[Anonymous]

If you soak dry food overnight in water in the fridg (2-3 day batch) it is okay as a base, then add a spoonful of chopped cooked chicken breast, lean meat or chicken liver.
Occasional canned food as a topper instead. Maybe a little dry kibble as a treat now and then.
It’s all good.
My senior does well on Wysong Senior. My other dogs (one with allergies) does best on Nutrisca Salmon and Chickpea.

Don’t free feed…..see General Guidelines for tips : http://www.homeovet.net/dynamic/php/downloads/dog-c8470f2c75dbe4b683205c3919ee2310/dog_diet_complete.pdf
Hope this helps.
Oh, and brush their teeth once a day, see Youtube for how to videos.

This has been what works for me.

[zcRiley]

Some dogs don’t do well on raw or an all wet diet. Unless your dog has a severe allergic reaction to the 4 proteins used in Zignature formulas, it’s probably the best on the market because it excludes chicken, egg and potato. I switched my pups overnight to Zignature Zssentials after intestinal issues with Orijen Adult. If they have a bad reaction to any food, I stop it immediately. Cleared up every issue they were having in 48 hours. Side note: their canned food’s not that great, so I use Weruva and ZiwiPeak for soft. The new Zignature Kangaroo formula is a hit as well!

[Susan]

Hi Xavier G, my boy gets the red in between his toes & red just after the big pad, he gets it when he eats kibbles with corn & maybe chicken? he was put on a vet diet for his IBD Eukanuba Intestinal, the Eukanuba Intestinal helped his IBD & he was pooing firm poos but got real red toes & paws, vet kept saying grass allergies, then I changed his kibble to a Gluten, Dairy, Sugar & Potato free, fish kibble & his paws cleared up within 2 days, so I looked at the ingredients in the Eukanuba Intestinal & it had to of been either the Gluten corn, Maize or the chicken……just before bed I was putting Cortic-DS 1% cream hydrocortisone acetate 10mg/g you buy over the counter at chemist, I was putting cream in between his toes with a cotton tip & on the fur/skin just after his big pad, then I was putting on socks, when he’d wake up in the morning his paws would be all clear, no red in between his toes or red about the big pad, then I’d feed him the Eukanuba Intestinal kibble for breakfast, then go on his morning walk come home & he’d start licking & licking his paws, I’d look & his paws would be red again, finally worked out it was his kibble, he was sensitive to an ingredient….. also I’d bath in the Malaseb Medicated shampoo when his paws were red it helped his paws ……
I’d change his kibble to a limited ingredient kibble with a different protein (Fish) & carb (Brown rice) something he hasn’t eaten before….. I find limited ingredient kibbles with brown rice work the best for Patch & bathing his paws/body in the Malsaeb shampoo, I think Walmart sell an antifungal/anti bacterial dog shampoo with the same ingredients as the Malaseb but I can’t remember the name, it started with a M cause a lady was saying how they have the same ingredients & is cheaper & helped her dogs red paws…….
The Antibiotics will not fix the red paws, not if he’s reacting to a food ingredient…also fish oil capsules or give some sardines in spring water as a treat…
if you cant afford the California Natural Lamb & Rice try the “Racheal Rays Nutrish Just 6” Lamb Meal & Brown rice sold at Walmart http://nutrish.rachaelray.com/dog/dry-food/just-6-lamb-and-brown-rice … its gluten free, corn, wheat, soy, free, no preservatives, byproducts fillers etc …

[Anonymous]

Environmental allergies? You may want to consult a dermatologist.

via the search engine here: /forums/topic/lab-with-food-allergies-any-help-is-appreciated/

/forums/search/allergies/

I don’t necessarily agree with all of the opinions expressed.

[Xavier G]

@BethJ and everyone else. My Oldie English Bulldogge also has an allergic reaction on his the inners of his paws and we cannot figure out why. Red and licking alot. Recently also his poop has been very soft. ( i dont know if because we got a new pup maybe the excitement) But anyway, weve been giving him Natural Balance since a pup, but recently switched to Diamnd Naturals, (but after reading this maybe well just toss it) then the vet put him on some I/D prescription food but its not seem to be working. But we also found out we were not giving him enough of the antibiotics they gave us so idk. but any info fromanyone would be appreciated.

[Raquel A]

Hello everyone!

My name is Raquel Astacio and I run Doggy’s Digest along with my boyfriend, Alexis. We are a site dedicated to thoroughly covering the topic of probiotics for dogs. I originally reached out to Dog Food Advisor to see if we could contribute a post; unfortunately they do not accept any but did say we can post in the forums.

Many dog owners are not aware about canine probiotics and our mission at Doggy’s Digest is to help increase awareness. I am posting the original article that I was going to contribute to Dog Food Advisor. If this is an inconvenience or violates guidelines, please do let me know. If you find the content informative and have questions, please let me know and I will be more than happy to answer! Thank you.

========================

The Benefits of Canine Probiotics

For years now, we as humans have been learning the many health benefits of probiotics. Just like humans, dogs need healthy food, plenty of exercise, vitamins, and probiotics in order to be in optimum health. Probiotics are bacteria and live yeasts that improve overall health, especially in regards to our digestive systems. We usually think of all bacteria as being harmful and causing diseases. When we hear the word “bacteria” we think of antibacterial products and antibiotics that we use to destroy unhealthy bacteria.

