 2 spoons of salmon or sardines daily to your dogs diet, adding fresh whole foods to your dogs diet daily or 4 times a week is very healthy & better then feeding a dog just dry kibble 24/7, also meals you cook for yourself any left overs that a dog can eat add to his kibble, take out some kibble & add some of the home cooked meal, if you follow Rodney Habib look thru all his video’s he also has another f/b page called “Planet Paws”
Baths make sure you’re bathing weekly Baths wash off any allergens that may be on teh fur/skin Environment allergies cause problems as well, I use “Malaseb” medicated shampoo it’s excellent for itchy skin, yeasty skin, dry skin, most skin problems, Malaseb puts the moisture back into the skin & kills any bacteria yeast that may be on skin & paws….

Good-luck with your new rescue & feed a healthy diet that’s rotated with different foods dry kibble, freeze dried, cooked meals & raw meaty bones for teeth health….

[anonymous]

For best results I would make an appointment with a board certified veterinary dermatologist for accurate testing, diagnosis and treatment.

Environmental allergies? Has mange been ruled out? Atopic dermatitis? Medical condition? Has lab work and skin testing been done?
Treatment is often a multifaceted approach. It’s not just about finding the right food, or the right shampoo, or the right supplement.
In fact the food may have nothing to do with his symptoms.

Do you have pet health insurance? You may want to consider getting it before he is officially diagnosed. Treatment can be a little expensive.
If it is environmental allergies, there is no cure. There is effective treatment, however it is lifelong, allergies tend to wax and wane so you may get lucky, they could be mild or seasonal (if that’s what he has). He could very well have some other skin disorder or medical condition that is causing these issues.

Bathing with a very gentle puppy shampoo at least once a week may help, but not if the skin is red, bleeding or irritated, in that case I would defer to the vet.
Talk to your vet, if you want to rule out food sensitivities ask about a prescription/therapeutic diet, that might be a good place to start, it depends on how severe his symptoms are and how uncomfortable the dog is.

I would go directly to the specialist if it was my dog, my dog sees a veterinary dermatologist once a year and has had a positive response to treatment.
She did well on Nutrisca salmon for years but is now on Zignature whitefish or catfish.
You could add fish oil (approved for veterinary use) once a day to his food, it’s supposed to help with dry skin. I add a little water and a topper, like a bit of scrambled egg (2 meals per day)

[anonymous]

*crickets*

I have never tried the brands that you mentioned. For a limited ingredient food I have had good luck with Nutrisca (salmon) and Zignature (whitefish or catfish).
Both are grain free and potato free, one of my dogs gets loose stools on foods that contain potato (sweet or white). The other one has environmental allergies and sees a specialist with good results.

Nothing wrong with potato, except I don’t think it should be more than 10% of the diet and a lot of kibbles are LOADED with potato (cheap starchy filler). So, I avoid potato altogether.

I have heard good things about Pro Plan Focus for sensitive stomach and skin, it’s not grain free, but it is potato free. I may give it a try in the near future.

[anonymous]

The Vet Dr. John De Jong Sunday, January 28, 2018

Q Despite the colder weather, my Frenchie continues to itch. He did improve when taking a medication my vet gave him called Apoquel. While his itching is less frequent now, I am hoping you could explain why he continues to scratch. The dog is not quite 2 years old, and he is other­wise healthy. Can I keep him on this medication? His skin is also a little dry, so I have thought about giving him some supplements from the local pet store. His skin looks good otherwise.

A Apoquel is a great medication at controlling itchiness, or pruritis, in dogs, but it treats the symptoms associated with allergies and not the root cause of the problem. It is a much safer drug than the historically used steroids. Studies have shown it to be effective for a long time, with a wide margin of safety.
I would suggest that you either have a veterinary dermatologist review the case or have a good discussion about it with your veterinarian. Here are a few questions worth asking: Were skin scrapings done to rule out mange mites? Has any allergy testing been done? What about considering desensitization with allergy shots? Have you tried your dog on a novel protein diet in case the dog has allergies to certain meat proteins?
Just because the weather is cold, one cannot assume that there are no fleas around, so make sure skin parasites aren’t the cause. Are you using a flea and tick preventative? Also ask yourself if your home is dry this winter.
As for supplements, I would work with your veterinarian to use a good source of Omega 3 oils rather than buying over-the-counter products. With good diagnostics, you might be able to solve the itching. If not, the medication you were given for your dog will suffice. Good luck.

http://www.bostonherald.com/lifestyle/2018/01/getting_to_the_bottom_of_frenchie_s_itchiness?utm_campaign=bostonherald_trending_stories&utm_source=bostonherald&utm_medium=trending_stories

[Laura D]

Thurs 1/25/18 Peyton seems to be doing very well on Forza10 for sensitive skin..so far no allergic break outs like she has experienced on so many other foods. Her excessive shedding & her coat are much better. Hopefully she continues improving.

