[Susan]

If you read the test your dog can have rice duck lamb & don’t forget the Nutri-Scan Salvia test, test for JUST 20 foods only so there’s probably other foods like Tapioca etc that your dog can eat …. your dog can eat the “California Natural” Lamb & Rice that has just 4 ingredients Lamb, white rice, brown rice & sunflower oil.. or the best thing I would do is feed raw diet that way you are in control of all the ingredients…….
Your dog has just proven LM WRONG she always goes on on that your dog cant have food intolerances chances are your dog has environment allergies, see a Dermatologist for environment testing & waste $2000 then what, how do stop all the pollens in the air, all grass on ground, you cant the Nutri-Scan test has proven LM her wrong.. Dogs do have Food Intolerances..
Jean Dodds has the only & best IgA & IgM salvia testing around….

[Anonymous]

Most allergies are environmental and get worse with age not better. My dog started treatment at age 4. Two years later she is stable and only needs the immunotherapy about once a month. Her specialist/dermatologist who we just saw, she only sees him once a year and he always returns phone calls, says her hair and skin look beautiful!

I went through it with my dog, spent all kinds of money on different dog foods, shampoos, dehumidifier, air purifier etc. Went back and forth to the regular vet and got incorrect information.
Nothing worked till I took her to see a specialist/dermatologist and had the skin testing done and she responded to immunotherapy, gradually showed improvement.
Initially, the testing can be expensive, but the maintenance is not bad.

I hope you will click on my screen name, replies created and read the posts related to allergies, I have made many recommendations and have included some good articles.

Example: I would suggest that you make an appointment with a specialist/dermatologist.

Or consider consulting a homeopath http://www.vitalanimal.com http://theavh.org/

I would be leery of any saliva kits or any mail-in test that doesn’t require a physical examination by a veterinarian /forums/topic/nutriscan-results-suggestions/

/forums/topic/please-help-2/
/forums/topic/4-year-pld-hound-mix-hot-spots-itching-shedingvet-presribed-pills-worked-some/

[Steven K]

I have a boxer rottweiller mix and he’s around 4 years old. He has had off and on allergies throughout the years and the vet has always told me just to give him some benadryl. The allergies seem to be consistent now and the benadryl doesn’t help so i’m thinking it might be in his food. I feed him purina one doge food, My other dog who is a 9 year old yellow lab doesn’t seem to have any problem with the food. I am looking into the Acana dry food, any other ideas are very much appreciated!

Symptoms: excessive itching on body and ears
– scratching of nose
– licking lips
– runny eyes

[Anonymous]

If you are dealing with environmental allergies vs food sensitivities, or both.
It’s best to go with a limited ingredient dog food.

My dog with environmental allergies does best on Nutrisca salmon and chickpea (no grains, no potato). Potato seems to bother a lot of food sensitive dogs.
However, as my dog continues to have a positive response to immunotherapy (2 years) I have observed that she is able to tolerate more of a variety of foods.

So, in my opinion, I would stay with limited ingredients, no grains.

PS: If the dog is reacting to environmental allergies, most of which are airborne, no matter what you feed him he will have the symptoms you described. That has been my experience.
Have you tried frequent bathing, at least once a week? Malaseb and GNC Pets Medicated Anti-Bacterial & Anti-Fungal are my favorites.

[Pitlove]

Linda- Rotties! i love them. we also have a Rottweiler along with our Pitbull a chocolate lab and an English springer spaniel. Sam, our Rottweiler (technically he is my boyfriends parents dog, so I dont get to control what he eats unfortunetly but i still think of him as my dog since I give him the most attention as hes the outside dog) is 2 probably almost 3 years old now. The bf’s parents have had all the dogs on Purina ONE lamb and rice since forever. The family dog has always been Rottweilers and unfortunely all but maybe one passed away at around 8 years old. Cancer, e-coli poisoning, you name it its happened to our Rottweilers. If it were up to me and I got to choose his food I would feed him the way I feed my Pitbull who is also prone to the problems that large breed dogs have as he is 66lbs at a year old. I do what is called a rotational diet with my dog. I certainly have him on Orijen’s Adult Dog and after that bag is through i’ve got EVO lined up next for him to try. I also feed him wet food. Now that your Rottie is far past the point where you have to worry about the calcium levels not being too high or too low to prevent rapid growth thus causing many different skeletal related disorders, you can kinda give him a nice variety of foods. If you are on a budget as someone who is retired and need to stick with kibbles, definitely go for the 5 star rated ones. I know a lot of people on here have issues with Taste of the Wild. I BELIEVE its manufacture by Diamond which has a long recall history and a terrible reputation. You want to make sure that the kibble is as species appropriate as you can get if you, like myself, can’t feed a raw diet, which would be the healthiest way for any dog to eat. Species appropriate for ANY dog of any breed being high in animal protein, at least 30% or more, moderate in fats, and low in carbs. Foods that I like and have and will use in my rotation for my pitbull are Orijen (all of them), Wellness CORE, Nature’s Variety, Merrick (GF only), EVO, Grandma Mae’s GF. I’m still working on my list but that is what I have so far.

As for raw, if it is something you are interested in, PLEASE make sure you do A LOT of research before feeding raw because it is possible to make your dog very unhealthy by not feeding a COMPLETE and BALANCED raw diet.

