[Michael J]

Can you give a rating on Only Natural Pet food?

My yellow lag has allergies and digestion problems so I am in search of a nutritious food that won’t cause diarrhea or stomach problems.

Barb Jirka
[email protected]

[Anonymous]

My dog saw her allergy specialist (dermatologist) today. He said her skin looks beautiful and to continue doing whatever I have been doing. She only needs ASIT about once a month….but will keep an eye out for symptoms.

I strongly encourage anyone that has a dog that has environmental allergies to see a specialist, well worth the cost of initial testing, imo

Good luck finding the perfect dog food, the closest I found was Nutrisca salmon and chickpea, but she now enjoys a variety of foods added to it!

No anal gland issues, no ear infections, no scratching. YAY!

[Jill J]

My 10 mos old westie wasn’t eating. Blood work showed high levels of bilirubin vet thought gall bladder & said to switch food. I had her on Taste of the Wild & refuses to eat it. I would like to stay on grain free. Westies have allergies with chicken so I think I should stay away from chicken. AND my princess prefers wet. Any recommendations?????

[Anonymous]

Most kibble has potato, my dog with environmental allergies and food sensitivities does best on Nutrisca salmon (no potato, no grains) as a base combined with homemade.
Since receiving treatment for her allergies from a specialist, she has gradually been able to tolerate and enjoy cooked chicken, beef, eggs, fish…
I check her anal glands weekly, but there is nothing there!

Hope this helps someone 🙂

[Anonymous]

Quotes from the article that the OP found helpful (link provided by another poster in a previous post) http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2009/12/23/your-pets-anal-glands.aspx

Allergies can Also Irritate Your Pet’s Anal Glands

If your pet is sensitive to ragweeds, grasses, pollens, molds or other allergens in their environment, this can be a problem for their anal glands. All it takes is your pet sitting down outside for those allergens to transfer to the anus and cause overwhelming itching.

So your dog may start to scoot, itch, become red and irritated, and even chew at its rectum, which can create the anal gland problem. So if you’ve got an allergenic pet, addressing the root cause of the allergies is a great way to secondarily address the anal gland problem.

Anal Glands can Also be in the Wrong Spot

Some animals have anal glands that are placed deep and low inside of the rectum. In this case, even though there is healthy stool being passed out of the rectum, there’s not enough pressure to the wayward anal glands to effectively empty their contents during a bowel movement. Very rarely in those situations, those animals have to have anal gland expression performed because they’re not capable of doing it on their own.

[Susan]

Hi here’s just a few Limited Ingredients foods in the “Dog Allergy International groups” files that may work for dogs with food sensitivities… also when on a limited ingredient diet no other foods are given, nothing, no treats, no peanut butter to give meds nothing just their limited ingredient diet for 3 months, then if dog is doing real well then add a new ingredient & see if there is any reaction with new food..
Petcurean GO Sensitivity limited ingredients Venison.. Michele Dixson from Petcurean is in group & helps dogs with allergies..
Farmina Vet Life Hypoallergenic Fish & Potato
Performatrin Ultra Limited ingredients
Lily’s Kitchen Recovery recipe wet food limited ingredients
Canidae Grain Free Dry & Wet
Rayne Maintenace Diets
Addiction Nutri-RX Allergy HS
Natural Balance limited ingredient Dry& Wet
Zignature limited ingredient formulas
Merrick limited ingredient Dry & Wet
California Natural Hypoallergenic limited ingredients dry & wet
Darwins Raw
Ziwi Peak

[Anonymous]

“it says that regular expression of the anal glands can make problems worse because they will then will fill up faster. Has anyone else heard of this”?

I don’t believe this is true, years ago when I did not know how to routinely express my dogs anal glands, I was at the vets office several times a year for treatment.
Once I learned how to do it myself, I never needed the vets expertise for these issues again. The trick is to catch it before it builds up, just a quick squirt here and there.
Once they are dragging their behind on the floor, you already have an impaction, once it becomes infected the vet has to take care of it and antibiotics may be indicated.

As far as what treatments the dermatologist has to offer, that would depend on his findings after testing and examination.
For example if the dog has environmental allergies and immunotherapy was recommended, this is the most natural way to go, the shots (also available sublingual) are not medication.

My dog is doing so well after 2 years, she may be able to be tapered off….she will see her specialist next week, we only go once a year.

PS: Not all dogs have these anal gland issues, tends to be more common with small breeds….out of about 7 dogs 2 of mine had this problem, but I think I have avoided potential problems by routine expression on vulnerable dogs.
Of course, check with your vet first, the easiest time to do it is when you are giving the dog a bath.

