[Anonymous]

@Melisssa S.
This is from one of the SkeptVet’s blogs, an excerpt from a response to a comment about allergies, I think it encapsulates what I was trying to say. 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

[Andrea P]

I have a cocker spaniel that has allergies to wheat, corn, egg and chicken. I am currently feeding Merrick Backcountry and he’s never felt better, but with Purina picking it up.. it makes me nervous.. and I want to know about other brands out there aside from Orijen and Acana..
Thanks!

[Andrea P]

Hello! I am currently feeding Merrick BackCountry, but if Purina changes the formula I am going to change brands. It was hard enough finding one my dog did really well on.. does anyone know of any brands that have more than one flavor of dog food that is grain free, chicken, and egg free? No matter how any of them are processed, cooked, whatever, my dog reacts to them. Aside from Acana and Orijen, what else is out there?

[Kimberly W]

Hi all,

I have a puppy-mill Boston Terrier female named Lexie. I got her at 1 year old and she was in bad shape – demodex mange being one of the issues. We got rid of the mange, but she itches almost constantly still ….. especially mid-back and butt. Her tail has a spot where she’s rubbed all the hair off and now it’s like a callous there. I’ve tried all different proteins (even ground raw venison!) and grain-free foods, allergic injections, prednisone ….. even trying an immuno-therapy serum for common Florida allergens. She’s currently on Apoquel at $2 per DAY ….. it does help, but she still itches. I liked the idea of the Dinovite supplement + the raw diet they promote and switched her over VERY slowly. My first box of Dinovite lasted over 60 days. Lexie has a very touchy tummy and I didn’t want her to get sick. She seemed to do okay with the supplement and the diet, but we noticed that only the Apoquel made her scratch less. And by no means did the scratching stop ….. :/

So, into the 2nd box of Dinovite, Lexie started spitting up after eating. This had happened all along, but just once in awhile – now she was doing it after almost every meal. And it wasn’t RIGHT AFTER she ate, it was hours afterwards. Like we were sleeping at 3am and she’d vomit in the bed with us. And it was always GREEN. Like she was just spitting up just the Dinovite. We weaned her back onto the white fish based kibble she’d been on (that we were sure didn’t make her sick) and just put the Dinovite in that – thinking we’d eliminate the chance that it was the raw food. She STILL would vomit only green stuff.

I’m at my wits end here. I hate thinking she’s miserable. We have really tried a ton of stuff, but I think something in the Dinovite is making her sick. I’m wondering if all the time she was on the raw diet, it was moving the toxins from the crappy food she was fed (before I got her) OUT of her body and then, the grain (sorghum) in the Dinovite finally made her sick????

I wish I could post a picture – she looks SO good – hair is all grown in from where the demodex had her bald, so glossy she shines in the sun ….. everyone comments on how beautiful she is ….. but she itches. Almost all the time. Doesn’t lick her paws and her skin doesn’t smell at all, her ears are pretty pink inside ….. no yeast that I can see manifesting itself on her body anywhere. When I scratch her back where you can obviously tell it itches the MOST, there is some dandruff that comes out. She has no fleas and I’ve washed her with DermaBenss shampoo – as suggested by my vet – for the flaking skin ….. but when that didn’t work, I used a soap-free emu oil shampoo that’s FOR DRY SKIN and that didn’t help either.

This is what a meal looks like for Lexie:

1/2 cup of white fish based kibble – NO GRAINS (no corn, wheat or soy)
3 pumps of Yummy Chummies salmon oil
baked sweet potato or canned pumpkin
2 capsules of food enzymes (opened and sprinkled on the food)
Drs. Foster and Smith adult vitamin
vitamin E capsule – 400IU
***Also, before bed, I’m giving Lexie 2 capsules of bifidophilus, to help repopulate the good bacteria in her intestines.***
***We only use one kind of treats – Yummy Chummies Grain Free treats made with 95% salmon + potato and pea flour.***

The food we are using scores a 3.5 star on the food advisory list and I’m willing to buy her a 5 star food, but am not sure that food is her only issue. Does anyone have ANY suggestions for me? I’d be very grateful for any ideas that I haven’t already explored. Another supplement? A different shampoo? Anything I haven’t thought of or don’t know how to look for? I’ve even wondered if the itching is just a HABIT and maybe she doesn’t know how to stop ….. :/

Thanks for any thoughts!!!!

• This reply was modified 10 years, 8 months ago by Kimberly W.

[Pitlove]

Red- You said: “I wouldn’t worry too much about the food right now, the skin condition/allergies might not even be related to it. I would make seeing the dermatologist the #1 priority. One thing at a time.
I understand where your uncle is coming from, some dogs do okay on a low quality food, but some don’t. See what the vet says. Paying more doesn’t always mean it’s better!”

I said: “As for the recommendation from Red to essentially continue feeding Purina Dog Chow- That is on you. If you feel Dog Chow is a low quality food (most of us here except for a few would agree) then switch”

“Misinterpreting the comments and opinions of other posters does not help anyone
And it reflects poorly upon the person doing it.”

^This does not apply at all. You told her not to worry about changing foods. I did not misterpret anything you said. And I gave a good response that did not belittle your suggestion at all. You are overreacting to my comment, which reflects poorly on you, not me.

• This reply was modified 10 years, 8 months ago by Pitlove.

[Anonymous]

“I didn’t know there were dermatologists for dogs. I wonder if I can just go see one instead of a vet? They might know more than a vet would maybe”?

Yes, you can, and I was going to suggest that. What area are you in (state)? You can call the nearest veterinary school, often they have specialists or will know where to refer you.
Bring whatever records you have, negative heartworm test if you have it, proof of last rabies ( the only vaccination required by law). The only thing is…if they think the dog needs some lab work to rule out medical issues….but they probably have regular vets there too. Has the dog seen a vet in the last couple of years?

