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I used Dog Food Advisor years ago when my sweet Betty was first diagnosed with allergies. Wish your site was active then! I’m going to have to try something new now, so I’m glad to have it! The only allergy Betty has that isn’t listed is peanuts, but they don’t seem to be in any of the foods she can have otherwise since you kindly listed the ingredients.

Here is my problem: She is now a little older and the vet says she has an alarmingly high Calcium Oxalate concentration in her urine. They recommend the prescription dog foods, but the only ones she can have with her allergies are the wet ones, and I’m not a fan of the all wet diet. My dogs have always had great teeth, and I can’t discount the fact that I make them crunch some of their food. I add anything wet immediately before they eat.

Her allergies are: alfalfa, barley, carrots, peas, rice, soy, sunflower, and peanuts. My personal research indicates she could benefit from a diet higher in protein, sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and moisture and contents with decreased urine acidifying potential. The dry food has a greater potential for problem than wet (no moisture). In contrast, there is some evidence that diets higher in fats and lower in protein and potassium are likely to increase urine acidity and cause the Ca Oxalate to precipitate out.

Do you have any suggestions about this since you seem to have thoroughly studied the ingredients? I have been feeding Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream formulation for years. Currently, I am adding a lot of water to it to increase water intake.

Thanks!
Carolyn S.

[Susan]

Hi L M Proper skin testing where they shave the dogs hair either on their side or back & prick about 20 little holes then insert the allergens doesn’t cost a few bucks even in America its very expensive, this is the only proper testing for environment allergies as blood test will give false positives…I though your dog had a proper skin testing done.. Some Dermatologist will guess what is wrong with our dog & come up lucky that probably only cost a couple of hundred dollars to see the Dermatologist as they are dearer then a vet visits…I thought you may have known about environment & food allergies…

[Susan]

L M, My Patch has been getting a real sore throat started in Spring last October (I live Australia) vet thought it was an ingredient from a new food I had tried cause this sore throat happened 3 days after introducing the new kibble, he then got his sore throat & making his weird swallowing noise like when you have a sore throat when its hard to swallow noise, I asked Patch is it sore & felt around his throat & he licked me when he licks me that means yes he even gets real excited if I say is here sore & licks & licks me so his throat is real sore…
He has his sore throat again started after I gave him some of his vet diet kibble for breakfast he hasn’t eaten his vet diet since he was real sick from the Metronidazole now Im thinking it the turkey his vet diet has Chicken & turkey in it I’m thinking he’s Allergic to turkey cause all 4 times he has had this sore throat he has either eaten a kibble with turkey or I had him on turkey breast mince for 10 days after he had a bad reaction the Metronidazole… Can dogs get a swollen sore throat from certain foods I know humans do from peanuts also could it be an environment thing & its happen aswell..
I’ve googled Dog with a sore throat last year when this first happened & EOE & EGID Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disorders came up….
When Patch had an Endoscope done last December I printed out the info on EGID so vet could look real good down patches oesophagus as there would be virticle lines or rings around the oesophagus, the vet said he doesn’t have EGID after the Endoscope was finished but he has all the symptoms…. We kept thinking that his acid reflux has burnt his throat but now I’m thinking its a reaction either to turkey or from the environment…I was going to do the Jean Dobbs Salvia testing for food intolerances & sensitivities I know that Blood testing isn’t 100% but after visiting the Jean Dobbs Nutri-Scan site I’m starting to think it may be OK…
if turkey does come up & potatoes & foods that I know he has intolerances tooo then I’ll know that her Salvia testing is correct I’m just sick of guessing & doing elimination diets especially with his IBD its not worth him having a flare… what are you thoughts… skin testing is around $2000 I think that includes the follow up injections as well not sure I know the Dermatoligist is dear to see

[Anonymous]

My dog’s skin test showed allergies to a variety of grasses/weeds/trees, wool, Cockroach, American (specialist explained this doesn’t mean you have roaches) this stuff is dander, waste of all living things, it is everywhere, in the air, dirt, she scored a 3 for this one, plus the wool and one of the trees.
Three 3s. The other 13 were 2’s
The scratching, skin irritations, stomach upset, 2 ear infections, red rashes, 2 prednisone trials went on for a year before I took her for 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.

The link I provided (previous post) to Dog Allergy Central explains immunotherapy in detail.

I noticed a little improvement right away, it will be 2 years now, she’s sees the specialist once a year. She is much improved. She still scratches occasionally, but not that crazy, intense stuff.
The specialist I went to doesn’t even recommend the skin test unless the symptoms have been going on for 1 year/4 seasons without any periods of significant relief.

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.

Dog is prepared for Intra Dermal Testing

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.

