[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 11 years ago by Dawn R.
• This topic was modified 11 years ago by Dawn R.
• This topic was modified 11 years 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.

[Liz S]

LM-

Thank you for the website and advice on the allergies. I don’t know what I’d do if it were allergens such as.. ferret or cat dander…or…well cleaning products are easy to ditch! ( like vinegar and h20 ) …

Haven’t taken anyone to be tested yet but I will soon.

[Anonymous]

I like Wysong, but my dog that has a sensitive stomach seems to do the best on Nutrisca dry (fish) with a little water added and a bite of cooked chicken or lean meat.
She has never been diagnosed with pancreatitis, however, she has allergies and can’t tolerate frozen beef marrow bones either. Consider what the homeopathic vets have to say too. http://www.vitalanimal.com

[Dori]

I’d be more concerned that she’s not drinking than I would that she’s not eating. Often just like us, if they’re not feeling well or have gastro upset they will know enough to fast themselves and, in my opinion, that’s a good thing. Right now it’s more important to get liquids into her.

If she greeted you at the door today tail wagging even just a little or even just the fact that she greeted you at all means that she’s feeling a little better. When she does start to eat, please just give her very small meals every few hours for a few days. You can add a little bit of canned pumpkin (not pie filling) into each of other very small meals.

As to the original problem or what started this particular episode: It could very well be that the vaccines upset her system but I doubt that the stress of going to the groomer would have her vomiting and with diarrhea so long after her grooming. And, her problems started a long time ago. As others may have mentioned, I believe she has a food intolerance/sensitivity. You need to get to the route of what ingredient in the food you are feeding is bothering her. I don’t believe switching her to a low fat diet is going to be a “cure all”. This really does sound like food intolerance issues to me and until you figure out what she is “allergic” to this is going to continue to happen. If you’re going to keep her on kibble or canned try a limited ingredient food with a protein that you have never fed her before. See how she does on that. If you’ve been feeding chicken, or beef or whatever protein, just avoid them for a while. Make sure that on the ingredient list there is no chicken or turkey fat or any beef or whatever else you’ve been feeding her. Sometimes because a food says it’s Venison on the package doesn’t mean that there aren’t any other animal proteins in the food. It’s a difficult task finding what food intolerances a dog has but it is well worth it in the end for your dog most especially but also for yourself.

• This reply was modified 11 years ago by Dori.

[Anonymous]

My dog with allergies and a sensitive stomach does well on Nutrisca dry (fish), my other dogs like Wysong, both combined with a homemade diet.

PS: Are you leaving the food down, free feeding? If so, not a good idea (imo) offer the food twice a day or 4 small meals per day, if she doesn’t eat it after 10-15 minutes pick it up and put it in the fridg, offer it at the next mealtime. Add water to the food, most dogs don’t drink enough. How about plain homemade chicken broth added to the food? Ask your vet if this would be okay.

[Taek K]

My beagle became allergic to everything a little after the age of 1. I knew of the consequences of feeding him cheap kibbles and bits so I started him off with Orijen then blue buffalo, etc…basically, anything that’s grain free, high in protein, etc…but at the end, it didn’t matter. It couldn’t have been couple of months after the age of 1 when constant itching, scratching, ear infection, eye infection, skin infection, etc started to plague my poor baby. Like most, I took him to vets after vets. Went to an allergist/dermatologist and paid over $700 for testing and allergy shots. I even got him testing for food allergies!!! Thank God I got him pet insurance, otherwise, I probably would have had to fork over over 10k out of pocket within the first year.

I’m just going to assume your dogs problem is associated with food and nothing more. My dog not only suffers from environmental allergies but also yeast infection. But I’ll just give you the run down for food. Otherwise, this post would be too long.

The best thing you can do for your dog is feed him REAL food. I don’t care how great a bagged dog food is made. At the end of the day, it’s all processed. Think of it this way. When Purnia, Pedigree, Blue buffalo, etc type of food companies didn’t exist, what did we feed our dogs? Exactly. We fed them real food. Long story short, I’ve done years of feeding my dog this and that type of real food and I FINALLY narrowed it down to what WORKS FOR MY DOG. And now, no ear or eye infection. He does get skin infection during the super hot months but it’s more like an instance vs a prolong battle. I think last infection lasted like couple days and it went away on it’s own. When infections creeps in, I suggest giving him a bath with antifungal shampoo like 2-3 times a week. But I digress.