[C4D]

I don’t know if you’ve seen this link, it’s Peter Dobias. He suggests some specific supplements for anal gland issues. It might be a help. I have a foster that has those problems, but only intermittently. The interesting thing is when we had to put her on a round of antibiotics for her allergies, the anal gland issue flaired up and went from no apparent problem to abcess within a few days. Fish seems to be her allergy. We have her on NV Limited Ingredient diets and so far turkey and rabbit have been successful. Here’s the link:

http://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/11014181-holistic-approach-to-anal-gland-problems-in-dogs

[Anonymous]

“Regular expression of the anal glands”.
Very important if you have a dog that is prone to anal gland impaction. It only takes a second, Youtube has excellent “how to” videos, just type in “how to express dog anal glands” in their search engine. Ask your vet how often? I have had dogs that needed to be checked at least once a week, sometimes more often.

This problem is common in some small breeds, has something to do with their anatomy, also obesity and sedentary lifestyle can be factors.

“Managing environmental allergies. (shots or meds.)”
It doesn’t have to be shots or meds, however, a dermatologist can come up with specific treatments, different from the regular vet…. that may help your dog immensely.
I would be leary of any saliva kits or any mail-in test that doesn’t require a physical examination by a veterinarian /forums/topic/nutriscan-results-suggestions/

“Try a prescription diet”.
As far as diet goes. you want to avoid foods that will cause the dog to have loose or too soft stools, increase the chance of getting clogged up in a vulnerable dog.

“The vet mentioned surgery to remove the anal glands as the absolute last resort”.
This has been effective and has helped many dogs….when all else has failed. The dog no longer has to deal with discomfort and chronic infection.

[Susan]

Hi, you just need to find that right diet, join this Face Book group https://www.facebook.com/groups/dogallergyinternationalgroup/ look in the files there’s so many limited ingredient foods also Salvia & Hair Testing kits “Glacier Peak Holistic” test for 100+ Environment allergies & 200+ food for $85….
I would not remove anal glands, once you work out what foods she is intolerant too & avoid, the bum surfing & ear infections will stop, I was feeding pumkin, I have just stopped, I found the pumkin was making Patch itch & bum surf, I’m feeding Quinoa at the moment + tin salmon spring water + a gluten dairy, sugar free fish kibble …… look in the files there is so much information & a lot of experienced people who have dealt with food sensitivities/intolerances, environment allergies.. Patch is seeing a Naturopath Jacqueline Rudan Tuesday & is going on a raw diet + Enzymes + natural meds to help with the gut & nausea, his vet also put Patch back on the Metronidazole/Amoxicillin again for 3 weeks, so I’ve had enough at least the bum scooting has stopped when I stopped the pumkin but the nausea & eating grass hasn’t stopped… also look at DigestaVite Plus 100g Patch will be starting a small dose when it comes. http://www.naturalanimalsolutions.com.au/skin-allergies.html

[Dog_Obsessed]

So some of you may remember that Lily was having some anal gland/allergy issues a few months back. (More info here: /forums/topic/anal-glandfood-allergy-issues-tmi-warning/)

Anyway, we decided to put her on Acana Pork and Butternut Squash as her elimination diet. The infection came back a few weeks into the diet, so she was on Metronidazole for another 20 days.

We also got her tested for environmental allergies, and she does have some pollen allergies, (mostly 2/6) so we have been wiping off her paws when she comes inside. She also sometimes eats grass, despite our best intentions to not allow it, so that could be contributing. The vets are still convinced that food allergies are playing a part here though. Once off the Metronidazole, she still seemed to be doing okay, and wasn’t scooting any more.

We decided to introduce beef, (she hasn’t had much beef) so we have been feeding her THK Love for the past 2 weeks. Yesterday morning she started scooting again. She had also had some times of scratching her ear, though it wasn’t really an ongoing thing. Today we took her to the vet, and they said the infection had come back, and that she also had a minor ear infection. They proscribed more Metronidazole, and also drops for her ears. The vet suggested Cultural, a probiotic, and also trying the elimination diet again. She was suggesting prescription diets (this is a different vet from last time,) but I said I didn’t really want to do that except as a last resort. I asked her about an anal gland supplement such as Glandex, and she said she hadn’t heard of it but that we could send her the ingredients. I looked at it and it has beef in it, so maybe not. I’m really not thrilled with all the antibiotics, and I would like to look into other options. At this point our options are:

1. Try the probiotic and see if it helps.
2. Try another novel protein diet.
3. Try an anal gland supplement. (Ideas?)
4. Try a prescription diet.
5. Regular expression of the anal glands.
6. Managing environmental allergies. (shots or meds.)
7. The vet mentioned surgery to remove the anal glands as the absolute last resort.