[Vincent C]

L M,
Can u answer a few questions about the immunotherapy? Was your dog analyzed as allergic to dust mites? what level? did any other allergens show up? My dog is at level 2 out of 4 for dust mites, and also level 2 for mold and maple trees.
I’m considering immunotherapy but our house was analyzed for mold and it’s safe. And I read that dust mites can’t survive unless the humidity is 40% or higher — our house has a humidity of 20% – 25% usually. So I’m skeptical those two items are the problem.
How long did it take before you started seeing improvement with the immunotherapy?

[Susan]

Hi, your dog probably has food intolerances to an ingredient in this kibble, it can take days for some dogs to have a reaction to a kibble when they have food sensitivities or food intolerances, when they have food allergies which is very rare, the dog has a reaction that day after eating….. when my boy eats potatoes as soon as he eats them within 20mins, he gets a red rash all over chest, then if I keep feeding the potatoes, he has bad diarrhea, Food allergies are like when people cant eat peanuts, but food intolerances can take up to 21 days to see any symptoms, itchy ears, itchy anus, red paws, hive like lumps all over body, sloppy poo, diarrhea, itchy mouth,vomiting, hair loss etc… right down all the ingredients from the kibble & avoid these ingredients in other kibbles also is the fat% higher?? …there’s a new group on Face Book that has heaps of info about food intolerances & food allergies…. there’s even an offer thru “Immune IQ” Home assessment kits that test the dogs Salvia & Hair, with 55% off normal price for only $45 when you get a coupon…. all info is on the F/B “Dog Allergy international group” page just scroll down & you’ll see a white Labrador & a hand with a cotton tip in his mouth….
https://www.facebook.com/groups/dogallergyinternationalgroup/

[Susan]

Hi Anne, you write that your your Lab mix seems to get a upset stomach for no reason …. it sounds like this has happened before….your boy may have IBS or IBD, he needs to stay on just 1 diet as certain foods may be irritating his bowel, either thru food sensitivities or food allergies, Rice is a old myth now & it doesn’t work for all dogs as the small pieces of boiled rice can irritate the bowel getting caught in pockets of the bowel, boiled mashed potatoes is best….

Feed him a limited ingredient kibble like “Natural Balance” Kangaroo & Potato or the Rabbit or the Duck look at the ingredients & pick the one with the least ingredients as some of the limited ingredient have peas …there’s also California Natural” Lamb & Rice with just 4 ingredients just keep him on the limited ingredient kibble for a good 2-3 months, let the bowel heal, then only if his poos have been firm maybe give a food or treat that is low in FAT, no bones if that treat never gave him diarrhea stick with thought treat….there could be just 1 ingredient in his kibble that he may have an intolerance too & he may start having sloppy poos from 1-21 days…my boy goes really well on a new kibble then about the 5-6 day his poos start being slop then if I keep feeding it, he has diarrhea…..
Here’s 2 groups on face Book called “Dogs With Inflammatory Bowel Disorder” Or “Dog Allergy International group” for support & more info in Files for foods….if this does keep happening, if you keep letting this happen, he can have more problems as he gets older.. so the problem needs to be fixed while he’s still young…

[Anonymous]

Nutrisca salmon and chickpea dry works best for my dog that has allergies and a sensitive stomach. It is grain and potato free. See the reviews at chewy.com

[Jennifer H]

Due to food allergies, we switched our dogs to Nature’s Recipe Pure Essentials chicken and sweet potato. If I recall. We had them on TOTW before that. Petsmart did not have the chicken flavor when we had to buy food last month, so we got the lamb and brown rice, which they seemed to love. Now, we’ve switched back to the chicken; this was on Monday of this week. Last night, one of my dogs, Kaia (the one with allergies, as well as GI issues) started vomiting up the food. We noticed that this bag had an unusually high amount of the dried carrots, peas, and cranberries, but didn’t think much about it at the time. My husband seems to think that it’s too much for my Kaia. She had me up all night with the vomiting.

Has anyone had an experience with the Pure Essentials line of products, or known anyone who has? Any ideas why she all of a sudden doesn’t seem to tolerate the food? Of course, I will call the vet, but thought maybe someone here could offer advice as well. Thanks!

[Cheryl H]

Does anyone have a recommendation for how to determine a good ratio of canned to dry food? During one of my dog’s regular exams, three years ago, he had struvite crystals and was put on a Hills prescription diet. Once the tests reflected the crystals were no longer a problem, I switched to a Blue Buffalo dry formula. Since then there have been no struvite problems. However, due to some problems with bad bags(?) of BB and some potential food allergies I am switching him to Wellness Simple Turkey and Potato. I have read that canned food may help prevent urinary problems due to higher water content, however I would like to try a combination of canned and dry food. Wellness provides guidelines for a canned/dry mix, but they’re confusing. We’ve adjusted the recommended daily amounts of the foods we’ve been feeding him to avoid unacceptable weight gain. I assume we’ll need to do that for Wellness as well.