Also to help with the transitions to the food, you can add probiotics to their diet, like canned pumpkin and kefir. I also use a supplement thats premade in a power form made by a very great company called The Honest Kitchen. They use human grade ingredients and make their food in a human grade factory. Its called Perfect Form. Probiotics help build healthy flora(bacteria) in your dogs gut to make transitioning to a new food pain free for you and your dog. Just like with humans dogs should be able to eat a different food or protein every meal if not every couple months without digestive upset. Dogs whos stomachs are already sick and lacking those bacteria that make their gut strong due to being fed the same food day in and day out are the ones who get loose stool and vomitting when you switch their food. Instantly the owner blames the food and switches them back and never switches the food again under the claim that their dog has whats commonly called a “sensitive stomach”.

The joint supplements are a great idea. Glucosamine is a great supplement for joint and hip problems. Cancer, I feel, and I think others do too can have a lot to do with a poor diet. A lot of poor grade dogs foods do contain ingredients that are carcinogenic even for humans and without variety in their diet they are being fed those toxins for years and eventually is catches up with them. The rotational diet helps prevent that and the build up of allergies as well. If your Rottie is already allergic to a protein source like chicken, you are going to want to be very careful with the food you choose as many have chicken meal or chicken fat hidden in the list of ingredients. Its all about reading ingredients but more importantly HOW to read the ingredients and the GA, which is why this website is so helpful. But like many here including Dr. Mike will tell you, its a jumping off point. Once you find a good food, you want to look further into the company that makes it, the co-packers, the recall history etc and make sure that you’re not being fooled into thinking its a good food based on the ingredients. Also knowing where the company sources from is important, what with all the problems we have been having with China lately. Avoid China. Thailand on the other hand is ok.

I really hope that I’ve helped a little and that others will contribute or correct me if I’m wrong about any of my points. I love Rotties so I’m glad to be able to give you some direction with his health!

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

[Bobby dog]

Hi Amanda G:
Environmental, food sensitivities or allergies, and an unbalanced diet can all contribute to the symptoms your dog is plagued with. I would also look for a Veterinary nutritionist to help formulate a balanced homemade diet. Most will do phone consultations with your regular Vet if you are unable to find one local. Most Veterinary schools provide nutritional consultation services too. Good luck!

Here is a site with info on homemade diets:
http://www.dogaware.com/articles/wdjhomemade1.html
http://www.dogaware.com/diet/bookreviews.html

[Linda K]

Hi Jake’s Mom, Pitlove and InkedMarie. Thanks for your responses.

Pitlove, thanks so much for your follow-up questions. I have a Rotweiller who is 3.5 yrs old. I am very upset with myself for feeding him Purina Puppy Chow until he was a year old and feel I did not given him the best chance in his formative year to be as healthy as he could be over the course of his lifetime. But he seems to be healthy so far with just a few normal problems….allergies, gas, etc.

The things I am concerned about are bloat (one of the girls from his litter died from it), hip dysplasia, which I know is common to many large breeds, and in particular, I am concerned about cancer. I recently researched brands to change him off of Science Diet, which I moved him to after Purina, but it turns out that Science Diet is not very good either. I read some reviews about Taste of the Wild High Prairie Formula which gets 5 stars from DogFoodAdvisor. I also read some reviews for this brand and within the first 5 or 6, two of the people were Rotweiller owners and they both said it was excellent. One said that his Rotweillers usually die fairly early due to cancer, but this food has kept his new ones healthy. It really scared me because I did not realize that Rotties were genetically predisposed to certain types of cancer. So I got it immediately…..but I wanted to see if there might be anything even better since I apparently have not given him the benefits of great nourishment up to this point. I want to make up for lost time, and I will spare no expense (even though I am retired). So far, he seems to be doing well on the new food but has loose stools. I am doing it very gradually. I am also giving him a supplement for hips and joints that was recommended by his vet.

So, I guess in a nutshell, I wrote because I wanted to be sure I am doing all I can for him and have made a good choice this time.

Sorry this is so long. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

My dog receives immunotherapy for allergies (2 years) and is doing very well. She has a sensitive stomach and does well on Nutrisca salmon and chickpea (no grains, no potato)

I never had her tested for food allergies, as the environmental allergies were the most prominent. As they are under control I find she can tolerate more variety of foods.

I would continue to communicate with the specialist that is treating him, maybe the solution and regimen need tweaking?

[Amanda G]

I have a 6 year old Great Dane. He is allergic to what seems like everything. He was finally allergy tested after chronic ear infections and has been on shots for the last year. The shots do not help as much as I’d hoped. He is allergic to white potato, sweet potato, flax, peas, corn, and soy. This has left us with few options. Even high quality kibble has at least one of those ingredients. We found a few that didn’t and had horrible results. We thought we were making progress with Big Dog Natural until his neck and ears went crazy. Come to find out they use potato as a binding agent. Next we tried Sojos original and added meat. We could not figure out why his ears swelled up like pork chops. They were even worse than with Big Dog. There seemed to be no listed ingredients he was allergic to. The only thing I could figure was it had pecans in it and he is allergic to pecan trees? Now I am making his food. I am lightly cooking meat, veges, oats, and egg with shell. His coat is dull, he is tired, and still itchy. His ears are not 100% but better. I can’t continue this. I know he’s not getting all the nutrition he needs out of my homemade food. I want to try raw. We’ve attempted it before but he has no interest in raw meats especially organs. I’m thinking of trying the Dinovite recipe. It seems to be a simple place to start but I’m afraid it’s also lacking. It’s only egg, shell, ground meat, rice and their supplements. Can anyone help with suggestions or experience with anything I’ve mentioned? I feel like I’m failing my dog and all I want to do is feed him. All opinions and advice will be respected and greatly appreciated. Sorry about the book. I just want to give as much info as possible so that one of you could possibly help us. I’m begging! Lol I feel like I’m going crazy.

