Search Results for 'allergies'

[Chipy]

Hi Jake,

I am sorry to hear that you are going through this with your beloved pup, and understand that you would like to provide him with some immediate relief.

Allergies and skin problems are often the signals that the body is out of balance. Dr. Dobias has written several articles on the topics of allergies and paw licking that I have shared with you below. Many dog lovers are surprised to learn about the underlying cause of these common issues and the natural protocols that can be super helpful.

WHY ARE SKIN ALLERGIES IN DOGS OFTEN MISDIAGNOSED?
https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/11014037-why-are-skin-allergies-in-dogs-often-misdiagnosed

WHY DOGS LICK THEIR PAWS – NATURAL APPROACH TO TREATMENT:
https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/11015041-why-dogs-lick-their-paws-natural-approach-to-treatment

5-STEP HOLISTIC APPROACH TO PAW LICKING IN DOGS:
https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/11014073-what-you-should-know-about-paw-licking-and-chewing-in-dogs

Apoquel can look like a miracle for dogs with allergies and their human companions watching them itch, however the negative effects of this drug are now well documented.

I recommend that you seek the guidance of a local holistic/integrative vet to help you with alternative treatment options and also have your dog’s spine checked by a chiropractor – as issues with spinal health are related to skin problems in dogs. I have included some links to help you find holistic practitioners in your area:

https://www.ahvma.org/find-a-holistic-veterinarian/
http://www.civtedu.org/directory/

Regarding diet, it’s best to avoid processed food (kibble and canned food) entirely and provide a fresh, raw or cooked diet for your dog. Dry dog food/kibble is is an extruded, highly processed product full of synthetic ingredients and starchy carbohydrates, which are very often the main cause of allergies. Every medical professional knows that fresh food is always healthier than processed food!

Fine tuning your dog’s body with a species appropriate diet and essential nutrients is the key to supporting his health and well-being. The best diet is as nature intends; fresh meat and bones with some vegetables and leafy greens, along with all natural vitamins, minerals, omega-3’s and probiotics;

Here is a link to a quick and easy Natural Diet Course which contains videos and articles full of information on this subject and an online Recipe Maker which will help you build healthy meals for your pup with the ingredients you have available:

https://peterdobias.com/pages/course-rawdiet

https://recipemaker.peterdobias.com

We switched to home-made meals many years ago and it was the best decision for our pup. I hope you will find these free resources helpful and wish you and your boy the best in good health.

Chipy

[Patricia A]

Kathy is it possible this could be the problem??? It may be related to her facial structure. Some BT can have Brachycephalic Airway Obstruction Syndrome (BAOS), the shape of their short heads can lead to airway obstruction, so when eating or drinking, they in effect can’t breathe, so they vomit. Other possibilities include elongated soft palate, pyloric stenosis, or megasophagus. All of those could suggest an abnormality that might have a surgical response, some may not. If her food is not even reaching her stomach, but is vomiting very shortly after eating or drinking, the problem might be a congenital structure problem, not related to her food or allergies.
Also have you tried many smalls meals a day? Getting off the kibble and giving only boiled white meat chicken and rice for a few days and see if she vomits? Those with dogs with this facial structure also elevate their water and food bowls .
Also just like people who take acid suppresses, once stopped a rebound effect might occur which makes the acid worse for awhile.

• This reply was modified 1 week, 1 day ago by Patricia A.
• This reply was modified 1 week, 1 day ago by Patricia A.

[Patricia A]

Jake first off make sure your Goldie has no flea dirt on him. Just pull a fine comb through fur and shake on white paper. You’ll see little black specks that rehydrate in a bit of water turning red with the blood. Fleas can live year round I think. For allergies make sure there is nothing in your home causing the paw and eye itching. Maybe scented carpet cleaner, those scented plug ins or even scented detergent you wash where she beds.
Make sure you wash off all her paws thoroughly when coming in from walks or in your backyard so he doesn’t scratch at face with paws full of pollen etc. You can try the change in diet without going hydrolyzed . Maybe SLOWLY, SLOWLY as not to cause more problems with stomach upset, switching to a food with a novel protein. I use Stella Chewy’s. If you look at their f/b page many positive comments. I also use Primal freeze dried as toppers.
Here is many products that you can look through for the ones that people said worked and see which one fits for your dogs symptoms .
Hope this helps.

[Jake G]

Hello Everyone,

I am new to this forum but I really wanted to reach out to see if I could get some good advice. My 5 year old Golden has battled allergies since he was a pup. He also had puppy strangles so I do know if that had any long lasting effects or if the allergies are genetic.

I also used to think it was environmental because he use to do better in the winter. However, the past couple years its been basically year round. So I am thinking it could be food related. He has really dry skin around his eyes and muzzle while also licking his paws with some scratching. He does not have dandruff and no red marks around his stomach or anywhere else. The major areas are around his eyes and muzzle like I mentioned…does this give any indication if it might be food related or environmental?

I give him apoquel here n there but I worry very much about the long term use. Are there any natural allergy relief? I know I read some things about Callogen and Quercetin. Also thinking about putting him on a hydrolized diet but would rather try something else that has more nutritional value.

Any advice, comments or pointing me in the right direction would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Jake

[alberta H]

Have not been able to get the Zignature turkey since about last December. They keep telling me it was because it became so popular they got caught off guard and could not keep up the demand but would soon (that was months ago) this came just after we started seeing discoloration of the turkey pate when opening the can. we told them but all’s they did was send a free case. we have switched to Fromm’s turkey and pumpkin but our girl does not seem to be doing as good as she used to on the Zignature. Has anyone heard what the heck has been going on? our girls has sooo many allergies (can’t eat anything with chunks, and no lamb, no beef, no fish, no milk and no potatoes. So trying to find her a food is so difficult. thanks for anything you might know on all this.