[Anonymous]

And, the allergies may be seasonal. The specialist I saw said he didn’t recommend skin testing unless the symptoms had been going on for 4 seasons without any significant periods of relief. Despite diet changes, etc.
Bathing once or twice a week with Malaseb helps my dog, daily fish oil supplements are good for dry itchy skin too.

[Sam Koch]

I will check those two out, thank you!
I have always wanted to do homemade food, maybe I will when I move back home for the summer and get a full-time job, I don’t have much money right now.
It doesn’t seem like her allergies are too bad, and I also think some of it is stress.

Thanks again!

[Anonymous]

I like Wysong, however my allergy girl does the best on Nutrisca salmon and chickpea as a base combined with homemade http://www.homeovet.net/dynamic/php/downloads/dog-c8470f2c75dbe4b683205c3919ee2310/dog_diet_complete.pdf

She’s sees a specialist once a year (had the skin testing) and receives immunotherapy.
http://www.allergydogcentral.com/2011/06/30/dog-allergy-testing-and-allergy-shots/#comment-1283

If you decide to go the homeopathic route, http://www.vitalanimal.com

Home

BTW: I tried all the diet changes and nothing worked till she saw the specialist. Dogs can have both environmental allergies and food sensitivities, it is often difficult to figure out which is causing what.

[Sam Koch]

Hello,

I have Honey, a 13.4 pound Chihuahua mix. We just got back from the vet, and they are really great. She has had GI issues before and also has some pretty nasty teeth, and they gave me something that helps with both! They said she is very healthy and looks great. Their only concern is her licking. She has a spot that she licks, the underside base of her tail, and her paws. I have been feeding her Whole Earth Farms for about 2 months now and I am ready to switch. He said this would be a great idea and to try to find something without chicken protein, which is what Whole Earth Farms has. He said the obsessive licking could possibly be food allergies. He said fish protein would be better, and he recommends something with about 10% fat. Any suggestions? Price is not a problem at all with me, as long as she gets what she needs to keep her in optimum condition I don’t care about the price. Just let me know! And if you have any other suggestions or questions I’d love to hear them!

Sam

[Susan]

Hi, what things in the environment was he allergic too with the blood test? & what food intolerances was he intolerant too with the Salvia testing? there’s a product called “Platinum Skin & Allergy Performance” every time I put the link up my post doesn’t come up so you’ll have to google “Platinum Skin & allergy performance” there’s a good Face Book group called “Dog Allergy International Group” maybe someone else has had this happen, I know the lady that runs the F/B group has a 13 yr old & it is allergic to everything food/environment etc & she too has had all the test done she’s very up to date with these type of problems.. do you have a cat?? some dogs are allergic to the cats dangar

[Susan]

Hi, sounds like environment allergy with the watery eyes & runny nose could also have food intolerances there’ s this product called “Platinum Allergy & skin performance”
http://www.platinumperformance.com/pets/allproducts/ just scroll down & you’ll see the Skin & Allergy also there’s a group on Face Book called “Dog Allergy International Group” look in the files there’s antibacterial shampoos & foods that are limited ingredient single protein diets, that have worked for some dogs with allergies & food intolerances, there’s a lot of info & help https://www.facebook.com/groups/dogallergyinternationalgroup/

[BijouMama05]

Bailey N,
The Chicken strips contain vinegar, which can cause an allergic reaction (vomiting) in susceptible animals. Additionally, vinegar increases the output of Hydrochloric acid (digestive or stomach acid), which can cause a “sour stomach” and reflux resulting in vomiting. Vinegar should also not be given to animals that have certain medical conditions since it can aggravate their symptoms. Some of these conditions are: pH imbalances (alkaline or acidic), kidney, liver, or adrenal issues. There’s an article in Whole Dog Journal discussing the use of vinegar in dogs (pros and cons) at this web site: http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/2_6/features/5220-1.html

[Fiona B]

I can’t thank you enough for your post. It was extremely helpful. And I will try your menu for my dogs. I have a chocolate lab who has been allergic since the day he was born. Like you I have visited my vet, run the allergy tests and started him on Atopica once a day. It has helped but hasn’t eliminated the problem.
Like you I went to a protein based food. I shows Merrick’s Whole earth. It has pork beef and lamb in it. He seems to be sensitive to chicken as well. I want to get him off the Atopica because he has been on it for five years. He is very sedentary and I wonder if the Atopica might be part of the reason.
Recently I found Dinovite. They suggest waiting at least a month before looking for improvements. I have to say that after a month and a half he is really doing well. I weaned him from the atopica in that period of time.
Costs and concerns about dog food ingredients and fillers being what they are I feel Your menu is eminently healthier than the dog food. And Dinovite is not cheap either.
Thank you very much.