So why would we want to willingly ingest or feed something to our dogs that has live bacteria in it? The answer is that digestive systems naturally consist of a correct balance of both “good” and “bad” bacteria. Illnesses, diet, medications, and our environment can upset this balance that is needed to stay healthy. The bacteria from probiotics is healthy bacteria. The microorganisms in probiotics are actually alive. They produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which inhibit the growth and activity of harmful bacteria. They can greatly improve a host’s gut and overall health when ingested in the proper amounts.
Probiotics are a relatively new, healthy trend in the dog and pet industry. People are realizing how essential it is to provide their pets with healthy supplements to their diet. Probiotics promote a healthy gastrointestinal system and intestinal balance in your dog. The healthy bacteria can also build up the immune system.

Veterinarians prescribe probiotics for many different conditions. They are recommended for dogs who suffer from SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth), chronic diarrhea, auto-immune disorders, skin problems, irritable bowel, and intestinal infections like Giardia and Clostridia. They may even reduce allergic reactions and prevent urinary tract infections.

Once you have decided to provide your dog with probiotics, how do you choose which kind to use? It is first important to make sure that you are getting a quality product. New canine probiotics are being advertised all the time and dog food brands are adding probiotics to their foods. The challenge is that dog probiotics, like all probiotics, are live cultures that are unstable in their active states (yogurts or liquid-containing products). When exposed to extreme conditions, much of the bacteria can die off and lose their beneficial properties before reaching the intestine. This is the case for a lot of canine probiotics. This means that you need to choose a quality brand that has taken these things into account and are not just cheap probiotics added to a brand for marketing purposes.

It is first important to check the kinds and amounts of probiotic strains and amount of CFU in the probiotic. Look for 2-4 billion CFU and 8 or less strains of bacteria. Significantly less CFU may not provide any added benefits to your dog’s diet, and much higher CFU and a high number of strains may be indicators of possible harmful combinations.

Probiotics come in various forms: maintenance, intermediate, and concentrated. Maintenance probiotics are usually in powder or granule form and are used to combat everyday stress such as changes in environment or being left alone. Intermediate probiotics are usually powders and fed to your dog daily to deal with chronic stress and digestive issues. Finally, concentrated probiotics come in pastes or liquids and are temporarily used for the duration of a pet’s illness.

For everyday uses, probiotics in dry form are good options to consider. These provide a healthy and convenient option for dog owners. They contain stabilized strains of bacteria that will come back to life once they have reached the dog’s stomach. They then move to the intestines and multiply hundreds of times. Since they are not in an unstable, liquid form, they do not require refrigeration. It is simple to sprinkle these probiotics on your dog’s food.

Freeze-dried probiotics are another viable option. These probiotic microorganisms do not lose any of their potency or viability until they are mixed with water. This will happen naturally during digestion.

Whichever probiotic product you choose, you must be sure to store and use them properly. If you are using powder or granules, keep them closed and dry until feeding time. You may freeze dried forms once, but they may not be repeatedly frozen and thawed. If you choose a paste or liquid form, it must be refrigerated but cannot be frozen. Lastly, follow label instructions for proper dosage. Canine probiotics can be a wonderfully healthy addition to your dog’s diet and improve their vitality for years to come.

===================

Please let me know if you have any questions. I hope you enjoyed the post!

• This topic was modified 10 years, 7 months ago by Raquel A.
• This topic was modified 10 years, 7 months ago by Raquel A.
• This topic was modified 10 years, 7 months ago by Raquel A.

[Pitlove]

Hi Anna- This is just my opinion and interpretation on grain free vs grain inclusive, but here it goes.

Dogs don’t have a high requirement if any for carbohydrates. They can break down carbs to be used as energy, but not as well as we do. Dogs derive energy better from animal proteins and fats. Dry kibble is always going to contain carbs because they are the binding source for the kibble. It could not retain it’s shape without a carb source. Grains have become demonized as a filler ingredient in dog food and so the pet food industry answered that with a new marketing plan; grain free dog food. It’s marketed as better for dogs with “allergies” and overall marketed as being superior to grain based foods.

My first problem with that is that resolving a dogs food allergies or more commonly their food intolerances can’t be done without knowing what they are intolerant to. If my dog is intolerant to chicken, but not rice, feeding a grain free chicken based food is not going to fix the intolerance.

Also, many people are under the impression that grain free means carb free. It does not. Grains are replaced by peas, potatoes, sweet potatoes, chickpeas, lentils etc in grain free foods. All of which are also things dogs can be intolerant to, but aren’t nessesarily. Same thing with rice, barley, oatmeal etc.

Grain free foods however, do have a tendency to have a higher meat content than grain based foods. That is not always the case though. Plenty of grain free foods are guilty of sacrificing meat content for carbs.

I know plenty of dogs including my own that do just as well on grain based foods, as they do on grain free. I’m currently feeding a grain based food, however I’ve fed both, mainly grain free. Some people don’t feel comforable feeding grain based foods. I don’t care because to me they are getting carbs either way, which they don’t need in their diet. I consider all carbs to be filler ingredients.