• This topic was modified 4 years ago by Mike Sagman. Reason: Fix Duplicate Topic Title

[idunnowhat2callmyself]

Thanks for the reply, Marie!

I suppose I would be looking for something like that–a ready-made ground product to simply weigh out in the appropriate amounts, so that I wouldn’t have to be wondering whether I’m doing it right. I like how straightforward it is to just dump a cup or half-cup of kibble into the bowls.
Or really, any high-quality diet that comes in sizes suitable for multiple varied dogs…raw just seemed to be posited as “the best possible option,” so I’ve been starting to look into it.

Hare Today is actually the same site my aunt uses.

Hmm. The Miami site’s product list offers this: “Build An Order”  -­‐New  to  RAW  FEEDING,  or  dont  want  the  hassle  of  choosing  items.  Let  us  do  the  work  for  you.  At  no  extra  charge,  you  give  us  your  
budget    and  Dogs  info  (  Weight,  Allergies,  Breed  )  and  we  build  your  order  for  you!  Please  Email  us  for  this  service  and  request  BUILD  AN  ORDER.”
…Which is pretty much exactly what I sought, because I have absolutely NO idea what I’d have to order or how much I’d need per month or so…but then, I don’t think they were the one that mentioned free shipping……and Reel Raw looks similarly interesting.

Thank you for the recommendations.

[Pitlove]

Hi Linda K- Like Jake’s mom said, most of the breed specific foods out there like Royal Canin’s breed specfic lines are a marketing tool. You pay a premium price for a low quality food full of corn and by-products. It is true that some breeds have disorders that genetically they are prone to that you can combat through diet. Example is large breed puppies needing proper calcium levels between 8 weeks and 8 mos. That being said, most large breed puppy foods are actually NOT formulaed with those proper calcium levels and typically have far TOO much calcium. However when you compare most brands that make breed specific formulas there is nothing breed specific or species appropriate about them at all.

A few questions for you to help you better. What breed of dog do you have? Is the dog healthy as far as you know with no known medical conditions? Does the dog have any known allergies to grains, certain protein sources, anything like that? What genetic disorders does the breed have that you would like to take action against to help lower his/her odds of getting?

Ill be happy to try to help when you write back!

[jakes mom]

I don’t think there is really a need for a “breed specific” food as such. I can understand a food for a small or large breed or for puppy food. For example, a pup needs something easier to chew with it’s baby teeth and needs more nutrition in a small amount of food since he has a small tummy. Same for small dogs. Large breed puppies need to grow slowly, so their food needs to be formulated a bit differently. Other than that I think the breed specific foods are just kind of a marketing tool for the dog food companies. Feed a high quality food and maybe a supplement or 2 if you have concerns about a particular problem. I think that would be fine unless you had a dog with allergies or intolerances to certain things.

[Dori]

SdianeM M

I’m not sure I understand your post completely. You said that when you switched Sadie to turkey is when you noticed more yeast/allergy problems returning. Then you added beef and now you think she’s allergic to beef. Wouldn’t that have made her allergic to turkey? Did you add the beef to her turkey dinner or you just switched her to beef with no turkey? If it was the turkey dinner the yeast and intolerance issues would take at least a few days to calm down even when switching to a different protein. Your post is a bit confusing, at least to me.

I don’t think I’ve ever read any of your posts on this site and others that you’ve ever mentioned any other products but AllProvide.

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

[SdianeM M]

i saw a huge difference in Sadie once I switched her diet to Allprovide from kibbles. She did great! After a while I switched her to turkey and noticed more yeast/allergy problems returning. Sunday I tried adding beef and I think she’s allergic to beef.

I contacted the owners of Allprovide to ask for their help in Sadie’s issue with the beef. The owners suggested that I keep her on the chicken, they even sent me a complimentary bulk box to help out.

The owners of this company are unbelievable. They have been a blessing to Sadie and I, so willing to help in any possible way. Another example of the goodness of these owners is how they sent me a bottle of shampoo they get from their vet. The shampoo is suppose to help with yeast issues. These guys are the best!