[GSDMom]

Hello All,
I have a male GSD that will be 7 in June. Since he was 1, I’ve been trying to find out why he scratches so much. I’d read that allergies tend to start at a year old, but when it started I was really unprepared. Since then, I’ve done the Spectrum Blood allergy testing through the vet, twice (2009 and April 2014) I’ve done the Nutriscan test (saliva – 2014) with Jean Dodds. (She told me she disagrees with blood testing for food allergies) I’ve recently done the Glacier Peak Holistics test as well (hair and saliva). In addition to all of that, he’s been blood tested for environmental allergies and he has those as well.
Every season he seems to have a secondary bacterial infection or a yeast infection… and I truly have no idea if it’s environment, food or both causing them. Currently his hair is growing back on his sides where he had been tearing it out from chewing, and his inner thighs and underarms are bright pick. The vet has given me a 21 day (2 per day)prescription of 200mg Simplicef. I hate to use it, as I always do, but after being given Chinese herbs from a holistic vet time and time again, I’ve never seen results.
Can anyone give me their opinions (and not about me being crazy, I already know I am, haha) …good, bad or indifferent about these tests and their reliability? Thanks!

[Sarah Y]

I should also add that as far as I know, Billy does not have any allergies. He has had full anal glands before and he seems to have done better with the grain free food.

[Anonymous]

Some dogs shed a lot, you could try a daily fish oil supplement…in case the shedding is related to dry skin.

She may have environmental allergies, if so, and it is causing her discomfort for 4 seasons, I would consider getting her tested. http://www.allergydogcentral.com/2011/06/30/dog-allergy-testing-and-allergy-shots/#comment-1283

Have you considered a home made diet? You could still use kibble as a base
http://www.homeovet.net/dynamic/php/downloads/dog-c8470f2c75dbe4b683205c3919ee2310/dog_diet_complete.pdf

Is she getting enough exercise? A 20 minute brisk walk 2 or 3 times a day will aid with weight loss.

[constant_lurker]

Hi all,
I’ve hit kind of a roadblock and I’m hoping someone here may have a suggestion.
My dog has a mix of environmental allergies and food sensitivities (or possible sensitivities I’m still trying to figure out). Since the summer, I’ve fed her a combination of a raw diet and The Honest Kitchen foods. Her allergies have improved greatly and I’ve been able to figure out some of the meats that set her off. Chicken (and chicken eggs) and beef are out, and unfortunately, so is fish and fish oils.
I’ve been trying to add in variety and am making headway. But I want to find a good source of useable omega 3s for her. She does very well with rabbit, which has a decent omega 3 to omega 6 ratio. We’re still iffy on lamb, though lamb heart has a decent omega3:omega 6 profile from what I can tell.
Are there other meats I can/should look at? I know (or think I know) that flax oil has lots of omega 3s, but that it doesn’t convert into the important kinds well. Are there other oils worth looking at?
Anyone have a dog with fish sensitivities who’s had good luck with krill oil?

Thanks for taking the time to read through this, and for any suggestions.

[Susan]

Hi Christine, German Shepherds are prone to IBD EPI & SIBO, boiled rice is a no no for some dogs, can you get the Vet Diet “Eukanuba Intestinal” not the Intestinal Plus just the Intestinal, I even think there’s a Eukanuba puppy Intestinal…The Eukanuba Intestinal was the only diet that help my boy get stable.. also join this Face Book group “Dogs With Inflammatory Bowel Disorder” make sure you start to fix this problem now when he’s still young & don’t let him keep going with the irritated bowel like my rescued boy did…. a lot of dogs with IBD are real stress heads, don’t keep still, eat everything in site (Pica) anxious… see a vet that specialises in IBD… some vets wouldn’t have a clue about IBD & say “Oh its just a sensitive stomach” when it isn’t, he might have food sensitivities or food allergies have you tried boiled potatoes & a protein that he has never eating before like kangaroo, rabbit duck…. on another Face Book group called “Dog Allergy International group” I’ve listed limited ingredients kibbles in the files section…. have a look at “Natural Balance” Limited Ingredients http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/ on ur top left click on “Dog Formulas” thin click on the Limited Ingredient Diets the Kangaroo, Rabbit & Duck have the least ingredients, a few dogs with IBD are doing really well on this kibble…also NO TREATS nothing just his kibble & NO CHEESE it has diary & FAT….then when he’s doing firm poos & only 1-3 a day for a good 3 months then give him a new food & see does he have sloppy poo, see what happens if everything is good in the poo department give again the next day & the next day as some dogs wont react for 5-10 days like my boy he does really well the first 5-6 days them BOOM diarrhea… hope to see you in the F/B groups you’ll get some help when needed from a few German Shepherd owners…