Again this is my opinion and lots of people will disagree, but I thought I’d share my perspective.

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

[Anonymous]

Everything We Eat Cures Cancer! (or Causes it?)

Regarding the skin issues, have you consulted a dermatologist?

My dog with allergies does best on Nutrisca salmon and chickpea (no grains, no potato). But since receiving care by a specialist/dermatologist she can tolerate a variety of foods as her allergies are environmental. She had IDT (Intra Dermal Testing) and has responded well to ASIT (Allergen Specific Immunotherapy)
Some info here: http://www.mspca.org/vet-services/angell-boston/dermatology/allergy-testing.html

PS: I sometimes bathe her twice a week (approved by the specialist) with Malaseb or Antifungal dog shampoo by GNC I like the lavender smell.

Check the search engine here /forums/search/allergies/
I don’t agree with all of the opinions expressed. Hope this helps.
More info here: http://www.allergydogcentral.com/category/symptoms/

[Anonymous]

Have you read all the posts here? Has the dog been to a dermatologist? That would be my next move.

“IDT is generally considered the gold standard of testing for identifying allergens that cause pets to suffer from chronic skin and/or ear diseases. IDT involves injections of a series of concentrated allergens into the skin to determine which of them generate allergic reactions in a given animal”.

[Renee A]

Hi, our lab has terrible environmental and food allergies. She had diarrhea, itching, scratching biting, etc. We had to do an elimination diet. try one thing for x amt. of weeks and then another until she improved. Natural Balance Duck/potato she could eat but I didn’t care for the ingredients. We found she was allergic to chicken (very common), turkey, beef, eggs, etc. We had her on Canidae Lamb/rice and it was also good, but now we switched to Blue Basics Lamb/potato and that’s working also. These are expensive so if you need the middle of the line food and price tag, Taste of the Wild Lamb is good also. We also found out thru a blood test, that our dog is allergic to grasses, mulberry trees, etc. So, bec of such bad env. allergies, we have her on a prescription med. We’ve tried holistic. Also on fish oil caps.

[Anonymous]

Allergies? Pruritus? Obstruction?
She’s young, I would go for the additional testing and get to the bottom of this.
Good luck.

PS: I meant to say, if it doesn’t resolve in the near future, it could be a minor irritation, inflammation of the colon or something….

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

[Pitlove]

Hi- Can I ask where you live? I got my pit at 12 weeks as well and his intolerance symptoms showed up pretty quickly as well. He was also on Blue Wilderness Puppy when he was young, but he hated it. We live down in the deep south and the climate makes environmental allergies very common for dogs down here. It’s possible thats whats going on depending on where you are.

[Anonymous]

How old is she? I have a senior peke that has some issues in that department. In his case, it’s not the food. How often is she having bowel movements? Is she constipated?

PS: With my dog, he is old and his anal sphincter doesn’t work that well, anymore.
He does best on Wysong senior kibble soaked in water overnight, sometimes a spoonful of chicken, more water.
But, he often needs help to have a bowel movement. I have a medical background so I deal with it.
Talk to your vet as how to proceed.
Consider seeing an Internal Medicine Specialist, if you have to. You don’t want to end up in prolapsed rectum territory.
Have environmental allergies been ruled out? X-rays to rule out an obstruction?

[Anonymous]

Via the search engine here: /forums/topic/help-with-food-3/

My dog with allergies does best on Nutrisca salmon and chickpea (no grains, no potato). But since receiving care by a specialist/dermatologist she can tolerate a variety of foods as her allergies are environmental. She had IDT (Intra Dermal Testing) and has responded well to ASIT (Allergen Specific Immunotherapy)
Some info here: http://www.mspca.org/vet-services/angell-boston/dermatology/allergy-testing.html

PS: I sometimes bathe her twice a week (approved by the specialist) with Malaseb or Antifungal dog shampoo by GNC I like the lavender smell.

Check the search engine here /forums/search/allergies/
I don’t agree with all of the opinions expressed. Hope this helps.
More info here: http://www.allergydogcentral.com/category/symptoms/

[Pitlove]

I second and third and forth everything that was said here. I would certainly see another vet or a ER clinic. I do not think this is allergies at all.

[Anonymous]

This is why when I have anything serious going on, I ask for the vet to call me back when he has a minute……unless the vet tech can schedule me for an appointment to see the vet that day.

Maybe the OP did not present the situation as urgent and focused on “allergies” so the vet tech thought it could wait.

If I feel I am not able to communicate my needs effectively, I just put the phone down and go to the emergency vet.

PS: I don’t think vet techs get the proper training in how to deal with clients that are in distress. Not all of them know how to identify a situation that needs immediate attention, they work hard and are very busy, but….

[Anonymous]

On second thought, what makes you think she has allergies? Are you sure, her symptoms could be all related to the abnormal growth that might be irritating her nasal cavity….

[Anonymous]

The lump might be benign or not……either way and especially due to the location it will probably have to be removed.

Another option, if it’s bothering her and it sounds like it is from what you describe, is to go to the walk in emergency vet, it may cost a few bucks but they will examine, diagnosis and refer you to a specialist if they can’t treat it there.