Cut out everything that is starchy and sweet. That in turn will starve the yeast. The problem with bag dog food is there will always be starchy fillers. This is so the food company can keep the cost down. Ziwipeak is a brand that doesn’t contain starchy veggies or fruits. But its very expensive. Whether it’s sweet potato, peas, fruits, etc..bottom line, its starchy and will feed the yeast. STARVE THE YEAST!!!

This is what I give my 45lb mixed beagle.

-Salmon/Tuna (This is his staple protein source. This never changes)
-boiled beef/organ meat (I switch this up. One week, I give him beef. The following week, I give him organ meat. All boiled.)
-non starchy vegetables (green beans, romaine lettuce, cabbage, etc)
-plain greek yogurt (read the label; less the ingredient the better)
-berries (only during colder months; I wouldn’t even give him any the first 2 years to wipe out the yeast)
-Dinovite (its a supplement, google it)
-if my dog wasn’t allergic to anything chicken, I would give him a crushed boiled egg with the shell.

Anything that’s not protein based are fillers. Protein should be the base of his food so provide enough of it. There’s going to be a lot trials to see what works best for your dog. But this will work. It just takes time. Integrate REAL food with his food slowly. Once you completely change over to real food, you’ll see huge improvements. FYI…when you start changing his food, he’ll have couple instances of infections. This is expected. Its like the yeast trying to fight back. Keep hold and I promise, it’ll get better.

The only treat your dog should eat are no filler jerky. Read the ingredients. Again, say no to starch/sweet/carb!!! I give my dog BIXBI beef liver jerky.

If anyone needs more info or have any questions, please ask. From one owner who suffered, I wish nothing but the best and will help anyway I can.

[Joanne T]

Hi

i’m helping my sister to research some possible dry dog foods to switch her dog onto. she has a mixed breed, 8.5 years old, with no known allergies

i’m considering between Taste Of The Wild and Canine Caviar. some reasons for this:
– 2 of the few available higher quality dry dog food that i can get my hands easily on
– grain-free
– no rosemary extract

some others that i did consider were Addiction, Timberwolf and Natural Balance but they either have questionable ingredients, or seem to have not so good reviews from users.

would appreciate any comments and advise on either of the 2 mentioned food, or options for other brands.
thanks!

[Anonymous]

My poodle with allergies receives immunotherapy and does well on Nutrisca dry (fish) as a base combined with a homemade diet (see the link I provided in the Homemade Dog Food thread). She gets a fish oil capsule daily, too.
Her allergies are environmental (as most are) but she does have a sensitive stomach.
Often food sensitivities are referred to as allergies when they are not.
Allergies often show up around this age and tend to get worse with age.
I found helpful information here. http://www.allergydogcentral.com/

[Dori]

Marie, so glad Boone is back to “normal”. Good news. Let’s hope Ginger starts acting more like her self soon.

Weezerweeks. The little black one is Lola, 5 1/2 year old Yorkipoo that I’ve had since she was 9 weeks old. She weighs 5 lbs.

It is seriously ridiculous when there is a loving home that is willing to give a young dog a home and yet, the rescues, seem to be living in the dark ages when 60’s was considered old. I’m 66 years old with three small dogs. One 15 1/2 years old and two that are 5 1/2 years old and I got the two younger ones at the same time. Yes, I’d initially thought I was going to go insane having two 9 week old puppies and all it entails at the same time but, guess what, this “old lady” survived. I really do think that it’s just old fashioned out of date thinking. Or they know that the puppies can always be rescued and they’re trying to find loving homes for the older dogs? I certainly wouldn’t consider a 3 year old dog too hard to handle and, unfortunately, a lot of these rescues and placements are run by much younger people so I guess instead of their thinking of us as experienced, with lots of time on our hands, they think of us as old. Just wait till they catch up to us and see how old they think mid 60’s really is.
I love having the little toy dogs. I couldn’t possibly handle larger dogs and since I’m allergic to animals it’s usually the toy or small breed dogs that have hair as opposed to fur.