[Ann K]

Look at Taste of Wild – it has a pretty decent rating and lots of venison and buffalo and duck blends and Blue Buffalo Life Protection has a lamb and rice. I have a dog that appears to be allergic to any kind of dark meat such as beef, venison, buffalo and duck from what I can tell so that is why I feed her the Blue Life Protection Lamb and Rice and she has few break outs if any. I have my larger dogs on the Blue LP Chicken and Rice and it seems to work pretty good.

[Karen G]

And doesn’t notify distributors or customers.

My Great Pyrenees/Golden Retriever mix is allergic to chicken so I carefully check ingredient labels to make sure it isn’t contained in her food. I found four flavors of Blue Buffalo canned food that didn’t have chicken (Hunter’s Stew, Turkey Stew, Beef Stew, and Irish Lamb Stew) so I set up a monthly auto ship order of one case of each flavor with a distributor. Last fall Maggie started shaking her head, scratching and licking — all signs of allergic reaction. At first it wasn’t too bad so we gave her an antihistamine and hoped it would settle down. Instead it only got worse so I took her to the vet. She was definitely having an allergic reaction so they put her on Apoquel. That didn’t help much so I decided to check her food. Sure enough, Blue Buffalo added or substituted chicken in each of the four flavors. So I was feeding Maggie her allergen every single day for 3 months and didn’t know it!!!! What obligation does a manufacturer have to notify people of changes to their product?????

[Kimberly S]

Hi Meghan,
I recently put my GSD on
Wellness Core Reduced Fat kibble and mix it with the can because she seems to still be hungry with just the kibble. This is a grain-free kibble which is great because my Angel has allergies to grains. I put her on this because she needs to loose weight, and she really loves the food. This is listed on the Editor’s Choice too if you want to check it out in more detail before you purchase. For me and my girl it has worked out really well. Maybe it can do the same for you. I know you just want to do the kibble and I think you just might be pleasantly surprised at just using the kibble.
Good luck, I hope this helps you and your fur babies.
Kim

[Meghan K]

Hi. My Golden is currently on medicine for his allergies. I know the best is to go grain free as far as food but I need help deciding what is the best brand to try. He also is very overweight and needs to probably be on a rather healthier type of dry food preferably. I doubt I can find a 2 for 1 (helping allergies and weight) but any recommendations for a good brand on either issue would be so appreciated! Thank you in advance!

[Susan]

Hi Ryan,
Is the Hills Z/d helping with his allergies (Skin) ? does he suffer with Environment allergies or Food sensitivities or does he have both? my boy suffers with both, if his skin seems better on the Hills Z/D it’s probably the high Omega fatty acids they put in the Vet Diets, start looking for another limited ingredient single protein kibble, if the California Natural ingredients didn’t really help read what the ingredients were in the California Natural, I’m pretty sure the CN Kangaroo formula has Red & Green Lentils these ingredients will not help if a dog has sloppy poos/diarrhea you need to aviod Lentils…
With environment allergies baths are best in a medicated shampoo, I found Malaseb works the best for my boy, twice a week or weekly baths, washes off the allergens on the dog skin/paws if he’s doing sloppy poos then Sweet Potatoes & Potato is the best to firm up poo’s, the only way a dog will get yeasty skin & paws is if he is sensitive to an ingredient & from environment allergies, Potato does not cause yeasty skin/paws in dogs this is a Myth, thats if he gets yeasty smelly skin & paws….