[Maureen R]

Greetings! Thank you so much! After some research I believe my dog hahas allergies as well as DLE. Due to the current situation my vet is not open and only emergent cases are being taken. So I am going to work on treating her naturally with organic food, vitamin e niacinamide and keep an eye on her flaking, runny sometimes inflamed nose. She coughs sometimes sneezes. I live in the Finger Lakes New York and just in the last week her nose has become terribly flaky and bled once. I softly ran a q-tip under the front to see if there was something in there and there was what seems to be a hardened scab that came out. Today I am going to try a 25 mg benydryl to see if she has relief. She has a bit of eye discharge. Nothing from the nose or eye indicates infection for example, no green or yellow or smelly stuff. Wishus luck and thankyou all.

[Michelle K]

I’m so sorry you are going through this. I dont know if food allergies cause diarrhea or not, you may want to give the vet s call to discuss.
My boy has so many food allergies. We had him tested at the vet. It was a blood test by VARL
They actually give you a list of suggestions for food after they complete the test too.
The one I use now is by blackwood. It’s a catfish blend. He is allergic to chicken, lamb and too many other things to name.
Good luck.

[Kathleen H]

Actually his weight is great! he weighs just under 10lbs. He is technically a mix of a shortie and parsons. He has the long legs like his mother, His dad had the short legs. He was also the runt of the litter. He looks buff. He runs and jumps and plays like a puppy at times. The last vet visit his vet said he and my 12 yr old Border Collie mix are very healthy for their age and look half their age! I have been giving them both CBD pellets made from the entire hemp plant the last 4 yrs which IMO has helped their coat and their old age everything. Back to my JRT Einstein, I walk him every 4 hours. It does seem like the lipoma has been pressing near where he urinates and I have seen his little ” wee, wee” when he is having a bowel movement the past month…I had NEVER seen it ever as he was neutered as soon as he was able years ago. The only difference is the switch of food. I have considered grain-free but having eliminated corn, wheat and soy in the kibble they had been eating did improve both of their coats and my BC mix no longer has skin allergies.I do believe they need a few grains. Im just wondering if the fat content in the food could just be adding to the bulk in his stomach.and he is not digesting it well.It has had no ill effects on my BC mix. As I stated he does relieve himself, both ways every 4 hours when I take them out as does the BC mix. The Vet did say the lipoma might eventually get in the way of him urinating but advised against surgery at his age even several years ago. I absolutely hate the idea of going back to kibble full-time because of the vitamin D that sometimes gets through in almost any brand!. I know I will get backlash from this but I was feeding them Rachel Ray Nutrish Real Chicken and veggies recipe which was a come up from the Beneful they had always eaten as einsteins parents ate it and I just kept him on it after I was able to take him home. When I rescued My BC Mix..he just ate what Einstein ate. I spend more money on my dogs than I do myself! As far as vaccines go…They got whatever was required up until 3 years of age, the distemper/parvo and something else combo. They only get Rabies every 3 years. They did, however, get the distemper booster two years ago. I had a vet when I lived in PA tell me unless my dogs were around other dogs they really did not need that vaccine after the age of 3. Well, when I moved back to NY this vet said she had heard that from a lot of people and talked me into getting that done several years ago. That was only because I have an RV and my dogs are in the woods a lot. I did not get them the Lyme disease shot because I believe that their monthly Advantix II should take care of ticks anyways. I believe less is best! Idk I guess I will just talk to their vet about the food when they go to their wellness exam in about 6 wks.I guess what it really boils down to is at 12 years of age I know my time left with them is less than the time I’ve had with them and my anxiety gets the best of me. Thank you for your response and I am sorry this has been such a long reply!

[anonymous]

A Veterinary Dermatologist can do a skin test that will tell you exactly what environmental allergies your dog has.

Food sensitivities tend to fluctuate so the blood test is not accurate even when done by a vet.

The mail order hair/saliva tests are a total scam.

[haleycookie]

How about doing research of your own? Find a low carb food and feed that. You’re dog will be more satiated and loose weight while keeping muscle. Vets usually don’t know much about nutrition unfortunately. The big three are all filled with carbs which will lead to weight gain in most dogs if not careful. As far as allergies go. My lab has seasonal allergies outside so I have to wipe his paws off and his lower belly if he walks in grass while outside. That helps a little but some of those allergies aren’t possible to completely get rid of.

[anonymous]

Regarding allergies, your best bet is to go to a board certified Veterinary Dermatologist (asap) for exam/diagnosis/treatment.

Continue to work closely with your General Practice Vet regarding GI issues.
It’s not the chicken (just my opinion based on my experience with a allergy dog)

This is a good weight management food, run it by your vet https://www.gofromm.com/fromm-family-weight-management-gold-food-for-dogs

Add water to all dry food, and use wet/canned food when possible.

PS: They (dogs) all act like they are starving, no matter how much you feed them. They are scavengers. Don’t be fooled 🙂

[Michelle D]

I have been through several types of food with my 1.5 year old Beagle. When he was a puppy we had him on Science Diet and then Fromm. He had urinary crystals and was placed on Royal Canin Urinary S/O. He had problems with scratching his face, chewing paws and ear infections. I chose not to use the Apoquel the vet suggested and asked if food could be changed. After neutering him at a year old with the vet’s approval, we took him off the urinary diet and put him on Victor grain inclusive Ocean Whitefish. The itching and ear infections stopped but he gained weight and had gastritis a couple times. He was placed on Science diet canned low fat gastrointestinal and had some paw chewing and face scratching so switched to Pro Plan Sensitive Salmon. The itching, paw chewing occurs when he goes outside sometimes but not nearly as bad as it was. However, he needs to lose weight. He is a 15 inch Beagle and 37 lbs. The vet only wants him to have a cup a day and said I could use green beans. They only like the Big 3 food companies so I am limited on recommendations. Of course he acts like he is starving all the time and has started some bad behaviors in an attempt to steal food. I am searching for a weight management food, but most have chicken. I am not sure if the allergies were to chicken, corn, wheat or soy…they possibly could be environmental also. I have read up on so many foods here and then read reviews with scary stories in the comments sections and just don’t know which way to go. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you.