Ideas anyone? We have also been giving her pumpkin with her food, with seems to help with digestion, but not really with the anal gland issues. Thanks!

[wolff]

They may have been allergic to the grains etc. in NutriLife All Gold (Brown Rice, Pearled Barley, Oat Meal, White Rice, Brewers Dried Yeast, Alfalfa Meal).

Possibly so, though more likely than if they were from the same litter, they are from two completely different breeders and lines and 2 weeks apart in age, one is short coated and the other is long coated.
I’m not sure how I feel about the brown rice, I know I’ve read that rice in general is often contaminated with trace amounts of arsenic, and that brown rice has a higher level than white.
This might offer some insight into this issue:

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2015/01/how-much-arsenic-is-in-your-rice/index.htm

“How much arsenic is in your rice?
Consumer Reports’ new data and guidelines are important for everyone but especially for gluten avoiders
Published: November 2014
We looked at data released by the Food and Drug Administration in 2013 on the inorganic arsenic content of 656 processed rice-containing products. We found that rice cereal and rice pasta can have much more inorganic arsenic—a carcinogen—than our 2012 data showed. According to the results of our new tests, one serving of either could put kids over the maximum amount of rice we recommend they should have in a week. Rice cakes supply close to a child’s weekly limit in one serving. Rice drinks can also be high in arsenic, and children younger than 5 shouldn’t drink them instead of milk.
Brown rice has 80 percent more inorganic arsenic on average than white rice of the same type. Arsenic accumulates in the grain’s outer layers, which are removed to make white rice.”

Wellness CORE Grain-Free Puppy Formula is a great choice. Orijen Puppy Large Breed Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is outstanding. But as I said, it’s all trial and error until A) you like what you’re buying & B) you see outstanding stools & weight formation that’s appropriate.

I saw the Orijen, but the price was out of my range, if I was feeding a Beagle or small dog it wouldn’t be bad, but the $79 price and the even smaller bag yet than I normally buy that’s a double hit- higher price for less in the bag.

If you’re not already, spread out the meals as evenly as you can during waking hours, small portions equal to the daily amount (or what they’ll consume) 3 to 4 times per day. It’s easier on their tummies.

Jiggs came when he was 6-1/2 weeks old, I fed him 4 times a day until he was 8 weeks and then Hachi came shortly after and he was 8 weeks, and by then both are on 3 feedings a day

[crazy4cats]

Susie-
You posted in the correct place. Marie was just trying to let you know about a thread that discusses the special requirements for large breed pups that help with avoiding joint issues. That is a good idea, but I was wondering about your pup’s digestive issues. How often does your pup have diarrhea and is it yellow or greenish in color? Could you be feeding too much? Have you had a fecal test done recently? It is common for pups to have parasites or worms that could cause this.

You say he is rolling and sneezing. Could he have seasonal allergies? Which Science Diet recipe is he on?

Five month old golden, oh boy, I bet he’s a wonderful handful! Check out the review side of this site for the article on feeding large breed pups to learn about the latest information on the best calcium levels for them. Let us know more in order to help better!

[Susie S]

I have a 5 month old Golden Retriever. He is a joy but has some digestive issues. Every since we got him at 8 weeks old he has had bouts of diarrhea. He has been on Holistic Select and now the vet has put him on Science Diet. He has only been on Science Diet for three days but he is sneezing and rolling around like he is itching. I am desperate to find a great food that will settle his digestive system and calm any allergies. He needs a good balanced growth food because of hip problems in Goldens. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[zcRiley]

All puppies’ digestive tracts are a bit different & dietary changes will occur as they age. If you’re able to, give them food for “puppies” (very different nutrient levels from adult food). Then take them off of it after they’re 1 yr. old (since they’re big breed). They may have been allergic to the grains etc. in NutriLife All Gold (Brown Rice, Pearled Barley, Oat Meal, White Rice, Brewers Dried Yeast, Alfalfa Meal). Also ask your vet if a full thyroid panel test would be a good idea (increased metabolism with concurrent weight loss issue).

Wellness CORE Grain-Free Puppy Formula is a great choice. Orijen Puppy Large Breed Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is outstanding. But as I said, it’s all trial and error until A) you like what you’re buying & B) you see outstanding stools & weight formation that’s appropriate.