I wouldn’t wait too long or ignore it. Maybe the vet can fit you in sooner? Most vets leave time slots open once or twice a day for emergencies. Otherwise, maybe he could refer you directly to a specialist. You have 2 issues here, an abnormal growth and allergies.

[jazzyems]

Recently noticed my dog has a lump under the skin softer not hard, on her nose midway between her nose and eyes. when I touch it she sneezes. and I notice she drooling I’ve never seen this sort of thing before. Soonest vet appointment I could get is on September 14 but was wondering if anyone might have an idea what it could be. She seems to suffer from allergies, sometimes sneezes as she sniffs grass sometimes I give her Benadryl for sneezing runny nose and eyes. TIA FOR ANY HELP.

[Adrienne H]

Hello all-

We’re new to this forum and we’re looking for advice on food choices for our lab mix that’s allergic to everything. We haven’t been able to find a food that doesn’t contain something he’s allergic too. Right now, he’s on Simply Nourish Grain Free High Protein. Here’s what he’s allergic to:
Potatoes
Corn
Carrots
Peas
Rutabagas
Turnips
All grains – except oats
All beans
Borderline allergy to chicken

We’ve tried oatmeal and eggs, ground beef and eggs and a combo of the two but my fiance and I really don’t have a plethora of time to devote to making huge batches of food and trying to feed him on a special diet.

If anyone has any suggestions, please pass them on. We’re at a point of feeding the grain free foods because it seems like the lesser of the evils in the end where he’s more allergic to potatoes.

Thanks for all your advice and input!
It’s very much appreciated!

[Pamela S]

Two things I can address. One I would use Petflow.com. I live in a small town and it is great, mostly quality food, cheaper than I could buy at a store. If you are looking at Canadian made Orijen and Arcadia are absolutely the best. They use locally sourced food.

The allergy, I would spend the money and use a dermatologist. My Bernese started itching. I opted to take her to a dermatologist. Based on what I told him, without doing testing, he said it was a type of mange (she had no hair loss or bald patches) He gave me mediation and all dogs had to get it. My vet wasn’t happy that I opted for a dermatologist and said it was allergies. One month later Molly was itch free and has been since that time. My vet had to eat crow. What is very important to the dermatologist is information, when did it start any thing new or unusual. It could also be something as simple as a year of bad pollen.

Good luck. Pam

[C4D]

I have one dog that takes the 1200 mg double potency (720 omegas) human fish oil daily due to arthritis but I also have a foster that is allergic to fish and breaks out in a rash if she is given any fish in any form, not matter how little the portion. DogFoodie is right. It’s a great anti inflamatory, as long as the dog can take it. You also may need to supplement with an occaisonal dose of Vitamin E, if it’s not in the fish oil supplement you are using. There is a very delicate balance between fish oil and Vitamin E. Please research before giving.

[catherine j]

I have a blue pit bull and i was wondering if i could feel her regular spring valley 1000 mg softgel fish oil to her to help with her skin allergies?

[chris]

Red has given many great suggestions towards taking steps on helping you provide better care. I have a beagle as well and you can check my thread out I had made a few months back as my beagle was abused and also has very bad stomach issues with constipation.

Suggestions I found that worked the best is definitely finding a great substance and well balanced food. I have been feeding Merrick’s Back Country for the past 4 months (basically since they came out with it) and he enjoys it. The thing that helps the most is what you give him with it. I have my beagle on a schedule of different things to help with his constipation. I also feed him about 2 cups of canned food on top of his dry food.

1 TBS Coconut Oil twice a week
1 TBS pumpkin organic, or sweet potato once a day
2 TBS Kefir, cottage cheese, plain yogurt every few days

The coconut oil will help with allergies, skin issues, and constipation.
Pumpkin and Sweet potato have several health benefits, vitamins and are high in fiber
Kefir, yogurt, both bave natural prebiotics and probiotics for the stomach

Other things I give him once in a while are:
Sardines or any fish cooked
swanson soil based organisms
Cheese cut up into bite size pieces
Canned Green Tripe

Now far as the legal issues go, I do agree with red that you might want to look into that as something could be done. Especially since the fireman himself was speeding. Hope this helps though and keep us updated on how things work out for ya!

[Mom2Cavs]

I’ve been using NuVet Plus for about 7-9 months now. My newest Cavalier came with a bottle. I asked my holistic/integrative vet about the ingredients and she approved of them so now all the dogs get them. My dogs have bee doing fine with them. I feel they’ve helped keep them regular, helped with allergies and coat condition. They have not done any harm.

[cissy m]

I had many of the same problems first couldn’t have grain then found out mine was allergic to chicken almost all food chicken or not has some chicken in it went from yeasty ears to itchy feet then yeasty skin with hair loss loose stool didn’t think things was ever going to get better many vet visits changing food most you mentioned some problems would get worse finally started him on petco brand probiotics & enzymes tablets & vitamins big thing I switched his food to Nutrisca Salmon and Chickpea he’s like a brand new dog no itching yeast is gone hair is almost completely back …. it’s alittle pricy but so was all the vet visits
I wish you luck
Cissy

[Susan]

Hi have you thought of feeding raw or a cooked diet & stop feeding kibble?? A dog digestive tract has been made to digest meat not peas, garbanzo beans, lentils, chickpeas, tomatoes these are all high in Lectins & can cause leaky gut.