[jella]

LT, I will check to see if there are some specialty stores nearby. We mostly have chain stores all over Florida. The feed stores like to carry the grain brands. That is so nice that Declan gets to go to doggy day care three times a week to play with other dogs. We had two other labs one lived to 15 (chocolate), 16 (black) and then we rescued a cocker spaniel when he was about 6 yrs. The previous owners didn’t give him heart worm meds so our vet didn’t think he could take the tougher protocol so he just said give him a pill once a month and see how long he lives. He was so sweet and loved to boss Big Hoss around all the time! Hoss was so sweet to him. They played all the time. Big Hoss misses him so much and so do we. He lived just two years after that. I see the vet has built an indoor swimming pool and has dog swim play dates. I am going to take him there this summer. He loves to swim. I have never had a dog with allergies and I have had a lot of rescues and other dogs. So this was stumping me because I waited the longest time thinking it would go away because his first two years no sign of any trouble at all. Ate everything he wanted that was safe for dogs. Declan sounds like mine when it comes to looking for food. When he was only a year old he stood up reached his paws way back to the counter (it was far) and pushed in the floor the whole baked chicken! He had eaten a lot of it when I finally caught him! LOL Well he got reprimanded for doing it. Labs are so much fun. I have had german shepards and other dogs smaller in the past. This was our first time with labs and they have been so much fun! They can’t stand away from you and always want you teaching them new tricks, playing ball, etc.

[L T]

Check your local (not chain) pet stores, they may stock this or get it in for you routinely. Champion has a free bag program after 10 bags your 11th is free. Doesn’t have to be the same kind, but the free will be the smallest size you have on the card. My local one in Virginia deals directly with Champion and manufacturers of other high quality food, in other words they don’t sell food you can find in the chains. Also, as I said before the feeding guide for Declan at 87lbs is 3 1/2 c daily. I feed him roughly 2 1/4 c daily and he has maintained that weight for over 1 1/2 yrs. He goes to doggy day care (play time) 3x week and is considered pretty active. My local pet store rep and I talked about the amount and he recommended factoring in other food/treats and underfeeding the kibble. Declan does not seem hungry, but as a typical Lab he will never turn down the opportunity for a morsel. Good luck. I have tried the 6 fish and it worked out fine (you definitely know it’s fish in the bag), but since Declan doesn’t have any allergies I went back to Regional Red (Orijen) or Ranchlands (Acana). Keep us posted!

[jella]

DogFoodie, I understand what you are saying about it not having limited amount of ingredients. The rep suggested the 6 Fish Formula after I emailed her a list of all his allergies. She emailed that it had low fiber. I ordered a small bag on chewy.com to try this one first. The KiwiPeak company didn’t bother to email me after I emailed asking a question. I will try the other recommendations that the friends on here have suggested if this doesn’t work. He is allergic to Bahia grass and we have some in sections and St. Augustine in sections. He might have to have the allergy shots for grasses, trees, etc. to help his immune system get used to the triggers. He loves to track smells when he goes out to potty and I feel really bad about not letting him do that when he goes.

[jella]

Dear LT, Champion did get back with me right away about the alfalfa percentage. It is a very small amount 3 %. So I agree with you about they are probably careful (hopefully) about cleaning it out if it has been sprayed with pesticides. They have been really helpful and answered all the emails. The KiwiPeak company hasn’t even bothered to answer a question I wrote days ago. So I am going to try the 6 fish formula that the company rep suggested to try first. It was a lot cheaper than the freeze dried and my dog probably eats like your dog. I will try to look see what they suggest for his weight. Just ordered it from Chewy.com. So thank you for copying everything for me and getting right back to me so fast. I hope they ship fast, he is getting used to these fried hamburgers and special foods given to him each night. LOL Oh the vet said he wasn’t allergic to virgin coconut oil so maybe I can supplement this with his dry food. At least 1 Tbl. spoon full for his hair to grow back. I read where Virgin Coconut oil kills viruses, bacteria, and fungus infections in humans I am assuming it works the same way for dogs.

[Judith S]

Hi Sheryl
My dog has allergies and I just switched to merrick. It is limited ingerdeints and grain free
It is highly recommended am also giving her a teaspoon of coconut oil

Hope this is helpful

[Susan]

Hi, join this Face Book group “Dog Allergy International Group” look in the files for “Foods for dogs with Food Allergies/Intolerances IBS IBD” there’s a heap of limited ingredients kibbles & wet foods with their links also Michele Dixson from Petcurean (Go Sensitivity LID Venison) can help with any questions also look at feeding a Raw diet in files under “Raw Elimination Diet Candida-Yeast Itchy Dogs” there’s a easy diet for puppies done by a Naturopath…
https://www.facebook.com/groups/dogallergyinternationalgroup/

[Susan]

Hi Kris, I just posted a post about Candida yeast & what foods to avoid… join this Face Book group “Dog Allergy International Group” & look in the files for “Raw Elimination Diet for Candida-Yeast & itchy dog” also look for “Foods for dogs with Food Allergies/Intolerances, IBS, IBD” there’s a heap of limited ingredient kibbles & wet foods, also Michele Dixson from Petcurean (Go Sensitivity LID Venison) can help with any questions..
also what are you bathing her in? I use Malaseb medicated shampoo, it kills any bacteria on the skin & does not dry out their skin leaving them so soft, weekly baths are needed & a complete diet change….
I just went thru this with my boy he was put on a Prednisone for 2 weeks then when he finished he started to smell like a stinky yeasty dog, so on Friday I started a raw diet with the help of a Naturopath cause Patch has IBD as well… his skin cleared up within 2-3 days no more red paws, no more scratching, no more smelly dog… its all in the “Raw Elimination diet Candida-Yeast”
https://www.facebook.com/groups/dogallergyinternationalgroup/

[Anonymous]

Atopic dermatitis is a hypersensitivity or over-reaction to a variety of commonplace and otherwise harmless substances in the environment such as plant pollens, house dust mites or mold spores. Most pets with atopic dermatitis either inhale or absorb their allergens through their skin. Allergy tests are used to identify what a pet is allergic to in their environment.