You can start an elimination food diet & start working out what foods he can & cant eat, Potato & Sweet Potato firmed up my boy poos up with his IBD now he doesnt need his anal gland expressed no more, sometimes after Patch has done a poo I see the fluid running down his black bum, when I go home I get a baby wipe & wipe that area, after I started feeding Patch “Taste Of The Wild” Sierra Mountain Roasted Lamb, it has just Lamb as the protein source then Sweet Potato, Potato, Peas, Canola Oil, Egg I started rotating & feeding “Canidae” Pure Wild Boar, Patch has had no more anal gland problems..
Here’s the Canidae site to look at formula’s & ingredients,
https://www.canidae.com/dog-food/products
Canidae also have their Pure Sea & Pure Sky formula’s they’re really good for skin problems cause they’re very high in omega fatty acids, Canidae also make another brand called “Under The Sun” but its yellow pea & chickpea heavy, I’d avoid if your dogs has sloppy poo problems..
or look at “4Health” Special Care, Sensitive Stomach” it just has Potato & Egg excellent for doing an elimination diet once your dog is doing well you start adding 1 new ingredient for 6 weeks & see does he react in those 6 weeks there’s also “4Health” Special Care, Sensitive Skin formula it has Hydrolyzed Salmon but has more ingredients then the 4Health Sensitive Stomach formula has, or there’s other “4Health” formula’s Turkey & Potato, Duck & Potato, Whitefish & Potato look for a formula with the least ingredients just google “4health Special Care, Sensitive Stomach” & you’ll see all the 4health formula’s …

Hills Z/d is Guaranteed Money back so I’d take back the remaining Z/D kibble, keep a bit of the Z/d kibble to help introduce a new kibble & tell the lady at the vet counter what is happening, Hills like feed back how your dog went on their vet diets, you can even send Hills an email & have a Vet Nutritionist call you back they will help you with the vets diet, which is best to try next, Hills have their Potato & Duck skin formula or their Science Diet Sensitive Skin formula, the Z/D had been changed twice in the last 5yrs & the Hills I/d Digestive Care has just been changed & improved again, thats 3 times in 5 yrs so Hills must get a few complaints with their vet diets….
There’s “Royal Canin” Hydrolyzed Protein HP formula or Royal Canin have their Select Proteins, PR- Potato & Rabbit, PV Potato & Venison, Skin Support SS is Rice & Fish, that’s if you want to try another vet diet again, or look for a premium limited ingredient dog kibble & add your own omega oil, just buy some Fish/Krill Oil capsules & give 1 capsule with 1 of his meals a day but only start adding the Krill Oil capsules once he’s stable on the new kibble as fish /Krill Oil can cause sloppy poos in some dogs, fish/krill oil its excellent for dogs skin/coat..

[Kimberly S]

Hi Ryan K,
You didn’t specify what his allergies are. But a lot if dogs do have allergies to grains ,rice and chicken. The anal sacks are released with harder stools that is why he is having a hard time with the present food.
My recommendation would be to find a grain-free food like Merrick or Zigatature (I think this comes in grain free) These are very good alternatives and can be found either in a store or on Chewy. Com.
Best of luck to you and your fur baby.
Kim

[anonymous]

Zignature, for something a bit more reasonable, Nutrisca
I have found that grain free and avoiding potatoes helps.
From a previous post of mine per:
Excerpts (out of context) from article below: https://www.vetsecure.com/veterinarymedicalclinic.com/articles/136
Overview:
“Anal sacs are the reservoirs for the secretions of anal glands which are located on either side of a dog’s anus, at approximately four and eight o’clock. These sacs contain liquid secretions from the anal gland, which, in healthy animals, are normally pale yellow-brown to grayish in color. The contents are usually emptied during normal bowel movements, or when a dog is nervous or scared. In most animals, these sacs empty easily. However, some dogs, especially small breed dogs, are not able to empty the sacs properly and become susceptible to anal sac disease”.
Transmission or Cause:
“The cause of anal sac disease is unknown. Smaller dog breeds, such as Chihuahuas and poodles, are most often affected. Excessive anal gland production, soft feces or diarrhea, poor muscle tone, and obesity also contribute to higher risk of developing anal sac disease. Anal sac abscess tends to occur after an impacted anal gland has become so severely swollen and infected that the anal sac forms an abscess and ruptures”.
Prevention:
“Expression of the anal sacs every few weeks or months often will help prevent anal gland fluid from accumulating and becoming thickened again. High fiber diets have been shown to help prevent anal sac disease in at-risk dogs, especially those that are obese”.

