[Pinky L]

Sorry, I just saw your response. She was on Royal Cainin for years,I switched a couple of months ago to Ultra-chicken. I thought the royal was possibly the cause of her stomach issues. So I did get a week of antibiotics from the doctor, along with some Pro-pectalin. Her stools formed but remained soft,however to accidents in the house. Now 2 days post completing medication and diarrhea is back,non formed and accidents in the house. There is still mucus present in the stool. I feel hopeless at this point. She has never had duck (never) or lamb alone. Possible allergy to the following: chicken,eggs,beef,wheat,bran. Both goods had those ingredients.

I doubt the Purina EN is going to help. Her stools were not liquid on kibble. I am sure the vet wanted her system to rest,thus giving the wet food.

I am thinking about limited ingredients by Koha. It is very expensive. I have spent at least 400 on visits, food,medication since January.

My dog is itchy but vets have said she is just an itchy dog. It could be allergies. That is the reason I had started Royal Cainin (shih Tzu).

Some articles say high fiber is best and others say low fiber foods are best.

[Jerrie S]

95Yes
Mine is allergic to everything
I actually had an allergy test done to try and figure out what was going on

He is allergic to beef chicken vesison salmon and peas and corn wheat milk

I have only been able to find one dry and one wet food
The Earthborn Holistic dry Alaskan pollack formula and the wet food K95 with Turkey it is also Earthborn Holistic
Neither of these have peas or an of the other stuff mine is allergic to.
I have to make his treats try finding a treat without wheat I just make little balls of his wet food and keep in the fridge.

Good Luck

if you can afford it I couldn’t but had to do it get the allergy test at least you will know for sure I was pretty sure ours was environmental for the most part and that is all they can desensitize them to but at least if you know the food allergy you know what to look for.

it is very hard to find anything without peas if you do please let me know

[joanne l]

I was wondering if someone gives their dog a vegetarian dry food, but puts their own meat of choice in it will it be better? Example you can one night put chicken in there and then another time you can put beef, and another time you can use salmon and so on. That way they get their vitamins and minerals from the dry food and you add meats. Maybe better?? That way the dog get human grade meats. Maybe less allergies??

• This reply was modified 6 years, 6 months ago by joanne l.

[joanne l]

I read on the dog journal that probiotics and enzymes are really helpful with this. There is one called Forta Flora it is in individual packets and you put it on the dogs food. Also rule out allergies to food as well. I use that product as well. Always tell the vet what you are using or doing. So ask him or her about Forta Flora. In my opinion it may help a lot.
I forgot to mention you can read the reviews on Forta Flora on chewy.com and that is were you can order it if you want.

• This reply was modified 6 years, 6 months ago by joanne l.

[Diane D]

My rescued Poodle/? Mix came to me with sore yeasty ears & she was licking her itchy feet all the time. She also had the poodle pink eye gunk that ran down her face under her eye. It took me a while to find this, but after I changed her over (and kept on treating her allergies topically) it went away. I use the salmon/sweet potato formula. We also switched the GSD over to it. He had no issues, but he just gleams with a healthy looking coat & eyes now. I hope this stuff stays as good as it is. So many times Ive found something great & the supplier changes or something gets bought out.

[chau t]

I have been researching foods for my Goldendoodle who has allergic reactions to potatoes, pea, green beans, chicken, etc. Why is Natures Variety Limited with Lamb given only 3.5 stars?

[joanne l]

I don’t know if this will help you, but I will share it anyway. My friend had a dog with this condition. His vet did the same as your vet is doing. However, the owner found out it was a chicken allergy. He bought Natures Instinct limited ingredient diet of lamb and he never had a problem again. Now I don’t know if it will help your dog, but you can this food a try. It has an ingredient in there call Montrolle clay, sorry I can’t spell it but anyway they say it can help with IBD. Check chewy out and read the reviews. Other than that try cooking for the dog. Either boil ground meat and rice or chicken and rice. If the Rx diet is not working than do this. See if the cooked diet for a few days will work. If it does great, than you can add a very little of the dog food I mentioned and see what happens. I know some on here may say to go to a specialist. If you can afford it go but ask about food intolerance and allergies. What dog food was your dog on begore?? Look at the ingredients in it and let me know. I hope you can get this under control. Also by cooking you will know if she may have a allergy. If chicken and rice don’t work than try beef and rice. And please drain all the fat when boiling ground beef. Oh and only use white rice, do not use brown rice! White rice will be best for this condition. P.S. you said “RX diet may have made it worse”? There maybe something in the Purina that is not tolerated. I have a feeling your dog may do well on the cooking method I mentioned to get him back on track.

• This reply was modified 6 years, 6 months ago by joanne l.
• This reply was modified 6 years, 6 months ago by joanne l.

[Cannoli]

Had a great visit at the Vet Dermatologist and it is pointing more to Food Allergies. Dermatologist notice some things that neither my regular vet nor I saw before. Specifically his paws and skin as I just kept concentrating on his head shaking only.

Dermatology Physical Exam: Non-seasonal mild pedal licking lately shaking of the head and digging at the neck, tried
apoquel in the past did not help ear symptoms.

Skin Description: Mild erythema of a few areas under each ear and mild alopecia and oily seborrhea of the plantar
aspect of the paws, subtle changes on his chin from prior pedal licking

AS (left ear): Mild lichenification on concave pinna, no major excoriations noted AU (both ears)

AD (right ear): No odor or pain reaction from ears AU, negative pinna-pedal reflex

Otoscopic Exam – Left: Mild cobblestone hyperplasia on surfaces of all aspect of the ear canal, no stenosis and no
ulcerations, mild edema and slight erythema AU

Otoscopic Exam – Right: No excessive exudate note

Assessment: We talked about how the diet trial would have to be a little stricter for the full 60-90 days to yield a
conclusive answer… and if not seeing a significant effect over the next 5-7 weeks then we could potentially be going
more towards environmental allergies as the likely life long trigger of the mild skin, paw and ear issues

Also we looked within his ear canal and on the screen we saw his ear canals were red in irritation. Cool to see the inside of his ear cannals on a giant tv screen as he used his scope with a flashlight to go down deep into his ear.. The ear cannals were visibly red with mild irritation.

[M T]

Hello my bulldog cross puppy currently eats Purina pro plan savor with some generic wet food mixed in. I’ve been debating adding in a prescription diet for skin & digestion. Does anyone have awhich food could potentially help with allergies (ie how to compare Purina Dermatologic DRM vs Hills z/d or Hills Derm defense)? I’ve mixed in some cans of I/d with her food before and seems to agree with her system. I’m looking for ingredient and nutritional breakdowns and comparisons.

[Gretchen R]

We have a Chocolate English Labrador that has been plagued with allergies and seizures since he was a puppy. He was diagnosed with 5 different parasites when he came to us at 8 weeks old and it took almost 6 months to get him healthy and disease free. Because of this his system is very sensitive to food and it has been a battle every time we have had to switch food due to recalls (Your site has been an amazing help in tracking this).