[Anonymous]

Allergies (food or environmental)? Obsessive compulsive behavior? Stress related? Maybe she doesn’t like being in the crate?
Talk to your vet, she may do well on an antidepressant, if it is anxiety. They often don’t have to stay on these meds forever….

[Anonymous]

Wysong has a vegan food, Evanger’s has a vegetarian canned food.

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.

If your dog was allergic, for example, to microscopic dust mites (common allergen) she would be scratching and uncomfortable no matter what you fed her.

I would consider taking her to a specialist/dermatologist, if you haven’t already.
http://www.allergydogcentral.com/2011/06/30/dog-allergy-testing-and-allergy-shots/#comment-1283

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

[Dawn R]

My puppy Bella is an 8 month old 9 pound schnoodle that has been suffering from severe diarrhea accompanied by occasional blood & mucus as well as vomiting since November 2014. I have spent thousands of dollars at the vet to eliminate other possibilities such as addisons, parvo, liver shunt etc etc. She had giardia when she was very little and treated with metronidizole. Good news is so far all tests are good (liver enzymes very slightly elevated as is potassium), bad news is we still don’t have a definitive diagnosis, however the vet seems pretty sure it is colitis/IBD/HGE. What the vets are not helping me with is putting her on a diet other than the Hills W/D which she doesnt want to eat. I started her on Merrick dry kibble when I first took her home. When she stopped eating that, I mixed in Merrick wet food. This worked for a month before she had terrible diarrhea. In addition she seem to be allergic to something in the merrick food which caused a chronic cough & eye discharge. Then She went on Natures VAriety for a short while, but would ONLY eat the freeze dried raw bits and not the kibble. So because of this I then I put her on Stella & Chewys freeze dried lamb & duck patties. That also worked for about a month and then she had another bout, this time extremely severe. Through each bout (which seems to happen 1-2 times per month) they put her back on metronidizole again, so I never really get the chance to see if a food is working or not. Vet wanted to try the whole novel protein diet and put her on Hills prescription D/D. Tried it for 2 weeks and she would not touch it and lost 1.5 pounds. At that point I gave up and needed to just get food into her system so I put her back on Merrick but this time tried the grain free duck. One week into it and she started back with diarrhea again and is now back on metronidizole. This time the vet wants me to put her on Hills W/D because of the low fat/high fiber. I already use a probiotic (restore) and give her a tablespoon of pumpkin everyday (which incidentally seems to make the diarrea worse). Took her off all bully sticks (still love the brand BEST bully stick, but never again). No treats either. I have read extensively and there seems to be many different opinions on what to give a dog with GI inflammation of sorts. I have read everything from Canine cavier to Addiction and more. Having had signed up for the editors choice, I am hoping for some good solid recommendations. I do not want to give her Merrick or Hills anymore. Cost is not an issue, but I don’t think puppies this tiny are ok with raw food (just my experience since the worst she ever was when I fed her Stella & Chewys, even though I think its a great product for most). She is going in for spay surgery on May 7th (health permitting) and the vet is saying if I am not able to regulate her with diet in the next month that they want to do an intestinal biopsy which I have a real problem with especially if the intestine is ALREADY inflamed. I have an appointment for her with a holistic vet tomorrow and am really hoping to get some suggestions that I can speak to the holistic vet about. I have read all about pre/pro biotics, digestive enzymes, glucose, fructose, hypoallergenic, L-glutamine and plan to ask the holistic vet which of those she thinks I should try, but I find it troubling that I have not gotten any viable food options from my vet to date. Any advice would be greatly appreciated by Baby Bella & her Mom!

• This topic was modified 10 years, 8 months ago by Dawn R.
• This topic was modified 10 years, 8 months ago by Dawn R.
• This topic was modified 10 years, 8 months ago by Dawn R.

[LeAnn]

We have 3 pitbull rescue dogs–two of our own and one foster. We recently noticed an increase in their food allergies (and yes, they are allergies with hives, swelling, skin lesions, induced secondary infections, congestion, and more) from commercial dog foods. One dog is so severe he has had to be put on steroids and an elimination diet.

I found sources for what ingredients are safe for foods, and obviously this website has info on beneficial ingredients by extrapolation from the reviews.

