[anonymous]

“Lastly, I was told to by the vet to wash him once every month. How come you suggest a weekly bath? Is it to wash off the allergens? Wouldn’t over-washing also get rid of the healthy oils?”

I would go by what your vet advises. He has examined the dog and he is a veterinary healthcare professional.

Without a diagnosis for his skin condition you don’t know what you are treating, medical causes need to be ruled out first. Work closely with your vet, ask for a veterinary dermatologist if you don’t see improvement in a reasonable amount of time.

There are many conditions besides allergies that could cause the symptoms you described.
And again, take a look at pet health insurance before your dog is officially diagnosed, it may be cost effective for you in the long run.

PS: I would definitely go back to Royal Canin if he was doing well on it. Simple 🙂
Maybe this article written by a veterinarian that specializes in nutrition and is affiliated with one of the best animal hospitals in the country will help
https://www.mspca.org/angell_services/choosing-the-right-diet-for-your-pet/

[pitlove]

Hi RollTide10-

You are correct, at 2 years old your mix breed is capable of regulating his calcium uptake now and no longer requires a large breed puppy diet or for you to be concerned about the ratio of calcium and phosphorus. He can now be placed on an adult maintenance diet or all life stages formula. Most importantly now is keeping him lean (4/9 on BCS).

As far as foods go, it sounds like he was doing much better on Royal Canin, so if I were you I would put him back on that since it was already established that he was doing well. Itching his back a little bit is not an indication of allergies. Dogs get little itches just like we do, doesn’t mean we are having an allergic reaction and same is true for them. However with WEF it does sound as though, either the source of the Omega 3s is not as quality of a source as with Royal Canin or its not enough. BTW, as an aside, ingredient lists tell you nothing about the quality of a food, only what should be in it. Royal Canin has strict sourcing and has often denied shipments of corn that Kelloggs then buys from them for our cereal. So I would not worry about their ingredients being of poor quality.

[Susan]

Hi RollTide10,

If you want more info on a dog kibble its best to send the dog food company an email & ask what the Omega 3 % is & what is the Omega 6% is, the Omega 3% should be around 1/2 or a bit under 1/2 of what the Omega 6% is, “Rodney Habib” is really good to follow on his FaceBook page….Last year Rodney sent away a few popular dry kibbles & results found most of the kibbles that they tested were unbalanced & the Omega 3 was very low & the omega 6 was very high, this can cause skin problems in a dog, so it’s best to buy tin Sardines & tin Salmon in spring water & add about 2 spoons of the sardines or salmon to 1 of his meals a day, Omega 3 is Neutral-anti inflammatory & Omega 6 is Pro-inflammartory…. Omega-3 fatty acids help reduce inflammation, and some omega-6 fatty acids tend to promote inflammation. … Most omega-6 fatty acids in the diet come from vegetable oils, such as linoleic acid (LA), not to be confused with alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which is an omega-3 fatty acid.
If you want to continue feeding dry processed kibble to your dog then make sure you start rotating between a few different brands & meat proteins, eg: 1 month feed salmon kibble then next month change to another brand & feed lamb, the next month feed Turkey dont just feed the same brand & formula of kibble 24/7 this is when health problems can occur especially if the kibble is unbalanced or very high in toxins…

Have a look at “Wellness Simple” Turkey & Potato the Omega 3%-1.00% the Omega 6% is 2.80% it also states on the Wellness Simple kibble bag,”Skin health & for dogs with food sensitivities” there’s also the Wellness Simple” Salmon & Potato formula, Omega-3%- 1.00% Omega-6% 2.75% so you can rotate between them but not straight after each other feed another brand inbetween “Canidae” Pure Sky, Pure Wild & Pure Sea are really good for dogs who have skin problems…