I wouldn’t worry too much about the food right now, the skin condition/allergies might not even be related to it. I would make seeing the dermatologist the #1 priority. One thing at a time.

I understand where your uncle is coming from, some dogs do okay on a low quality food, but some don’t. See what the vet says. Paying more doesn’t always mean it’s better!
http://skeptvet.com/Blog/category/nutrition/ I have learned a lot from this site (link)

PS: I’d rather be an outdoor dog instead of an indoor dog that was crated all day 😉

[Pitlove]

Hi Melissa-

I completely understand what you are going through. My pitbull just went to a new vet we are trying out today for his first meeting with her because of his skin problems. We talked and she examined him and confirmed my feeling that his skin problems were due to environmental allergies. She thinks food might play a small role in his issues, but it’s not major. She refered us to a dermatologist. My point in all of this is that all we paid for today was the exam fee. She did not push Hill’s on us (though she mentioned it), did not do any testing that we did not authorize on him. It was simply just a consultation if you will about whats going on with my boy. You can do that as well. You are not obligated to spend money that you don’t want to spend at a vet’s office. Any good vet will not just throw meds and prescription diets at you without a proper consultation first. I think this would be a good route to go as it sounds like you are dealing with some pretty intense skin problems.

Best of luck!

[jazzyems]

A little over a week ago I noticed my Boxer/American Bulldog had a lump on her nose. She already had a boney bump like some boxer’s do but this is above it. I thought it was a mosquito, bug or even bee bite and gave her Benadryl and made her a baking soda paste for itching or swelling. She Still has it. It’s soft to the touch and when I lightly press on it she sneezes. I know that she sometimes has allergies but this is new. I ran out of the Great Life Probiotics enzymes for about 2 weeks and started to give it to her, this is the second day of getting her back on them.. I’m a bit nervous about this does anyone have any ideas what this could be?

[Anonymous]

http://www.homeovet.net/dynamic/php/downloads/dog-c8470f2c75dbe4b683205c3919ee2310/dog_diet_complete.pdf

Did you try the search engine : /forums/search/allergies/

[Melissa S]

My pitbull, Ktulu, is having really bad skin problems. Just recently her right ear also became crusty and irritated on the inside. This has happened before to both of her ears, once. We cleaned them out with Keto (we have a prescription from the vet) and it never returned. Until now. She’s also always had skin issues on her stomach and flanks.

It’s gotten incredibly worse and her skin has become darkly pigmented, has lost hair, and I know she’s miserable. She smells like dog. Not like yeast or cheese or stinky feet. Another thing to keep in mind is that because of our living situation, the dogs must stay outside at all times. (Yeah, I know. I hate it, but this isn’t my house and we can’t afford to move to our own)

We haven’t taken her to the vet for this, because I’m afraid they’re going to try and do all kinds of unnecessary tests and give us drugs that won’t work or try to get us to buy Hills Science Diet (which I’m not a fan of at all). Although, I’m thinking that I will, just to see if they’ll take cultures and help us determine if this is a yeast issue (I think it is, along with allergies).

Now, that’s not really my issue. My issue is my partner thinks what we feed our dogs is just fine (Purina Dog Chow-please don’t judge us!). I’ve never liked it, but with our limited budget and our dogs liking it, I thought that it was okay for the time being. Well, the time being has passed and I can’t take it anymore. I’m even considering giving the dogs to people who can properly take care of them (ie. have more money).

If I were to start with a homemade diet, where do I actually start? How expensive is it really going to be? How do I make sure my dogs are getting all the required nutrients? Do you think this is the best route to go considering her skin issues?

I was looking into already prepared raw and freeze-dried, but with how large both of my dogs are, it’s out of the question regarding costs. Also, I want to make sure that I can pinpoint any food allergies as well, and so many of these commercially prepared foods have tons of ingredients.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Pitlove]

Hi Aimee-

Thanks for your response. The vet we were seeing vaguely suggested an elimination diet for my boy because she believes he has not only environmental allergies, but food “allergies” as well (her words). However, she made no effort to explain how to do an elimination diet to me. She told me to pick one food (I’ve been rotating) and feed it for 3 months. Thats all she said. I should have asked more questions, but she quickly moved on to another subject. Nevertheless he has an appointment with a new vet today for a sore on his neck and I’m going to have her look at the bumps he has and the dry flakey patches where his hair is falling out.

[Anonymous]

I suspect that your vet will need to do some additional testing to properly diagnose and treat your dog. Might cost a few bucks, but it is what it is.

The symptoms you describe could be anything from a nervous habit, to a GI issue, to allergies, or even cancer. Just to name a few things.

See if you can negotiate with your vet, rule out one thing at a time?

[Leslie J]

Thanks so much zcRiley for sharing your experience with Zignature! Even though mine have lost a bit a weight since starting on Zignature, they do look much better and there is absolutely ZERO gas, which, to me, is a good sign that they aren’t having tummy troubles. I’m hoping that going grain free will also help ease the symptoms of ragweed allergies. We’ll see in a few weeks if it does! Give your pups a smooch for me!! Thanks again!

[zcRiley]

I switched my pups over to Zignature Zssentials when they became allergic to Orijen Adult (ingredient change probably). I decided to avoid chicken, egg and potato which was near impossible to find. They lost weight but in a good way, the baby fat, bloated bellies and gas disappeared and they’re nice and lean. The poop is more but firm and healthy. They’re 75 lbs each and eat 3 3/4 cup each, not including soft canned as a topper. Since birth, I’ve never fed them grain food.

[Pitlove]

There is still no reason to completely denounce something that could potentially give a allergy dog owner a jumping off point and for 85$ it is worth a shot.