[haleycookie]

The only case where a dog should be permanently on a soy based food is if they have EXTREME allergies to every other protein. Which is incredibly rare and will probably be a life long struggle for u and him if that is the case. Diets like the one he’s on are usually given for elimination diets to narrow down ingredients the dog is sensitive to. I’ve have seen ppl who feed chicken based diets and the dogs are horribly allergic to chicken but when switched to a fresh or raw food diet they don’t have the reaction anymore. If you’re interested in adopting the dog I would see if the rescue (or your vet) can refer u to a vet nutritionalist whom can make u up a proper balanced diet using fresh foods that wouldn’t flare up his allergies.

[AntiCorn D]

We have a 4 yo Westie that is plagued by digestive problem: vomiting bile, constant licking, diarrhea, stomach noises. She also has severe allergies here in Florida, possibly lawn care related. She is on a hydrolyzed protein diet which is somewhat helpful and we’ve tried omeprazole with some help. I tried giving her a teaspoon of plain greek yogurt when her stomach growls and gurgles, and often it cures the sounds immediately. H pylori infection hasn’t been ruled out. She did end up with mild pancreatitis one time when she was vomiting a lot, also had some diarrhea; probably just dehydration, but lab work did show elevated pancreatic enzymes. I found this thread while searching for a raw food diet that may help the puppers. I was thinking about starting her on such a diet to see if it would help.

[anonymous]

First of all the folks at the shelter are not veterinary healthcare professionals. I would ask to speak to the vet that examined the dog and prescribed the therapeutic diet. Your request will probably be denied.

I would then request to take the dog to a vet of my choosing for an examination (you pay). The diet you mentioned is probably a food trial to rule out sensitivities so I would suspect that the dog may be suffering from allergies.

If this is the case the dog will need to be under the care of a veterinary dermatologist for the rest of it’s life.
There is no cure for allergies but there is effective treatment.

And, NO, there is no substitute for prescription dog food, the one you mentioned goes through a special process so that the dog will not respond to any of the ingredients. Hence, the price.

All commercial dog food is subject to cross contamination. If you think the cost of the dog food is too much I would not adopt this dog. Allergies usually require lifelong treatment, they have flareups so it can be expensive.

BTW: There are no veterinary healthcare professionals affiliated with this site. Some of the regulars give dangerous advice involving raw diets and such.

Good luck

[Larry A]

I have 5 pitbull puppies and 2 dachshund mix with allergies. We have tries a variety of food. We now feed them Nulo FreeStyle with not egg or chicken anything and they love it an the allergies are far better. We switch between fish and turkey. The medal version does have chicken that is the main difference also a little less expensive.

[Muttjunky]

Thanks guys for the tips. We have racked our brains for months trying to determine anything at all that could be causing the upper respiratory issues. Nothing comes to mind that has changed. His blankets are washed in “Hypoallergenic” soap, and I also have seasonal allergies myself so we use nothing scented, not even our deodorant or soap. Due to our history of adopting older dogs, we don’t have carpet anymore, we installed tile floors and use throw rugs which are washed often, nothing different since the day he was adopted 4 years ago and this started one year ago. Scoured outside as well looking for anything new, and nothing, but it seems to be steady with Freddie regardless of season. I had hopes that the hard freeze would end his issues, but nothing different. Vet gives him clean report, blood work good, appetite good, just damn post nasal drip and eye discharge…looks like my friend who has a bad case of hayfever in spring, but freddies lasts all year. Thanks again

[anonymous]

@ Muttjunky: “Should I see a dermatologist?”

Allergies don’t always have dermatological symptoms. Please discuss with your General Practice Vet as to which specialist you should be referred to. As he has not responded to the treatment provided so far.

Either dermatology (dermatologists treat allergies), Internal Medicine or a ear, nose and throat specialist.

I assume your General Practice Vet has ruled out medical conditions, done lab work and other diagnostic testing? If not, start there. ASAP

PS: Let him skip meals if he’s not interested. As long as he’s drinking water. Just offer him his meal twice a day, pick up after 10 minutes if not consumed, store in fridg and offer at the next mealtime. If he doesn’t eat solid food times 3 days go to the vet to find out why he has a poor appetite.

[anonymous]

Make an appointment with a veterinary dermatologist, asap, for exam/testing and effective treatment options.
Many allergens are airborne and present all year round (indoors/outdoors)
You are wasting your time changing foods over and over again. Meanwhile the dog is suffering (from the symptoms you describe).

Hope this article helps: http://skeptvet.com/Blog/2010/06/evidence-based-canine-allergy-treatment/

you can use the search engine there to look up allergies and other topics.
Good luck

[Muttjunky]

So my 10 yo rescue dog Freddie, is so damn picky its frustrating. I need something that fits this category!!

-Chicken free (trying to eliminate chicken as his possible allergen)
-Canned with not a pate texture…he likes chunky or stewy
-Carageenan free is best but negotiable
-I have had Zignature, which looks great on paper but the texture is a big no-go. Royal Canin hydrolyzed is a NO for him too he said last night at dinner.
-Does anyone know the texture of the Merrick Limited Ingredient?

Our issue isn’t digestive, it’s upper respiratory allergies, he has had a constant immune reaction ie: Eye discharge, post nasal drip that of course he swallows, I wish he could just blow his nose! I have changed nothing in the house at all and have had him for 4 years, this started a year ago. Can’t be outdoor allergies as it’s constant is winter, summer, and never better or worse. He’s been to vet, there is no lung involvement and antibiotics had no effect, and she found no evidence of infection. I want to help him so bad.