If you’re not already, spread out the meals as evenly as you can during waking hours, small portions equal to the daily amount (or what they’ll consume) 3 to 4 times per day. It’s easier on their tummies.

[InkedMarie]

Grandma Lucy’s has a goat food. You can feed a raw diet. I feed a ground raw, one of the companies has novel proteins that I doubt your dog is allergic to: goat, llama, quail, rabbit and more from Hare Today. I’m kind of surprised a naturopath vet is ok with a vegan diet.

[aquariangt]

Your dog has allergies to all animal proteins? That’s almost always a bit far fetched. What foods have you tried? Maybe a novel protein LID diet would do the trick

[Jennifer Y]

Thanks for the reply L M! She’s never had any skin testings or any type of testing for environmental allergies. I will be bringing that up at the next visit to the vet on Thursday.

One of the vets at the our clinic is actually a homeopath, and I will be requesting an appointment with her shortly as well to discuss a solution or alternative to handling the situation.

If all else fails, I will consider taking her to a dermatologist. Hopefully I’ll get to the bottom of this and find a diet that works best for her.

Thank you so much again, for the article as well as options I can take.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for posting the results of that saliva test (dog was not examined by a veterinarian)

Many people opt to have this test done on their pets instead of going to a specialist/dermatologist. They should be aware that the results may not be helpful.

PS: Nutrisca is a limited ingredient food. Dogs can have both environmental allergies and food sensitivities/allergies.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

The symptoms you describe sound like environmental allergies and may not be related to her food sensitivities, which btw fluctuate and change.

You may want to consider seeing a specialist/dermatologist, this has been going on for 4 months/1 year without any periods of significant relief.

Or consult a homeopath http://theavh.org/

Has your dog had the skin testing to identify environmental allergies? In my experience environmental allergies are much more common that food allergies.
People often refer to food sensitivities as allergies.

My dog is doing well, she receives immunotherapy, she now eats a variety of foods with Nutrisca (salmon and chickpea) as a base.
The scratching, skin irritations, stomach upset, 2 ear infections, red rashes, 2 prednisone trials went on for a year before I took her for skin testing. I never had the blood test that identifies food allergies done. A lot of the allergens are airborne….impossible to avoid.
I tried an air purifier, dehumidifier….useless and noisy.

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

[Candyce M]

Merrick makes a great lamb recipe. I’m not sure about posting links on this forum so i won’t post but you can Google “Merrick Dog Food Lamb”. My pups are allergic to chicken and had similar symptoms. As soon as I switched their meat to lamb then the itchiness was gone.

Hope this helps. 🙂

[Candyce M]

My pups are allergic to chicken so I had to be careful with the treats I gave them. I switched to Happy Hips Lamb formula and they are pretty happy with those. Each piece is a bit big so I break each piece in quarters or in eighths. 🙂

[zcRiley]

“Zignature Zssential Multi-Protein Formula Dry Dog Food” is the closest I’ve found with a lot of controversial ingredients deleted. Only 3 proteins and grain-free, gluten-free, no potato, chicken or eggs, no guar gum or carrageenan, etc. HOWEVER, chickpeas are listed as the 5th ingredient, which is already a very small amount but if your dog is allergic…..

Primal Freeze Dried Formula is great. Portions can be mixed with your cooking, etc.

MY DREAM DOG FOOD would be Zignature Zssential (dry) without the chickpeas. Or any dry dog food with zero fillers like various Potatoes, Legumes, certain Peas, Tapioca, Clay, Whole Ground Brown Rice, Whole Ground Barley, Oatmeal……..it’s just not what dogs would eat in the wild. And the amount of yeast disorders they can produce is disconcerting.

[Erin G]

Hi All – I know a lot of you are subject matter experts when it comes to dog food as I have relied on your comments and advice over the past 5 years being a mommy to my senior rat terrier. Dogs change lives and my sweet girl has been the best blessing ever and has led me down an endless path of trying to provide her with the best life possible…including supplements, herbs and especially nutrition. This started first as a need…she is a picky eater and also has Cushings…but has now developed into a real interest of mine. As I have yet to find the perfect food that my girl will actually eat (she will only eat home cooking right now) I keep fighting the urge to throw myself full in and start a formal education on canine nutrition with the goal of developing a new dog food. I should add here that I know there are suitable foods out there for her (she loves most pre-mixes except they all contain items to which she is allergic – potatoes, chickpeas, sweet potatoes) but all that she can tolerate are inedible to her or leave her pooping 5 times a day!