We have always fed him a high quality dog food kibble, but I was tired of recalls and reading of problems with imported ingredients even in the best of dog foods. We have now switched to a fresh diet from NomNomNow and could not be happier. This is not an endorsement for that specific company, it was just one of the ones that we found that had a recipe with ingredients that he is not allergic too. He has never looked this good, or been so healthy.

I would really love it if you could expand to cover the companies who are delivering fresh food. It would be very helpful to see the ratings and track in case of a recall.

Thank you for your time.

[M T]

Hello my bulldog cross puppy currently eats Purina pro plan savor with some generic wet food mixed in. I’ve been debating adding in a prescription diet for skin & digestion. Does anyone have awhich food could potentially help with allergies (ie how to compare Purina Dermatologic vs Hills z/d or Hills Derm defense)?

[Jack M]

You may need to try several different limited-ingredient diet foods. Your dog could be allergic to the potato, the rabbit, or something else in that particular brand. Try a different brand with completely different protein and carb source.

It takes a lot of time to try a diet. You need about a week to switch. Then, you need to spend 2 or 3 weeks on a diet before you know it will work. It’s kind of frustrating when you don’t get immediate feedback. You have to wait for the reaction to the old food to subside before drawing a conclusion.

One of my dogs is very allergic to chicken and somewhat sensitive to rice. When she was on commercial food, she could eat food with fish, lamb, and potato.

Now that she’s on a raw diet, she gets lamb, goat, beef, mackerel, and canned salmon without any itching issues. I accidentally gave her a ground organ blend that included some chicken and the itching came back.

https://ecopetlife.com/best-food-german-shepherds-skin-allergies/

[anonymous]

For best results I would go to a veterinary dermatologist, especially if this is becoming a chronic condition and has not responded to treatment by the regular vet. The veterinary dermatologist can do skin testing to identify the environmental allergens responsible then they will discuss treatment options.
If you suspect food sensitivities then the only way to rule out is to have the vet prescribe hydrolyzed food, difficult to follow, commercial brands do not compare.
There is no cure for allergies but there is effective treatment and management.

https://www.acvs.org/small-animal/otitis-externa excerpts below, click on link for full article

Otitis externa is an inflammation of the ear canal. Because dogs’ ear canals are L-shaped (Figure 1), fluid does not drain easily from canal openings. Additionally, the lining of the ear can become inflamed and thickened, blocking air and fluid flow in and out of the canal. Animals with otitis externa can also develop otitis media (middle ear inflammation). Similar to the problem seen in children (especially after airplane flights), fluid can build up behind the ear drum, causing pressure and pain. Otitis externa and media are common conditions in dogs, particularly in specific breeds such as the Cocker spaniel and German shepherd.
In puppies and kittens, otitis externa is often caused by ear mites. These tiny parasites cause terrible itching and a thick brown discharge. In adult dogs, the most common underlying cause is allergies- sensitivity to something in the environment or to food. In older animals, tumors can cause blockage of the ear canal and secondary infection. Other predisposing causes may include foreign bodies (such as grass seeds), or small ear canals (often seen in Shar peis) or long floppy ear flaps (for example, Basset hounds) that prevent air flow. Hormonal problems, such as poor thyroid function, or other underlying skin disorders may also be present.

[Christie B]

On the topic of “the big 4”, I think it’s important to go beyond the parent company and look at the ingredients on the bag to determine what food you should buy. Some product lines within a company are better than others. I don’t think you can rank Dog Chow the same as Pro Plan or Pedigree the same as Nutro.

Ingredients are important. 3 Chicken Formula Dry Food Ingredients Lists:

GROUND WHOLE GRAIN CORN, POULTRY BY-PRODUCT MEAL (SOURCE OF GLUCOSAMINE AND CHONDROITIN SULFATE), CORN GLUTEN MEAL, ANIMAL FAT (SOURCE OF OMEGA 6 FATTY ACIDS [PRESERVED WITH BHA & CITRIC ACID]), MEAT AND BONE MEAL (SOURCE OF CALCIUM), SOYBEAN MEAL, GROUND WHOLE GRAIN WHEAT, BREWERS RICE, NATURAL FLAVOR, CHICKEN BY-PRODUCT MEAL, DRIED PLAIN BEET PULP, SALT, CALCIUM CARBONATE, POTASSIUM CHLORIDE, CHOLINE CHLORIDE, DRIED PEAS, ZINC SULFATE, DL-METHIONINE, MONOCALCIUM PHOSPHATE, VITAMIN E SUPPLEMENT, NIACIN [VITAMIN B3], BIOTIN, DRIED CARROTS, L-TRYPTOPHAN, BHA & CITRIC ACID (A PRESERVATIVE), BLUE 2, YELLOW 5, YELLOW 6, d-CALCIUM PANTOTHENATE [SOURCE OF VITAMIN B5], RIBOFLAVIN SUPPLEMENT [VITAMIN B2], RED 40, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE [VITAMIN B6], COPPER SULFATE, SODIUM SELENITE, POTASSIUM IODIDE, VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENT, THIAMINE MONONITRATE [VITAMIN B1], VITAMIN B12 SUPPLEMENT, VITAMIN D3 SUPPLEMENT, FOLIC ACID

Chicken, brewers rice, poultry by-product meal (source of glucosamine), corn gluten meal, whole grain wheat, whole grain corn, oat meal, medium-chain triglyceride vegetable oil, pea fiber, dried egg product, natural flavor, fish oil, barley, fish meal (source of glucosamine), L-Arginine, mono and dicalcium phosphate, potassium chloride, salt, Vitamin E supplement, potassium citrate, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, niacin, Vitamin A supplement, manganese sulfate, thiamine mononitrate, calcium pantothenate, Vitamin B-12 supplement, copper sulfate, riboflavin supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, garlic oil, folic acid, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), Vitamin D-3 supplement, calcium iodate, biotin, choline chloride, and sodium selenite

Chicken, Chicken Meal, Pearled Barley, Brown Rice, White Rice, Oatmeal, Beet Pulp, Chicken Fat, Menhaden Fish Meal, Flaxseed, Dried Whole Egg, Cheese, Brewers Dried Yeast, Salt, Calcium Sulfate, Potassium Chloride, Monocalcium Phosphate, DL-Methionine, L-Tryptophan, Taurine, Chicory Root Extract, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Sodium Selenite, Sorbic Acid (Preservative), Vitamins, Minerals, Probiotics.

So the first one is a mess of “poor quality” ingredients and artificial colors. I would give that food a hard pass every day. In fact, I know someone with a Lab who has fed this food for the dog’s entire life. This 10 year old has a lot of joint and mobility issues.

The second one has the dreaded by-product label (at least it’s poultry and not ‘meat’ ) and lots of grains. Fish meal can be found a ways down the list for a boost of glucosamine.

The third has chicken and chicken meal as the first two ingredients, a plus for sure… and then Barley, rice, more rice and oatmeal follow…not ideal.

Are any of these GREAT food choices?