Any suggestions would be so welcome! Thank you!

-Muttjunky

[anonymous]

Make an appointment with a board certified veterinary dermatologist, asap. The blood test that you paid for is notorious for being inaccurate.
The dermatologist will most likely recommend a prescription (hydrolyzed) food trial. The dog will not react to any of the ingredients. You could ask your general practice vet about it while you wait for the appointment with the dermatologist.

Food sensitivities tend to fluctuate. Environmental allergies are more common and if you are not seeing results from the treatment that your general practice vet has provided, time to see a specialist.

The most accurate testing for allergens (not food) is intradermal skin testing can only be done by a dermatologist.
ASIT (allergen specific immunotherapy) is the treatment for environmental allergies that has the least possibility of side effects, it’s not even a medication. It allows the dog to naturally desensitize from allergens.

I hope the articles you will find at this site and the comments that follow them help: http://skeptvet.com/Blog/2015/10/evidence-update-evidence-based-canine-allergy-treatment/

• This reply was modified 4 months ago by anonymous.

[Amanda B]

Hello everyone,

My best friend recently had an allergy test done on her almost two year old Black Mouth Curr, the results came back with 21 allergies. 8 of those allergies are beef, rice, sweet potatoes, kelp, brewers yeast, eggs, venison and corn. We have been searching the internet looking for dog foods that do not contain these and have sadly have had no luck. Her vet was not very much help at all and we’re not sure what to do. She has even considered making her own dog food however most recipes we come across have these ingredients as well.

Any suggestions?

[Lynne C]

hi, after lots of money spent and vet visits, you should know that those blood test kits are bery inaccurate for food allergies. There sre lots and lots of false positives and negatives. The ONLY way to truly identify food allergy is by an elimination diet. This involves either feeding a novel protein source or a hydrolyzed diet like royal canin for 8-13 weeks then intrducing foods one by one, and seeing reactions.
Each new food is tested for 2 weeks.

[Kristiina D]

Hi, i’ve actually noticed the same! We were just discussing her behavioral change, weight gain despite us cutting her feeding dose to half and bad breath. I not sure it is the food but this has been a major change for her. She has severe allergies so food options are limited.

[haleycookie]

I break out in hives over stress sometimes haha. It could really be anything. As I’ve gotten older the last few years I’ve even developed allergies to things I’ve been exposed to all my life. If they come back then you’ll know it’s something he’s still being exposed to and you can figure what to do then. But hopefully it’ll just be a one time reaction.

[Aaron W]

So I know this is a dog thread but this i think is helpful and totally is related. My cat princeton 11 years old, beat cancer when he was 7, bad a chicken allergy that I suspected back when he was about 5 or so. At the time shopping around it was very difficult to find a cat food that was chicken free. Fromm beef for cats, dry food, was the only one that actually at the time didnt have chicken in it. I used to spend tons of time reading ingredients of dry and wet food to make sure I was meeting his dietary needs and obviously not causing him bodily harm. I bought a new bag of food in September. Fromm beef . All of a sudden my cat had severe diarrhea, in and out of the box constant I moved the litter box into my living room for hi. Within 2 weeks he lots hair on his head where cat eyebrows would be and a few days before I was going to take him to the vet- not even suspecting this was a cat food issue- he was yowling in pain, Took him to emerg. He had a UTI blockage and sadly i had to say goodbye very unexpectedly. So me and my younger cat hanging out these last two months. Shes been to vet but when I was there I told the vet she had started biting and licking her paw pads, he wasnt concerned. Moving forward to last week sydonia my sweet girl kitty of 3.5 years old, all of a sudden licking paws, licking the hair off her belly- no sores though. But itching and aggitated. Still eating the same fromm beef food. Called my vet explained she has licked off the hair on her lower body and is licking her lower region under he tail. Even with this new bag of food I am changing the brand. I went to the store where I got some sample pkgs of other brands that have no beef, chicken, eggs or dairy. The top four items cats and dogs can be allergic too. He told me fromm beef had lots of chicken in it. I said since when?! The original recipe had no chicken in the beef. I emailed fromm they said they have not changed the recipe. Needless to say princeton is possibly over the rainbow bridge due to unannounced ingredient changes. And sydonia is in process of changing her food over as of TODAY. external symptoms of itching, licking/ overgrooming, watery eyes or gurgly purr is food allergy symptoms. That can take up to two years of an animal eating a food they have sensitivities or allergies too to show physical signs. I do not know how long it has been since they changed their recipe. I just know it has made my animals exceptional ill. There is no actual animal allergy test you can do either, blood work is not effective in this department. Knowing as of today that I might have unintentionally makde my cat(s) sick from not re reading the food recipes in the bags makes me feel awful. I know when I first bought beed fromm it was the only one with no chicken or chicken meal or chicken liver and now it has all three plus broth and all these other items. I will be close monitoring my kitty who is still here. I hope this helps anybody who might need a more recent reassuring post to CHANGE FOOD DO NOT feed your animals fromm. You will pay a difference price than buying a new 70 dollar bag of food with more transparent companies.

[haleycookie]

KD is almost nothing but carbs with a tad bit of fat and even a smaller amount of protein. I would honestly switch to a canned or raw/cooked diet. You’ll want low phos which is what KD does in the cheapest (but most expensive price tag) way. I would ask the vet to be sent to a vet nutritionalist to see if they can help u formulate a high protein low fat low carb diet for your dogs using fresh ingredients. You’ll see the fat melt off your male and his allergies will likely improve as well.