[Susan]

Hi Tracey, has she had an Endoscope & Biopsies done? then you’ll know what your dealing with…..I really understand as my boy has IBD & IBD also affects the stomach & skin allergies to food…try low fat diets, when they have acid reflux… I also use Mylanta 3mls, I find the Mylanta really helps Patch more that the Zantac (Ranitidine) you could use the Liquid Pepto as it has Bismuth salts that kill stomach bacteria but the Taste of the Wild is too high in fat for stomach acid, you need a limited ingredient, low fat diet, Have you tried the “California Natural” Limited ingredient Lamb & Rice it has just 4 ingredients or Kangaroo & Lentils or the “Natural Balance” Limited ingredients Kangaroo & Potatoes or the Rabbit or the Duck as these are the only flavours that have the least ingredients….
I was doing home cooking, it was toooo much I was using Turkey breast mince (grounded) 99% fat free & adding 1 egg & making rissoles in the oven they were beautiful, then adding boiled sweet potatoes as an elimination diet but Patches Poos were awful, he’d only poo every 2nd day & it stunk of baby poo & was real yellow, So now I’m feeing Sunday Pets Deliganics only 5% fat & all organic….My boy had the Helicobacter infection & they need triple theray of antibiotics (Metronidazole, Amoxicillin & Losec) to kill the Helicobacter that lives in stomach acid… Losec is an stronger ant acid, she may need something stronger then Famotidine…. also there’s a really good group if you need help, it’s on Face Book “Dogs With Inflammatory Bowel Disorder” most of the dogs are on ant-acids & Enzymes for their stomachs..

[Anonymous]

I have a dog with allergies, nothing worked until I went to a dermatologist and had my dog skin tested and she started immunotherapy, wasted time and money going back and forth to the regular vet for a year and received some incorrect information. There are times when it is best to just go to a specialist.
I found this site helpful. http://www.allergydogcentral.com/

Also, consider a homeopathic approach http://www.vitalanimal.com

PS: Environmental allergies are more common than food allergies, actually people tend to refer to food sensitivities as allergies
The dust mite, microscopic and on the skin of all living things (dander) is a common one…impossible to avoid.

[Gordon R]

Hi Liz,

We have a Golden six month old puppy with ear yeast and bacteria infections. Allergy testing showed he was allergic to chicken, turkey, tuna, peanuts, corn, rice, and wheat. Chicken was mentioned to us as a common cause of ear problems among dogs with that allergy.

The recommendation was to try Nutri Source Large Breed Lamb Meal Grain Free Formula, which I supplement with lamb based grain free canned food of various brands. That formula is rated at 4.5 stars, but it is an adult formulation, so I am still not sure it is the most perfect solution for our pup. We’re only into this one week, still in the transition period, so I can’t give you any results yet.

[Anonymous]

My dog with allergies and a sensitive stomach does well on Nutrisca dry (fish) combined with homemade (see my post in homemade for link)

[tracy b]

I have a 5 year old pit mix that has constant tummy trouble. she is on famotidine with each meal (acid reducer) but still has ongoing issues. she is currently on taste of the wild grain free (no poultry) as she also has skin allergies (these seem to be ok at this time). I am looking for the best choice dry food choice for her – wonder if anyone has any suggestions…. otherwise, I may be having to go to homemade (and that is tough with 2 big dogs!!)

[Naturella]

Dr. Tim’s RPM Grain Free is within your price range. You can look at the Dr. Tim’s Kinesis GF too, but it’s $10 more at chewy.com. Does the food have to grain-free?

Also, Earthborn Holistic Grain Free are 28 lbs for less than $50.

But I would rotate between all Victors and all Earthborns, and the two GF Dr. Tim’s (if it has to be GF) and not stick with just one flavor unless there’s allergies.

[Akari_32]

I’ve never even heard of that brand. Just looked it up, and what concerns me is how cheap it is. Makes me wonder how they source their meat. Could be 4D meat, or something like that. Seems a bit strange for a premade raw diet to be so inexpensive. However, they could just have a really good relationship with local farms and ranches. Who knows for sure, with out actually contacting them and asking where they source their meat from.

That said, dogs don’t need veggies in their diets. They simply lack the ability to fully digest plant matter. It’s not very expensive at all to do a home made, balanced, prey model diet, of 80% meat, 10% bone, 5% liver, and 5% other organs. Pretty comparable to the price of a good kibble, and usually a bit cheaper when there are good deals. I use the Raw Dog app for iPhone to help me calculate it all, however, I do not balance every since day like the app does, but over a few days. The dog I’m feeding is so small it would be nearly impossible to give him such a small amount of bone and organ every day lol

Raw helped my yeasty dog a lot. Unfortunately, a good deal of his allergies are environmental as well, so he is not 100%, but is still doing much better on raw than he was on any kibble I ever tried him on. The thing with yeast is you don’t want to give it any fuel, which is carbs. Carbs are found in veggies and plant products, which Allprovide has. It’s best to just make your own diet if your dog have yeast problems. There are several groups on FaceBook that are really great resources for beginners, such as Raw Feeding Community, Prey Model Raw (PMR) for Dogs, and Raw Feeding FRIENDS. You should definitely check them out 🙂