Every single time I go to the pet store, I wander the aisles reading ingredients lists. All I see are legumes and potatoes. Are they causing DCM? There’s no concrete evidence one way or the other yet. Was the my dog doing fine on Chicken and Rice for the first few years of his life before I found this website and gasped at the low rating his food received? Absolutely. Did I switch the grain free after reading through these forums? Sure did. Has he done ok with switch, all these years later? Nope. He’s developed allergies and sensitivities. But is it because of grain free formulas? I haven’t found concrete evidence proving that x and y caused the issues.

It’s a learning process to find what works best for your dog. Some can’t have grains, some can. My vet suggests feeding him boiled chicken and white rice when he’s not feeling well. Is my vet stupid or just telling me what he knows from his 30+ years of experience might help my dog. Has he called grain free food evil? No, but he cautions against it only because the inclusion of legumes and potatoes are ‘relatively’ new to animal nutrition and there isn’t enough research and studies done to prove that they are safe in the long term.

He told me that he’s always given his dogs Pro Plan but have never pushed me to purchase any of the big 4 brands. In fact, he said the best thing I can do is read the ingredients list myself. And to transition food properly. And if my dog has issues after eating 1-2 bags of a food, to look at the current ingredients and find a food that’s different.

[joanne l]

I wonder if he has a bug deep in his ear? Just a thought. Does his food have any chicken in it?? Even though it is Rx diet if it has chicken the dog maybe allergic to it. Check the ingredients. Hope you resolve this.

[anonymous]

http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?s=environmental+allergies

Hope this helps

[anonymous]

I have a dog with environmental allergies. It started with ear infections, then pruritus, If you go to the search engine “environmental allergies” you will see my numerous posts.
Of course there are other causes, get the dog properly diagnosed by a veterinary dermatologist.
Or work closely with your regular vet, the steroids and antibiotics are just bandaid stuff. Get to the root of the problem.
I am sorry but you may have a high maintenance pup.

I hope this helps.

http://www.mspca.org/angell_services/dermatology-allergies/Ear Diseases. excerpt below

Otitis externa is the medical term for ear inflammation. Most cases of otitis externa also have an infection that is causing the ear inflammation.

The structure of the ear in dogs and cats can make them more prone to ear infections. The ear canal in dogs and cats is longer than the ear canal in people. The ear canal is also “L-shaped” with vertical and horizontal parts.

Because only some dogs and cats develop ear infections, other conditions often contribute to the development of otitis externa and ear infections in your pet. Allergies, parasites, and masses or tumors can all cause ear irritation and infection. Allergies are the most common cause of ear infections in dogs and cats. Since an ear infection can be secondary to an underlying problem, it is often important to diagnose and treat the cause of the ear infection while treating the ear infection.

An ear infection can develop into a severe health problem for a dog or cat. Left untreated, ear infections can spread deeper into a pet’s ear (middle ear infection) and cause permanent damage to the ear canal (ear canal mineralization). Some chronic ear infections can develop resistance to antibiotics and become untreatable with medications.

[Cannoli]

thanks Anon101.

let me recap. Sorry I think I go the dates all wrong regarding the vet visit. I had to go visit my vet website to look at the dates I visited vet. I noticed he had something going on with his ears back in January but since he seemed fine and normal in regards to eating and playing I did not take him to the vet until March. My mistake….first time ever owning a dog.

So March of this year was the first Vet visit in regards to the ear infection. We did the ear drops for about 7 days in March. That cleaned up his itching and smell. Did not notice the head shaking as much then because of all his ear scratching back in Jan and Feb. So was happy to see his ears smelly good and pup not scratching.

Later that month in March Vet did a recheck..ear looked good..the infection was almost gone. Still the head shaking was not bothering me as much but he was still shaking his head. Vet recommended ear cleaning for the next few weeks maybe that might help with the head shaking.

Now in march and april I followed the ear cleaning regiment. Notice his head shaking was not going away but was eating normally and playing. No scratching of his ears.

In April I contact vet and noticed that his head shaking was still going on. not as much as back in January or February where he was shaking every 20 minutes. Now his head head shaking was about 20 times a day.

Vet put him on an elimination diet in beginning of April. Notice head shaking but now about 10-15 times a day. So it went down some what. Went back to vet at end of April and asked what I can do to stop the head shaking forever.. He stated he wants to sedate dog and look deep with his ears and do a culture analysis. Vet thinks it is allergy related but the culture analysis could rule out that out. Also vet gave me steroids for 7 days.

Culture analysis came back in beginning of of May or so where vet stated the lab found staph pseudointermedius. Recommended me to put pup back on Mometamax for 10 days to finish the bacteria and informed me to keep him on elimination diet.

i have been seeing the same treating Vet since March so is not like a new vet every visit. My vet is very responsive. I send him emails with lots of questions and he always responds. He states allergies are very difficult to treat.

Now why should I visit a veterinary dermatologist if he is not scratching his skin? But it is within the ear. I can definitely setup an appointment if you think that would help

• This reply was modified 6 years, 7 months ago by Cannoli. Reason: spelling

[anonymous]

Call the treating vet and see what he advises. Leave a message for the vet to call you back when he has a minute, don’t accept an answer from the vet tech.

If the dog’s problems continue and you don’t see improvement after a reasonable amount of time, consider going to a veterinary dermatologist. Ear infections are sometimes indicative of allergies.

Wait a minute the ear drops were prescribed in January? Only 7 days?

He may very well have an ear infection and need antibiotics (ear drops or/and oral)

SERIOUSLY, GO TO THE VET! asap
Consequences of untreated ear infections in dogs include: Hearing loss.

I reread your post, check with the vet, he may need a different antibiotic.

[anonymous]

Integrating Myths and Nonsense with Standard Advice for Allergic Pets

excerpt below, click on link for full article and comments

“Of course, I’ve written about the raw diet nonsense before, and there is, once again, no evidence that raw diets have any benefit in terms of preventing or treating allergies. As for supplements, apart from limited evidence that fish oils can reduce the dosage of other drugs needed to control allergy symptoms, there is no solid data to support supplement recommendations. Overall, this section makes erroneous and misleading implications about the causes of food allergies, recommends a dubious diagnostic test, and then suggests treatments that have not been demonstrated to help”.

Hair and Saliva Test for Allergies are Worthless Pseudoscience

excerpt below, click on link for full article and comments

Hair and Saliva Test for Allergies are Worthless Pseudoscience
Posted on November 6, 2018 by skeptvet
There is a lot of mythology out there about food allergies. The recent concern about the potential risks of grain-free diets is only an issue at all because such diets became wildly popular with no evidence that grains were a problem in the first place. A lot of folks blame grains for allergies and other health problems, but there’s no real evidence this is true, and these ingredients probably play a fairly minor role in food allergies in dogs and cats.
Other myths about food allergies include the idea that changing diets can cause them (actually, prolonged exposure is usually needed to develop a sensitivity), that raw foods are less allergenic (nope, only more likely to give you a food-borne illness), and that you can use blood, hair, or saliva tests to diagnose food allergies (sorry, a limited ingredient diet trial is the only way to do this). This last misconception is perpetuated despite evidence from human medicine that it is not true because, quite frankly, it makes people money.

[anonymous]

If you click on the link you will see hundreds of comments I have posted on the subject.
It would take several hours to repeat the information you will find there.
There is a search engine here for that reason.