I just helped a couple at work with a lab with allergies and the woman was due to give birth tomorrow. I told her about Glacier Peak because they were concerned with money with the new baby coming and about the time and effort an elimination diet or other testing at a dermatologist would take. They ended up buying Nature’s Logic Sarine at my recommendation because their dog had been eating Purina ONE lamb and rice for 2 years straight and was having a reaction to something in it, but said they would look into the GPH test because they really couldn’t afford to go to a specialist (something I also suggested).

[Brianna D]

Hi! I’ve got a 1 year and 6 month old husky German Shepard mix. Sadly, he’s only 35 lbs due to health issues with his pancreas where he isn’t absorbing enough nutrients. I was going to switch him to blue buffalo food ($$$$$$$) but then someone mentioned I try a raw food diet to help with his digestive issues (food allergies & lack of nutrients, etc) I’ve been doing research for the past 3 days trying to figure out where to start and I’m still lost.

Someone told me they just feed their husky raw chicken & steak and steamed veggies. Everything else I’m reading online is saying organs and stuff like that. I want to make sure I’m doing this right and I’d love to see some weight gain within the next 30 days. Also, I see raw food lists and all of them have multiple different things like chicken backs and grass fed beef 1 whole egg. Is that how much you feed in one day?

Any information would help! I’ve read the measuring chart but unfortunately can’t find my food scale to measure. I’ll probably buy a new one but right now, I’m feeling very overwhelmed and could use some help! Thanks 🙂

[Anonymous]

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

[Anonymous]

He may need the steroids (prednisone) for a short period of time so that he doesn’t scratch himself bloody raw and get skin infections.
Once the treatment that is prescribed by a dermatologist kicks in, hopefully he won’t need them again. He may not even have any food sensitivities.
BTW: Hyposensitization, “allergy shots” are the most natural way to treat environmental allergies. Excerpt below from: http://www.allergydogcentral.com/2011/06/30/dog-allergy-testing-and-allergy-shots/

Hyposensitization/Allergy Shot Benefits:
•Hyposensitization works on 65-85% of dogs placed on this form of treatment.
•Often the only solution for dogs who do not respond to other allergy treatments.
•A more natural approach to allergy treatments than steroids – trains the body to heal itself and not respond to allergens.

Hyposensization/Allergy Shot Drawbacks:
•May not work for 15-32% of dogs who are placed on this form of treatment.
•May not see significant results for four months to a year.
•Initial test and first round of vaccine costs roughly $500. Ongoing vaccines run roughly $300 per year.
•Lifetime commitment – injections are given every couple of weeks for the lifetime of your dog.
http://www.allergydogcentral.com/category/allergy-stories/

[Anonymous]

What you describe sounds like environmental allergies, I would suggest that you make an appointment with a dermatologist/specialist as soon as possible. /forums/search/allergies/

http://www.allergydogcentral.com/2011/06/30/dog-allergy-testing-and-allergy-shots/

Most allergens are airborne, impossible to avoid. http://www.allergydogcentral.com/2014/04/07/just-moved-our-allergic-dog-to-a-new-state/

[phyllis r]

If you are still out there, I sure would appreciate hearing if anything helped. I have a 5.5 yr old rough coat collie and we have had the same types of lesions since last November. We live in Colorado, a place where fleas aren’t so prevalent – NOT! Abut a year after we moved into our house, we noticed 2 fleasy on him. He broke out in little red pimple like lesions. The vet said he was allergic to fleas. We treated for fleas with Frontline & when that didn’t work we tried K9 AvantixII. Treated the skin problem with antibiotics & steroids twice. Even tried an allergy medicine. HAD A HORRIBLE TIME. Finally got rid of the fleas. Then tried to see if was food allergy so went on Purina HA. Didn’t help. Thought it might be mites so tried 3 treatments of Revolution each 2 weeks apart. Didn’t help. In fact, when we used it for flea prevention about 3 months later, he broke out worse. From pictures we can find on the internet, it appears to be ectopic pyoderma but we can’t figure out what is causing it or how to treat it. Right now, we are able to manage it by bathing him in Head & Shoulders shampoo together with providone iodin shampoo twice weekly. We remove the scaly part & treat each lesion with a triple antibiotic ointment. We spray him down twice daily with Purishield Wound. As long as we xan keep him from itching, he seems to be comfortable. Any ideas? Oh, one more thing. before all of this he did have digestive issues. The food that we settled with was Natural Balance Duck & Potato. I would greatly appreciate anyone’s input. Berducci was born in South Dakota. We moved to Colorado when he was 2 & 1/2. We first lived in an apartment. He mostly stays inside except for walks and supervised outdoor time. We live in the city.

[samaroberoi4474]

Labs are an active breed. Generally, these dogs are allergic or sensitive to some foods. Details of these foods are given below:

10 Foods Not To Feed Your Dog

https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/dog-behavior/foods-are-hazardous-dogs

There are many factors you must keep in mind while choosing puppy food for your Lab. You can also check the sensitivity of your dog towards different foods. For this, you can give new food to your dog in small quantity and check its reaction. If dog showing some digestive problem such as diarrhea, constipation etc.; discontinue the food and try this procedure with another food item.

[samaroberoi4474]

It seems your dog is allergic to certain food. There are some food products that are toxic for dogs and cause food poisoning and allergy. For more information about these toxic foods, you can visit this link:

10 Foods Not To Feed Your Dog

Avoid giving these food items to your dog. Further, raw food is absolutely good for the dogs. But, don’t give raw food to your dog every day. Try to mix raw food with commercial dog foods or homemade dog food so that your dog gets balanced nutrition every day.
Following articles can give you more in-depth knowledge about ideal food for your dog:
/best-dog-foods/raw-dog-food/

Which is The Best Dog Food Raw, Home Cooked or Kibble?