I thought this would be a great place to start to hear some feedback from y’all on what would be a dream dog food if you could invent one. Or maybe you can tell me about a brand I haven’t discovered that is sweet and white potato free, preferably dehydrated or freeze-dried so I can control her protein (she has a sensitive stomach) and doesn’t leave a dog pooping 5 times a day (which was the issue with Honest Kitchen and also she didn’t like it…I thought it smelled great!)

[JeffreyT]

Here is Dr. Karen Becker’s overview of environmental allergies…she has other good ones listed on the right side of screen. She highly recommends bathing for environmental allergies. We did her betadine foot soak and it helped stop the paw licking/chewing.

If you don’t already…use only natural, unscented laundry detergent, avoid fabric softener, scented products like room deodorizers, candles, body care, etc., use pure and non-toxic household cleaning and body care products for your family and dogs, avoid all chemicals including flea/tick treatment. For dog shampoo I stick with unscented health food store baby shampoo, and use Mercolas flea and tick spray. BioKleen household cleaners are very pure and effective. I stay away from Meyers…very toxic stuff, even though it’s sold in health food stores.
Carpet and Persian type rugs can hold a lot of allergens…consider steam cleaning but do not let them use the cleaning solution..use only the steam. Best thing is no carpet at all if it is environmental allergies.
I’ve found my dog does better with commercial raw freeze dried and frozen raw than kibble or canned. When I’m in a rush, I use Ziwi Peak or Real Meat Food Company…both air dried using grass fed meat. I think home cooking is also a good option if you can swing it.
Also, a good air purifier helps.
Keep at it and you will find the solution.

[Anonymous]

I received incorrect information from the regular vet.
It doesn’t matter what you feed the dog if the allergies are environmental, the dog will still have symptoms. Most allergens are airborne and impossible to avoid.

Allergies get worse as the dog gets older, not better.

My dog is doing so well, she may not even need to continue the immunotherapy (after 2 years).

We see the specialist once a year, he returns phone calls otherwise. The treatment is cheaper than going back and forth to the regular vet. In fact we haven’t gone to the regular vet in 3 years, get heartworm checks at Petco. Vaccinations for this dog are avoided.

PS: At one point I had 2 air purifiers and a dehumidifier going at the same time.
All they did was make noise, gave them all to the Goodwill.
And I never did find the perfect dog food, in fact, if a dog is allergic to the storage dust mite (common allergen), the specialist told me this allergen is in all kibble, regardless of how well you store it, they get in during the processing.

[theBCnut]

My dog is not truly allergic to anything, but he does have food hypersensitivities. He reacts to all bird ingredients, tomato, flax, all grains, and possible alfalfa(we are still testing for that). Dogs can react to any food that has proteins in it, and there is some new research that is showing that it is possible to have reactions to fats too. The way to determine your dogs sensitivities is to do an elimination diet. If you can’t do that then you need to try foods that are Limited Ingredient Diets that do not have ingredients that your previous foods had, which means gathering and saving ingredient lists. You may want to look into Canine Caviar and Nature’s Variety Instinct LID.

[Anonymous]

Has your dog had the skin testing to identify environmental allergies? In my experience environmental allergies are much more common that food allergies.
People often refer to food sensitivities as allergies.
I would consider taking the dogs to a specialist/dermatologist, if you haven’t already.

My dog is doing well, she receives immunotherapy, she now eats a variety of foods with Nutrisca (fish) as a base.

[Anonymous]

Allergies? If the current treatment is not effective and the dog is seriously uncomfortable, you may want to consider seeing a specialist/dermatologist, especially if this has been going on for 1 year/4 seasons without any significant periods of relief.

http://www.allergydogcentral.com/2011/06/30/dog-allergy-testing-and-allergy-shots/#comment-1283

Or consult a homeopath http://theavh.org/

Dr Falconer’s latest blog http://vitalanimal.com/natural-dog-food-work/

/forums/topic/atopic-dermatitisyeast-issues-smartest-food-choice/

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.

‘Doc, it itches when I do this!’

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.