[Zach M]

C4C, I just use kefir for the wide variety of friendly bacteria it contains. There are also some studies that show kefir fights against salmonella, and I supplement with raw so I feel if this is true it will help. Even more benefits include helping protect against allergies, helping the digestive tract, and defending against bloating and heart burn. I feel like there are noticeable differences in her health. And i am glad you like this topic guys!
Nice choices too, Dori and Bobby Dog!

[Wicks Ma]

I have seen a few articles that say that research shows probiotics as a puppy helps decrease allergies later on in life! I personally have a 12 week old puppy (large breed) that gets them due to chronic diarrhea but wanted to use them even if that hadn’t been the case, especially since he had been given antibiotics. Just like humans they can have imbalances… although you can also feed them yogurt and kefir (if they are not lactose intolerant!) Look it all up first bc I obviously am no expert:)
Ps can anyone tell me how to add a picture to my profile and also please update us on your pups status and what you ended up doing if you don’t mind!!

[WhimsicalChaos]

The best dry food we have found is Acana ‘Grasslands’. Depending on your location it may be difficult to find, as it is more of a specialty pet shoppe product. But, all of our pups have loved it, and we have had no problems with Acana. Label wise is a very healthy, organic food. But, having issues of my own with ‘Blue’ canned food, so can’t help you with a can selection.

After using Blue Canned food, I am having to find another food today as the Blue has begun to give my dog serious ‘Gassy’ issues. We tried changing him over to Merrick last week because it seemed he had become bored with the Blue (even though we get him various flavors), but the Merrick Canned food gave him serious diarrhea and more gas. We could actually hear his tummy twisting noises. I felt so guilty…so we went back to Blue. Although he is eating the Blue, his ‘Gassy’ issue seems to have gotten worse. So, going to go find a different organic canned food. If you research, you will find a lot of people having gas issues that are using Blue. So, if you choose to try Blue, you’ll know rather quickly if your pups cannot tolerate it – for sure your nose will tell you.

He also began pacing all night, last night and the night before. My husband and I took him out 6-8 times both night, but he didn’t have to poop, and obviously no diarrhea – he would just urinate. But when being back inside, would continue the pacing. I hear no tummy noises, but there is definitely gas…no doubt about that! I just do not want him having any pains. I have a feeling his stomach has become intolerant to the ‘rich’ foods such as Merrick and Blue. Or possibly has acquired an allergic reaction to one of the main ingredients. So, gonna try yet another type of food.

[Susan]

Hi, My boy had colitis & was put on the Eukanuba Intestinal low residue kibble, being a low residue kibble its easier to digest & lets the stomach/bowel rest & heal….. If you can try & get the Eukanuba Intestinal instead of the Iams Intestinal as the Eukanuba Intestinal has no by-products & the ingredients are just a bit better ….I had to keep Patch on the Eukanuba Intestinal for 1 year to let everything settle & rest & get better… I found with Colitis your dog can be allergic to a protein or ingredient that is making his bowel inflamed, I had to do an elimination diet & found Patch cant eat potatoes, wheat, peas, boiled rice or boiled oats as the rice & oats have ruff edges & can irritate the bowel but he can eat grounded rice & grounded oats in kibbles…I’m very busy at the moment but I do have a list of 1 protein limited ingredient kibbles… your best off trying a protein that he hasn’t yet tried & don’t use all your proteins up….
You’ll need to look for a gluten free, low fat, limited ingredient kibble also look at the fiber% on the Iams Intestinal… I have to get low fiber diets for Patch 4% & under but only once his bowel was all healed & settled about 6months is when I started trying new premium diet, We have always gone back to the Eukanuba Intestinal, when the kibbles didn’t work & you sooooo slowly introduce a new kibble, I take 2-3 weeks using the new kibble as a treat for about 4 days, then I start to slowly introduce, each dog is different with Colitis there’s a really good & friendly Face Book group called “Dogs With Inflammatory Bowel Disorder” you can get heaps of help & what diets people are feeding for their dogs with Colitis, I just have been looking & looking for a kibble for a older dog with Colitis & now the owner wants her off the vet diet as she been on the vet Diet now 4-5months & is doing really well but she too wants a better ingredient kibble for her girl..