[Yianna S]

Hello, my dog is a maltese, 10 years old and lately she has allergies. I’ve been feeding her from day 1 with Orijen (red, but now Senior). I am looking information for Acana Lamb & Apple, and if it is suitable for a 10 years old dog.
Thank you!

[Sheila J]

My boxer, Walter has had 2 surgeries, and has severe adhesions. They can’t do anything about it because it’s where his pancreas, stomached, and intestines all meet. His scar tissue has even started to grow blood vessels in which his pancreas is feeding. He’s slowly starving. I have found 1 thing that might work. It’s the only thing left, unless we can find a specialist to operate, but with the blood vessels growing in the scar tissue, and the tens of thousands of dollars we’ve spent within the last 5 years to get no answers except allergies or pancreatitis, we don’t have it. So, castor oil is the last shot we have. I’ve found many incidents of it helping people, so why not animals? You rub it on their skin, put an undyed patch on it, or soak the patch I it, then put it I the area of problem, wrap with Saran wrap for an hour. Do this a couple of times a week, it’s supposed to soften the scar tissue. I am praying it works. Good luck to all of you and your fur babies

[Sheila J]

Hi Susan. I know this is a very old post I’m replying to. How is Patch? My dog, Walter Boxer Dog, has had , and still has pancreatitis. But, it doesn’t always mean that’s what he’s suffering from. For years, and thousands of dollars, we have taken Walter in because of the same symptoms as Patch. Everytime we were told it’s pancreatitis. We knew there was something else, but we were treated like we don’t know our dog.. he kept getting more sickly, puking after every meal, or every dring of water he took. And it was sudden, he would spray half way across the kitchen. Finally enough is enough. Took him to a different vet, and he checked his pancreas… It pancreas was perfect. He went on to say allergies. Shots and that damn hills bros z/d.. boy did he push that z/d. Walter seemed to get better for a month, then it’s been all down hill since then. Kept taking him to the vet every other week, and a few emergency visits, thousands of dollars, and he just kept pushing that damn dog food. 5 months of this. I did some reading and I had some questions and when I asked the vet, he was pissed off, he said, who you gonna trust, menit the internet. Well, not him considering he kept giving the same treatment even though it was obviously not working. Both of the vets said it might be us, who are causing Walter to be sick, because we want to believe he is, even when he’s not. Our auras. Well, off to a 3rd vet. This time we found out what is causing our dog to lose 30 pounds cause he can’t keep his food down and is in pain all the time. Scar tissue! Scar tissue from his 2 surgeries. There’s nothing they can do, now. It’s in a spot where his pancreas intestines and stomached all meet. She said maybe a specialist could help, but Walters body has started to form blood vessels in the scar tissue and the pancreas is feeding that way. His intestines have stretched out as large as his stomached from all those years of his food not going through like it should and backing up. We have soent, what might end up being his last years of life, I’d say about 20 thousand dollars for him to be miserable. Now, we have nothing left for a specialist that he needs to possibly or not, save him. So, if your dog has been in any kind of trauma, or has surgeries, or anything that may cause scar tissue, get it checked out ASAP before it’s too late. Lots of times they can scrape it and there’s no problems. So, in the long run, you’d save money and unnecessary suffering for you and Patch. Just a suggestion. We really have no options. Walter is only 6 and I want him to see 7 8 10. So, anyone have any thoughts on castor oil? We have no other options to save him. I heard castor oil softens scar tissue. Well, it’s the only thing we have left. Susan, I hope you and Patch can nip this in the butt, and have many years together. Remember, you know your dog the best, not your vet. Go to another vet if yours is not doing any good. Don’t waste your time money and Patch getting the same diagnosis, but no improvments .

[GSDsForever]

Retry (apologies for duplicates, if they pop up):

LOL! I just saw your post afterward, as I was sending the last one.

I would love to live in New Hampshire. What an awesome, beautiful state — and such rich history! My dogs & I would love the seasons and colder weather. Unfortunately, I am stuck for a while elsewhere (lol).

I got excited when I found the Farmina Light formula, as it’s got to be better than what you’re currently using for dry. Then I compared, and I got more excited for you.

You’re very welcome. We all need a little help sometimes!

My own girl is doing really well at this point, but food allergies can make finding foods & selecting them challenging, not to mention this whole DCM-diet concern! I feel like no one can make foods without pulses/legumes anymore, esp. not higher protein ones. So frustrating. And foods aren’t very hypoallergenic, food allergy friendly!

[Jerry R]

Well no wonder some of you are jumping from one dog food to the next because of issues. Pototoes? Seriously? If raw potatoes are toxic to dogs why would you feed kibble that has potatoes in any form?
And seriously hay? Sorry I find that unbelievable. Grains and cereals are the main cause of food allergies in dogs. I wonder how many of their ancestors were out grazing in a hay field?

As far as labels go, I wouldnt trust a dang thing any of them said anyway. As a truck driver, I’ve been in enough dog food plants to know I wouldnt feed that garbage to my dogs. Dead animals rotting away that stink to high heaven are ground up and put in dog food.

• This reply was modified 5 months, 2 weeks ago by Jerry R.

[haleycookie]

Dogs are actually mesocarnivores. And should be on a diet with <~30 carb. Which youll never find in a grain in food. In fact I’d say 90% of grain free kibbles aren’t even formulated that way. That’s why it’s important to find a meat based kibble as just a base. Add in less processed foods like canned, freeze dried raw, bone broths, and frozen raw etc for a better more varied diet. Raw and home cooked properly formulated would be best. Especially for a dog with allergies where u want to control the foods they ingest as most of not all dog kibbles are exposed to cross contamination in factories.

• This reply was modified 5 months, 2 weeks ago by haleycookie.