But where can we get the nutritional values that are accessible to dogs from these ingredients? Are caloric, vitamin, mineral, fiber, and other nutritional content in foods equally accessible to dogs as they are humans?

What exactly are the nutritional requirements for dogs?

Where can we find that info?

Once we find out the allergies from the elimination process, we would like to either partially use limited ingredient commercial foods or supplements to make sure the dogs get what they needed. But without knowing the impact of the home prepped food we give them, we won’t know what they need.

Suggestions or reference resources?

Thanks!
Le’

[Liz S]

I know this is an old post, but I’m compelled to share! My little scruffy rescue thing is an allergy pup. We’ve been dealing with his food allergy & intolerance issues since he entered my care at 6 months of age, and even more so after I officially adopted him at 9 months (2010) via elimination diets & trial/error. He seems to acquire new allergies every few months to a year. I work in the veterinary field, so after a recent rapid decline in his health (and trips to the emergency vet) I bit the bullet and we allergy tested him.
He is allergic to chicken, duck, turkey, beef, bison, venison, rabbit, lamb, fish, dairy, egg, barley, flax & pea. He is intolerant to raw carrots (cannot digest them – vomitting), corn & soy (tear stains, upset tummy). (Enviro allergies are bayberry & corn pollen).
That’s nearly every protein source available to us. Our options are pork (did not react), possibly boar, possibly kangaroo, possibly goat & possibly brushtail. Try finding ANY of those foods in high-quality kibbles (none), canned without pea or egg (none), raw without flax or egg or barley (two – OC Raw Dogs Goat & Addiction Raw-Dehydrated Summer Brushtail) so it looks like raw will be the winner! He is currently eating Orijen Six Fish & Cetirizine HCL SID or he breaks out in hives DAILY.

I might add – he also did not react to oats, green bean, pumpkin, sweet potato, potato, rice or alfalfa. Small miracle.

[Kathleen C]

aimee, from your answer above: “When fewer calories were fed as fat and more as carbohydrate the dogs lost more weight and a greater percentage of fat (Borne).” This is what I find hard to comprehend. I always think of carbs as the reason for dogs getting fat to begin with, for some reason. And no, I’ve not thought about canned, raw or dehydrated food. I would like to get him away from the chicken though. Since hearing dogs can have a problem with chicken allergies I’ve looked at regular kibble but nothing out there is low calorie. His first owner fed a low quality salmon food from Costco and she said he never seemed to have any ear allergies like he does now.

[Karma]

We just got the bad news of severe kidney issues in our GSD mix. The vet has put him on Science Diet Low Protein to see if this makes any difference. If it does, then he will have to stay on a low protein diet but I know SD isn’t a food I want to feed long term. Any suggestions? My boy is allergic to chicken and grain makes his gas so bad it clears a room so I need grain and poultry free suggestions. I don’t expect anyone to scan ingredients to check for both, I just really need brand names to research myself. I currently feed rotational, he’s on Frommes Beef Frittata and Castor/Pollux Seafood at the moment.

[Anonymous]

That is quite a list, I would go to a homemade diet. I would also consider consulting a homeopathic veterinarian or an animal nutritionist….or a specialist (dermatologist/allergies) depending on your treatment preferences (if you haven’t done so already) and if the problems continue.
Have you tried a little boiled hamburger and white rice?
See my posts in other threads for links that might be helpful.

Ps: I had a pup that had loose stools till she was about 8 months old…and then it just stopped. I had tried various foods, I never did get it diagnosed.
I wondered if it had to do with all the vaccinations she had received and maybe her immune system was out of whack.

[Mark M]

Buddy is 8 years old and has always had allergies. He is a Lab/Pit mix we rescued from the pound 2 days before he was to be “put down” when he was 12 weeks old. With our Vet, we have tried Apoquel, and Hydroxyzine, both expensive and minimal help. We feed him Blue Buffalo Healthy Weight Adult dry. He weighs 90 pounds. Can anyone help with dry food and biscuit advise? Home cooked is not an option.

[trakrsmaandpa]

At the age of two years, my Dutch Shepard developed terrible allergies. He licked and scratched himself tell he was bloody, we tried everything. Working with our vet we worked our way directly to the source, the commercial dog food we were feeding him. The only answer we could come up with, was to start making homemade dog food based on a recipe I found online, high-protein and high in nutrients. He has ceased almost all the allergy symptoms, yes we go through an occasional bout of “itchiness” during allergy season, but nothing like it was, I am convinced it was the commercial dog food we were feeding him. I’ve been on this recipe for two years now and he’s not only virtually allergy free, he is also a healthier, happier, active dog!