There are two types of allergy tests, the intradermal allergy test and blood testing for allergies (serologic allergy testing). In an intradermal allergy test, the fur is clipped on one side of the chest and very small amounts of common allergens are injected into the skin. This test is very precise and is only performed by Veterinary Dermatology services. Because most pets with environmental allergies become exposed to their allergens through their skin, the intradermal allergy test may also best simulate a pet’s natural allergies. In a blood allergy test, a blood sample is obtained and submitted to a laboratory for testing.

If a pet is diagnosed with atopic dermatitis, there are three methods of therapy. The first method of therapy involves removing the allergen from the pet’s environment. Unfortunately, this is not possible in most cases. The second method of therapy involves the use of anti-itch drugs such as anti-histamines or steroids (cortisone). Some of these anti-itch medications do not work in every pet. Other pets develop side-effects from taking certain anti-itch medications.

The third method of therapy for atopic dermatitis (environmental allergies) is allergy injections. Other names for allergy injections include desensitization, hyposensitization, allergy vaccine, or allergen-specific immunotherapy. Immunotherapy involves a series of injections of diluted allergens. Over time, these injections make a pet less sensitive to their allergens and thus less allergic. Most pet owners are able to learn how to give the injections at home. When based on the results of intradermal allergy testing, immunotherapy helps manage the allergies in approximately 70-90% of pets. Most pets will respond to immunotherapy within 6-9 months, but some pets will require up to a year of immunotherapy injections before a full benefit can be noted.
http://www.mspca.org/vet-services/angell-boston/dermatology/boston-dematology-allergies.html

[Anonymous]

/forums/topic/puppy-still-itching-constantly-after-several-vet-trips/#post-72273
This topic seems to come up quite often. If the dog has environmental allergies and food sensitivities going on at the same time, until you get the environmental allergies under control it will be difficult to tell which foods actually agree with her.

I didn’t find anything that helped until I went to a specialist and got the skin testing done and the dog started immunotherapy. The food won’t do anything for environmental allergies…… I didn’t even get the blood test for food allergies as environmental allergies are more common.

Nutrisca salmon and chickpea is grain free and potato free.

[Emily W]

I have a Miniature Schnauzer that goes to our clinic and has allergies. One of the allergens he needs to stay away from is beef. Do Tartar Shield Rawhide chews have beef in them or are they alright to give to this dog? Also allergic to Egg, Chicken, Milk, Wheat, Rice, and Turkey. Thank you

[jella]

Dear LT, I emailed Orijen this morning asking for them to tell me where to go to find all the ingredients in both their dog foods and treats. I haven’t heard back yet but it has just been a day. Is it the freeze dried Orijen Tundra that you said doesn’t contain anything on his allergy list and also no barley so I guess this is grain free then and gluten free right? Did you say a cup of freeze dried twice a day? I was trying to get a copy of all the ingredients so I could email to his vet but couldn’t find ingredients listed for all their products on their website. Also I suspect you know what you can substitute for (milk) ice cream that I used to give him in the summer a lot. I got fooled by his blood test results. The vet said he guessed it was ok for Hoss to have milk unless it gave him messy stools. It didn’t so I assumed ice cream and cheese were ok for him. He can’t have any of his Baconology treats anymore. They contain corn and corn gluten. I guess Pup-Peroni is ok didn’t look like any of his allergies. But not sure what they meant by meat by products. ??

[Kathleen C]

I’m interested in this conversation too. I’ve been trying to get my dog to lose weight and finally have some results. Now I want to get him off chicken and turkey because of possible allergies but have to watch calories or we’ll be right back where we started with weight. I’d like something with no fowl but low calories and low carbs. Any suggestions? Thanks.

[Susan]

Did you know that Enzymes are given to dogs with allergic skin disease, enzymes remove chemicals that cause inflammation, redness of the skin and itching..
http://www.petcarenaturally.com/articles/enzymes.php#top

[DogFoodie]

My Golden has developed what I believe are seasonal allergies for the first time this spring. Our local Chicago weather-people tell us that pollen levels this spring are the highest in 20 years.

I’m getting ready to start my dog on Quecertin with Bromelain and Papain. I’m already using coconut oil and algae oil (the best I can do for Omegas since my guy can’t have fish oil). All help with seasonal allergies.

[jella]

Dear LT,
it seems that alfalfa is not gluten but it does trigger autoimmune disorders in humans and animals. So I guess the Orijen Tundra is maybe out. But thanks for helping I might have to use it after all. But I will go on and google the other suggestions also. I am afraid since he is so allergic the alfalfa might trigger some autoimmune disorders for him. But thanks.

[Anonymous]

Have you tried Wysong senior? http://www.chewy.com/dog/wysong-senior-dry-dog-food-5-lb-bag/dp/50242?utm_source=bing-pla&utm_medium=cse&utm_content=Wysong&utm_campaign=f

or Nutrisca lamb and chickpea http://www.chewy.com/dog/dogswell-nutrisca-grain-free-lamb/dp/35037

Regarding environmental allergies: /forums/topic/nutriscan-results-suggestions/
Frequent bathing with Malaseb might help…a lot of allergens are airborne.