[Shayne V]

Hi Anna, I’m Shayne from Ultimate Pet Nutrition. Thank you for taking the time to leave a review about your dog’s experience with Nutra Thrive. I have not heard of this happening before, so I would like to fill out an Adverse Reactions Form. Our sole mission is to improve the health and happiness of all pets. We would never create a product that we did not believe in, let alone, a product that is unsafe for consumption. We believe in our products which is why every product is backed by a 90-Day Money Back Guarantee. I wanted to mention that we always ask that our customers consult their pet’s veterinarian prior to starting any new supplement to ensure that it’s safe for that specific pet to take depending on their medical history, allergies, etc. In addition, if our customers find that their pets are reacting negatively to any product, it is always recommended to stop giving them that product immediately. I am so sorry for this upsetting experience. Please e-mail me at @ultimatepetnutrition.com">Shayne@ultimatepetnutrition.com so I can issue you a full refund and fill out the Adverse Reactions Form. I’m so sorry to hear about your upsetting experience but I look forward to making this right. I’ll keep a lookout for your e-mail.

[GSDsForever]

If you would like to try a controlled therapeutic hypoallergenic diet (by prescription) first, commercial options, here’s one I think would be worth trying:

Farmina Vet Life Ultra Hypo
https://www.farmina.com/us/dog-food/farmina-vet-life-canine/72-ultrahypo-canine.html

The single protein is fish and it is grain inclusive.

It combines using an alternative/novel protein that is not known to be a common allergen in dogs AND is hydrolyzed, breaking the amino acids down thereby making it even less likely for a dog to experience an allergic reaction. It is hydrolyzed to 6,000 daltons.

This diet has gone through a clinical research trial to establish its efficacy for dogs with food allergies or intolerances. I like the company & its foods, the use of fish as the hydrolyzed protein source, and its simple clean + quality ingredient list. And this is likely to be a very highly digestible diet — making the lower protein (~20% DMB) while doing a food trial less of a worry.

• This reply was modified 5 months, 2 weeks ago by GSDsForever.

[GSDsForever]

Hi Nikki.

Two grain-inclusive foods I would recommend are (Eagle Pack) Holistic Select Adult Radiant Sardine, Anchovy, & Salmon, from Wellpet (Wellness brand), and Annamaet’s Option (Wild Salmon).

I would start with the Holistic Select, and see how your dog does first, as Annamaet also includes lamb. So it would be a step up, introducing 2nd protein, after seeing how your dog does with fish alone.

Farmina is another excellent European food, made in Italy but available here. But its grain inclusive line does include a cereal grain in the wheat family, a relative of common American wheat, along with oats. Wheat is one of the most common food allergens for dogs, almost as common as chicken. Therefore while I think what Farmina is using is wholesome, a dog allergic to wheat might still react to it.

I don’t like Taste of the Wild at all — but they do make a grain inclusive line (which I still would not recommend).

The most common food allergens in dogs are beef, dairy, chicken, wheat, eggs, soy, and corn. Beef is actually more common than chicken as an allergen; I think we just hear more about chicken from pet owners as more foods are chicken based.

But keep in mind that dogs with food allergies can often continue to react to new foods for quite some time, when they are not *actually* allergic to the new food ingredients. For this reason dogs need 8-12 weeks on a new food for pruritus (itching) and any other symptoms to resolve. Whatever your dog has had before, your dog may still react to, prior to getting symptoms under control — which can, but not always, require a full therapeutic trial on a novel protein (or, alternatively, hydrolyzed) first.

Has your dog had fish before? It is not a common allergen for dogs and would be a good place to start. If this change in diet doesn’t resolve things, I would recommend doing a formal diet elimination food trial w/a controlled novel protein.

The other thing to be aware of is that most commercial diets have issues with cross-contamination, which means that ingredients (like chicken or beef or wheat or corn, etc.) can be in the food without being listed on the label.

*Some* reputable good companies will take extra precautions to prevent that, knowing that a particular diet is being fed due to food allergies and intolerances — while others, despite being marketed as limited ingredient or alternative protein diets, do a pretty poor job at this, aren’t knowledgeable about it, or don’t care, and do nothing to prevent it.

[Jerry R]

The vast majority of vets have little to no experience in pet nutrition. The little they do have is what kibble companies that pay for their education tell them. This is no BS either.
Science diet is a major contributor to their education which clearly explains how such a poor dog food can be #1 vet recomended.
Don’t let people like anonymous contribute to these myths about raw feeding and meaty bones.
Vets are counting on exactly that because feeding raw significantly cuts into their livlihood in greatly reduced vet visits for health issues from allergies to arthritis.
My 18 month old red longhaired dachshund recently got an A++ clean bill of health from his dr. after a brief exam while getting his rabies booster giving mention to his very healthy skin and coat and unusually clean, white chompers not normally seen in his breed.

• This reply was modified 5 months, 3 weeks ago by Jerry R.

[Zoe E. W]

Read the detailed tips. Thanks to Chris for shearing your tips. But I saw many English bulldogs have some problem with their regular food. Some fish food and the chicken food also may have problem with allergies. What types of food should I need to provide my English Bulldog with allergies.

[Dene C]

I ordered this in July, just after having foot surgery. Before it arrived, I happened upon this page and read about people’s dogs getting sick from having this product. I was so alarmed, that when it arrived I did not even open the package, because if my dog got sick, I would not be able to quickly take her to the vet due to my inability to weight bear or walk.
It wasn’t until early November that I was able to walk and carry my dog if needed to the car to drive to the vet. So I started putting the powder on her food and she liked it. So far so good.

My dog suffers from chronic allergies and has been on a low-dose of prednisone for years. After she had been using this product for several weeks I stopped the prednisone to see if the symptoms would return. I was hoping she would no longer need the prednisone, but unfortunately she began coughing, sneezing, and vomiting bile.
Let me be clear, this was not in any way in reaction to this product, rather this was how she normally behaved when she was not on prednisone. I had hoped that this product would mitigate the need for the prednisone, alas it did not. In fact I saw absolutely no change in my dog’s behavior, other than the fact that she enjoyed the taste of her food with this powder on it, rendering it nothing more than a very expensive ‘spice’.
Shayne, can you help me get a refund, even though it’s past the 90 days?