another thing google “How long does kibble last once opened” Steve Brown wrote a really good article, after you open a bag of kibble it has a life of 14 days the air gets to all the oils & the oils start going rancid, so make sure you keep some kibble in a air tight container that you use daily & the rest of the kibble bag close & seal air tight as good as you can then put in the coolest place in the house, I leave in the air con room & put the kibble bag in another plastic bag seal with sticky tape then put in one of those storage containers…
another good reason why its best to add 2 spoons of salmon or sardines daily to your dogs diet, adding fresh whole foods to your dogs diet daily or 4 times a week is very healthy & better then feeding a dog just dry kibble 24/7, also meals you cook for yourself any left overs that a dog can eat add to his kibble, take out some kibble & add some of the home cooked meal, if you follow Rodney Habib look thru all his video’s he also has another f/b page called “Planet Paws”
Baths make sure you’re bathing weekly Baths wash off any allergens that may be on teh fur/skin Environment allergies cause problems as well, I use “Malaseb” medicated shampoo it’s excellent for itchy skin, yeasty skin, dry skin, most skin problems, Malaseb puts the moisture back into the skin & kills any bacteria yeast that may be on skin & paws….

Good-luck with your new rescue & feed a healthy diet that’s rotated with different foods dry kibble, freeze dried, cooked meals & raw meaty bones for teeth health….

[anonymous]

For best results I would make an appointment with a board certified veterinary dermatologist for accurate testing, diagnosis and treatment.

Environmental allergies? Has mange been ruled out? Atopic dermatitis? Medical condition? Has lab work and skin testing been done?
Treatment is often a multifaceted approach. It’s not just about finding the right food, or the right shampoo, or the right supplement.
In fact the food may have nothing to do with his symptoms.

Do you have pet health insurance? You may want to consider getting it before he is officially diagnosed. Treatment can be a little expensive.
If it is environmental allergies, there is no cure. There is effective treatment, however it is lifelong, allergies tend to wax and wane so you may get lucky, they could be mild or seasonal (if that’s what he has). He could very well have some other skin disorder or medical condition that is causing these issues.

Bathing with a very gentle puppy shampoo at least once a week may help, but not if the skin is red, bleeding or irritated, in that case I would defer to the vet.
Talk to your vet, if you want to rule out food sensitivities ask about a prescription/therapeutic diet, that might be a good place to start, it depends on how severe his symptoms are and how uncomfortable the dog is.

I would go directly to the specialist if it was my dog, my dog sees a veterinary dermatologist once a year and has had a positive response to treatment.
She did well on Nutrisca salmon for years but is now on Zignature whitefish or catfish.
You could add fish oil (approved for veterinary use) once a day to his food, it’s supposed to help with dry skin. I add a little water and a topper, like a bit of scrambled egg (2 meals per day)

[anonymous]

*crickets*

I have never tried the brands that you mentioned. For a limited ingredient food I have had good luck with Nutrisca (salmon) and Zignature (whitefish or catfish).
Both are grain free and potato free, one of my dogs gets loose stools on foods that contain potato (sweet or white). The other one has environmental allergies and sees a specialist with good results.

Nothing wrong with potato, except I don’t think it should be more than 10% of the diet and a lot of kibbles are LOADED with potato (cheap starchy filler). So, I avoid potato altogether.

I have heard good things about Pro Plan Focus for sensitive stomach and skin, it’s not grain free, but it is potato free. I may give it a try in the near future.

[anonymous]

The Vet Dr. John De Jong Sunday, January 28, 2018

Q Despite the colder weather, my Frenchie continues to itch. He did improve when taking a medication my vet gave him called Apoquel. While his itching is less frequent now, I am hoping you could explain why he continues to scratch. The dog is not quite 2 years old, and he is other­wise healthy. Can I keep him on this medication? His skin is also a little dry, so I have thought about giving him some supplements from the local pet store. His skin looks good otherwise.

A Apoquel is a great medication at controlling itchiness, or pruritis, in dogs, but it treats the symptoms associated with allergies and not the root cause of the problem. It is a much safer drug than the historically used steroids. Studies have shown it to be effective for a long time, with a wide margin of safety.
I would suggest that you either have a veterinary dermatologist review the case or have a good discussion about it with your veterinarian. Here are a few questions worth asking: Were skin scrapings done to rule out mange mites? Has any allergy testing been done? What about considering desensitization with allergy shots? Have you tried your dog on a novel protein diet in case the dog has allergies to certain meat proteins?
Just because the weather is cold, one cannot assume that there are no fleas around, so make sure skin parasites aren’t the cause. Are you using a flea and tick preventative? Also ask yourself if your home is dry this winter.
As for supplements, I would work with your veterinarian to use a good source of Omega 3 oils rather than buying over-the-counter products. With good diagnostics, you might be able to solve the itching. If not, the medication you were given for your dog will suffice. Good luck.