[jella]

Dear LT,
I just checked the Acana and it had white potatoes. So that is out. But it looked like Orijen Tundra didn’t have any of his bad foods but aren’t you scared of alfalfa? That is for horses and grown in fields with high pesticides. I might consider this one if I have to do so but years ago started getting a little arthritis so they tested me for gluten intolerance and I tested positive. Doctor said then that human and our pets should not have foods with gluten in them. Causes constant inflammation and visits to the doctor. I think Alfalfa has gluten. My vet asked me to strictly abide by her rules for 3 months with only what he is allowed to eat. She found out he also had environment allergies to oak trees, Bahia grass, and palm trees. She wants to avoid allergy shots so she wants to see for three months how he does with the food test. So far so good. Hardly any thick eye discharge in the mornings when he first wakes up. No scratching, itching or red spots so far.

But it seems they just pick one of the company brands to write about and I need to check all the offered ones everything on their label. Do you know how to do this?

[jella]

When I had to keep changing dog food for my lab with allergies (runny nose, blood shot eyes, sneezing,) so many in the last two years I would scramble eggs (yolk and white) in a paper bowl under one minute in microwave then cool in refrigerator, then mix in with the new food. He would eat everything but poor thing haven’t found a dog food yet just joined this site. Finally someone suggested blood allergy testing. Results are back but it seems all dog foods I have found so far will either put white potato or rice as an ingredient. He is allergic to both. I will hope others will help me find something fast. If you make it more than one egg just adjust the time on the microwave I think I do 2 eggs like 1 min. 15 sec. They get no grease or oils this way if you use a paper bowl. My lab has had eggs mixed in since 5 weeks old with his puppy food. Hope this helps.

[Ryan K]

Yes, I have actually tried Fromm’s Pork and Peas formula with her and she wouldn’t even touch it. It shocked me. I have noticed that most other Fromm’s (even in the Four Star) use Potatoes in their ingredient list. I’m not a big fan of Fromm’s for either of my dogs. My Dachshund/Terrier mix will eat ANYTHING and even he hasn’t been won over by Fromm’s. I now stay away from that brand since both the dogs have never shown interest in eating the foods from them that I have tried.

I think it might be a combination of seasonal allergies for her though like Susan mentioned. She won’t stop licking and chewing at her paws and I am wondering if it’s just because she has been in the grass/yard more lately? I wanted to get her off the Kangaroo though just based on the price. It’s costing me an arm and a leg to feed her and my other dog (he’s on another food!) and I am curious if there are alternatives to that food that would be free of the potato.

Any thoughts on Natural Balance Legume & Wagyu beef? I only had one outing with Natural Balance and the potatoes in the blend I got were a disaster. That was around the time I was discovering her response to potatoes. The Wagyu beef food is free of potatoes but it seems to have a lot of starch. I’m not sure if the overall guaranteed analysis is good for a senior dog or not. I’m not sure what levels I should keep an eye on for a dog her age? Is the protein supposed to be higher or lower as they age?

[jella]

Finally had my 4 1/2 year old chocolate lab blood allergy tested. He just started having allergies the last two years of his life. I have been frying him hamburger until I can find a dry and canned dog food that doesn’t contain any of his food items. Food items are: Pork, milk, cheese, corn, rice, flax seed, barley, white potatoes. I just had purchased Annamaet Salmon but read it has white potatoes on the bag also. So now I have to give it to another dogs. I would like to have him eat gluten free so no wheat also because he is a larger lab. 105 pounds. I also am gluten intolerant so we try not to eat anything with gluten either. I prefer dry for each day but will add a can every now and then. I am new to this site and love it but so far cannot find anything that doesn’t contain either a white potato or rice. Maybe this is used to get it harder texture either rice or white potatoes. Sweet potatoes are fine. Everyone’s help will really be appreciated!!! Thanks from Sheryl and Big Hoss. I think he is tired of 3 eggs a day, hamburger and sweet potatoes. I know he is missing out on other vitamins. P.S. I can’t get him to eat fresh blueberries. I crush them put them in with his food or try to hand feed him. He just spits them out or gets them and spits them out with his food also. I will also take the names of the dog foods even if they have wheat, but can you let me know if they have wheat. But would like wheat barley rye free because of gluten. ###big Hoss wants some new foods to eat!

[Susan]

Hi maybe she has Environment Allergies & not has much the food intolerances, if you live America its spring at the moment & a few dogs are having a bad time, join this Face Book group “Dog Allergy International Group” & look in the files there’s limited ingredient foods with their links & there is Intradermal skin Testing video showing how easy this test is for dogs with Environment Allergies or there’s your Salvia & Hair testing kits for Food Intolerances & Environment triggers….. feed a protein that ur dog has never eaten before try a fish based kibble only fish no other proteins…
https://www.facebook.com/groups/dogallergyinternationalgroup/

[Ryan K]

ALSO…she is allergic to Tapioca.