My boy suffers with IBD & skin allergies from certain foods & he doesn’t do well on grain free kibbles, (bad gas, sloppy poo, rumbling bowel noises, nausea) … Over the last 2 years I’ve tried heaps of kibbles & in the end I found the kibble with just rice & 1 protein like fish was the best a limited ingredient kibble then I add fresh chicken or beef or fish on top….I try not to feed kibble & feed a wet tin food or cooked meals with ingredients that I know my boy can eat, some kibbles have tooo many ingredients & it just takes 1 ingredient & your dog is scratching, sore ears or has gas diarrhea etc…

If you don’t want to feed a raw or cooked diet have you looked at “The Honest Kitchen Zeal” its low in carbs, gluten free high in protein – http://www.thehonestkitchen.com/zeal

ZiwiPeak – http://www.ziwipeak.com/air-dried-dog-food-ziwipeak-daily-dog-air-dried-cuisine/

K9 Natural – https://www.k9natural.com/

[Amy W]

I recently adopted a gassy little bat-pig (Maddie) myself and switched her from ProPlan to Origen. She too has allergies, which have cleared up tremendously. I also have her on an allergy med, so I can’t tell you how much the food helped. Her coat was nice before, but absolutely glistens now. There is also less gas. I hear Frenchies are a notoriously flatulent breed, but the gas has noticeably diminished. My girl LOVES her food and stools are formed but soft. So far, I would say I am pretty happy with Origen. My dog looks great, seems satisfied after eating, and has tons of energy.

I’m a seasoned cat mom and new to dog ownership I am really enjoying learning from everyone.

[Joanna Y]

I’m looking for a lean dry dog food that is not chicken based.
I currently have my 2 dogs on the Annamaet Lean – which has great reviews – but I think they are allergic to chichen.

Any recommendations?

Thank you

[Anonymous]

My dog with allergies does best on Nutrisca salmon and chickpea (no grains, no potato). But since receiving care by a specialist/dermatologist she can tolerate a variety of foods as her allergies are environmental. She had IDT (Intra Dermal Testing) and has responded well to ASIT (Allergen Specific Immunotherapy)
Some info here: http://www.mspca.org/vet-services/angell-boston/dermatology/allergy-testing.html

PS: I sometimes bathe her twice a week (approved by the specialist) with Malaseb or Antifungal dog shampoo by GNC I like the lavender smell.

Check the search engine here /forums/search/allergies/
I don’t agree with all of the opinions expressed. Hope this helps.
More info here: http://www.allergydogcentral.com/category/symptoms/

[Laura S]

I have a 22 mo. old female frenchie, Stella. I am searching for a new high quality kibble that is grain free and potato free. She has horrific allergies and is on Atopica. Allergy tests were pretty inconclusive with what she is allergic to. She is also a very picky eater. She was on Amicus, which she liked, but about every 2 to 3 weeks she would have awful bouts of diahrrea. So I started transitioning her to Acana Pork & Butternut squash and now she has terrible gas. I have also tried Grandma Lucy’s PureFormance in the past and it made her vomit. I think this food was too heavy handed on the garlic. So I’m not sure what is making her gassy that is in the Acana, perhaps the garbanzo beans??? The Amicus and Acana both have red lentils so it shouldn’t be that. Also, her vet put her on a food trial a while back of Royal Canin Duck & Potato and it completely constipated her and made her really sick. Any suggestions would be welcome. Kind of at a loss at this point as to what to feed her that will not cause ear infections, gas, etc. I do give her a probiotic too.

[Anonymous]

/forums/search/allergies/

Above link found via the search engine here. I don’t necessarily agree with some of the opinions expressed.
Hope this helps.

[Susan]

She may have more environment allergies, if the raw didn’t really help, I saw a change with 2 days when I started to feed a raw diet…..When you did the allergy testing did you do the “Glacier Peak Holistic” Salvia & Hair testing, it tests for 100+ Environment triggers & 200+ food items for $85….. http://www.glacierpeakholistics.com/More-Than-an-Allergy-Test_p_80.html …

[Elyse M]

Ok, new to this site and need help!!

Bella’s history. Adopted at 3-years-old from shelter. No history.
Switched to grain free (Wellness), then to Merrick BG in November 2011. Switched to Acana Pacifica in May 2012.

She has had numerous health issues, but we have battled allergies from the start. This spring I ran the Heska environmental/food panel. She came back allergic to sweet potato, peas, and flax. I put her on raw diet to see if it would help iron out these issues. We don’t notice an allergy difference and now I am treating salmonella. I also have a 15 month old human child at home. I can’t continue raw.

So KNOWING she can’t tolerate sweet potato, peas, or flax- any suggestion on kibble? Or is my best bet to cook for her?

[alberta H]

Hello we have a 13 year old 1/2 mini 1/2 regular dachshund. She has had several bouts of pancreatitis even though she has been on strict diets. We have tried several dog foods including those recommended by the vet. Has to be low fat and moderate protein. Finding a canned dog food that fits that is about wore me out. The vets last recommendation almost killed her with her worst bout yet. It was kibble with hydrolized protein. She nearly died. Then did an allergy test and found she is allergic severly to some of thing things int he past dog foods. Including, RICE, corn, venison, kangaroo. Chicken is just below 100 at 90 so that is close but could be used. The other things she is ok with low on the allergy list is pork and lamp but the fat content prevents that. So we are no searching for a homemade recipe but having difficulties since many of the home made recipes we see are with rice. So, is there anything anyone has come up with that could be used (hopefully a specific recipe) Low fat, moderate protein, no rice or corn. Thank you to anyone that can help. We are so desperate.