[Anonymous]

I know what you mean, I had to take one of my dogs to a specialist/dermatologist $$ for her allergies.
But it was totally worth it, the maintenance isn’t that bad at all. If you find something that works….

[Freddy w]

Hi LM
No not related to allergies at all according to the veterinarian
Also no blocked glands he checked for that
At first that’s what he thought.
Yes chewy is a great online store
To get dog food
I don’t see why she can’t have fish I’ll look in to that
It also has to be A single source of protein only dog food
But thank you Sooo much for your help LM
I certainly do appreciate it !

[Anonymous]

What kind of fistulas? Are they related to allergies? Blocked anal glands?
My dog with allergies does well on Nutrisca (fish), assuming your dog can have fish, I know it contains no potato or grains. Wysong has a vegetarian blend.
I may start getting my Nutrisca from chewy.com because the prices are better.

I like Wysong and consider it to be a quality food and still feed it to my senior dog. However I noticed my dogs seemed to be drinking more water, so I worried that maybe it’s high in sodium? If that’s a concern I think someone at their company could answer your questions.

PS: Consider consulting a homeopathic vet, they may have some treatment ideas different from the traditional vets http://www.vitalanimal.com Some of them do phone consults, if there isn’t one located near you.

[Susan]

There’s this new Face Book group that has just started as there’s no Dog Allergy groups on Face Book, if anyone wants to join that needs help or has had experience with a dog with Skin, Food, Environment, allergies or intolerances, please join.. its called “Dog Allergy International group” https://www.facebook.com/groups/dogallergyinternationalgroup/

[Lori E]

I have been doing a lot of research on Acana which is manufactured by Champion Pet Foods in Canada and who also produces Orijen. I have my 5 yr rottie and shepherd doing food rotations between the Grasslands and Duck and am seeing some hopeful results due to their allergies. Its only been 3 weeks but so far so good. My local pet supplier also recommended Go from Petcurean. If you go to their website you can get a coupon for a free trial bag. This is my next trial.

Hope this helps.

[puppypiles]

I really like The Honest Kitchen. One of their new base mixes, Kindly, has zero of the ingredients you said he’s allergic to. With that, you add fresh meat of your choosing to make it complete. With that, you can give him whatever meat you wanted, and it might ease your mind knowing you’re giving him something complete and balanced.

Also, THK is super great about giving out samples. If you email them, I guarantee they’d send you a couple things to see if your pup liked it.

[Anonymous]

Plenty information at these websites.
http://www.homeovet.net/dynamic/php/downloads/dog-c8470f2c75dbe4b683205c3919ee2310/dog_diet_complete.pdf

http://www.allergydogcentral.com/

Environmental allergies are more common than food allergies, often food sensitivities are referred to as allergies.
If the symptoms have been going on for more than a year, 4 seasons without significant relief I would consider seeing a specialist and having the skin testing done (if you haven’t done so already).

Have you considered consulting with a homeopathic veterinarian?
http://www.vitalanimal.com
for a list of homeopathic vets in your area http://theavh.org/ Make sure the vet has at least 75% homeopathic cases in their practice, or you might just get the same old same old.

My dog with allergies receives immunotherapy and seems to do best with Nutrisca dry (fish) as a base food. A daily fish oil capsule. Frequent baths with Malaseb.

[Lori E]

We have been battling allergies with our 5 yr rottie for 2 years. After many vets and specialists, we are trying a holistic approach. We have her on raw goat milk and grain free and potato free Acana Grasslands. We have been told that it will take approx 7 weeks to see any changes. We are on week 2. The main symptoms are puffy and itchy eyes, excessive licking of paws, and “fly catching” syndrome. Any feedback is welcome.

[Lori E]

I have recently started rotating my dog’s food and they are the most excited I have seen them towards their meal times. Does anyone have any objection to mixing brands? I have recently moved to a single protein, grain free diet with Acana for my rottie who has allergies and would be interested to know if I could go from Acana to PetCurean.

Feedback welcome!

[Lori E]

Hello, new member and looking for feedback on dog foods that have helped clear up allergy symptoms. We have a 5 yr rottie who has been experiencing chronic allergies for the past 2 years. Her eyes are puffy and have lost most of the hair around them due to rubbing with paws. Additional symptoms are excessive paw licking and what we have come to know as “fly catching syndrome” where she keeps biting in the air as if she is trying to catch a fly. After 2 years of doctors and specialists, we decided to try a holistic approach. Any feedback is welcome.