[Kate L]

I have a sensitive bulldog. I have resorted to home making food. However, Instinct canned dog food has several proteins that your dog may be able to eat: rabbit or lamb could work. They also have a limited ingredient lamb and pea recipe (but it is high in fat). I used to think it was all about the protein but a dog can have sensitivities to the carbohydrate sources as well. My dog can’t eat sweet potatoes, rice, peas or quinoa. It is truly frustrating to find dog foods that work. I have read more labels that I care to think about. Good luck. It can be a tiresome and LONG process finding foods that a dog does’t react to. And don’t forget, it could be environmental allergies and NOT food.

[Michelle M]

I have a dog that has very sensitive tummy and skin – and it seems that he is allergic to anything with chicken, turkey or quail in it. Any suggestions on a good dry food? We have used raw venison and that was ok but it seemed too rich for him. He is on raw beef/bison mix and he is super itchy again so I don’t think we are on the right path. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

• This topic was modified 10 years, 8 months ago by Michelle M.

[Gloria K]

Jake’s mom has come up with some very good ideas. If you scroll up for that you’ll see others who have posted suggestions regarding dog treats. I make all of Mickey’s treats so I know exactly what goes into them. I have a Pinterest board it’s just reserved for dog food and treats but this one has proven to be Mickey’s all-time favorite and he goes wild.

APPLE CHEDDER BACON COOKIES

2 1/2 cups flour (Mickey is allergic to wheat so I use chickpea flour or brown rice flour )
2/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/3 cup yogurt
1 tsp. chopped fresh parsley ( optional)
2 slices smoked bacon most fat removed and very finely chopped
1/2 cup shredded peeled apple
1/2 cup water
2 Tbsp. olive oil or bacon drippings.

Sauté bacon till crisp then finely chop. Add to all other ingredients. Mix thoroughly . Drop by tablespoons onto parchment lined cookie sheet, flatten slightly and bake at 375° for 28 minutes.
Keep some refrigerated for up to one week and freeze the rest for 3 months.
I keep about a weeks worth that would be seven biscuits in the refrigerator at one time and the rest I freeze.

[Gloria K]

Jake’s mom has come up with some very good ideas. If you scroll up for that you’ll see others who have posted suggestions regarding dog treats. I make all of Mickey’s treats so I know exactly what goes into them. I have a Pinterest board it’s just reserved for dog food and treats but this one has proven to be Mickey’s all-time favorite and he goes wild.

APPLE CHEDDER BACON COOKIES

2 1/2 cups flour (Mickey is allergic to wheat so I use chickpea flour or brown rice flour )
2/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/3 cup yogurt
1 tsp. chopped fresh parsley ( optional)
2 slices smoked bacon most fat removed and very finely chopped
1/2 cup shredded peeled apple
1/2 cup water
2 Tbsp. olive oil or bacon drippings.

Sauté bacon till crisp then finely chop. Add to all other ingredients. Mix thoroughly . Drop by tablespoons onto parchment lined cookie sheet, flatten slightly and bake at 350° for 30 minutes.
Keep some refrigerated for up to one week and freeze the rest for 3 months.
I keep about a weeks worth that would be seven biscuits in the refrigerator at one time and the rest I freeze.
I use rice flour because Mickey is allergic to wheat flour but you can use any flour you want.

[Anonymous]

I would ask your vet for a referral to a specialist or call the veterinary school in your area. What is causing the IBS, allergies?
Prednisone is a steroid, good for short term to get things under control, then taper off. Not good for long term, bad side effects and other health issues could occur.
Best to get to the root of the problem, now.

I would keep his diet simple, feed him as usual (twice a day) or whatever your vet is recommending. You don’t want rapid weight gain.

[Anonymous]

You might find some helpful information at this site:
http://www.allergydogcentral.com/2014/04/07/just-moved-our-allergic-dog-to-a-new-state/

And here: http://skeptvet.com/Blog/category/nutrition/

[Anonymous]

Consider making an appointment with a dermatologist for skin testing IDT, maybe your vet can refer you to a specialist .
Environmental allergies are more common than food sensitivities/allergies.
If you use the search engine you will find many posts on this subject. /forums/search/allergies/

Helpful article below:
By Klaus Loft, DVM
Angell Dermatology Service

Anyone who suffers debilitating environmental allergies tied to changing seasons, pet dander or household dust mites knows first-hand the misery of a scratchy throat, itchy eyes or painful rashes.

Not everyone knows, however, that our pets can experience similar allergic reactions — and other very bothersome dermatological issues. But our pets need not suffer in silence. Modern veterinary science has evolved such that advanced, comprehensive treatments are now available to treat a range of skin conditions.

Top pet dermatological issues

Our four-legged friends suffer from some of the same skin issues as we do — and several that we do not. The most common conditions we see at Angell include:

•Parasites, such as mites, fleas and mange (scabies)
•Infectious diseases, such as Staphylococcal pyoderma (“Staph”) skin infections, yeast and fungal infections and skin fold infections
•Systemic diseases, such as autoimmune diseases
•Skin cancer, such as Squamous cell carcinoma, cutaneous lymphoma, Mast cell tumors
•Allergies, such as flea allergy dermatitis, adverse food reactions, environmental allergies, etc.

All of these conditions can become serious and, if untreated, dramatically reduce quality of life. But the tremendous strides made in veterinary innovation, however, is very good news for our pets. Specifically, the testing and treatments for allergies now rivals human healthcare in its sophistication, quality of care and long-term health outcomes.

Unlike humans, dogs and cats cannot tell us about their dermatological health issues. So we as pet owners must look for the signs. The most common indicators that a pet is suffering from some kind of allergy involve frequent episodes of ear infections, red raised or open sores on the skin, constant licking or biting of paws or groin — sometimes causing wounds that will not go away.

Allergies present a particular challenge because there can be hundreds (even thousands) of potential allergens that impact pet health, from foods to pollen from grasses, weeds, trees, dust mites and more. Today’s specialty veterinary hospitals have access to the very latest diagnostic tests to get to the bottom of what’s ailing our pet. Among these tests is the Intra Dermal Test (IDT).