[Kevin R]

Hi all. I appreciate the suggestions and insight. As far as the Greenies, she hasn’t had any in several days and I don’t plan on giving her anymore. I did get a referral to dermatologist yesterday, so I may go ahead and do this so I can at least have a better idea on what she is allergic to. Her allergies seem to be year round, so I don’t know. To me, this seems like something she is eating or something in my house. But we’ll see. As far as her food, i would still like to switch it, but I would like to see what the dermatologist office says when I call. I guess it depends on how soon they can get me an appointment.

[Pitlove]

Hi Kim- Seems like a lot is happening at a fast pace with your foster. Went from being fine on Diamond to itching and loose stool in 2 weeks. The loose stool could certainly be food. My dog (and my cat actually) let me know very quickly via their “output” whether or not something is agreeing with them. My cat will throw up instantly if she eats beef and my dog will have diaherra (sometimes explosive) if a food doesn’t agree with him and he gets very bad gas on beef.

For his upset stomach; if he has been eating Diamond his whole life, he probably doesn’t have a diverse enough amount of microflora in his gut to handle the diet change. If you didn’t tranistion him to Earthborn, that is most likely the cause of the diaherra. If you did, you might have needed to give him more time switching. If you gave him even more than 7 days to switch, maybe there is some stress playing a role from the rehome?

For the itching; there could be an ingredient that he is intolerant to in the Earthborn that’s not in whichever Diamond Naturals you were feeding. Compare the 2 ingredient panels and see if something jumps out at you as being different. Look at everything including stuff lower on the list. You can certainly try to go back to Diamond and see if that helps. Or a food that mimics the ingredients if you want to stay away from Diamond.

Not sure where you live or if he came to you from a different state, but down in LA where I live, environmental allergies in dogs is like an epidemic because of the climate. So it could be a change in climate depending on where you live or where he’s from.

If you want you can almost treat him like hes an 8 week old puppy and just keep his food the same til he adjusts. Sometimes going to a new home especially for a dog thats in foster care can be hard on them. Keeping him on Diamond will also give you an idea if it’s the food or the environment. If he goes back to no itching and diaherra, it’s probably the food. If the diaherra clears up, but the itching continues it could be the environment.

On one last note, make sure you check him for fleas as well. Akitas have some pretty intense coats that fleas can hide in, so really look hard for them. Just in case.

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

[Anonymous]

Please check the search engine here: /forums/search/allergies/
Lots of information that you may find helpful, come back if you have more questions.

This is from one of the SkeptVet’s blogs, an excerpt from a response to a comment about allergies. Hope this helps.

“In general, diet trial involve picking a new primary protein source and strictly eliminating all others for 2-3 months before any change is likely to be seen. And there are many sources of allergies besides food proteins, so diet change may not dramatically improve symptoms, in which case other causes have to be investigated. I would strongly suggest working closely with your regular veterinarian or, if it is possible for you, with a board-certified veterinary dermatologist. Allergies require lifelong management tailored to the individual needs of the particular patient, and there is no simple or quick solution”.

NuVet Supplement=Same Old Snake Oil

Anther site: http://www.allergydogcentral.com/category/symptoms/

Integrating Myths and Nonsense with Standard Advice for Allergic Pets

excerpt is from above link (click for full blog and comments)
“There is no research to suggest that the saliva testing is useful for identifying food allergies. It is sold based on questionable theory and anecdotes, which have little evidentiary value. And as far as uncontrolled testing, at least one dermatologist has run the test in dogs with confirmed food allergies responsive to diet change, and the test results were highly inaccurate”.
Other blogs that you might find helpful: http://skeptvet.com/Blog/2015/07/no-vet-for-my-pet-veterinary-nurses-can-sell-woo-too/

Canine Nutrigenomics by Dr. Jean Dodds: Science as Windowdressing

[Kim D]

Any suggestions, ideas will be much appreciated!
Fostering dog for 2 weeks, he was on food from rescue Diamond Naturals, I didn’t like amount and way poop looked and he was extremely thin, but no itchies. Also he came from a mostly concrete environment to country life…aka lots of grass.
I switched to Earthborn Holistic (because I had no idea the WHOLE other premium dog food market even existed before 2 weeks ago)
He started chewing at his paws, then legs, then all over itchy.
Now hots spots on legs from chewing, massive hair loss (which I know for AKitas happens 2x/year).
Diarrhea last Friday – Sunday. Fed only rice water, rice and chicken…still itchy.
Back on Earthborn and started Vitahound introduction.
Being a rescue, I am sure his prior food was not the best quality. BUT he did NOT have these sores. Could it actually be seasonal allergies that would take 2 weeks to show up or is it change in food?
I would love any recommendations for a dry kibble that could help with skin problems and help him gain healthy weight. I just feel like there is still way too much information to digest!!!! Thank you in advance!