[Rachel A]

Hello, I am new here and would really love some help. I have two small breed dog (a cotton de tulear, and a Shih tzu) The shih tzu has had allergies from day 1, more than 4 years now. Unfortunately, I did not realize there was a problem with her food until a few years had passed. We first though it was an allergy to pesticide, or lawn treatment. From there we have tried pretty much everything before being told to switch her food. They were both originally on Wellness small breed, which always worked great for my coton. (The shihtzu came later and had a constant raw stomach). So I switched to the allergy formula (salmon and potato). That did not work, so 6 months later, I switched to the turkey potato version. When that didn’t work I tried switching brands. (Blue Buffalo allergy formula). Now, not only have I not seen a change for the shih tzu, but my coton is licking her paws constantly and she is suffering from ear infections all of a sudden. I have no idea what to try now,(homemade, raw, another brand) but I certainly wish that I had never started on the BB. I am hoping that someone can shed some light on what might be the allergy causing ingredient that is common in these foods. I am open to any and all suggestions. I can cook for them if I need to. Just if someone can point me in the right direction. My girls are very uncomfortable. 🙁

[Anonymous]

I use the human kind, or the pet kind when I find a good deal, omega-3 1000mg-1500mg?.
I have been taking krill oil every day myself, 500mg or 1000mg/depends on the brand….anyway I have been thinking about giving my dogs 1 tab a day instead of the other stuff. I have heard good things.
It is supposed to help with a multitude of things, including dry skin, pruritis. I think it helps my dog with allergies.
Two meals a day is fine. Always have fresh water available. I add water because my old guy was not drinking enough and developed bladder stones. I load him up with water and the stones have not come back. But, you are right, I have to take him out for bathroom breaks every 2 hours.

PS: She’s a beauty! Doesn’t look her age, at all.
At present my dogs are all on Sundown Naturals fish oil 1200mg that I picked up at the drugstore on sale.

[Rajeev S]

The dog gets 10% chance of affecting allergies.some common thing that could trigger a food allergy is a genetic problem. The most common allergies are beef,wheat,egg,dairy,chicken,lamp,pork,and fish. Sometimes young animals treated with antibiotics that could be the other reason for the allergy later in life. The primary symptom is itchy skin affecting primarily in face,feet,ears and aoundthe anus. It may also include hair loss.
The diagnosis is that feed them a novel food source of protein and carbohydrate for at least 12 weeks.

[Autumn]

I have a 1 year old Great Dane who has gone through this. I first started him on a grain-free lamb Taste of the Wild formula and the same thing happened to him. In between his toes was always red, he had rashes, scratch at his ears constantly, had little bumps underneath his chin etc. I also fed him the Royal Cannin food, and I kept him on this for about 2 months. His symptoms improved tremendously but I couldn’t afford to pay 60 dollars a bag with a dog who eats so much food! My vet suggested that I try a novel protein-limited ingredient diet. I wasn’t sure what this meant at first, but it basically means all proteins that your dog has not been exposed to. So, Kangaroo, Duck, Bison, venison with just one other ingredient like rice or potatoes. I put Sully on grain-free Kangaroo and Duck formula but he just got worse. Surprisingly, I tried the food that your dog is on now (except for large breeds) his symptoms were completely gone! He’s been doing so much better and I’m so thankful because he was so miserable. What I would suggest doing is staying on the hydrolyzed (royal cannin) for about 2 months just to see if his symptoms go away, and if they do, then try out the limited ingredient novel proteins. Chewy.com has some great ones, they ship really fast too!

In my case, I think that Sully was allergic to some of the ingredients in the grain-free foods I had been feeding him (thank you to the kind individual on this message board who pointed this out to me), not necessarily the type of protein. However, I’ve read that a lot of dogs are more allergic to the most common proteins like chicken or beef, so that could be what you’re experiencing. So definitely stay on the hydrolyzed and then try out limited ingredient novel protein diets.

[Wendy J]

My little girl was tested,both food and environmental.
Darcy is mostly allergic to grass,dust, etc and beef,beef liver, pork and chicken came next but were trial and error! try to stick to turkey, lamb, etc.

[InkedMarie]

First, we’d have to know what your dog is allergic to. Second, if this was my dog, I’d be working with a nutritionist or holistic vet.

[Wendy J]

Can you please help me find the top foods for my dog with allergies and oxalate crystals?
Thanks Wendy Jones

[theBCnut]

My JRT used to get an upset tummy from any food change at all, but I read about all the benefits of feeding a rotational diet and I had a pup with food allergies that had to have a diet change, so I decided to commit to a rotational diet. The first 3 rotations took at least a month each, but I very quickly, after that, realized that she was able to change foods quicker with no bad reactions. I kept with it and with in 3 more months, I was feeding her something different with every single meal. She has never had an upset stomach or loose stool since, no matter what she eats. And my 13 year old dog acts like she did at 7 or 8 years old. She is trim, muscular, and very active.