[william M]

@anonymous, I get you want to lean on science. But this Science is the same that has kept cancer alive in humans and tells you in 1976 that your going to have your brains fried by an ozone hole then in 1983 tell you we are entering an ice age and today are telling us greenland will be our next tropical paradise…..and all of them gave a 20 year timeline for affect. Not that science isnt good, but I would challenge you and your science to visit me in ALASKA about 4 degrees north of valdez and watch my local wolf pack. Two things your gonna notice…none of them have been found alongside the road dead from a chicken bone in their throats, and they been proliferating quite well for the last several thousand years without your scientific friends. Granted all the allergies and the anomalies seem to come with the housebound, apartment dwelling critters and many of the overbred experiments by the AKC. Might spend a bit more time watching national geo and seeing how your racoon and weasel survive so well without all the help.

[Suzanna F]

Hello Everyone!

I am on a new and very tight budget and am wondering what is the best bang for your buck dog food without chicken out there. One of my dogs is allergic to chicken and will also develop allergies to any protein he gets fed for more than a few months so a rotation of proteins is necessary. I am trying to keep it under $50/bag if possible. Do you guys have any suggestions?

Thanks!

[Christi H]

I have a 16 month old lab/pit mix and we believe she is allergic to meat, chicken or lamb so we are looking for a quality dog food we can feed her. We have been giving her Core Seafood, but it smells so bad and her breath…..YUK!!!!

Any advice on what food to feed her? We are just about ready to start cooking her food ourselves, but hoping someone has some good advice since we have never had this issue with any of our other dogs.

[Holly N]

Hello:
I have read through most of the thread on this subject and wanted to weigh in. I have a female pug who supposedly was diagnosed with an enlarged vulva. She was scooting on the floor and that’s why I took her to the vet and when she was diagnose. She has food sensitivities as well as environmental allergies. Quantum leap one year later, my pug wasn’t feel well at all, with a long series of test, she was diagnosed with liver disease. She had lethargy, didn’t want to eat, constant drinking of water and urination. She now has vaginitis, which is a result of her liver disease. Just something to think about (but not too long) if you’re pup doesn’t have her symptoms clear up right away with the current treatment your vet has your dog on. Who knew that female dogs urinate through their vagina, which because of her liver disease, has created a secondary problem of vaginitis. Like I mentioned before, I didn’t read through the entire thread, so I’m not sure where you current treatment plan is with your pup. Keep in mind if your current treatment plan isn’t working, make sure your vet (or specialist) looks into things deeper. If it is liver related, the sooner it is discovered the better. Best of luck.

[Susan]

Hi Genevieve,

Oh poor Ollie, video was hard to watch,
I called this the Gulps.
yes this is BAD acid reflux coming up into the throat/mouth, please give either liquid Mylanta or Slippery Elm – 4mls so it soothes Ollies esophagus & pushes the acid down, or I give a dry biscuit “Jatz” wafer biscuit.
I wonder if Ollie has LES??
Have you done Endoscope & Biopsies??
My Patch suffers with IBD – Helicobacter, LES, Environment Allergies, Food Sensitivities.

Same as you we tried most things…
Vet Diets – didn’t help cause of the high Omega Oils, Beet Pulp & Pre-biotics Patches acid reflux seem to get worse.
Carafate made him feel sick, he’d gulped grass after taken Carafate.
Zantac, – taken 18months it worked then it didn’t work like it wasn’t strong enough.
Slippery Elm Slurry 4ml works & helps soothe the esophagus & settle stomach..
Buy Slippery Elm powder, put 1/2 a teaspoon in a cup, boil jug & slowly add boiling water & quickly stir till you have a slurry, not too thick or too thin so you can pull up 4ml into a syringe, make sure its not hot when you give to Ollie, it cools quickly.
Omeprazole-20ml for 1 yr the Omeprazole helped then it didn’t some days.
Patch went down hill November 2017 after we moved, I nilly put him to sleep but before I put him to sleep I woke up 1 morning & thought i’ll do another Endoscope & Biopsies to see if he has stomach cancer?? His other vet quickly admitted him for the next day 10am, he had gingivitis back molars from the acid coming up esophagus into his mouth he eats kibble 🙁 wet foods makes his LES worse, he gulps up wet digest food, wwhere dry kibble stays down better & when it digest it moves onto his small bowel instead of being burped back up, he doesn’t have Megaesophagus.
His Endoscope showed he had red inflamed esophagus & red wind pipe this is what made him really ill & not his happy go lucky self, when I heard his vet say he has red inflamed throat & wind pipe, it broke my heart, he was suffering like this & Staffys are bad for telling you they are in pain, they hold a lot of pain my vet said 🙁
I thought the Omeprazole was reducing his Hydrochloric acid?? his Helicobacter had come back mildly not bad like it was 6 yrs before when I had rescued him, the vet said the Omeprazole must of kept it at bay, then the vet said he thinks his Lower Esophageal Sphincter Flap in between his stomach & esophagus isn’t closing properly & the acid is washing back up into mouth causing Gulps, red esophagus etc
I suffer with GORDS, LES & Barrets Esophagus & I take Pantoprazole twice a day, my Gastro Specialist said Pantoprazole seem to work best for people who suffer with LES & GORDS so I told Patches vet Simon can we PLEASE try Pantoprazole instead of the Omeprazole, Patch has 2 vets his easy going lady vet who has a more Holistic approach & then Patch has Simon who does Patches Endoscopes, Biopsies & removes Patches lumps, he’s very very good vet educated all over the world but he agrues with you & says all PPI – acid blockers are ALL the same BUT they’re NOT I agreed back lol we argued for 1 hour, Omeprazole didn’t agree with me, neither did Parriot & Pantoprazole worked straight away so all PPI must work in different ways, even my Gastro specialist said people all react different with PPI – acid blockers but Simon said its just a way the big drug companies make more money.. Oh well I have proven him wrong cause
my Patch started to get better & hasn’t vomited in 20 months since taking Pantoprazole, he started on 20mg taken in morning, morning is best to take a PPI my Gastro special told me, a PPI doesn’t have to be before breakfast but it is better, so as soon as Patch wakes up around 6.30am I give his 20mg-Pantoprazole with a syringe with water so the tablet goes down his esophagus then he eats 10-15mins later.
End of Summer every March cause of Patches Allergies all thru Spring & Summer Patches Immune System is over worked & then it crashes & he has a IBD Flare EVERY March (I live Australia) causing bad acid reflux again so I had to increase his Pantoprazole last Summer so now he has 20mg-Pantoprazole every 12 hours