Better yet, make an appointment with a veterinary dermatologist asap to get your dog properly diagnosed and treated. There is no veterinary healthcare professional at this site. Even if there were they have not examined your dog nor can they provide specific advice regarding your pet. Best of luck!

Example “The diet helps but it can only do so much.
A multifaceted approach is often needed for environmental allergies. There is no cure.
But there are effective treatments/management.
PS: Bacterial skin infections that require antibiotics are common with atopic dermatitis. It is painful. Itchiness and burning….
Next, ear infections.”

example: “Please visit a board certified veterinarian asap for testing/diagnosis/treatment.
It’s been a year/4 seasons without significant results by the regular vet.
Do not give over the counter meds/supplements or apply ointments, creams that are not intended for veterinary use unless advised to do so by a veterinarian that has examined your dog”.

Example: /forums/topic/hes-got-good-and-environmental-allergies/#post-113364
“Make an appointment with a board certified veterinary dermatologist. It’s not the food. Just my opinion, based on my experience and knowledge”.

Very good information here: http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?s=environmental+allergies

[anonymous]

/forums/search/environmental+allergies/

[Bud J]

Hi, I’m just getting started in researching dog food. I’ve been fostering my current pup, Grayson, for about a year. He has seizures about once a week and is on keppra, phenobarbital and hemp. I’m currently doing research and looking for support because he is dealing with substantial allergies and I’m highly suspecting it’s food allergies. He has a lot of itching, chews at his feet and has bald spots and scabbing around his hips, hind legs and groin area. He has been an itchy dog pretty much entire time I’ve had him but the scabbing is by far the worst it’s ever been.

He was put on a steroid for a couple weeks which really helped, but had it’s own side effects. The last 2 dog foods we’ve had are American Journey Grain Free Salmon and Sweet Potato and True Acre Foods Chicken and Vegetable Grain Free. He was mostly eating True Acre when the symptoms got bad, but then switched to American Journey and symptoms continued to progress. Both foods have chicken as a main ingredient and therefore I’m thinking he’s reacting to chicken. As of 2 days ago, I switched him to a Heritage Ranch Salmon and Sweet Potato Food only because it was the only dog food at my store which didn’t have chicken as a main ingredient.

So, I’m currently l’m looking into switching him to a different simple ingredient dog food. Canidae salmon and sweet potato is the one I’m leaning towards, but I’m also researching doing a raw diet.
I’m sure there’s several posts on this site which have helpful info, but wanted to introduce myself and I’ll start searching around to see what others have already posted.

Thank you,
Grandpa J

[anonymous]

http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?s=environmental+allergies

Colloidal Silver- Colorful Snake Oil but not Medicine

Stop the foolishness.

Take the dog to a vet , have him examined , see what is recommended.

[Christopher L]

This article is quite a slog and takes some grit to tackle. That said, it seems well-supported, fact-based, and objective. Bottom line: with the possible exception of fish oil (for prophylactic treatment of allergies like skin and coat issues), there is precious little to support the Madison Avenue-concocted nonsense built into claims about pet foods and supplements. (Illustration: There’s little solid science to support the claims of arthritis and joint ailments’ relief from taking glucosamine in humans, and virtually none as relates to pets.) So, read labels, feed your four-legged babies well-balanced diets and treats, get them to exercise (except for cats … unless they can be trained to use a treadmill), and give them a good belly-rub at least twice-a-day.

The Top Ten Pet Supplements: Do They Work?

[Susan]

Hi Denis,

Sound like your GSD had a Furunculosis on his bum, my boy has IBD, Seasonal Skin Allergies (Summer/Autumn) & he has food sensitivities, food allergies are rare & the dog normally will suffer with IBD when he/she suffers with food allergies..
Anal furunculosis is a chronic, progressive inflammatory disease of dogs that results in ulceration and inflammation in the area surrounding the anus.

Here’s link – “What is Idiopathic Furunculosis (German Shepherds)?”
https://wagwalking.com/condition/idiopathic-furunculosis-german-shepherds

If your dog is eating the Hills Z/d vet diet, after 1 month if he is doing firm poos, no farts, no skin problems & he is doing really well this is when you start a food elimination diet & try too work out what ingredients your dog is sensitive too?? that’s if it is food related?? its Spring in America it could be environment allergies or his immune system is crashing from Allergies or vaccinations?? it takes a while doing food elimination diets, 1 month to trial 1 new ingredient at a time to his Hypoallergenic vet diet, it can take 20mins up to 6 weeks for the dog to react, with itchy skin, ears, red around mouth, paws, gas/wind/farts, vomiting, itchy yeasty ears, skin, anal gland problems take a bit longer 4-7days when dog is reacting to an ingredient..
I found Patch reacted within 20mins of eating raw or cooked chicken, when he eats grains & carrots he took up to 5 days to react with sloppy yellow poo, farts & yeasty smelly skin & ears…
Results are 100% correct with food elimination trial. Blood, Fur& Salvia testing can give false positives results, they’re a waste of money also it’s best to do food elimination diet in the cooler months when allergen are lower, its hard in Spring & Summer as your dog might be itchy cause of a plant, tree, grass, flowers, pollens in yard or next door & you think its what he’s eating & its not, keep a diary you will start to see a pattern with Seasonal Environment Allergies, also baths weekly, baths are best to wash off any allergens on skin, paws head etc ….
I wipe Patch down with baby wipes days I don’t bath him, read the ingredients in the baby wipes & get the baby wipes that have Aloe leaf abstract in them, also Patch was getting furunculosis on bum & paws, when his immune system was down, when I first rescued him, so now after he poos I always wipe his bum with baby wipes & I wipe down his paws when he walks on wet grass or freshly cut grass he gets red paws..

Get some “Sudocrem” its an anti-fungal, anti bacterial healing cream, for Dermatitis, Eczema, Nappy Rash, Pressure Sores, if you live US look on Amazon & I’ve read Walmart has started to sell Sudocrem, its an excellent cream… it heals sores, cuts, red paws, thinning of fur on head, excellent for itchy bum, when they scoot (bum surf)
Make sure his immune system is healthy & its best to see a Dermatologist as they specialize in skin..

Look at “Adored Breast” Healthy Gut & Love Bugs (Pre & Pro Biotics) made by Julie Anne Lee

Please watch these videos below when you have the time, Julie explains what might be happening with your dog.

Here’s Julie Anne Lee – Allergies, Skin Disease, or Autoimmune – PT 1

Here’s Julie Anne Lee – Allergies, Skin Disease, or Autoimmune – PT 2

[Denis S]

Hello, my GSD has a new food allergy, I think. I noticed he had a wound next to his anus, approximately 2 inches in diameter. I rushed him to my vet. At first, it was mentioned that it could be a ruptured anal gland, then it would have been something the burrowed itself in, but, then was concluded that it was a food allergy. I went with it at first, as I brainstormed questions to ask. What made me stray away from it being, necessarily a food allergy, was that test’s were not conducted to rule out other possibilities; her explanation of how his immune system was forcing protein out through the path of least resistance (which would have made sense to me if something ruptured, forgive me I am not a vet.) It was a quick glance, and my (former) vet’s aggressive attempt’s to have me buy a $110.00 bag of 24lb Science Hill Hydrolyzed Z/D dog food. It really, gave me a terrible taste in my mouth.