Regarding allergies, it would be best to make an appointment with a board certified veterinary dermatologist for testing/ diagnosis/treatment, if you don’t have good results with your regular vet within a reasonable amount of time.
In the meantime, has your vet recommended a prescription food/therapeutic diet? That may be a good place to start.
Beware of homeopathic miracle cures, forget about mail-in hair and saliva tests (no good).
For science-based veterinary medicine go here http://skeptvet.com/Blog/
You can use the search engine there to look up topics.
This site has a search engine too, see my posts.
Good luck
PS: Regarding the blood test via vet, food allergies are rare and food sensitivities tend to fluctuate. Intradermal skin testing done by a veterinary dermatologist is the most accurate. My dog has environmental allergies, her anal gland issues cleared up immediately after she started the prescribed treatment by the specialist.

[Ryan K]

I recently started my dog on a prescription diet (Hills ZD) for itching/chewing from allergies. He actually loves the food BUT I am noticing that he’s pooping an almost insane amount and the poop is pretty “soft and mushy” looking. He’s been on this food for a month and I am still noticing this. His anal glands have also been bothering him a lot since starting this. He’s constantly scooting despite getting them expressed. I feel like the food just isn’t really impressing me enough to want to keep paying such a pricey amount for it. My question is this…is there a better dry food that I could get him on that will help his glands release naturally while firming his stool up and that will also alleviate his itching? I had him on California Naturals Kangaroo but it’s really become quite hard to find and it didn’t seem to help that much with his symptoms. Any thoughts?

• This topic was modified 7 years, 11 months ago by Ryan K.

[Marilu R]

Are there ever considerations in the future to do analysis on vegan dog food brands amongst each other? The market for that type of dog food is getting bigger so it would be nice as a consumer to see reviews and options. My dog is allergic to meat proteins so I give him V-dog which is an excellent vegan dog food but I am always open to hearing what other brands of dry vegan dog food are on the market and how they compare to each other.

[Kimberly S]

Hi all,
I have a 4 yr old German Shepherd, and she’s allergic to Chicken,. She needs to loose 10 pounds. As anyone who has GSD’s knows it’s so important to maintain a healthy weight. I don’t care the cost of the food. I just need a high quality, grain-free, diet food, WITH OUT chicken and that seems to be an impossible find. I would prefer to stay with a dry, but don’t mind mixing. I don’t want her on a strictly wet diet due to my own preference.
Please, please I really need help here. She really isn’t a picky eater but starving her isn’t the answer either. And before anyone asks, I’ve had a full blood work up done on her because I thought the weight gain might have been due to an underlying issue and it is not.
I thank you in advance for any advice you can provide.

[Anonymous]

You know, I am 70 and the longer I live, the more I realize that dogs are as different from each other as people are; true, yes? You may be right in that that particular Blue Wilderness product has too much fibre for YOUR dog, as she is fairly small; it’s a sensible thought. You are also correct in thinking that manufacturers are making grain-free and ULTRA grain-free (a marketing gimmick methinks?), which just serves to confuse we owners. (I mean, is grain free NOT actually grain free? Why the “ultra”?) So, I think I would try an Ultra and see how your little girl reacts to it. Some dogs have difficulty digesting chicken, which is supposed to be easy on their intestines (i.e., Boxers) and others are absolutely allergic to particular ingredients. It’s all a huge experiment. Do you know what the “cross” part of her actually is? You are being a very responsible owner in changing from a cheap grocery-store brand to a 4- or 5-star Blue Buffalo. Have you checked out other brands recommended by Dog Food Advisor? Orijen is VERY good. I am Canadian, so use Performatrim, but have also used Blue Buffalo brands. But for sure stick to grain free and DO NOT go back to the grocery store. Many people say that rice is just as bad (is it a grain per se?), so perhaps avoid that, too. Let us know how she reacted to the Ultra Grain Free that you just bought.

[pitlove]

Adriana-

I had to switch to a different Pro Plan formula because after we switched my dogs food thinking it would be better for his allergies, he had a bad reaction (vomiting, diarherra) to it and after that the Sensitive Skin & Stomach no longer was working for him. After talking to a lady at the Purina vet diet customer service line for an hour we determined he might need a lower fiber food, so we went back to the Pro Plan Sport 26/16 and hes been perfect ever since.

Edit: As far as the expired foods go. The only time a store should be putting foods on sale are when they are CLOSE to expiration, within a month or so. If they are not checking their shelves regularly for expired product that is an individual store issue. PetSmart is known for having food be in poor conditions like this. You might be better off buying from chewy.com or seeing if any of your independently owned local pet stores will order the product for you or carry it in store. They will likely not have storage issues.