[Madelon H]

Hey Susan – well I have been on a roller coaster ride with Doc for sure!! After all of your information and my own researching I reached out to Nature’s Logic – I really liked that the founder of the company immediately emailed me himself and without me going into detail about EPI and SIBO he said Doc needed a diet low carb/low natural sugar diet which their food is. The bags say 5% fiber but Dog Food Advisor put it at 4% and the company says it’s between 3-5% but the bag has to have the “max”. So I tried the chicken – he did okay, then i tried sardine (noticed a lot of acid reflux) and we are trying the rabbit now. My vet said to give a food 2 full weeks before deciding if it works or not – I haven’t been doing that 🙁 During this time I was finally able to take a poop sample in with the “worm” – the other vet at the practice who i like much better said she finally saw it and it’s DEFINITELY not tapeworm – which is great but unfortunately Doc had been given 4 doses of Droncit and I believe he’s allergic to Droncit – immediately after getting it his ears flare up and he becomes really itchy and vomits bile. SO of course I feel horrible – she said it looks like fly larvae – we are stumped about him passing live fly larvae – we sent it out for testing and are awaiting the results. What i’ve read online I believe it’s called pseudomyiasis – I think he’s getting it from eating rabbit poop or grass where flies have deposited their eggs and the eggs have hatched and Doc eats it – he LOVES rabbit poop. Anyway, I realized he was passing live larvae I took him in for a full rectal exam and through once over – I asked her to check his ear (I had been asking the other vet but he never did) – came back positive 4 out of 4 for yeast, bacteria and rod in the left ear and 1 out of 4 for yeast in the right ear and he has a yeast infection between his toes. We are not sure if this is from the Droncit or the Tylan that he’s been on or if he could be allergic to yeast altogether. After his first bout of SIBO as a puppy he was put on Royal Canin LF Gastro kibble and did fine then switched to Royal Canin Large Breed Puppy Developmental (rx) then switched to Royal Canin GSD Puppy – he did GREAT. SO, I’m thinking the yeast infections he currently has is from the Droncit. We’ve given him a bath with medicated shampoo for his yeasty paws but he is still itchy on his body – his ears are doing much better and his paws but still itchy on the body – not sure if that’s food related or environmental. SO I decided to go back to what worked last time and I bought the RC Gastro kibble and am going to mix that with the rabbit food and get him completely on the RC Gastro and wean off the Tylan (he’s been on it for 60 days). Then I’m going to keep him on the RC Gastro for with a probiotic (doesn’t appear there is any in the kibble) for a month or two and let his insides settle down then I’m thinking about trying the RC GSD Adult (when I read the description it talks about low fermentable foods, etc – it actually sounds like a good food – fiber is a bit high but if it works it works) – I’ve spent hundreds in dog foods that I have sitting half eaten or unopen altogether at this point and am tired of dealing with it and feeling badly for poor Doc.

[Anonymous]

http://skeptvet.com/Blog/2011/09/integrating-myths-and-nonsense-with-standard-advice-for-allergic-pets/ (excerpt below)
Bottom Line
Allergies are a serious medical problem that causes a great deal of suffering for pets and their owners. Causes are complex and involve both genetic, developmental, and environmental factors, and symptoms tend to come and go unpredictably, which makes evaluating the effects of any particular intervention challenging. While there are many safe and effective therapies that can help manage allergy symptoms, there is no cure. Only complete avoidance of the antigens the individual is allergic to can eliminate symptoms entirely, and this is often not possible. No treatment that has any benefit is completely without risks, and the risks and benefits must always be carefully and rationally weighed.

The variability and chronicity of the symptoms and the complexity of the causation create fertile ground in which to sow myths and misconceptions about causes and treatments, as this article does vigorously. Providing treatments based on sound scientific understanding of the physiology of allergies and supported by reliable scientific evidence of safety and efficacy is the best way to help patients with this serious condition. Myths about allergy causes and treatments that are without a rational, scientific foundation or any real evidence of safety and efficacy are not legitimate “choices” or “options” to offer pet owners looking for real help. Integrating unproven methods and outright nonsense with established allergy therapies doesn’t add value or reduce risks, it diminishes our ability to help these patients and their human families.

[Anonymous]

@Kevin R, and anyone else that has a pet that is suffering from allergies:

Integrating Myths and Nonsense with Standard Advice for Allergic Pets

excerpt is from above link (click for full blog and comments)
“There is no research to suggest that the saliva testing is useful for identifying food allergies. It is sold based on questionable theory and anecdotes, which have little evidentiary value. And as far as uncontrolled testing, at least one dermatologist has run the test in dogs with confirmed food allergies responsive to diet change, and the test results were highly inaccurate”.
Other blogs that you might find helpful: http://skeptvet.com/Blog/2015/07/no-vet-for-my-pet-veterinary-nurses-can-sell-woo-too/

Canine Nutrigenomics by Dr. Jean Dodds: Science as Windowdressing

[Pitlove]

Hi Kevin- If you aren’t sure what she is allergic to your going to beat your head into a wall and kill your wallet switching foods to figure out what works. Trust me. If her symptoms mirror those of an evironmental allergy (my vet said licking the paws is the key one) you are better off going to a dermatologist and at least doing a consulation and going from there. Testing for enviromental allergies would be a good idea, but if you are worried about money at all, I would still at least have a meeting with a dermatologist to have him/her look at your girls skin etc. Thats what I plan to do.