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. The use of fluorescein — a chemical that illuminates the inflammation caused by the injected allergens in order to visualize the strength of individual reactions — is key to accurately diagnosing pet allergies, and is just one of the many ways veterinarians use new technologies to improve care and diagnostics.

The results of IDT (as well as a review of the pet’s medical history) can then inform comprehensive immunotherapy treatments to relieve suffering. Veterinary dermatologists rely on IDT to build customized treatment plans for patients called Allergen Specific Immuno Therapy or “ASIT” for short.

ASIT involves a series of injections specifically created for the allergic animal’s skin. These injections, of diluted allergens, are designed to make a pet less sensitive to their allergens over time. In most cases these injections must be continued for life to reduce symptoms, but they are highly effective. Seventy to 90 percent of pets experience a reduction in symptoms as a result of ASIT treatment. These treatments can be delivered even more easily via droplets under the tongue, perfect for pet owners who are squeamish about giving injections to their pet.

This treatment is very new to the North American field of medicine (both human and veterinary) and underscores just how far innovation in veterinary medicine has come.

When it’s time to see the vet

Many pet owners are understandably concerned about taking their animals to the veterinarian because the cost (to say nothing of the fear some animals experience when going do the doctor) may outweigh any perceived reduction in suffering. To help pet owners know when it’s time to bring Fido to the doctor I’ve compiled my “Top Ten” list of dermatological symptoms that should never be ignored:

•Intense itching of the skin (head shaking, running the face into the carpet, furniture, etc.)
•Biting at the skin that creates red, raw crusting areas of the skin
•Multiple ear infections (head shaking, odor from ears, scratching at the ears with hind legs)
•Paw licking or chewing and frequent infections of the skin in the webbed skin of the paws
•Staining of the fur of the paws and nails on multiple feet
•Reoccurring skin infections in the groin, under the shoulders, perianal areas (on or under the tail)
•Greasy scaling skin and/or fur with odorous skin
•Hair loss, or thinning of the fur
•Dark pigmentation of the skin that is chronically infected
•Sudden depigmentation of skin

Allergies and other dermatological issues can be as frustrating for pet owners and their veterinarians as they can be for pets. I encourage any pet owner whose animal is experiencing any of these symptoms to consult with their veterinarian.

[Heidi H]

Alex- we also have an itchy lab. We got her allergy tested with a blood test with a local lab that tests specifically for things in our area (desert southwest). Before we had her tested, I went through a bunch of different specialty dog foods (zignature salmon, blue buffalo, origins, etc) that were suggested by people in the store because “most dogs who are allergic will be able to eat these foods, yada yada yada”
Most off-the-shelf grain free dogs foods contain either rice or sweet potato. Many people say to feed a fish-based food. After the blood test we found out she is allergic to everything in the grain free foods, too – as well as all fish mixes!
I found a grain free, potato free food at our feed store called Pulsar by Horizon. It is grain, rice, and potato free, and I get the chicken version because she can eat that. It’s less expensive than most of the others but still more expensive than regular dog food.
I will say that while it has helped, she still suffers with environmental allergies. A cortizone shot from the vet helps when it’s itchy outside.
The blood test was around 300 dollars. we put it off due to the expense, but it’s so nice to be able to refer to that list and see oh yeah, that plant is blooming right now, that’s why she’s itchy, and you can have a better idea of how to help her.
For instance, with the suggestion above to do the lamb and rice diet, or even cooking your own, most recipes suggest rice. That wouldn’t have helped with us because our dog is allergic to rice.
Anyway, just letting you know our experience so that maybe you can avoid some pitfalls.
Good luck and hug your lab for me. 🙂

[Pitlove]

Orijen is an excellent food, that being said, it is not for every dog. I know a few people who’s dogs have severe allergies (they are GSD’s not pitbulls but still) and their dogs can ONLY eat Acana. My pit was the same exact way about food. He was not interested in eating. He would eat for a few weeks then he would walk away from the food and I had to hand feed it to him. When I introduced canned food into his diet, he instantly starting eating again. Now he loves eating so much I can add just 3 spoonfuls of canned food on top of his dry and he eats no problem. I can make 1 can last for 4 meals that way! Whereas before, I was blowing through 2 cans a day.

As I highly recommend keeping him on a high protein food given that for a large breed he is considered a senior and they do have a higher protein requirement.

If your bulldog is not allergic to chicken I would highly recommend looking into the Wysong Epigen 90. It’s the only food on the market that is completely starch free which would help with the gunk build up in the ears which sounds like yeast.

[Jessica A]

Hi! I am a new member and have been researching dog foods for years now. I have been involved in animal rescue for 3 years and now have 7 dogs and 2 cats of my own. My dogs range in age from 4 months-12 years old. Most are large breed with 3 being medium size. I have had my dogs on everything over the years from Iam’s, Wellness Complete, Core, Blue, Blue Freedom, Basics, Science Diet Sensitive Stomach, Active Maturity, Large Breed, Advanced Fitness, Simply Nourish, Natural Balance Limited Ingredient, and a few more….I have a 4 month old lab, 2- 17 month old mixes (unsure of breed), 4 yr old border collie mix, 4 yr old golden, 5 yr old lab and a 12 yr old lab….so we need different ranges/types of foods. Biggest problem is allergies with our Border Collie and size/growth for our labs…any thoughts??

Thanks so much,
Jessie

[Susan]

Hi Taylor, there is pumkin in the Grandma Lucy’s Rabbit & Pumkin is high in fiber, so I’d say it will make the poos worse, you can try pumkin, you only add 1 teaspoon of boiled pumkin but I think she is getting too much fiber with the Grandma Lucy’s food…sounds like your girl has more food sensitivities then environment allergies, can you cook for her? look at the ingredients in the Grandma Lucy’s & make the food minus a few ingredients like the pumkin, chickpeas & spinach & add rabbit, quoina or millet or add both to the food to fill her up more… greens are best to add in meals when they suffer from yeast problems, broccoli, Bok Choy, Zucchini, celery, Kale etc NO Peas..
Have you ever done a food elimination diet before, sometimes the foods that they reacted to at one time, sometimes when you re-introduce that food again they are fine & have no reactions….