[Susanne J]

I generally stick to grain free (personal preference, no allergies/health issues), but I noticed that THKs grain free line uses potatoes, while the grain inclusive line uses quinoa and sweet potatoes, which have more health benefits. For this reason, I’m more inclined to use the grain inclusive products. Am I right in my line of thinking that THKs grain inclusive products may be a better choice for dogs not sensitive to grains?

[InkedMarie]

I have been at PetCo, overhearing employees talking about dog food. I have yet to find one who knows what they’re talking about. I did correct an employee who told someone tht Freshpet is raw. It’s not raw, its cooked then cooled’

We have a local pet store who has mostly teenagers to early 20’s employees. They don’t know much. I overheard someone saying ‘corn is fine for allergies” & I butted in.

I wish all employees were trained but who’s going to train them? I haven’t met many managers who really knew about dog food either.

I do frequent some boutique pet stores & they DO know.

[Susan]

LM when a dog has IBD you cant just start introducing this food & that food.. I have done Elimination diets from advice from the ladies in this group & learnt the hard way, while Patch suffered, I need to find out what foods Patch is sensitive too now, I know what foods he’s allergic to, I had to stop my 2 month elimination diet as he became very ill after the potatoes…. its too hard testing foods on a dog with IBD something I hope you never have to go thru..My vet frecked when I told her I was doing an elimination diet with Patch, & recommended I do skin testing for environment allergies not blood testing as it can come back with false positives but its very expensive to have done….

[Anonymous]

“Jean Dobbs Saliva Test, tests for food intolerances & food sensitivities”…

I have no interest in this test because it does not test for allergies. I want my pet physically examined by a veterinarian as part of the diagnostic process.

I can figure out food sensitivities myself just by trying and eliminating different things.
Also, if the animal is reacting to environmental allergies, you can change the diet all you want and it won’t make a difference.

Once my dog had the skin testing (I never got the food testing) and started treatment, she now tolerates a variety of foods.

BTW: Food sensitivities change, that test you mentioned recommends getting them retested every year or so. If people find this helpful great. Different things work for different dogs.

[Susan]

Gee, poor Clayton the Pit bull terrier allergic to cat dander, I have a cat, gee he has what Patch has the receding hair above the eye only where he has his white fur the other side is fine, maybe I’m better off getting the Blood Test as it does the environment as well as food Allergies, I’ll email the company & ask if Patch is sensitive to a food will it show…
Gee in the end Clayton could eat the Nutro Lamb & brown rice that’s one of the kibble I haven’t tried yet, I had it in my hands but I picked the organic one with higher protein & are a biscuits as the dog chew the biscuit type kibble, its new from New Zealand “Sunday Pets” smelt beautiful for a dog food & Patch loved them, I’d soak in water just 1 min & the baked biscuit would come to life & smell real meaty smell…..I just realised Clayton has his ears chopped who cuts dogs ears, I suppose only in America, poor dog….

[Susan]

Hi LM, what test did you have the Blood Test or the Salvia test Jean Dobbs?? I’ve read that the Blood Test, tests for foods that the dog is Allergic too & Environment allergies where Jean Dobbs Saliva Test, tests for food intolerances & food sensitivities…. there’s a difference with food allergies the dog will react that day to the food, like when people eat peanuts they react with 1mins, like Patch when he eats Potatoes he gets a rash all over chest within 5mins of eating the potatoes, paws go real red & itch, then if I keep feeding the potatoes, he gets real bad diarrhea ….Then there’s food Intolerances & Sensitivities, it can take from 1 day to weeks for the dog to have a build up of an certain ingredient, like with Patch he does well straight away on a new kibble, like 2 weeks ago, I introduced a new food he was doing OK, poos were a bit soft but then this week hive like lumps all over his head, sore throat can’t swallow, burping up food into his mouth, swollen back paws after eating this new food but he was right the first 5 days…so now I cant decide what test to have done the Blood test or the Salvia test…. I’m thinking the Saliva test cause Id say Patch would have more Food Sensitivities to foods then Food Allergies…

[Anonymous]

My dog with allergies is doing very well, she only needs the injection every 3 weeks now.
We see the specialist once a year and pick up the solution every 6 months, he is available for questions by phone.
Haven’t been to the regular vet in 3 years, no need, this dog will not be receiving any more vaccinations.
Initially the testing is expensive but the maintenance isn’t bad at all. It is what it is.

Not all dogs need immunotherapy, the allergies may only be seasonal, or related to food sensitivities.
But seeing a specialist and trying simple foods should help, for some reason my allergy girl does well on Nutrisca (fish), or Wysong. I tried eliminating this and that, no chicken, no potato……. she has a delicate stomach, but now I give her a little chicken or lean meat (cooked) with her dry, a fish oil capsule every day, it’s supposed to help pruritis.
Good luck.