[Ryan K]

My dog has been on California Natural’s Kangaroo and Red Lentils. She has allergies and she is 13 years old and weighs 68 lbs. She has had allergies to Lamb and potato based foods. I want to get her on something different though since it seems like her allergies are back. I wonder if there is a food that is better for a senior dog that is free of potato and lamb?

[LabsRawesome]

Vaccines and food allergies. http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/vaccination-allergies-link/?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=facebook_page&utm_medium=Dogs+Naturally+Magazine&utm_content=Vaccination+And+Allergies%3A+The+Surprising+Truth

[Leslie K]

Mille’s Woflheart!!! My youngest (3 year-old border collie / corgi rescue mix) has ALWAYS had problems. In addition to being generally picky and a selective eater, she has HORRIBLE skin allergies. Without fail she ends up with flare-ups and skin infections several times a year, and to ease her discomfort I switched to feeding raw.

While I loved feeding them raw, it has been costly, time-consuming, and honestly just complicated. I have always wanted a reliable, high-quality kibble, but felt like I had no options I could feel good about. Most of the (allegedly high-end and expensive) kibble I’ve researched has kind of questionable meat content, with a lot of protein coming from pea flour or other vegetables. They’ll also tout “all natural” ingredients……. and then contain a laundry list of weird chemical ingredients, vitamin packs, preservatives, and so forth.

Millie’s is by far the best answer I have found to this problem. My collie LOVES it, and the high omega content help her skin and coat look great… even through allergy season! I still feed some raw components with her meals, but Millie’s is our go-to base.

[Leslie K]

Mille’s Woflheart!!! My youngest (3 year-old border collie / corgi rescue mix) has ALWAYS had problems. In addition to being generally picky and a selective eater, she has HORRIBLE skin allergies. Without fail she ends up with flare-ups and skin infections several times a year, and I have always wanted a reliable, high-quality kibble, but felt like I had no options I could feel good about.

Most of the allegedly high-end and expensive kibble I’ve researched (including Blue Buffalo!) has kind of questionable meat content, with a lot of protein coming from pea flour or other vegetables. They’ll also tout “all natural” ingredients……. and then contain a laundry list of weird chemical ingredients, vitamin packs, preservatives, and so forth.

Millie’s is by far the best answer I have found to this problem. My collie LOVES it, and the high omega content help her skin and coat look great… even through allergy season! I think it’s worth a try for you and your Spaniel!

[crazy4cats]

Somebody’s me-
For whatever it is worth, I share popcorn with my dogs on a regular basis. There has not been any ill effects from it. In fact, I think it helps “firm” them up. I also agree that the OP’s dog could be getting diarrhea from anything.

I also have fed Blue Wilderness in the past with no problems. I most likely won’t feed it anymore because 1.) Not a great value and 2.) Apparently they are lying about what is actually in the bag. For dogs with allergies or food intolerances, that could be a real big problem.

Lacy-
How is your pup doing? Has it been dewormed yet? Has it gotten any vaccinations lately?

[DogFoodie]

Hi Susan,

It could be a reaction to an ingredient in the food she’s eating. Probiotics and reducing carbs are a good start. I’d do everyone I could to avoid the oral steroids, which in addition to masking symptoms, can cause problems of their own. I have a dog with both food and seasonal sensitivities – no true allergies, that’s entirely different. I’m getting ready to start my dog on quercetin with papain and bromelian. Quercetin is a natural antihistamine which works synergistically with the enzymes. Something else I wonder about with your dog is thyroid. Has he had blood work and a complete thyroid panel? Fish oil can also help calm the itch. My dog is sensitive to fish and fish oil, so unfortunately for me, that’s not an option.

Sorry for the sketchy post, I’m running out the door!

[Anonymous]

Click on my avatar (replies created) to see my posts, many of them contain information regarding environmental allergies.
If the symptoms have been going on for 1 year/4 seasons without any significant periods of relief, despite diet changes and visits to the regular vet. Time to see a specialist/dermatologist, imo

[Anonymous]

Atopic dermatitis is a hypersensitivity or over-reaction to a variety of commonplace and otherwise harmless substances in the environment such as plant pollens, house dust mites or mold spores. Most pets with atopic dermatitis either inhale or absorb their allergens through their skin. Allergy tests are used to identify what a pet is allergic to in their environment.

There are two types of allergy tests, the intradermal allergy test and blood testing for allergies (serologic allergy testing). In an intradermal allergy test, the fur is clipped on one side of the chest and very small amounts of common allergens are injected into the skin. This test is very precise and is only performed by Veterinary Dermatology services. Because most pets with environmental allergies become exposed to their allergens through their skin, the intradermal allergy test may also best simulate a pet’s natural allergies. In a blood allergy test, a blood sample is obtained and submitted to a laboratory for testing.

If a pet is diagnosed with atopic dermatitis, there are three methods of therapy. The first method of therapy involves removing the allergen from the pet’s environment. Unfortunately, this is not possible in most cases. The second method of therapy involves the use of anti-itch drugs such as anti-histamines or steroids (cortisone). Some of these anti-itch medications do not work in every pet. Other pets develop side-effects from taking certain anti-itch medications.