http://www.bostonherald.com/lifestyle/2018/01/getting_to_the_bottom_of_frenchie_s_itchiness?utm_campaign=bostonherald_trending_stories&utm_source=bostonherald&utm_medium=trending_stories

[Kimberly S]

Hi Meghan,
I recently put my GSD on
Wellness Core Reduced Fat kibble and mix it with the can because she seems to still be hungry with just the kibble. This is a grain-free kibble which is great because my Angel has allergies to grains. I put her on this because she needs to loose weight, and she really loves the food. This is listed on the Editor’s Choice too if you want to check it out in more detail before you purchase. For me and my girl it has worked out really well. Maybe it can do the same for you. I know you just want to do the kibble and I think you just might be pleasantly surprised at just using the kibble.
Good luck, I hope this helps you and your fur babies.
Kim

[Meghan K]

Hi. My Golden is currently on medicine for his allergies. I know the best is to go grain free as far as food but I need help deciding what is the best brand to try. He also is very overweight and needs to probably be on a rather healthier type of dry food preferably. I doubt I can find a 2 for 1 (helping allergies and weight) but any recommendations for a good brand on either issue would be so appreciated! Thank you in advance!

[Susan]

Hi Ryan,
Is the Hills Z/d helping with his allergies (Skin) ? does he suffer with Environment allergies or Food sensitivities or does he have both? my boy suffers with both, if his skin seems better on the Hills Z/D it’s probably the high Omega fatty acids they put in the Vet Diets, start looking for another limited ingredient single protein kibble, if the California Natural ingredients didn’t really help read what the ingredients were in the California Natural, I’m pretty sure the CN Kangaroo formula has Red & Green Lentils these ingredients will not help if a dog has sloppy poos/diarrhea you need to aviod Lentils…
With environment allergies baths are best in a medicated shampoo, I found Malaseb works the best for my boy, twice a week or weekly baths, washes off the allergens on the dog skin/paws if he’s doing sloppy poos then Sweet Potatoes & Potato is the best to firm up poo’s, the only way a dog will get yeasty skin & paws is if he is sensitive to an ingredient & from environment allergies, Potato does not cause yeasty skin/paws in dogs this is a Myth, thats if he gets yeasty smelly skin & paws….

You can start an elimination food diet & start working out what foods he can & cant eat, Potato & Sweet Potato firmed up my boy poos up with his IBD now he doesnt need his anal gland expressed no more, sometimes after Patch has done a poo I see the fluid running down his black bum, when I go home I get a baby wipe & wipe that area, after I started feeding Patch “Taste Of The Wild” Sierra Mountain Roasted Lamb, it has just Lamb as the protein source then Sweet Potato, Potato, Peas, Canola Oil, Egg I started rotating & feeding “Canidae” Pure Wild Boar, Patch has had no more anal gland problems..
Here’s the Canidae site to look at formula’s & ingredients,
https://www.canidae.com/dog-food/products
Canidae also have their Pure Sea & Pure Sky formula’s they’re really good for skin problems cause they’re very high in omega fatty acids, Canidae also make another brand called “Under The Sun” but its yellow pea & chickpea heavy, I’d avoid if your dogs has sloppy poo problems..
or look at “4Health” Special Care, Sensitive Stomach” it just has Potato & Egg excellent for doing an elimination diet once your dog is doing well you start adding 1 new ingredient for 6 weeks & see does he react in those 6 weeks there’s also “4Health” Special Care, Sensitive Skin formula it has Hydrolyzed Salmon but has more ingredients then the 4Health Sensitive Stomach formula has, or there’s other “4Health” formula’s Turkey & Potato, Duck & Potato, Whitefish & Potato look for a formula with the least ingredients just google “4health Special Care, Sensitive Stomach” & you’ll see all the 4health formula’s …