In Australia scientist are testing kids with food sensitivities/intolerances, (not food allergies to peanuts) & they’re finding when they re-introduced small amounts of the food that they are sensitive/intolerant too over a 6month period the child can eat that certain food now.. also they are finding that kids that were introduced to food older then 6months seem to have all these food intolerances & now they are saying its best to introduce foods to babies at 4 months old of age not older…..
Patch has a problem with potatoes he gets diarrhea & rash all over stomach, well I think it was the potatoes in the kibble, the kibble just had potatoes & fish & he can eat fish, so I’ve been adding about 1 teaspoon of boiled mashed potatoes in with his cooked meal & he’s been OK so far, so next week I’m going to add 1 spoon mashed potatoes & see if his poos start to change & if he has any reactions….

[Taylor C]

Hi Red,
My dog is 5 yrs old, and yes, we had her tested about a year ago. She has both food and environmental allergies. We’ve had her on allergy shots the past year, but honestly, switching to the Grandma Lucy’s Pureformance Rabbit has made the biggest difference by far!! That’s why I hate to have to change 🙁 I’m beginning to think my dog may be in that small % the vet warns about that doesn’t respond to the allergy shots.

PitLove,
The idea of warming, cooling, and neutral meats comes from Chinese Medicine. It sounds kinda crazy at first, but if you read up on it, it makes total sense. Basically, if you have a “hot dog” (red undertone to skin, red eyes, skin allergies, panting, always seeking cool places to sleep, etc) you want to feed them a protein with cooling qualities that won’t cause inflammation, like rabbit, duck, and fish. But anyways, I’ll look into the kibble you suggested. I’m not typically a fan of kibble but I’m willing to try anything! Ill look into Millet as well…thanks!!

[Anonymous]

You didn’t mention the age of the dog? Has the dog been tested by a dermatologist for environmental allergies? Because, environmental allergies are more common than food allergies/intolerances and tend to wax and wane.
If this has been going on for more than a year (4 seasons) without significant improvement I would take the dog to a specialist. The food/diet may only be a small part of it….that has been my experience with an allergic dog that is now stable.

My allergic dog does best on Nutrisca salmon and chickpea (no potato, no grains) but since receiving immunotherapy for 2 years, she can eat a variety of foods, chicken included.

[Taylor C]

Thanks for the responses! I searched and searched and searched for a food that was free of anything she is allergic to, as well as brands that weren’t loaded with potatoes, because, like you said, Susan, I do want to stay away from that because she is highly allergic to yeast. I also wanted to find a variety with a “cooling protein” and the Grandma Lucy’s Pureformance Rabbit is the ONLY thing I can find!! Duck and fish are considered cooling meats as well, but, of course, she’s allergic to duck and mixed fish! Beef and pork are considered neutral meats – she hasn’t done well on beef in the past; I guess I could try pork. Her skin just looks so much better on the Rabbit that it’s killing me to think of switching again!!
What do you think about adding pumpkin? I’ve heard that can firm up stools…?

[bigthree]

Usually with big dogs especially when they are going to get real big it maybe best to get a large breed formula because they tend to have better supplements in them for the bigger breeds. But you might want to check with your vet. Mine I have on Buffalo Blue Large breed formula (chicken and brown rice formula). As far as giving him something else I wish I could, he has a lot of allergies and this is the only food that doesn’t make him sick.

[bigthree]

Congrats Emily on a great breed of a dog. I have a St Bernard thats about 5 years of age. I can tell you this taste of the wild large breed puppy formula should be fine, just keep an eye on his coat because some of them will get skin allergies. Other than that enjoy him they are very docile and love to cuddle.

[Taylor C]

Hi! I have a boxer/pit mix with severe skin allergies. About 6 weeks ago, we switched her over to Grandma Lucy’s Pureformance food and within a week saw a difference in her skin condition. While we’ve been very happy with the food and results, our dog has been pooping a lot more (3 – 6x/day, very soft) and has lost some weight as a result. And feeding her larger amounts only seems to make her poop that much more. She’s also had a lot more gas than usual. We’ve tried so many different foods, raw diet, countless rounds of steroids and antibiotics prior to discovering Grandma Lucy’s and nothing has worked. We love Grandma Lucy’s and really don’t want to switch foods again, so I’m wondering if anyone knows of a supplement or food we could add to her meals that may help her absorb the nutrients better and reduce the number of poops. I’ve recently begun adding chia seeds and apple cider vinegar, along with a little plain Greek yogurt here and there. Thanks in advance!

[aquariangt]

For orijen i’d say that’s way too much. Every dog is different, so calorie intake requirements can vary. I feed my 18 lb dog from 2/3-3/4 cup a day depending on the food, every food is different from a calorie perspective. My 23 lb dog usually eats a cup a day, because she doesn’t get the variation as the smaller one due to some food allergies. Orijen is significantly more nutrient dense than Euk.

Is she in ideal condition right now?
How much exercise does she get?
What extras does she get? Dani gets a ton of training so she eats closer to the minimum, ad I keep unbalanced toppers to a minimum, Liesl doesn’t train as much, so she gets more middle calorie needs. I guess in general I don’t use a ton of unbalanced toppers, mostly canned and dehydrated.