I went home and emailed Diamond dog food, a food I have used for year’s on my GSD’s and Rottweiler and never had any issues. Afterwards, I began my research on hydrolyzed dog food. Forgive me to all whom read my post, if I may seem like a novice here, which when it come’s to hydrolyzed dog food, I am. I concluded that the process of making the food itself is more difficult and requires more of a process than any other version. I didn’t feed him the Diamond dog food that night, instead I made him wild caught salmon with a few extra’s for omega-3’s and other nutrients for him. All on recommendations from a breeder friend and other GSD dad’s.

The next day I received a response from Diamond (surprisingly quick) and they recommended their Diamond Care line. I read and read reviews and and found that it is indeed hydrolyzed dog food. I still continued my research on other brands, you never know what you’ll come across. I went to my local pet store and was disappointed that they had not received the Care line yet. Luckily for me as I was talking to the manager, a vet from another clinic over heard and jumped right in. I explained to him the situation, he nodded his head, looked down and right back up to me. He was apologetic and agreed more could have been done. He then went to explain to me, in detail exactly how hydrolyzed dog food work, what it is intended to do, the pro’s and con’s, who it is for and the potential outcome. He asked about symptom’s, behavior, stool frequency and consistency, his typical diet, what he does on a daily, where does he roam or like to hang out and do, etc. Then continued to explain Science Hill’s influence inside of veterinary medicine. I’ll leave all that for another topic. He then went on explaining how the allergies work with dog’s etc. He did recommend a few brands, the make up, and well the typical “less legs the better,” same rules I follow. Believe, me I felt stupid that I knew exactly what my body needs to stay optimal and didn’t apply it for my boy.

I did schedule with his office for a visit.

If you have any experience’s or recommendations please share. I do ask that we all have tact and be polite to one another.

[anonymous]

“This explanation is, in fact, the exact opposite of the true nature of dietary allergies. Whole proteins are the primary trigger for allergies in animals predisposed to have them. And when there is a malfunction in the GI tract such that it fails to break proteins down into small enough pieces, this can make allergies more likely. Finally, one of the most effective treatments for food allergies is to feed hydrolyzed protein diets, diets in which the proteins are chemically processed (gasp!) into small enough pieces that they cannot trigger an allergy reaction.”
“I certainly don’t expect lay people to be experts in the mechanics of digestion and food allergies, but this level of ignorance is frightening and inexcusable in a manufacturer of a pet food. It also indicates the blatant disregard for scientific fact so often seen in the marketing and promotion of raw and other unconventional pet diets”.

Above is an excerpt from http://skeptvet.com/Blog/2012/01/misleading-advertising-for-raw-pet-food-again/
click on link for full article and comments

Hope this helps!

[Patricia A]

crazy4cats the alternative feeding kibble
” Dry pet food, for all its convenience, is difficult to store in a way that preserves its nutritional value and freshness.”
“Many unhealthy things can occur in a bag of kibble — especially an open bag — including fat rancidity, bacterial and fungal growth, nutrient depletion and storage mite infestation.”
“Most dry pet food also has a number of other problems, including poor-quality, rendered and high-glycemic ingredients and extreme processing that creates cancerous byproducts.”
“If you’re still buying kibble, there are several handling and storage guidelines you should follow to help prevent feeding unsafe food to your pet.”
“A much better alternative to kibble is a nutritionally balanced, species-appropriate diet containing high-quality animal protein, moisture, healthy fats and fiber, and low to no starch content.”

Primal and Stella’s goes through a HPP process as written above.

“Without going into too much detail on the history of dry commercial kibble diets, the short end of the story is that it was introduced in response to the high cost of meat during the Great Depression and was heavily promoted at the end of WWII when it gained popularity for its convenience, ease of distribution and low cost.”

“If our pets have managed to survive off this cheap, convenient, low quality protein source for the last 80 some years, why should we be concerned about it?”

Even though our pets may be surviving off commercial kibble, can we really say that they are thriving on it?

“The answer is pretty clear …

“Chronic degenerative diseases, auto-immune diseases, allergies, kidney, pancreatic and liver disease are all rampant within our pet populations and cancer rates continue to rise. “

• This reply was modified 6 years, 8 months ago by Patricia A.
• This reply was modified 6 years, 8 months ago by Patricia A.

[Kat J]

Hello Deb, Kat here from Dr. Marty Pets. I am sorry to hear that your dog began vomiting after eating the food. Since you mentioned that you had given her the food for a while with no issues, I want to make sure that your pup isn’t allergic to any other specific ingredient. Please contact your dog’s vet directly to see what foods or meats she could be allergic to. I do recommend you discontinue the food in the meantime, but please keep in mind that Dr. Marty Pets has no pending recalls. In the event of a recall, customers would be notified right away. I also wanted to let you know that your pet’s safety is our #1 priority, which is why we test all of our products for safety and purity at an independent 3rd Party Facility. I sure hope your pup feels better and you are able to figure out what exactly is causing her upset. Please email me directly at [email protected] so I can ensure that you are fully refunded for your purchase.

[anonymous]

The dermatologist can do intradermal skin testing , the regular vet can’t. This would lead to immunotherapy ($)

I would wait and see how the dog responds to treatment by the regular vet.

Sometimes the allergies are seasonal, working with your regular vet you may be able to decrease the meds in late fall/ winter.

If the symptoms go on for 1 year/4seasons without significant periods of relief then yes I would consult a dermatologist.

Some dogs respond to immunotherapy (desensitization shots) its expensive.

Give it ( Apoquel) some time.

[anonymous]

Well, it certainly sounds like atopic dermatitis (environmental allergies) or some other skin condition. It sounds like the dog is in extreme discomfort and at risk for bacterial skin infection.

Anything anyone tells you on these forums is just speculation and opinion (myself included)

If your veterinarian has not been helpful I would ask for a referral to a veterinary dermatologist for testing to come up with an accurate diagnosis and treatment options.

There is no miracle cure or magical supplement or food that will fix this.

In fact the dog may have to go on steroids and antibiotics again to temporarily stop the suffering.
Consult your vet, asap.

[anonymous]

The diet helps but it can only do so much.

A multifaceted approach is often needed for environmental allergies. There is no cure.

But there are effective treatments/management.

PS: Bacterial skin infections that require antibiotics are common with atopic dermatitis. It is painful. Itchiness and burning….

Next, ear infections.

[Cody D]

He had antibiotics about about 2 months ago because the vet thought it was an infection. The scabs went away. Looked great for a while, then after a bit they came back. Idk how long before they came back my wife is actually the one who took him in for it both times. That was when we went to the diet he is on. Hills derm defense. Fights environmental allergies I guess. Not working a month or so in now. Oh well, I pine for the days where we jsut worried about stuff like that.