To do a proper test for food allergies/intolerances you would need to conduct a very strict elimination diet. They can be diffcult and time consuming, but it’s the gold standard for diagnosing food allergies/intolerances. I would cut the Greenies out for now. You can try changing the food. My vet suggested a fish based food and so far its been working well.

[Dori]

MaggiesDad I just checked Allprovide’s site and there has been a great improvement to the site. Unfortunately I will not be visiting your manufacturing site nor ordering your food. Reason being that one of my dogs is intolerant of all fowl. The only food I would have been able to order would have been the beef but after reading the ingredients I see that the beef contains turkey.

One of my pet peeves and one that I find incredibly annoying is when companies label their foods and picture on their packaging one protein actually contain more than one protein. Your Beef Formula is listed on your site as only Beef and Vegetables but when you check out the ingredients I found that the second ingredient is turkey. Why not just label it beef, turkey and vegetables. Many many companion animals are allergic, intolerant and/ or sensitive to not only chicken but all fowl. All of your other products are chicken based. Hopefully at some point you’ll add single proteins to your product line. At that point I’ll reconsider Allprovide as a food in rotation at our house.

[Anonymous]

My dog with allergies does best on Nutrisca salmon and chickpea. But since receiving care by a specialist/dermatologist she can tolerate a variety of foods as her allergies are environmental. She had IDT (Intra Dermal Testing) and has responded well to ASIT (Allergen Specific Immunotherapy)
Some info here: http://www.mspca.org/vet-services/angell-boston/dermatology/allergy-testing.html

PS: I sometimes bathe her twice a week (approved by the specialist) with Malaseb or Antifungal dog shampoo by GNC I like the lavender smell.

Check the search engine here for more info: allergies.
Hope this helps.

[Kevin R]

Hi all, I just wanted to reach out as I’m looking for a good food for my 9 year old Westie. She is a very allergic dog, but I’m not certain what all to. I believe its mostly environmental and dust, but maybe some foods. We had blood allergy tests done a few years back, but I’m not sure how accurate it was. In the past, she has been on steroids a few times and then ultimately Atopica. Also, I usually bathe her about once a week with Malaseb, but sometimes I may wait a little longer if she doesn’t appear to need a bath. Anyways, I’m trying to get her off of the Atopica completely if possible. Currently, her skin is somewhat “yeasty” and she may have a vaginal infection which I’m taking her to the vet for. Currently she is eating the Royal Canin prescription food “Venison and Potato.” I recently started giving her some supplements found in this Westie diet here – http://www.westierescueca.com/diet.htm, but I’m not certain if their ingredients would be aggravating any yeast issues she’s having. I had been giving her Greenies treats as well, but I’m looking to eliminate this as well if needed. I recently got some Orijen freeze dried duck treats since its just duck in the ingredients. I guess my question is what be a good food to try if I change her diet completely and should I look for a low glycemic food? Should I add any supplements? Thanks in advance for your help.

[Anonymous]

I tried homemade, I have the time…but it’s just too much work.
I think if you find a kibble that agrees with your dog and add water or presoak (if needed) it’s fine as a base. You can always add to it.

Some info here: http://skeptvet.com/Blog/category/nutrition/

PS: Now that my dog’s allergies (treated by a specialist/dermatologist) are under control, she can eat a variety of foods without any problems.

If you want to tackle homemade: http://www.homeovet.net/dynamic/php/downloads/dog-c8470f2c75dbe4b683205c3919ee2310/dog_diet_complete.pdf

[Michelle B]

Please do not judge. Presently I have a Great Dane, 3yrs old she is my 6th, last 3 rescued. I got my last 5 from the same rescue the last 3 being full rescues not bred. The full rescues have all had severe health issues. Presently feeding the 3 yr old Evangers rabbit and pork, frog legs because I need only meats, no grains, potatoes, fish, chicken, beef, rice, egg, starches, etc but I am only finding Evangers to be the only source. She is autoimmune thyroiditis and autoimmune pemphigus hence the need for no grains/starches. I have been a reader for a while so I know all about Evangers but my baby needs to eat. Having the autoimmune pemphigus she needs 3 proteins in her diet to not become allergic. Recently we lost beef, in the past we have lost chicken, turkey, pheasant, duck, lamb. She is starting to react to the pork which makes me nervous. One of her thyroid meds is armor the other soloxine so it could be the constant armor that is causing the pork issues. Any and all help would greatly be appreciated, thank you!

[Anonymous]

May I suggest you use the search engine, this topic has been discussed many times:
/forums/search/allergies/
/forums/search/struvite/

Hope this helps

[Diana W]

Our 4 year old rescue Maltese (adopted in December 2014) has struvite crystals in his urine. I was feeding Acana Pork and Butternut Squash but now vet put him on Royal Canin SO. So many articles that I have read state that diet doesn’t change struvite crystals. He is also very itchy and I don’t like feeding SO because it’s not grain-free. This is very confusing. Does anyone have any suggestions how to simplify diet for Casper? Thank you!