Hills Z/d is Guaranteed Money back so I’d take back the remaining Z/D kibble, keep a bit of the Z/d kibble to help introduce a new kibble & tell the lady at the vet counter what is happening, Hills like feed back how your dog went on their vet diets, you can even send Hills an email & have a Vet Nutritionist call you back they will help you with the vets diet, which is best to try next, Hills have their Potato & Duck skin formula or their Science Diet Sensitive Skin formula, the Z/D had been changed twice in the last 5yrs & the Hills I/d Digestive Care has just been changed & improved again, thats 3 times in 5 yrs so Hills must get a few complaints with their vet diets….
There’s “Royal Canin” Hydrolyzed Protein HP formula or Royal Canin have their Select Proteins, PR- Potato & Rabbit, PV Potato & Venison, Skin Support SS is Rice & Fish, that’s if you want to try another vet diet again, or look for a premium limited ingredient dog kibble & add your own omega oil, just buy some Fish/Krill Oil capsules & give 1 capsule with 1 of his meals a day but only start adding the Krill Oil capsules once he’s stable on the new kibble as fish /Krill Oil can cause sloppy poos in some dogs, fish/krill oil its excellent for dogs skin/coat..

[Kimberly S]

Hi Ryan K,
You didn’t specify what his allergies are. But a lot if dogs do have allergies to grains ,rice and chicken. The anal sacks are released with harder stools that is why he is having a hard time with the present food.
My recommendation would be to find a grain-free food like Merrick or Zigatature (I think this comes in grain free) These are very good alternatives and can be found either in a store or on Chewy. Com.
Best of luck to you and your fur baby.
Kim

[anonymous]

Zignature, for something a bit more reasonable, Nutrisca
I have found that grain free and avoiding potatoes helps.
From a previous post of mine per:
Excerpts (out of context) from article below: https://www.vetsecure.com/veterinarymedicalclinic.com/articles/136
Overview:
“Anal sacs are the reservoirs for the secretions of anal glands which are located on either side of a dog’s anus, at approximately four and eight o’clock. These sacs contain liquid secretions from the anal gland, which, in healthy animals, are normally pale yellow-brown to grayish in color. The contents are usually emptied during normal bowel movements, or when a dog is nervous or scared. In most animals, these sacs empty easily. However, some dogs, especially small breed dogs, are not able to empty the sacs properly and become susceptible to anal sac disease”.
Transmission or Cause:
“The cause of anal sac disease is unknown. Smaller dog breeds, such as Chihuahuas and poodles, are most often affected. Excessive anal gland production, soft feces or diarrhea, poor muscle tone, and obesity also contribute to higher risk of developing anal sac disease. Anal sac abscess tends to occur after an impacted anal gland has become so severely swollen and infected that the anal sac forms an abscess and ruptures”.
Prevention:
“Expression of the anal sacs every few weeks or months often will help prevent anal gland fluid from accumulating and becoming thickened again. High fiber diets have been shown to help prevent anal sac disease in at-risk dogs, especially those that are obese”.

Regarding allergies, it would be best to make an appointment with a board certified veterinary dermatologist for testing/ diagnosis/treatment, if you don’t have good results with your regular vet within a reasonable amount of time.
In the meantime, has your vet recommended a prescription food/therapeutic diet? That may be a good place to start.
Beware of homeopathic miracle cures, forget about mail-in hair and saliva tests (no good).
For science-based veterinary medicine go here http://skeptvet.com/Blog/
You can use the search engine there to look up topics.
This site has a search engine too, see my posts.
Good luck
PS: Regarding the blood test via vet, food allergies are rare and food sensitivities tend to fluctuate. Intradermal skin testing done by a veterinary dermatologist is the most accurate. My dog has environmental allergies, her anal gland issues cleared up immediately after she started the prescribed treatment by the specialist.

[Ryan K]

I recently started my dog on a prescription diet (Hills ZD) for itching/chewing from allergies. He actually loves the food BUT I am noticing that he’s pooping an almost insane amount and the poop is pretty “soft and mushy” looking. He’s been on this food for a month and I am still noticing this. His anal glands have also been bothering him a lot since starting this. He’s constantly scooting despite getting them expressed. I feel like the food just isn’t really impressing me enough to want to keep paying such a pricey amount for it. My question is this…is there a better dry food that I could get him on that will help his glands release naturally while firming his stool up and that will also alleviate his itching? I had him on California Naturals Kangaroo but it’s really become quite hard to find and it didn’t seem to help that much with his symptoms. Any thoughts?