I’d probably cut her down to 2/3 cup a day and watch her weight. Don’t let her trick you into thinking she needs more, dogs are shifty like that 🙂 Doxies also are prone to overweight and back issues, so you want to help keep those at bay by keeping her condition

[Kevin W]

It’s been a crazy ride for this one that’s for sure. We are also going to do a panel as well once we are allowed too being that she has had steroids for her allergies. We have to wait like 3-12 months for that so the panel will be the most effective.

My vet seemed fairly certain that it would go away without surgery. They mainly remove them if they ulcerate and become a big infection risk. However, with Iris’s track record I’m knocking on wood that removal won’t be needed.

So as of now she is still itchy and requires a doggy shirt on all the time which stops a lot of itching because of her stubby legs lol. She is like a all muscle tank but with training wheels 🙂

I will try giving a morning and night dosage to spread it out more. As of now just worried about her appetite not being as strong as usual but nothing to worry quite yet.

[Connie O]

My Westie spent 5 years of his life with TERRIBLE allergies and after taking him to 5 different vets, even allergists, no one could tell me what to give him other than Cortisone shots. One day I happened upon Royal Canin with a Westie on the package and it said it was for sensitive stomachs and great coats. I gave it to him and within 1 months all the itching stopped, his stools were perfect and the red spots on his stomach and paws were completely gone. His coat after that was the most beautiful, silky, full coat and he was a MUCH happier dog! I have since given it to my Terrier mix and Havanese with the same results. I haven’t tried the canned or other types of Royal Canin but I absolutely recommend that the Royal Canin Mini Special be added to your list. Thanks.

[losul]

Weezerweeks, please use much caution about giving a dog human antacids/PPI’s/ acid , especially for any prolonged length of time, beyond occasional usage, without carefully regulated dosage, without guidance from a good vet, and without knowing the actual cause of acid reflux symptoms, if that’s even what it is (acid reflux). As said above, hypochlorhydria can cause the exact same symptoms. I cringe every time I hear of someone self medicating., and it could be creating worse problems, especially in the longer term, if the cause is low stomach acid, or even if the problem does not originate from excessive acid production.. Even, if the underlying cause were to be excessive acid production, if you cut a pill that was designed for a 160lb human in quarters and give to a 10 lb dog, that dosage seems way too much anyway. It’s too easy to intuitively assume these sort of symptoms (reflux or indigestion) stems from excessive stomach acid. It could be excess stomach acid production or refluxing for numerous reasons, but I feel that way too often it may be caused by just the opposite, probably both in dogs as in humans. If antacids are given to a dog in wrong dosage or if the dog really suffers from low stomach acid and antacids are given, it could lead to achlorydria (no stomach acid)…

I spent a great deal of time studying on this over the last year and a half or so, the “acid” reflux, GERD, hypochlorydria, achloridia, hyperchlorydria, digestion problems, etc. and how it relates to overall health/disease. It’s a complicated issue, and I’m absolutely no medical pro at all, but I think I’ve learned some good info on the subject. Good health really begins in the first part of digestion, the stomach, IMO. Most of the info available pertains to humans, but should apply to dogs as well. I’ve been wanting to write about this again for awhile now….It’s been high on my to do list… I really sympathize and feel with the folks and their dogs, the helplessness feeling and distressed feelings such as on forum threads like “dog gulping and swallowing”, and of course with Sue and her dog Patch, and anyone else’s also.

Sue, I think you’re finally probably on the right track now with your thinking, and on the right path with consulting with the Naturopath vet, I hope you continue with that. I hope you are also up front with her/him about Patch’s extensive past antacid usage, also the extensive antibiotics usage. H. Pylori thrives in lower stomach acid and will in fact even help create a less acidic atmosphere for itself via it’s large production of urease, which metabolizes in the stomach to ammonia and neutralizes stomach acid. The H pylori can also damage the mucous and the parietal cells in the stomach, which produce the hydrochloric acid and pepsin in the stomach. It does become necessary to use the antacids along with the antibiotic therapy to eradicate the h pylori. I thought this odd at first, but it turns out, I found that H. Pylori does needs hydrochloric acid in it’s metabolism, so to limit stomach acid during eradication makes sense. And of course antacids become necessary to allow time for ulcers or damaged esophagus, etc. to heal. I think you already said that Patch didn’t have ulcers or damage to his esophagus? Actually H. Pylori is very rare in the stomachs of dogs as I understand it, but other helicobacter species are more common and may be a normal inhabitant of a canine stomach.

I don’t believe there are any good tests on a dog to find out about stomach acid production. There’s a good test for humans, the Heidelburg PH capsule test, minimally invasive, although it’s not a mainstream or well known diagnostic tool, (nope most doctors will just prescribe an antacid) and it can also even measure PH in the small and large intestine.. I called them sometime back and asked if there was any in use for dogs, which I already doubted, I was told no, but that she would bring it up at the next company meeting. Humans can do some limited self testing to a certain extent, which I won’t get into, but can’t really do that with dogs, as they can’t tell exactly what they are feeling at the moment.

I’ve got whole lots of links bookmarked on this subject, when I can get to them and when I get time. For now, there’s a pretty good summary of digestion/disease issues just from the Heidelberg Medical site. I would read ALL the “learn more” topics (on the right side), including hypochlorhydria, allergies, diabetes, gastritis, asthma, dumping syndrome, hyperchlorydria, achlorydria, the medications, PPI’s, H2’s GERD, antibiotics, pyloric insufficiency, etc. Please read them all.

http://phcapsule.com/digestion/gerd-reflux/

[Pitlove]

So this brings us to the problem with kibble in general. Those starchy carbohyrate sources provide one main thing in kibble; a binder. In order to have it’s shape kibble needs a carbohydrate to bind the food together, therefore you will never see a kibble that is completely carb free. Wysong Epigen 90 is the closest thing at only 4% carbs. Impressive for a kibble. It is really a shame that Nature’s Logic has alfalfa in it because millet is a hypo-allergenic seed and is easily digested by dogs. Millet being the carb source in NL.