[CockalierMom]

“I discovered he is Very allergic to salmon”
Is he actually allergic to salmon or did it give him acid reflux?
I am not familiar with the ingredients or GA of Kirklands but if the salmon oil made the acid reflux worse, it is probably due to the amount of fat you added to his diet. I would suggest that you try a limited ingredient diet with lower fat than the Kirklands. I found that Natural Balance LID’s are a good starting point when trying to determine food issues since they are lower fat and less ingredients than many of the other LID’s. If I recall correctly, TOTW does have some lower fat formulas but more ingredients.

Also, I would not soak the kibble in anything. Too much moisture can make acid reflux worse. If you want to offer bone broth on the side, wait a few days and see how he is on the new kibble before introducing anything else new.

[Lacey L]

I have a 7 year old golden retriever, Tucker, who is picky and has acid reflux. He’s always been very sensitive to foods ever since he was a puppy. I tried literally 20 different foods, all of which gave him very loose stools, until he finally did well on Kirklands signature and he has been on that ever since. I tried switching proteins within the brand because I read that is healthier for them but he didn’t like it.

I work at a Pet store and decided to try him on Activa because it is a customizable food I could had probiotics and glucosamine to as well as salmon oil for his coat. It was then I discovered he is Very allergic to salmon. So I put him back on Kirkland. Throughout the years his regurgitating food at night happened pretty frequently at times. Then he started the gulping, freaking out, drinking tons of water, pacing and wanting to eat grass. So I started giving him tums until it wasn’t enough and the vet suggested prilosec which helps 70% of the time but the other 30% it doesn’t help at all. He never gets table scraps and rarely gets treats but when I started him on the prilosec I would give him a tiny bit of peanut butter to put the pill in. My fiancé said the peanut butter might do it so I’ve switched to cheese instead and I’ve switched him to Pepcid AC complete. It’s only his second day on that but it seems to be helping.

His latest bout of acid reflux was pretty severe so I put him on small meals of chicken and rice throughout the day which helped but as soon as I put him back on his kibble he got the acid reflux back so he’s back on the chicken and rice.

I work and can’t cook for him forever and he’s a 90 lb dog (not overweight.. He’s actually thin) so I can’t afford raw or canned so I want to find a dry kibble for him to try that would prevent acid reflux. I’ve researched alot and was excited to try the nature’s Select lamb but I gave him a few kibble but he didn’t like it!! So I’m thinking of trying taste of the wild lamb next and if he won’t eat that then try the chicken flavors. I also read soaking in bone broth is good?

Any other food suggestions in case he doesn’t like the totw? Also as I said I work, so would having him grave all day be a bad thing? He is not an over eater at all. When I feed him breakfast alot of times he’ll just snack on it here or there anyways.

[anonymous]

Quote: “What are your symptoms for your boy? On a side note my other dog is currently on a elimination diet to see if these scabs that are forming on his back are from food allergies. Originally they had him take an antibiotic and they went away, but came back. I really hope it isn’t something similar to what you’re going through… That’s the last thing I need right now”

You’re not kidding! Once your guy is stable I’ll tell you more about it.

Bottom line, we had to go to a veterinary dermatologist for effective treatment, although some regular vets are good at treating these things now too. It depends on how severe the allergies are. Symptoms usually start with pruritus, rashes, skin infections, ear infections. They resolve with antibiotics and steroids but often return.

Whatever you do don’t bother with a hair/saliva test for food sensitivities, they are all scams.

Keep us updated, we are all pulling for him.

PS: Don’t stress about getting a urine sample. Some vets prefer to strait cath, it only takes a second, doesn’t hurt and the sample will be sterile.

[Cody D]

Nothing. Literally nothing. Before all the procedures she suggested Addison’s disease, and did inject him with cortisol just to see. I imagine the bloodwork didn’t show anything that would suggest that was a good thing to look into since it came back “perfect.” Her word. She did not offer an opinion of what the issue is. Wanted to do the scope a week later, and take it from there. She is leaving the country after the scope (horrible timing obviously) which is also part of the reason I’m going to another location to get it done. I don’t want to wait a month which is how long she would be gone. She did seem to think, per a conversation she had with my local vet, that he was stable enough to not need to rush anything. I understand that sentiment, though my wife and I would disagree. For whatever reason he is more active at the vet. Nerves and adrenaline I presume. AT home he is practically a piece of furniture, except when I try to pick him up (always hated that) and during feeding time (though if he isn’t on his antivomiting pills he won’t eat, he just throws it up. He knows that). He is being spoiled, and is excited for that. So he is capable of moving around, and the vet said she saw no reason to restrict his activities if he is willing to exercise (though he’s mostly not). But yeah… No hint as to what she thought it would be other than to say it isn’t “structural.” What a little research it looks like a colonoscopy is the next step after scope? But I don’t know. I’m hoping to get more of something from who I see tomorrow. Last two stools were solid and didn’t appear to have any blood. So there’s that. The specialist did mention what my vet thought was blood may have been a medication they gave me darkening the stool, while the blood in the vomit sounded like broken vessels from retching to much. So maybe good news?

What are your symptoms for your boy? On a side note my other dog is currently on a elimination diet to see if these scabs that are forming on his back are from food allergies. Originally they had him take an antibiotic and they went away, but came back. I really hope it isn’t something similar to what you’re going through… That’s the last thing I need right now. I hope your guy is doing well. Thank you for the well wishes.

EDIT: I did think of something else. After the ultrasound the specialist showed me something kinda weird and in her opinion unrelated. My boy has these interesting red splotches on his scrotum. Almost covering the whole thing except the bottom portion. Looks like when you pinch your skin and blood raises to leave a cluster of small red dots. Almost like a bruise. I’m kinda hoping another opinion on that tomorrow maybe points to something. He is still attached. She ultrasounded down there even for the heck of it. Saw nothing. Doesn’t hurt him. Doesn’t appear to be swollen. I know if I hurt down there, it wouldn’t be out of the question for me to vomit!

• This reply was modified 6 years, 9 months ago by Cody D.
• This reply was modified 6 years, 9 months ago by Cody D.
• This reply was modified 6 years, 9 months ago by Cody D.
• This reply was modified 6 years, 9 months ago by Cody D.

[anonymous]

But what did the specialist suggest it is? Surely she must have an idea, what did she advise to do next? Besides the scope.

I have been through it, it’s a nightmare.
I never had a dog scoped though, usually they have a diagnosis after labs and x-ray.

I currently have an a dog with atopic dermatitis (environmental allergies) there is no cure, just management ($$) and even with the best of treatment they can have flareups. She’s on antibiotics currently for a bacterial skin infection and we are trying Apoquel. Immunotherapy worked for years till now…

I sure hope your dog feels better soon. And you and your wife too.