[Karen M]

I would strongly recommend Merrick Grain Free Beef kibble, and their can food also. I’ve been fostering a pure-bred German Shepherd for a year. When I took him in he was 8 months old, his owner had told me that Kingston had a very sensitive digestive track, and he had always had loose stools. After having him for two months, he had diarrhea for an entire week straight. After doing some research I came to the conclusion that it could be his food (He was on Eukanuba, German Shepherd blend). I researched, looking for the best food for him, and came up with Merrick Grain Free Beef kibble. Normally when changing food you should do it gradually, but with diarrhea for a solid week I went ahead and changed it immediately. Within a day his diarrhea stopped, his stools became firm, and have never had a problem since. I’ve learned that many dogs are allergic to poultry. I make sure to read label ingredients on every thing I buy for him to eat. Finding good treats for him wasn’t easy, as soo many Beef treats have chicken or other forms of protein.

[anonymous]

That study is not a reliable source of information. And the site you are referring to is a homeopathic site.
I use kibble as a base, add chicken broth or tuna or scrambled egg, plus a little water.
So that the kibble is about 1/2 to 2/3 of the diet. I find this works well.
I first went to fish kibble with no potato, because my sensitive dog with environmental allergies does best on it, it works for my other dog too 🙂

[pitlove]

Hi Julia-

How were you able to determine he is allergic to those specific ingredients? Was it by food elimination trial? Was that why he ate the hydrolyzed food?

[Julia T]

Our 1 yr old lab has a super sensitive stomach plus skin allergies. He is allergic to corn, peas, alfalfa and poultry. We’ve had him on prescription sensitive stomach/HA dog food in the past which gave him terrible diarrhea. Right now, he’s eating Honest Kitchen Zeal (Fish Grain-Free) Formula along with probiotic and digest enzymes. His poops are formed but not solid + a lot gas + a lot of poops (at least 5-6 times per day). Any recommendations on food that will help his sensitive stomach + allergies?

[Susan]

Hi Fanette,

I would be trying the “Natural Balance” LID Bison or the Duck formula’s the TOTW Smoked Salmon has more fat-15.1%max then the N/B formula’s-10%min & the TOTW has more ingredients & when TOTW was tested for toxins & contaminates back in August 2017 a few TOTW formula’s were very high in toxins, the Pacific stream salmon was one of them so I’d stay away from American fish pet foods unless you know it’s caught in clean waters, you’d have better fish in your country wouldn’t you??, Patch started on the TOTW Pacific Stream Smoked Salmon first but he kept vomiting then I put him on the Sierra Mountain Lamb & the vomiting stopped so I wonder if he was vomiting from the toxins in the TOTW Smoked Salmon?? the smoked salmon has the same fat & protein% as the TOTW Lamb formula…

Patch is the same with wet cooked foods especially wet canned foods, he starts whinging after he eats certain wet foods & wet tin foods, he can only eat small amounts or he lifts his right front paw up & wants me to rub stomach & pancreas area, so Furby is smart not eating the wet food it could be causing him some discomfort, pain or acid reflux?? Like Patch specialist vet said to me yesterday alot of vets dont know what’s wrong & dont have the equipment needed(Endoscope machine) to do further testing on dog stomach when teh dog has stomach & bowel problems, Endoscope & Biopsies is the best thing to do when it comes to stomach, small bowel & esophagus problems…the vet will get answers to what is wrong with the dog, an Ultra Scan can’t really see the stomach so it’s a waste of money Ultra Scan & Xrays they show blockages, stones etc but not what’s wrong with the stomach & bowel..
Patch stopped eating about 1 month ago he would not eat his TOTW Lamb kibble, so I listened to him & stopped feeding him the TOTW Lamb, I quickly ordered a new LID Rice & Lamb kibble, I cant get the American Natural Balance in Australia, we have an Australian Natural Balance made by a vet but it’s too high in omega oils, I wish I could get teh American Natural Balance kibble but after trying another kibble Patch continued to go down hill with his esophagus, he does this suckling & swollowing thing so yesterday Tuesday he had Endoscope & Biopsies done & now I have to wait about 4-5 days for Biopsies results the specialist vet rung me & he said Patches flap to his air pipe & food pipe in his esophagus was very inflammed, he had 2 legions in his mouth they were both benign & burnt off, his back molars teeth needed cleaning & he has gingivitis left back teeth, this would be from eating kibble & the kibble would be getting stuck inbetweeen his back teeth & mouth, the vet also found something wrong with his soft palate his trachea, he said the new designer dogs with the turned up nose get this problem pugs etc, the list went on & on I couldnt take it all in, then I heard Hernia, there was too much to take all in, I’ll wait now for Patches Bisopsies results & his regular vet Sue will tell me what’s going on, we’ll try & work out what we are going to do & why the stomach acid is washing back up into mouth & why is he getting such bad acid reflux when he’s on an ant acid reducer “Losec” but only one Losec a day, this is when the specialist vet said, stomach problems are the hardest for a vet to work out what is wrong … I asked the specialist vet can Patch be taken off the Lossec & put on the same ant acid medication I’m on Somac (Pantoprazole) it’s better for treating GORDs, acid reflux disease my Gastro Dr told me so I told Patches specialist Vet this info also Somac is used to treat a rare condition called Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, where the stomach produces very large amounts of acid, so I’ve asked can we try Somac 20mg twice a day but first we have to wait for those biopsies result to come back & see if it’s his Helicobacter embedded in the walls of his stomach & this is cause the really bad acid reflux…