If your dog is prone to yeast, staying away from starchy carbs is best, but IMO the lesser of all the evils in that list is lentils and chickpeas.

Most people will tell you that completely getting rid of allergies requires a raw diet and to be honest thats probably true. But that would take working with a nutritionist and developing recipes that would work for her and then actually making them.

Canned foods also will offer you more choices that kibble of less grains and starches, however they are not without them. Maybe look into dehyrated raw?

Edit: Also on the subject of Tripe. Most tripe is not considered complete and balanced. I know Tripett isn’t for one. One that is complete and balanced is Solid Gold’s Green Beef Tripe. I’ve used that for my dog and he loved it. Didn’t smell bad to me either.

• This reply was modified 10 years, 8 months ago by Pitlove.

[Gracie’s Mom]

I’ve been looking more closely at the foods that the wizard identified as not having the ingredients I eliminated based on allergies. One thing I’m struck by is how many starches are included in some of the foods. For example, the various flavors of Acana and Nulo have four starches each. Of course, that doesn’t in any way indicate what percentage of the ingredients are starches, but I suspect that some, like lentils and peas, are pretty significant proportionally, given the limited ingredients of some of the foods. Gracie hasn’t tested allergic to those, but I am not convinced they belong in dog food any more than grains. The Epigen 90 does seem to stand out as a food with no starches.

I’m curious to know what everyone’s thoughts are on starches and how much you consider those in choosing foods.

P.S. The starches I’m talking about in these limited ingredient foods are 1) lentils, 2) peas, 3) chickpeas, 4) sweet potatoes, 5) pumpkin, and 6) tapioca.

[Anonymous]

My dogs like it too, I only use canned foods as a standby. But I like that I can find this in the supermarket and it’s reasonably priced.
I have not tried the dry, I have a dog with allergies that does well on Nutrisca salmon and chickpea and don’t want to switch around too much.

[Gracie’s Mom]

I will definitely check into the Epigen 90.

Gracie is not allergic to grains in general, rather I think they should be avoided in dog food, so the tapioca was purely my concern in that regard. After further research and consideration, I realize that my reaction to tapioca was based on what we called tapioca in my family growing up, which was really tapioca pudding and made from white rice (to which Gracie is quite allergic). However, tapioca is actually a root and there’s no evidence that it would be a problem for the princess. When I ran the wizard again without excluding tapioca I also got Source Grain Free Turkey and Pea as an option, along with Nature’s Variety Instinct.

In investigating why Against the Grain, ZiwiPeak, and Vital Essentials failed to make the Wizard’s list, I noticed something I had missed about Against the Grain; i.e., it has potato starch. I see no reason why ZiwiPeak (air dried) and Vital Essentials (freeze dried nibblets) would have been omitted. They still look like viable options to me.

[Pitlove]

It’s no problem! I enjoy being helpful where I can. Even though she is not a huge fan of chicken I would 100% look into Wysong Epigen 90. It is completely unlike any other food on the market. It is completely starch free.

/dog-food-reviews/wysong-epigen-90/

See if any of her red-flags are on there but I doubt it. The meat protein isolate per Dr.Wysong’s website is pork by the way.

If she isn’t actually allergic to tapioca itself then I wouldn’t imagine that it being considered a grain digestivly is an issue. “Grain” is such a broad term and I do not believe a dog can just be allergic to grains in and of themselves, it would have to be a specific type of grain or test positive in rare cases as being allergic to every type of grain present in dog food.

NV is a good food, my dog however didn’t like it because he is a pain in the butt lol. But that aside I like the food and it could be worth trying out.

I would have suggested the food my dog is currently on which is Nature’s Logic, however it contains alfalfa.

• This reply was modified 10 years, 8 months ago by Pitlove.
• This reply was modified 10 years, 8 months ago by Pitlove.

[Gracie’s Mom]

Thanks, PitLove, for your interest in Gracie. I did try to give complete information without writing a treatise; it seemed like a long post as it was! Gracie did not test allergic to chicken, though it is definitely her least favorite source of meat/protein. For example, she will eat all the K9 Naturals flavors except the chicken. Nevertheless, I try to keep some form of chicken in rotation, because it is a leaner option. I keep thinking that I will find a source of chicken that works for her.

When I ran the wizard, I got the Acana Singles Duck, Lamb, and Pork; Addiction Herbed Duck and Hunter’s Venison; Best Breed Grain-Free Chicken and Salmon; Canine Caviar Open Sky GF, Wild Ocean GF, Wilderness GF; DogsWell Nutrisca Chicken; Nulo Freestyle Adult Lamb, Salmon, Chicken, Turkey, Cod; Nulo Medal Series Adult Chicken, Lamb, Salmon, and Wysong Epigen 90.

I didn’t get PetCurean Go! – Sensitivity + Shine, I think because I eliminated tapioca on the basis of its similarity to a grain in digestive terms.

Allowing tapioca brings in several other options worth considering, including one that I just ordered but haven’t yet tried, Nature’s Variety Instinct Turkey Meal Formula. We’ll see how that goes. Any opinions on the tapioca?

Thanks, again, PitLove. Your help is much appreciate!

[Pitlove]

I’m gonna take a guess and says she allergic to chicken too? If she isn’t look at Wysong Epigen 90.

This is what I got when I put in the limited information you gave us::

Acana Singles – Duck and Bartlett Pear

Acana Singles – Lamb and Okanagan Apple

Addiction (canned)- Hunter’s Venison Stew

Canine Caviar- Lamb and Pearl Millet Dinner

Canine Caviar- Large Breed Puppy Dinner

Canine Caviar- Open Sky GF

Canine Caviar- Wild Ocean GF

PetCurean Go!- Sensitivity + Shine Venison

Check some of those out. Not sure what else your dog is allergic to or what results you got using that tool, but thats what I got with what info you gave.