• This topic was modified 7 years, 11 months ago by Ryan K.

[pitlove]

Adriana-

I had to switch to a different Pro Plan formula because after we switched my dogs food thinking it would be better for his allergies, he had a bad reaction (vomiting, diarherra) to it and after that the Sensitive Skin & Stomach no longer was working for him. After talking to a lady at the Purina vet diet customer service line for an hour we determined he might need a lower fiber food, so we went back to the Pro Plan Sport 26/16 and hes been perfect ever since.

Edit: As far as the expired foods go. The only time a store should be putting foods on sale are when they are CLOSE to expiration, within a month or so. If they are not checking their shelves regularly for expired product that is an individual store issue. PetSmart is known for having food be in poor conditions like this. You might be better off buying from chewy.com or seeing if any of your independently owned local pet stores will order the product for you or carry it in store. They will likely not have storage issues.

[anonymous]

That study is not a reliable source of information. And the site you are referring to is a homeopathic site.
I use kibble as a base, add chicken broth or tuna or scrambled egg, plus a little water.
So that the kibble is about 1/2 to 2/3 of the diet. I find this works well.
I first went to fish kibble with no potato, because my sensitive dog with environmental allergies does best on it, it works for my other dog too 🙂

[Julia T]

Our 1 yr old lab has a super sensitive stomach plus skin allergies. He is allergic to corn, peas, alfalfa and poultry. We’ve had him on prescription sensitive stomach/HA dog food in the past which gave him terrible diarrhea. Right now, he’s eating Honest Kitchen Zeal (Fish Grain-Free) Formula along with probiotic and digest enzymes. His poops are formed but not solid + a lot gas + a lot of poops (at least 5-6 times per day). Any recommendations on food that will help his sensitive stomach + allergies?

[Susan]

Hi Fanette,

I would be trying the “Natural Balance” LID Bison or the Duck formula’s the TOTW Smoked Salmon has more fat-15.1%max then the N/B formula’s-10%min & the TOTW has more ingredients & when TOTW was tested for toxins & contaminates back in August 2017 a few TOTW formula’s were very high in toxins, the Pacific stream salmon was one of them so I’d stay away from American fish pet foods unless you know it’s caught in clean waters, you’d have better fish in your country wouldn’t you??, Patch started on the TOTW Pacific Stream Smoked Salmon first but he kept vomiting then I put him on the Sierra Mountain Lamb & the vomiting stopped so I wonder if he was vomiting from the toxins in the TOTW Smoked Salmon?? the smoked salmon has the same fat & protein% as the TOTW Lamb formula…