[Becky H]

Should I introduce each ingredient of my supergreen mixture separately to make sure there are no allergies? I’m thinking back to when I gave my kids new food, I didn’t give them all at once. The supergreen mixture I’m going to give has alfalfa, kelp, chlorella, wheat grass, and spirulina. My newfie is 14 weeks old and is getting Fromm’s Large Breed Puppy Food, but I want to supplement some greens.
Thanks for any advice!

[Autumn]

Hanna,

Thank you SO much! That was very helpful. He has always been on a grain free so you may be right, he could be allergic to some of those ingredients!

[Marietta B]

I have a white Shih Tzu and the same thing happened once. The vet told me it was an allergic reaction. She prescribed steroids and antibiotics and it cleared right up. I probably wouldn’t go that route again, though. I try feed dehydrated or air dried “raw” food now and use natural products and it has never happened again.

[GSDsForever]

I would appreciate suggestions & thoughts re shampoo and conditioner for very dry skin, with dry white scaling and non-greasy dandruff.

I’m dealing with a dog that has come through the kill shelter & breed rescue. She is also very itchy and will try to scratch and bite herself. Affected areas are neck, top of back, backs of ears mainly — some by shoulder divides and hips. No paws/legs involvement, behind/anal or top of rear or groin, no underside/belly, and no ear infections. When I part her fur, in some areas it is white skin with fine scales and dandruff.

We are ruling out atopic allergies (outdoors), food allergies soon via novel protein/carb diet & elimination trial, and treating another serious temporary medical condition that may be causing itchiness (or I suppose *could* deplete nutrients). No external parasites of any kind, no round/whip/tape worms etc. No bacterial or fungal infection signs.

She has been eating quality foods, with 1500 mg added of Omega 3 EPA/DHA via wild salmon oil and virgin organic coconut oil.

I’ve used coconut oil on her external body and fur, even parting longer fur and placing it directly on her skin. Unfortunately it does make her fur greasy & attract dirt, making her dirty (which I hate). And coconut oil is VERY hard to remove from fur. I have also applied avocado oil & olive oil, as coconut oil hardens & turns waxy in colder temperatures which I figured it could do in the fur.

She has had two generously donated “spa groomings” with special skin moisturizing and aloe treatments. She looked and felt to the touch fantastic afterward, glossiest dog on the planet lol! But after a few days she still itched.

Her dry scaling skin and dandruff have remained throughout all of this. So, since she has to be bathed regularly anyway, I would like to find a shampoo & conditioner that will help.

Ideally, I would like to find a moisturizing shampoo with an extremely MILD cleansing agent (like what I would pick for my own hair) that will NOT be DRYING or irritating + natural oils or moisturizing ingredients. And then I would like a VERY RICH moisturizing conditioner, perhaps that will some soothing and moisturizing residue behind to coat the skin — without making her fur greasy! Or if it rinses cleanly I could leave it on for a while maybe. I don’t know, as I am taking her to a self-wash place and would probably have to explain why I need to be there a long while or do a two part session!

I’m looking at trying this skin TREATMENT, in addition to shampooing and using conditioner to combat scales/dandruff & soothe the skin:

http://tropiclean.com/products/itchy-skin/oxymed-treatment/details/oxymed-treatment

Ingredients: Water, Colloidal Oatmeal, Beta-Hydroxy Salicylic Acid, Vitamin B5, Vitamin E, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Alpha-Hydroxy Malic Acid, Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids and Vitamin A

Since I know GSD show people, this was recommended to me also as a conditioner/shiner. The GSD show kennel that makes it also says it has been effective on skin sores and conditions. It is expensive though, especially with $15 added shipping cost:

http://www.nakedcare.com/

So does anyone have any suggestions or thoughts? Please help me to help her.

A groomer told me to avoid oatmeal containing shampoos & conditioners — which all of Tropiclean products have (I have their shampoos & conditioners) — as the colloidal oatmeal would disperse in the liquid and soak up/cling to all the oils, not allowing oils/moisturizing ingredients to moisturize or shine the fur. She also said it could be a problem in a dog allergic to oats, but I think that is less likely to be this dog’s issue or allergy even if she does have an allergy or allergies. In fact, perfumes and optical brighteners used in some grooming shop brands, I think are more likely to irritate or cause a reaction. I think they used Nature’s Specialties last time, with the owner recalling the Bluing one (which contains both).

• This topic was modified 11 years, 1 month ago by GSDsForever.