I feed Nature’s Variety Instinct, Nature’s Logic, Earthborn, Acana, Orijen, Canine Caviar, Annamaet, and many others.

[Dog_Obsessed]

Huh…I’ve never heard anyone recommend not to feed dogs pork kibble. My vet recommended it as a novel protein for my dog’s elimination diet, and so I have been using Acana Singles Pork and Butternut Squash. It is hard to tell if it is working or not, especially since we found out she also has environmental allergies, but she didn’t do badly on it.

As for Pork treats/chews, I have occasionally heard of contamination issues, or dogs having issues with the fat, but I think they are generally fine if from a reputable company, and of course, supervised to make sure the dog doesn’t choke or consume too much in one sitting.

[Anonymous]

Any kibble with chicken (salmonella), or any jerky/treats (China) are suspect, no matter what the brand, imo.

Nutrisca salmon and chickpea dry food is the food that my small breed that has allergies and a sensitive stomach likes. Her specialist/dermatologist agrees it is the right food for her, limited ingredients.

I like Wysong, but she had some GI upset with it, however, my senior small breed does best on Wysong senior.

[Patty S]

I’m wondering if you live in an area where your dog has to be on Frontline, Advantage etc.
for fleas. When my Lab/Chow mix was about 2 years old (living in Florida) she started
scratching & biting her hind end till most of the hair was missing. Turns out she was allergic to flea bites.
She was on a preventative but they still get bitten though the fleas die. First Vet
prescribed similar to yours. Although I did not use the shampoo as it said I had to wear
gloves and to wash it off immediately if there was any contact with my skin. So why would
I put that on my dog? Second Vet, more on the holistic side, prescribed daily Omega-3
Fish oil and the problem stopped in a week or so. My dog is now 12 and has never had
this issue again.

[theBCnut]

My wonderful SIL brought this to my attention in a discussion about essential oils and I immediately thought of how it affected so many people here, especially Dog Foodie.
http://science.psu.edu/news-and-events/2008-news/Sheets3-2008.htm?hc_location=ufi

[Ryan K]

Glad to hear that DogFoodie! My vet acted like it was the WORST idea ever to lower her fiber intake but why should I feed her a dog food that is causing her to poop more than normal? Especially when she is leaking poop in her sleep because of her advanced age. They were very adamant about the fact that she has had allergy/dermatitis issues and that the Kangaroo recipe is “hypoallergenic” but she still itches and licks her paws on it. Sure, the amount she does that has decreased but not enough for me to feel like it has been a miracle worker food. Plus, how can they call it hypoallergenic when it has ingredients that a dog can be allergic to in it? Doesn’t make much sense to me. I’ll be giving my smaller dog the Kangaroo (since I have a half full bag that is just going to go to waste) since I think he needs a higher amount of fiber in his diet. He has anal gland issues. They always need to be expressed. He has been on Zignature Trout and Salmon formula and it hasn’t been doing much for him. Maybe the Kangaroo will work out for him and the Lamb & Rice will work for my big girl. Crossing my fingers. 🙂

[hogrider]

Hi all, new to this forum.
Our rescue pitbull mix just had surgery to remove a stone blocking his urethra.
They removed multiple other stones and sandy grit from his bladder.
After the samples were sent away for analysis it came back as amonium urate crystals.
They recommended Hills U.D., after some research I have seen alot of negatives with this prescription diet food, not to mention the excessively high price.
For now we have switched him to Natures Recipe Vegetarian diet, still very high in protein but not the animal protiens they are telling me cause his type of stone.
The family vet is being very helpful to find a cost effective diet plan and possible supplements.
They are saying he can still have some meat in his diet but most foods, prescription or not are almost always chicken based. He is allergic to chicken.
Anyone else deal with this and have experience they can share?

[Sondra W]

Hi,

I have tried numerous dog foods for my overweight little dog. My 8yr old Pomeranian has thyroid issues, double hip dysplasia (leaving her to be a lazy bum all day with no exercise), is allergic to chicken & beef and her skin is pink (not itchy though). Also, because we got her shaved one too many times her hair won’t grow back. I am looking for recommendations on low fat non-chicken & non-beef food that will also help her hair/skin. I started her on OC Raw Dog and she seems to have lost a little weight but I would like to find an easier alternative (kibble or dehydrated).

Thanks!