Patch is the same with wet cooked foods especially wet canned foods, he starts whinging after he eats certain wet foods & wet tin foods, he can only eat small amounts or he lifts his right front paw up & wants me to rub stomach & pancreas area, so Furby is smart not eating the wet food it could be causing him some discomfort, pain or acid reflux?? Like Patch specialist vet said to me yesterday alot of vets dont know what’s wrong & dont have the equipment needed(Endoscope machine) to do further testing on dog stomach when teh dog has stomach & bowel problems, Endoscope & Biopsies is the best thing to do when it comes to stomach, small bowel & esophagus problems…the vet will get answers to what is wrong with the dog, an Ultra Scan can’t really see the stomach so it’s a waste of money Ultra Scan & Xrays they show blockages, stones etc but not what’s wrong with the stomach & bowel..
Patch stopped eating about 1 month ago he would not eat his TOTW Lamb kibble, so I listened to him & stopped feeding him the TOTW Lamb, I quickly ordered a new LID Rice & Lamb kibble, I cant get the American Natural Balance in Australia, we have an Australian Natural Balance made by a vet but it’s too high in omega oils, I wish I could get teh American Natural Balance kibble but after trying another kibble Patch continued to go down hill with his esophagus, he does this suckling & swollowing thing so yesterday Tuesday he had Endoscope & Biopsies done & now I have to wait about 4-5 days for Biopsies results the specialist vet rung me & he said Patches flap to his air pipe & food pipe in his esophagus was very inflammed, he had 2 legions in his mouth they were both benign & burnt off, his back molars teeth needed cleaning & he has gingivitis left back teeth, this would be from eating kibble & the kibble would be getting stuck inbetweeen his back teeth & mouth, the vet also found something wrong with his soft palate his trachea, he said the new designer dogs with the turned up nose get this problem pugs etc, the list went on & on I couldnt take it all in, then I heard Hernia, there was too much to take all in, I’ll wait now for Patches Bisopsies results & his regular vet Sue will tell me what’s going on, we’ll try & work out what we are going to do & why the stomach acid is washing back up into mouth & why is he getting such bad acid reflux when he’s on an ant acid reducer “Losec” but only one Losec a day, this is when the specialist vet said, stomach problems are the hardest for a vet to work out what is wrong … I asked the specialist vet can Patch be taken off the Lossec & put on the same ant acid medication I’m on Somac (Pantoprazole) it’s better for treating GORDs, acid reflux disease my Gastro Dr told me so I told Patches specialist Vet this info also Somac is used to treat a rare condition called Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, where the stomach produces very large amounts of acid, so I’ve asked can we try Somac 20mg twice a day but first we have to wait for those biopsies result to come back & see if it’s his Helicobacter embedded in the walls of his stomach & this is cause the really bad acid reflux…

Yes it is very stressful having a dog with IBD & Pancreatitis you dont know what to feed, what to do, will the new food make everything worse, then when you’ve tried every food etc & still the dog is unwell, I have 1 vet diet left to try & that’s the Purina Pro Plan HA kibble the fat is low BUT its very high in Omega oils & high Omega oils give Patch Acid Reflux, so I still having tried the Purina HA, I’ll ask the vets when the Biopsies results come back Patches vets recommended feeding healthy cooked diet, they both feed cooked meals & Sue Patches regular vet feeds an grain free kibble but everytime I see her she is trying another new grainfree kibble for her dog with IBS, Sue is American but had to further her vet studies here whe she came to Australia in te 80’s & she always recommends I look for Australian made kibbles with Australian ingredients I’ll ask her 1 day why does she not like American dog foods she will not feed the TOTW kibble she knows its a Diamond product she has feed the Earthborn Holistic Coastal Catch & wanted me to try it then I told her I have tried the Earthborn Holistic Ocean Fusion & Patch kept vomiting after eating Ocean Fusion kibble then I seen the Ocean Fusion had made the top ten worst kibbles with Toxins so I dont know what Patches vet is feeding her dog now??…
Patch has broken my heart, he’s my soul mate, he is so intune with me, I dont even have to talk & he knowswhat to do, its like being married but he’s a dog I often wonder wwas he a human in another life lol its going to kill me when I have to put him to sleep, I’ve only had him 5 yrs & most of the 5 yrs he’s been unwell on & off, if he didnt have environment allergies he’s be a bit better but it’s Summer now in Australia & his allegies do play a big part in his health problems aswell his vet said but 1 good thing his hive like lumps that would come up all over his body have all stop this Summer since moving the vet said thats GOOD normally dogs get worse with their allergies when they move…
You have to keep trying different foods & meat proteins & rotate between a few different kibbles & wet food never feed the same meat proteins 24/7, always have another meat protein that Furby can eat aswell just incase he doesnt want to eat & is ill, Patch starts to react when he was eating the same foods 24/7 so now he gets his new kibble is “Nutro Essentails” Lamb, Rice & vegetables kibble weight management, the fat is 9%min per 100g the protein is 19%min per 100g so per cup, I’m waiting for someone to get back to me from Nutro what is teh max fat protein & what is the fiber % it doesnt say but cause Nutro is made by Mars now the staff dont know much about the pet foods, his pos are very firm & he only poos 2 poos a day now before on the TOTW he was ddoing 3 poos a day for breakfast he gets 1/2 a cup kibble at 7am then he goes for a walk then he gets another 1/2 a cup around 9am, 12pm he gets 1 scrambled egg, 5pm he gets under 1 cup kibble but today cause he’s got his sore throat Im giving him boiled potato & some BBQ chicken breast all mashed & cut up then at 8pm he gets 1/3 a cup of the Nurto Lamb kibble, then he puts himself to bed & he’s been sleeping thru the night thank-god he was up & walking around the house 1-2 weeks ago, Id ask him does he want to go outside for a wee & he was just sniffing everything & when Id ask him come on come inside its 1am he’d just stand there staring at me, so now I take him outside with a lead on so I can bring him back inside…I dont know what was wrong with him 1-2 weeks ago he’s never done these weird things before…I think he was constiped & needed to poo or he had wind pain this Nutro essential kibble has beet pulp & is constipating him a litle bit I think…. look for a kibblewith Beet Pulp it firms up their poo & the poos are smaller & Patch is only doing 2 poos a day now…
Now I’m giving him his losec tablet when he eats his 7am feed, so the Losec tablet goes completely down his throat into his stomach with the kibble, I thought the Losec tablet sat in his throat & caused this problem but both of Patches vet don’t seem to think so, lately when I go to give him the Losec tablet he’s been running away into another room when he sees me get his Losec tablet from the cupboard he’s a very smart dog & he’s telling me, I dont want no more tablets its making me ill but you cannot just stop giving & taking Losec its a Protein Pump Inhibitor & Patch will get the worse acid reflux if I stop his Losec, it needs to be reduce very slowley Ive been thinking maybe the Losec tablet started this inflammed esophagus Patch stopped drinking his water after I put the Losec tablet down his throat so I just syringed in some water into his mouth who to say the Losec tablet just sits in his throat & disovoled & caused this irrattation??
Have you tried feeding another meat a lean white meat like Pork or Turkey & have you tried boiled potato also have you tried scrambled egg, no milk, no butter just whisk the egg & either cook in a microwave for a very short time or I cook in a non stick frying pain cool & Patch loves his Scrambled egg, I’ve been thinking about getting some chickens but Patch has a high prey drive when it comes to birds the only birds he doesnt mind is the white cockatoo & the small Stork birds.. with the new kibble just start the new kibble, feed 1 meal a wet meal what Furby normally eats & then his other meal feed the new kibble then another meal feed the wet cooked meal & this should be OK I never feed wet food & kibble together to Patch he gets his pain…does Furby eat 4-5 meals day?? if you’re feeding just 2 meals a day maybe start feeding Furby more smaller meals a day as smaller meals are easier to digest & less work on the stomach & Pancreas, its a pain but you have a happy dog…
Good-Luck