Yes it is very stressful having a dog with IBD & Pancreatitis you dont know what to feed, what to do, will the new food make everything worse, then when you’ve tried every food etc & still the dog is unwell, I have 1 vet diet left to try & that’s the Purina Pro Plan HA kibble the fat is low BUT its very high in Omega oils & high Omega oils give Patch Acid Reflux, so I still having tried the Purina HA, I’ll ask the vets when the Biopsies results come back Patches vets recommended feeding healthy cooked diet, they both feed cooked meals & Sue Patches regular vet feeds an grain free kibble but everytime I see her she is trying another new grainfree kibble for her dog with IBS, Sue is American but had to further her vet studies here whe she came to Australia in te 80’s & she always recommends I look for Australian made kibbles with Australian ingredients I’ll ask her 1 day why does she not like American dog foods she will not feed the TOTW kibble she knows its a Diamond product she has feed the Earthborn Holistic Coastal Catch & wanted me to try it then I told her I have tried the Earthborn Holistic Ocean Fusion & Patch kept vomiting after eating Ocean Fusion kibble then I seen the Ocean Fusion had made the top ten worst kibbles with Toxins so I dont know what Patches vet is feeding her dog now??…
Patch has broken my heart, he’s my soul mate, he is so intune with me, I dont even have to talk & he knowswhat to do, its like being married but he’s a dog I often wonder wwas he a human in another life lol its going to kill me when I have to put him to sleep, I’ve only had him 5 yrs & most of the 5 yrs he’s been unwell on & off, if he didnt have environment allergies he’s be a bit better but it’s Summer now in Australia & his allegies do play a big part in his health problems aswell his vet said but 1 good thing his hive like lumps that would come up all over his body have all stop this Summer since moving the vet said thats GOOD normally dogs get worse with their allergies when they move…
You have to keep trying different foods & meat proteins & rotate between a few different kibbles & wet food never feed the same meat proteins 24/7, always have another meat protein that Furby can eat aswell just incase he doesnt want to eat & is ill, Patch starts to react when he was eating the same foods 24/7 so now he gets his new kibble is “Nutro Essentails” Lamb, Rice & vegetables kibble weight management, the fat is 9%min per 100g the protein is 19%min per 100g so per cup, I’m waiting for someone to get back to me from Nutro what is teh max fat protein & what is the fiber % it doesnt say but cause Nutro is made by Mars now the staff dont know much about the pet foods, his pos are very firm & he only poos 2 poos a day now before on the TOTW he was ddoing 3 poos a day for breakfast he gets 1/2 a cup kibble at 7am then he goes for a walk then he gets another 1/2 a cup around 9am, 12pm he gets 1 scrambled egg, 5pm he gets under 1 cup kibble but today cause he’s got his sore throat Im giving him boiled potato & some BBQ chicken breast all mashed & cut up then at 8pm he gets 1/3 a cup of the Nurto Lamb kibble, then he puts himself to bed & he’s been sleeping thru the night thank-god he was up & walking around the house 1-2 weeks ago, Id ask him does he want to go outside for a wee & he was just sniffing everything & when Id ask him come on come inside its 1am he’d just stand there staring at me, so now I take him outside with a lead on so I can bring him back inside…I dont know what was wrong with him 1-2 weeks ago he’s never done these weird things before…I think he was constiped & needed to poo or he had wind pain this Nutro essential kibble has beet pulp & is constipating him a litle bit I think…. look for a kibblewith Beet Pulp it firms up their poo & the poos are smaller & Patch is only doing 2 poos a day now…
Now I’m giving him his losec tablet when he eats his 7am feed, so the Losec tablet goes completely down his throat into his stomach with the kibble, I thought the Losec tablet sat in his throat & caused this problem but both of Patches vet don’t seem to think so, lately when I go to give him the Losec tablet he’s been running away into another room when he sees me get his Losec tablet from the cupboard he’s a very smart dog & he’s telling me, I dont want no more tablets its making me ill but you cannot just stop giving & taking Losec its a Protein Pump Inhibitor & Patch will get the worse acid reflux if I stop his Losec, it needs to be reduce very slowley Ive been thinking maybe the Losec tablet started this inflammed esophagus Patch stopped drinking his water after I put the Losec tablet down his throat so I just syringed in some water into his mouth who to say the Losec tablet just sits in his throat & disovoled & caused this irrattation??
Have you tried feeding another meat a lean white meat like Pork or Turkey & have you tried boiled potato also have you tried scrambled egg, no milk, no butter just whisk the egg & either cook in a microwave for a very short time or I cook in a non stick frying pain cool & Patch loves his Scrambled egg, I’ve been thinking about getting some chickens but Patch has a high prey drive when it comes to birds the only birds he doesnt mind is the white cockatoo & the small Stork birds.. with the new kibble just start the new kibble, feed 1 meal a wet meal what Furby normally eats & then his other meal feed the new kibble then another meal feed the wet cooked meal & this should be OK I never feed wet food & kibble together to Patch he gets his pain…does Furby eat 4-5 meals day?? if you’re feeding just 2 meals a day maybe start feeding Furby more smaller meals a day as smaller meals are easier to digest & less work on the stomach & Pancreas, its a pain but you have a happy dog…
Good-Luck