[Deb D]

Samanthia, please do work with a veterinarian. We adopted an eight year old German shepherd dog nine months ago. She was a mess because of neglect and allergies. Imagine a GSD with no hair and infections in eyes, ears, urethra, anus, and toes. We have never dealt with a dog with allergies and, thankfully, let our vet guide us. We went through countless medicated baths and bottles of medicated ear cleaner, two Cytopoint shots (They were a real game changer for our girl.) and Z/D dog food. (Yep, we have also had to deal with the recall but, thank God, her Vitamin D levels are okay.) She is now on a maintenance schedule of one medicated bath a month and weekly ear cleanings. We think she has both environmental and food allergies so it is an excruciatingly slow process to figure things out BUT she is relatively comfortable so we can all sleep. She is not itch free but almost, and a world improved. And, we now have her at a point where we can experiment with one food and see if it causes increased symptoms.

The hardest part for us is the food. First of all, we would never have fed a food like Z/D. Second, she is not fond of it and we want a highly palatable food for training because she was neglected in that area too. Hill’s Hypo Treats are not gonna make her do back flips. We hope that one day we can find food she loves that loves her and is not grain-free. But meanwhile, we are grateful for Z/D and know that if we have to, we can stick with it. (Hubby and I find it Very difficult to withhold treats because we have always shared our food with our dogs. Her allergies hurt us almost as much as they do her.)

But our vet was the key. She tested swabs from between toes, from the ears, from everywhere so she would know exactly what was needed to treat her. Then she did it again after a few weeks so we made steady progress without overwhelming her (and us) with chemicals. It was beyond expensive but became less so as the diet/drugs/and chemicals did their job. She goes everywhere with us and now we hear, “What a beautiful German Shepherd.” A far cry from a nearly bald dog a year ago.

[anonymous]

/forums/topic/allergies-and-itchy-dogs/#post-132791

This dog needs to be treated by a veterinarian, asap. Ideally a veterinary dermatologist.

PS: The diet will not only not help but is nutritionally unbalanced and may make him sick and cause more problems, in example: gastrointestinal.

[Samanthia K]

I have a 5 year old old English bulldog that is a rescue. He has the worst allergies iv ever seen. He is on allergy meds and i use salmon oil on his food. I use coconut oil on his sores and he gets baths in medicated shampoo once a week. The only thing that seems to clear him up is when he is on antibiotics. I cant afford the grain free dog foods out there and am thinking of starting a grain free raw diet to see if it helps. His sores are all over from his head down his neck all the way to his back. Right now he has a boil on the backnof his neck that is rock hard and pops and bleeds everywhere. I need help to fix him. He looks and feels miserable and i hate it. Anyone know what i could do to help him?

[John P]

A healthy diet and good grooming habits can keep your dog’s skin and coat looking good. In many cases, however, pet owners prefer to give their dog a skin and coat supplement that will make their skin more supple, cut down on shedding, and help relieve allergies that cause itching and fur loss.

[Christie B]

I’m pretty good with making sure that my dogs see the vet annually for general checks and to make sure their up to date with necessary vaccinations. I was due to go back towards the end of 2018, but it completely slipped my mind.

My 9.5 year old American Bulldog mix has 1 front bowed leg. He’s always had it and he walks and runs fine (he looks gimpy when walking, but it’s how he’s always been and it causes no discomfort). He’s also had issues with food and the environment around him, although we’ve never been able to pinpoint his exact sensitivities. I’m sure you can go back and see my many posts and responses related to his “excessive drooling” and allergies posts.

So I noticed the other day when he was laying on his side (with the bowed leg up) that there appeared to be a large lump behind the leg. I never noticed it or just attributed it to the structure of his frame with the odd leg. So I went back to some old pictures I had, and I didn’t see the lump.

Concerned, I contacted the vet’s office on Saturday to make an appointment to look at the leg, as well as have his annual exam. The receptionist asked what doctor I deal with there. I told her the name of the practice’s owner (Dr. B), who also was the one who I discussed his allergies with (which was something I wanted to ask him about while I was there since the drooling episodes persist at irregular intervals). The earliest appointment was Monday 5:30. I rushed out of work that afternoon, let my dogs out, put the one in the car (I left the other home alone for like the 2nd time ever in the 4 years that I’ve had her)

When I arrived at the vet, I could see other dogs in the lobby. My big guy is loud and disruptive when he sees other dogs that he wants to meet. So I called and told them I was outside to call me when the room was ready. Nearly 30 minutes pass (we walked laps around the building) before we’re ushered into the hottest room ever. The vet tech asks me why we’re here. I explain about the lump and that I want to have his annual exam, etc.

So then we wait even longer and my poor dog, recognizing where he is is now panting and barking and crying. So the door opens and this women walks in. Never met her before, but she certainly wasn’t the vet I booked the appointment with. One of her arms wasn’t through the armhole of her cardigan and instead stuck out of the bottom. So something was up with her. She introduced herself, asked what I was here for.

Now, I understand my dog can be intimidating at first glance. He’s 119 pounds and has a giant pit head. But I never interacted with a vet who wouldn’t approach my dog. Even after telling her he’s 1000% friendly (and mind you I was holding him next to me), she made sure to keep the metal exam table between her and us.

So a vet tech comes in to ‘hold the dog’. The doctor looks at the lump and tells me, without touching it, that it’s a lipoma. I say “are you sure”, then she hesitantly approaches and feels the lump for about 10 seconds and says yes. Then says it’s obviously hampering his movements. I tell her he’s always had the bowed leg and cued up a video on my phone from him running, jumping and playing with my other dog the day before. So she then says it’s not hampering him, but it should be removed. And unfortunately it’s so big that they probably shouldn’t do the surgery and should have a specialist come in to do it. Then she did said that he’s young enough to warrant doing it (like I was automatically going to say no because of the expense). I she knew me like the other vet did, then she would know the well being of my dog is my priority. I ask her to get me an estimate.

I then ask if we can do a needle aspiration to make sure it’s not cancer. Why would I put my dog through a surgery, only to find out it may be cancerous and then make him go through treatments? If it’s cancer, he might still have to have surgery, but maybe they could try other methods to shrink it or kill it first. She says we can “for peace of mind”. And then tells me 30 seconds later that needle aspirations on lumps are highly inaccurate. The sample they take might not have cancer, but it can still be there.

Peace of mind, indeed.

Then she tries to dissuade me from the procedure by saying it will be expensive (but specialized surgery isn’t?)

I tell her to go ahead and do it.

While they try to formulate the price, she sells me on their “wellness package” which includes standard blood labs, urine and stool labs and heartworm test. Other than her 10 seconds spent feeling the lump and listening to his heart with a stethoscope, she didn’t touch my dog. The vet tech felt my dog’s body for lumps. Found a hard one in his chest. Doctor edges closes and feels for 1 second…”not concerned”. I tell them he has a lot of little lumps on his belly along with a bunch of skin tags of various size and color. She wasn’t interested in seeing them.

I’ve had wellness exams every year. The vet normally checks my dog’s ears, mouth, teeth, runs his hands over the dog to looks for lumps or abnormalities, checks over his legs and makes sure his joints are ok, listens to his heart, listen to his lungs/respiration, asks me what he eats, asks about his energy level, talks about any sort of supplements he takes, sometimes takes his temperature and checks the anal glands.

But this lady had her tech do the most cursory exam feeling for lumps on his back and sides and that’s it.