He’s a new dog, no more vomiting, no waking up early hours of morning wanting to gulp grass, no more Helicobacter..
I feed 5 smaller meals, Kibble 7am-1/2 a cup kibble, 9am-1/2 a cup kibble, 5pm-1/2 a cup & 7pm-1/3 a cup kibble & at 12pm lunch he gets wet food but not much 1/3 of a can at the moment he loves his Royal Canine Intestinal Low Fat wet can food but I get Paper towel & soak up all the oils when I get out the loaf from the can, as omega oils can cause acid reflux & Dr Judy Morgans old dog who has just passed age 18 yrs old kept having Pancreatitis Flare & it was the fish oils she was adding to his diet..

You will find Vets cant diagnose & wont be able to really help when it comes to the Stomach problems, my vet tells me Susan you know there’s no tests or blood test to know what’s happening with Patches stomach unless you have Endoscope & Biopsies, Biopsies will give us answers to what’s wrong with stomach/small bowel, this is probably way no vets have any answer & have to guess what’s happening with Ollie 🙁
Have you ever done the Triple Therapy meds?
Metronidazole, Amoxicillin every 12 hours with a meal & a PPI once a day in morning taken for 3 weeks.
Keep diet low in fiber, low in carbs, low/med fat & med protein & feed small meals & ask vet about LES a lot of aging dogs suffer with LES but we think Patch had LES when I rescued him age 4yrs old..

[Susan]

Hi Cannoli,
your dog mustn’t have true Environment Allergies & suffers food sensitivities instead, you must of eliminated the ingredients he was sensitive tooo if corn diet is working for him….
If he had true Environment allergies Vet Diets or a Pro Plan diets wont help get rid of Environment Allergies.. Baths are best wash off the allergens off skin/paws.
Get some “Sudocrem” Anti-Bacterial, Anti Fungal Healing cream, it will protect his paws from grass/allergens lighty apply before bed so paws heal thru the night…
Sudocrem is sold online Walmart & is always sold out, that’s if you live US

[Cannoli]

Hi Crazy4cats,

Thanks for the kind words. Yeah i fell for the hype of High protein low grain diets, or raw food is best, or quality ingredients over corn and rice is better, and etc….

I fed my pup this hype for over 3.5 years of his life and he still developed allergies….at the end of the day only my vet and vet dermatologist had the answers for what food to feed him…

[crazy4cats]

Hi Cannoli-
Wow! You have done a 180 when it comes to dog food. Welcome to the club! Isn’t it amazing that veterinarians actually know what they are talking about? 😉 Glad to hear you’ve worked out your dog’s allergies. My dogs do fine with corn as well.

[Cannoli]

Hi Jessica,

Welcome to the Bulldog Family. They are awesome dogs but are extremely prone to all types of allergies ( I blame it on bad breeders and over breeding) …I was lucky my pup did not start showing full blown allergies (itching, ear infections, head shaking, red swollen paws) until about age of 4 but prior to that my bulldog always had loose poops…

Wish i had taken him to the vet dermatologist sooner in regards to his loose poops but I always thought it was just loose poops and he was normal with everything else.

Hopefully you might avoid the Bulldog Allergy trap but if you do I highly recommend listening to your vet and avoid any foods unless you talk to him. Don’t waster your money on No grain, expensive high ingredients foods, and raw foods. All these foods did nothing for my pup except build up his allergies.

My vet dermatologist recommended a great dog food which has the number 1 ingredient of (gasp) Corn. he does very well on corn…no loose poops, no itching..very very minor head shaking and less paw licking…

• This reply was modified 7 months, 4 weeks ago by Cannoli. Reason: missing info
• This reply was modified 7 months, 4 weeks ago by Cannoli. Reason: missing info

[anonymous]

“Are there any non prescription hydrolyzed protein dog foods on the market”?

NO, there are not, and mixing in another food defeats the purpose. Stop adding stuff to the prescription food.
Offer a meal 2 times per day, your dog will eat when he is hungry. He will be fine as long as he is drinking water (have fresh water available 24/7)
If he goes 72 hours without eating solid food then call your vet and discuss diet options.

https://www.petmd.com/dog/what-hydrolyzed-protein-dog-food excerpt below
Veterinary prescription hydrolyzed protein dog foods are an excellent choice for both food allergies and IBD. These diets are manufactured under the strictest quality control measures, which ensures that they aren’t contaminated by ingredients that are not included in the label. Eating prohibited foods is a major reason that diagnostic food trials and treatment for food allergies and IBD fail.

[anonymous]

Chronic ear infections are indicative of allergies , also there are other disorders that can cause this.

For the best testing, diagnostics and treatment options, I would consult a veterinary dermatologist.

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.