[Susan S]

Hi, I have a 2 1/2 year old Great Pyr/Golden Retriever/Beagle Mix (95 lb) and an 8 year old Black Lab/Great Dane mix (100 lb). They both have problems with chicken and some skin allergies so I trying to find a dry dog food for both of them. I am using Nutrish Just 6 Lamb and Rice, but they still seem to poop to much on that too. I am trying not to buy two different kinds of food, but I’m not sure what to do. Buy senior food for him and adult for her, but cannot have chicken or other poultry in it. Any suggestions. Thanks

[zcRiley]

Stop the all the chicken immediately. He’s become severely allergic to chicken. Also, not all dogs can eat raw ingredients. Stop all food now, fast for 24 hrs, lots of water to drink. If you can, take him to the vet to IV fluid into him for dehydration, which happens after vomiting & diarrhea. Feed Zignature Zssentials kibble until you find what you like but doesn’t contain any ingredients your dog is allergic to.

[anonymous]

I’d go with the Pro Plan Focus, just my opinion.

Yes I have a dog that is sensitive, doesn’t do well with potato. My other one has environmental allergies, has nothing to do with the food. In fact, I am using Mighty Dog (grains and all) as a topper for this one with good results.

Every dog is different, buy a small bag first and see how it goes.

[Adriana R]

Is your dog “sensitive”?
3 of my dogs really aren’t sensitive when it comes to kibble but I was thinking maybe Sunshine needs a more sensitive dog food as she’s getting older (I understand that might sound crazy) and it’s good on calories for the other 2. Plus it wouldn’t do them bad if their really not “sensitive”
But on the bag it says “Focus” Is that’s just how they marketed it? It doesn’t really have to do with anything?
Im trying to figure out if I want to put them on Pro Plan or Authority.
What I don’t want is to have to be buying 3 different dog foods like I have in past. It’s just to much to keep up with. 3 dogs will be on Authority or Pro Plan. And Jr will be on Simply Nourish. Because I doubt that the chicken is making his ears itchy. If he had a true allergic reaction his entire body would be itchy.

[anonymous]

No, it’s not grain free. However, that’s not a bad thing. I have decided to try the Pro Plan Focus salmon food mentioned for one of my dogs, when I finish up the Zignature, good but a little expensive.
I have found that some dogs do best on grain and potato free, just my experience.
However, I will pay for quality, so I will continue to use Zignature as a base also.

https://www.mspca.org/angell_services/choosing-the-right-diet-for-your-pet/ (excerpt below)
Grain free diets have become all the rage in the last few years. I suspect this has stemmed from greater recognition of gluten sensitivity in humans. Most pet food companies have jumped on the band wagon following the marketing success of grain free human diets. The truth of the matter is that there are no dog or cat studies showing a health benefit to grain free foods. A myth has been perpetuated that grains are unhealthy. In fact, whole grains contribute vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids and are highly digestible by dogs and cats. Allergies to grains are actually very rare, and only the Irish Setter breed has been demonstrated to have a gluten sensitivity. Many grain free diets substitute potatoes and tapioca, which have less protein, more sugar, and less fiber. And typically these come at a higher cost.