So she leaves the room to get started with prepping for the needle aspiration. Time passes (so much time) and she pops her head in and says that Dr. B (the practice owner) has to be the one who does it because she just had shoulder surgery (thanks for finally telling me) and unfortunately he still has two other patients to see, so can I come back another time? I turn around and tell her that I work every day and I switched my schedule around to be there that day and not for nothing but my appointment was supposed to be with Dr. B in the first place. So she says that she hopes that I wasn’t disappointed in having her treat my dog (I should have said something, but I didn’t). But I made the point that had I had Dr. B like originally scheduled, I wouldn’t have had to wait for him to finish with other people in order to do this test because he would have done the exam and the test and finish with me before seeing anyone else.

I wound up waiting. My poor dog, already traumatized by the blood test puncture was panting and crying and barking. At first, I kept shushing him. But then I just let him bark it out, because maybe they’d be so sick of hearing him that they’d hurry up. Dr. B finally came in, did the needle aspiration and left. In and out in less than 5 minutes.

I had hoped that he was going to come in alone so I could give him a tell him how disappointed I was with the exam and the doctor. But she had come in with him and with the vet techs in the room holding the dog down, I didn’t want to speak in front of them.

It’s been 3 days and I’m still annoyed. I didn’t get to discuss the drooling episodes (she was not interested at all in discussing it since it happens so randomly and the Benedryl and Pepcid help manage it). Who knows if the other lumps are lipomas or something else? I wanted to discuss senior nutrition (but not with her at this point).

I didn’t want to say anything until all the lab tests were in. Everything was good (Cholesterol and Total Protein levels a bit high, but she wasn’t concerned) and the biopsy came back likely to be fatty deposit lipoma.

Anyone else have inadequate vet exams?

And yes, I could have made a separate appointment to do the wellness exam and focus this one on the lump. But my vet knows these visits aren’t cheap and always makes a point of asking if there’s anything else I want to address while I’m there so I don’t have to pay for another visit. This new vet couldn’t be bothered…how do you expect to go to work to thoroughly examine a pet when you only have the use of 1 arm?

[Ana C]

Hello to all!

Here I am reading up on lawsuits on Acana/Orijens. I’ve been feeding my boys this food for the past 6 years. I trusted this brand whole heartedly like most folk out there and now I’m at a loss. Like most people I don’t feel comfortable feeding them this food until something is know whether it is safe or not. So, now I’m not sure what to feed my boys(dogs, just to clarify). Should I get them Fromm’s, Stella & Chewie, other? Which one? Unfortunately I just purchased a bag of Acana and I’, hesitant to feed them but they have to eat!
Any recommendations? No food allergies that I know of at this time. Both are cocker spaniels in good health and both roughly around 8-9 years of age.

Thank you so much for your time and suggestions,

Ana

[anonymous]

Yes, make an appointment with a veterinary dermatologist and get the dog diagnosed.

Pruritus is not a typical response to anxiety. Your vet is correct.

She probably has atopic dermatitis/environmental allergies. There is no cure, allergies wax and wane. There is effective treatment but it will cost a few bucks.

Environmental allergies tend to show up between ages 1 to 3 and get worse with age.
Maybe that was why she was given up/abandoned.

Don’t keep changing the food and trying all kinds of bogus remedies, it won’t work.

Please see my posts, you may find something helpful.
/forums/search/atopic+dermatitis/

Take the dog out for bathroom breaks every 2 hours and first thing in the morning and the last thing before bedtime. Try to be patient, it sounds like this dog has been through a lot.
When her skin condition is properly diagnosed and treated you may notice a much more relaxed and comfortable dog.

Regarding the separation anxiety you may want to talk to your vet about medication, as the dog continues to stabilize after a few months to a year she can be tapered off. It doesn’t have to be forever.

[Candice A]

Hi Christie, that’s going to be really helpful to observe for triggers with the symptom journal. A couple of things to think about might be:
** A cyclic pancreatitis caused by protein-rich or fatty foods – this could cause nausea and drooling and maybe the skin irritation is due to the drool wetness.
**A lack of acid in the stomach, which can be due to medications, dairy products, grains and large amounts of water- this lack of stomach acid leads to prolonged transit time of foods- and the protein begins to turn rancid. The body’s response is to push it through ASAP- and saliva helps that happen.
**Imbalance of bacteria- this often results in random or intermitant signs of nausea with or without gassiness. I see great results with Herbsmith Microflora Plus as a probiotic. It helps the digestive tract do its job and also contains stomach calming herbs such as ginger and licorice. I usually have clients use this for 30 days and then re-eval.
**Food sensitivity-or AKA food allergies-The signs and symptoms that you described do often correlate with food allergies. If your pup is doing a lot of paw and leg licking I have seen some pets get an upset tummy from all the hair. It can be irritating to the stomach so I guess that makes sense.
**And lastly I always ask families to watch for any potential environmental allergies such as: laundry soaps, fabric softeners, fabric sprays like Feebreeze, air fresheners, candles, plug ins, strong essential oils, floor cleaners, dish soaps, added chemicals to city water sources ( just the chlorine and fluoride can sometimes cause my dogs to vomit), chemicals from hoses and wool rugs. These are the most common situations I see.
I am happy to do a complimentary nutritional consult if you would like 🙂 (https://journeysmobilevet.com/nutritional-consult-options) Good Luck!

[Candice A]

According to immunology research over the past few years – food allergies to chicken usually do not indicate a sensitivity to turkey or duck. There is about a 30-35% chance that exposure wise, a pet is sensitive to multiple poultry proteins.

[Candice A]

“I guess I usually point to diet first because I had a vet years ago, she was very good, and told me most of the dogs have problems due to their diet.”

Hi Joanne,
I think your instinct to look at diet is correct. I try to address the underlying cause of an infection or disease and there is something that is creating that environment that yeast can grow. I do a lot of nutritional modification and for your pup I would consider:
**The carbohydrate content of the food- because carbs alter the pH of the body and the skin.
**A food sensitivity-because allergies and sensitivities can lead to escalating inflammatory pathways as well as auto-immune conditions.
**Detox- because inflammation can clog up the liver. By increasing blood flow to the liver we can reduce inflammation, reduce the cascade of cytokines and reduce histamine level in the blood stream.
I’m happy to do a basic consult for you 🙂 (https://journeysmobilevet.com/nutritional-consult-options) Good Luck!

[anonymous]

/forums/search/hyperpigmentation

Quote “it appears to be blackish, reddish color and feels like a sticky texture”

What you described sounds like it could be hyperpigmentation (not caused by food)
The “sticky texture” sounds like skin infection may have set in.

Below is an excerpt from: http://www.allergydogcentral.com/tag/hyperpigmentation/
Some allergic dogs also have issues with dark, almost black patches appearing on their skin. This is known as hyperpigmentation, a condition in which patches of skin become darker in color than the normal surrounding skin. Hyperpigmentation is often combined with hair loss or balding.
As with all allergy symptoms, if you see reddish discoloration or signs of hyperpigmentation, you should talk to your veterinarian. They should be able to help you to determine if your dog is indeed suffering from allergies, or if their skin condition is related to a different health issue.