[Susan]

Hi Sam, join this group on F/B https://www.facebook.com/groups/11164787803 it’s called “Dogs With Inflammatory Bowel Disorder”
I’m finding a few rescued dogs suffer from IBD due to a poor diet & malnutrition from a pup, when I rescued my boy he was doing the same every 12-15 days, we were back & forth vets he was put on antibiotic (Metronidazole) for 2 weeks & a vet diet then everything went good in the end… I found I had to stick with same diet & not give any treats nothing except his vet diet Eukanuba Intestinal low residue kibble that’s low in fat-10% & low in fiber-1.70% to let his bowel rest & heal…as soon as I’d try & change his diet he went good for 4-6 days then back to real sloppy poos & vomiting, he’d have the rumbling, gurgling bowel noises early hours of the morning then his diarrhea….I finally found out Patch had Food Intolerances & Food Allergies..that was causing his IBD, I have him on a single protein hypoallergenic, gluten free, sugar free & dairy free kibble now…with 10% fat & 4% fiber & a good Dog probiotic….

Find an limited ingredient kibble, less ingredients is the best something like “California Natural” Lamb & Rice has only 4 ingredients http://www.californianaturalpet.com/products
there a few diets you can look at… then just feed the new diet & nothing else for a good 4 months, do the Giardia test also if her foster mum swears she was never sick, what was she feeding her, maybe you’re feeding kibbles that are too high in protein & fat, some dogs cant handle high protein diets…

[Coonhound Dad]

My 6 year old Black & Tan Coonhound always seems to have allergies this time of the year as well. Much scratching and chewing on paws, etc. She was on Evo Red when this started 3 months ago and I thought, yep Natura has done something to my dog…although I still believe in this company and like their foods. I switched her to Origen Adult and it got worse. Then California Grain Free Chicken and later California Natural Lamb and Rice without improvement. Hmmmm…then I saw that pork was supposed to be good for dogs with allergies and put her on Acana Pork and Butternut Squash. As you might imagine, no improvement. Now she’s on Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream which is supposed to be good for allergies and I actually think she’s better but after two weeks is still occasionally itching. I’m really thinking she has mostly an airborne allergy or is allergic to the grasses she runs through happily looking for gophers and squirrels. Her digging probably doesn’t help either. If this season is typical, most of this will be over by Summer. Good luck, Fred, hang in there!

Jim

[Sam Koch]

Hi guys, I own Honey, a 13 pound Chihuahua mix.

I currently feed her 2/3 cup Whole Earth Farms food, and was told to switch by the veterinarian to a fish protein food, so I bought Merrick’s Grain Free Salmon and Sweet Potato recipe. I had just bought it and when I came home, I realized Honey had gotten sick for a 3rd time since I adopted her on February 1st. Her foster mom swears she was never sick in the 8 months she had her, but she also had 6 other dogs and no separated crates. Last night she had watery diarrhea (it was like brown water) 3 times. She has done this twice in the past accompanied by vomiting, but she didn’t vomit this time. The first time the emergency veterinarian said it was a dietary indiscretion, second time they said she could be allergic to poultry-based things, hence the food switch. I just started switching this morning and only did a 90/10 ratio. Now the veterinarian wants to do a fecal test, but he most likely said it was a chronic GI thing. I just don’t know if her foster mom lied to me or just doesn’t know if she’s ever been sick. I just need advice, or opinions, on what you think it may be. I’ve spent about $375 the first time (emergency) and just spent $150 the last time, now I’m clean out of money until the 16th of this month, so any advice to get her through these next two weeks would be great. Thank you.

Sam

[Anonymous]

Allergies? If the current treatment is not effective and the dog is seriously uncomfortable, you may want to consider seeing a specialist/dermatologist, this has been going on for 4 months….seasonal?
http://www.allergydogcentral.com/2011/06/30/dog-allergy-testing-and-allergy-shots/#comment-1283
Or consult a homeopath http://theavh.org/

Dr Falconer’s latest blog http://vitalanimal.com/natural-dog-food-work/

/forums/topic/atopic-dermatitisyeast-issues-smartest-food-choice/

[Susan]

This is the best test for environment allergies its done at a animal Dermatologist its called Intradermal Skin Testing it gives 100% correct results as blood testing can give false positives… Its safe, its pain free & easy they do this testing on humans horses etc

There’s a really good group on Face Book called “Dog Allergy International group” that has just started & has information on dog Environment allergies & food intolerances & sensitivities, limited ingredient foods to start your dog on while you work out what your next step is… https://www.facebook.com/groups/dogallergyinternationalgroup/