[Tyla M]

Laurel,

Are you looking for grain or grain free? I have had great results with Fromm’s brand. If you go to their website you van look through their different lines, flavors, and grain oe grain inclusive foods. They have a good calcium/phos level for largwle breed puppies. Luna ended up being allergic to cjicken so I switched to one of their gold line brands and am having great success. Small, solid poops! Check it out, but I know there are other good foods out there that you can learn about from this forum. You will choose in the end which to feed, and every pup is different so some may do well on some food than others. 🙂 congrats on the new pup!!

[Susan]

Hi Lynn,
you have it all wrong a dog will only react to starchy carbs if he has food sensititivies, Sweet Potatoes, Tapioca, Potatoes, Rice, Oats, etc do not cause yeast Dermatitis in dogs, I have a dog with IBD, Seasonal Evirvonment Allergies & Food Sensitivities I thought the same years ago until my vet explained he has food sensitivities & was put on a Hydrolyzed vet diet which was 60% carbs, we do a food elimination trial, & you keep a diary & as teh years pass you will see a Pattern as environment allergies can also cause Yeast Dermatitis as well Patch gets yeasty smelly paws from foods & environment & itchy smelly skin when he eats foods he’s sensitive too Chicken, Tapioca, Carrots he get itchy ears & shakes his head, he does real well on Sweet potatoes & Potatoes especially for his IBD, if you look at the vet diets for skin & food allergies they have Potato & a novel protein, it’s good to feed dogs a low carb diet but starch does not feed yeast, here’s Dr Karen Helton Rhodes a Dermatologist link “Facts & Myths about Yeast Dermatitis in Dogs”, Dr Karen Helton Rhodes is also on a F/B group called “Dog Issues, Allergies & Other Information Support Group” you’ll learn some really good stuff in that F/B group lots of help http://www.healthyskin4dogs.com/blog/2015/9/8/facts-myths-about-yeast-dermatitis-in-dogs,
Start your dog on an elimation food diet, 1 novel protein & 1 carb & bath weekly or twice a week if itchy & smelly bath in an antibacterial medicated shampoo like “Malaseb medicated Shampoo to kill the yeast & to wash away any allergens on the skin.. also make sure you increase the omega 3 fatty acid in your dogs diet, feed foods like Tin Sardines & Tin Salmon in Spring water add 2 spoons to 1 meal of his a day or give 1 Krill Oil capsule a day with a meal.

[Sheila H]

Thank you so much for posting this. I am just about to start our Suzy on a round of Apoquel which has given her diarrhea in the past. She has a long history of allergies, especially yeast in her ear canals. I make her food at home, using chicken and rice. I will now use vegetables ground fine instead of rice to fill it out. She also gets a hearty side dish of cut green beans. No more carbs may just be our answer.

[Adriana R]

Jr has never had salmon before and I know that my neighbor had bought a bag of salmon and his dog’s wouldn’t eat it. I recommended adding a bit of chicken broth and they ate it.
Jr can sometimes be very picky. I’m wondering if he even would touch the salmon. He has had Simply Nourish limited ingredient lamb and he did eat it.
I once bought Nutro and it made Jr sick. But I’m kinda wondering if he’d doing fine on their limited ingredient formula.
Next time I go to Frys I’ll see if they still sell Nutrisca.
Jr hasn’t had an test for his allergies. But I do really believe he has environmental allergies as well as allergic to grains.
I think I’ll look for a grain free kibble with only lamb as a protein

[anonymous]

I went through the allergy thing with my small breed, in the end it was determined that her allergies were environmental and had nothing to do with food.
She is stable now and sees a veterinary dermatologist once a year. She receives ASIT, treatment is lifelong, her allergy symptoms were severe.
These little ones can be high maintenance, as you know. 🙂

I never tried the lamb, but that might be a good idea. She seemed to do the best on the Nutrisca salmon (no grain/no potato) as a base, that’s why I mentioned it.