The third method of therapy for atopic dermatitis (environmental allergies) is allergy injections. Other names for allergy injections include desensitization, hyposensitization, allergy vaccine, or allergen-specific immunotherapy. Immunotherapy involves a series of injections of diluted allergens. Over time, these injections make a pet less sensitive to their allergens and thus less allergic. Most pet owners are able to learn how to give the injections at home. When based on the results of intradermal allergy testing, immunotherapy helps manage the allergies in approximately 70-90% of pets. Most pets will respond to immunotherapy within 6-9 months, but some pets will require up to a year of immunotherapy injections before a full benefit can be noted.
http://www.mspca.org/vet-services/angell-boston/dermatology/boston-dematology-allergies.html

[Barbara W]

My vet says I need to eliminate poultry from my dogs’ diet and try fish or lamb because of possible allergies. I have always fed adult chicken Orijens. What can you recommend?

[zcRiley]

Yes, storage dust mites would definitely be a severe allergic medical issue. Kibble would have to be avoided, if that was the case.

DVM Pharmaceuticals Malaseb Pet Shampoo is effective against bacteria, fungus and yeast. “Formulated to help” with dandruff, ringworms, yeast and other bacterial infections. So if the itching is truly bad or you see yeast growth on the skin, the reviews are very good on it. It was too harsh on my pups and stripped them dry, producing more dandruff.

So I backtracked to just moisture/no chemicals AND no or little oatmeal (which increases any yeast disorders). My pups swim in a chlorinated pool twice daily and Aroma Paws HoneySuckle just keeps working (we towel dry thoroughly but don’t bathe, only twice a month). Ah-mazing stuff. I should be their rep.

[Susan]

Hi Cathy sounds like ur girl has food Sensitivitives/Intolerances. You write she always has lose stools, I wouldn’t be giving any fish oil at the moment not until you have her stomach & bowel working properly, fish oil is very hard to digest, you need to find what foods your girl is reacting too, Join this face Book group “Dog Allergy International Group” look in the Files, there’s limited ingredient foods & Hair & salvia testing kits, other wise you are just spinning your wheels trying to work out what she is re acting too…look up Jean Dodds on dog food sensitivities Vs dog food allergies all this info is in groups the files
https://www.facebook.com/groups/dogallergyinternationalgroup/

[Pitlove]

There is literally nothing breed specific or species appropriate about any Royal Canin food. Most people who know me know that I believe that Royal Canin are the MASTERMINDS of marketing. Since pet parents often rely far too much on the front of the bag to tell them what food is best for their dog, be it that it has their breed of dog on the cover, has “real meat” and “veggies” on the cover, says small breed, large breed, adult, large breed adult, etc they often miss the ingredients which is where all the important stuff is. Oh and the GA (guarenteed anyalsis). I took the time to compare all the RC breed specific lines and found that aside from very slight protein and fat differences all the food was exactly the same, rotating the same first species innapropriate ingredients (whole ground corn, by-product meal, brewers rice, brown rice, corn gluten meal).

I would absolutely get her on a 5 star food. High in ANIMAL not plant protein moderate in fat and low in carbs. I’ve seen far too many overweight dachshunds and I know how easy it is for them to gain weight. As long as you know that she is healthy and has no known medical needs at this time this diet is fit for every breed of dog. Also PLEASE do not get hung up on the front of a bag. Worrying about if something says small breed or not or puppy or adult. As long as the nutrient profile is correct those things are not of much value. I have been feeding both my cat and dog adult and they are still a puppy and kitten and they havent had any issues. Also the small breed formulas are just smaller kibble sizes so you can go that route if u find that she is having trouble eating a larger kibble, just wanted to make you aware that small breed doesn’t mean its formulated differently for a small dog its just small kibble pieces. I also add a probiotic to their food to help with maintaining healthy bacteria in their gut to process the food better. I use Perfect Form made by the Honest Kitchen.

One thing the breeder did right was the suggestion of adding wet food to the diet. When on an all dry kibble diet dogs can live in a state of constant minor dehydration and later in life can face organ damage. So restoring some of the moisture to their diet is always a good thing. Soaking the kibble like you have been doing works too. We did that for our American Staffordshire Terrier when he was young. Seemed to help him be motivated to eat as well as digest the food. I believe there is a couple people on this site who use Kirklands wet food and seem to have no issues with it. Personally I do Whole Earth Farms stews, Wellness Core and I’ve tried 4health and will be trying other brands as well.

Another good thing to do is to find several brands that will work for her and rotate between them giving your dog variety and also different protein sources as to avoid building an allergy to one as dogs are not born with allergies, they get them through overexposure.

I wish you luck with your new baby! Feel free to ask questions here. There are tons of knowledgeable people that frequent these forums who have years of experience with dog nutrition and managing their dogs diets including fosters. And they are more than happy to offer help and answer questions.

[Anonymous]

Itchy skin may be due to environmental allergies and not have anything to do with the food.
See some of my other posts regarding allergies, most pets and people have allergies to some degree.
Seeking treatment from a specialist/dermatologist depends on how severe the symptoms are, how long they have been going on, and how much one is willing to tolerate.

[Dog_Obsessed]

Good suggestion! Unfortunately, the line between “firm stool” and “constipated” for Lily is very fine. Last week, for example, she was straining a bit in the morning but had nice, firm, poops later in the day. The balance is pretty hard to strike with her. I am hoping that if we can get her allergies minimized (both food and environmental) then she will have more consistent stool.