[Susan S]

Hi, I have a 2 1/2 year old Great Pyr/Golden Retriever/Beagle Mix (95 lb) and an 8 year old Black Lab/Great Dane mix (100 lb). They both have problems with chicken and some skin allergies so I trying to find a dry dog food for both of them. I am using Nutrish Just 6 Lamb and Rice, but they still seem to poop to much on that too. I am trying not to buy two different kinds of food, but I’m not sure what to do. Buy senior food for him and adult for her, but cannot have chicken or other poultry in it. Any suggestions. Thanks

[anonymous]

I’d go with the Pro Plan Focus, just my opinion.

Yes I have a dog that is sensitive, doesn’t do well with potato. My other one has environmental allergies, has nothing to do with the food. In fact, I am using Mighty Dog (grains and all) as a topper for this one with good results.

Every dog is different, buy a small bag first and see how it goes.

[anonymous]

No, it’s not grain free. However, that’s not a bad thing. I have decided to try the Pro Plan Focus salmon food mentioned for one of my dogs, when I finish up the Zignature, good but a little expensive.
I have found that some dogs do best on grain and potato free, just my experience.
However, I will pay for quality, so I will continue to use Zignature as a base also.

https://www.mspca.org/angell_services/choosing-the-right-diet-for-your-pet/ (excerpt below)
Grain free diets have become all the rage in the last few years. I suspect this has stemmed from greater recognition of gluten sensitivity in humans. Most pet food companies have jumped on the band wagon following the marketing success of grain free human diets. The truth of the matter is that there are no dog or cat studies showing a health benefit to grain free foods. A myth has been perpetuated that grains are unhealthy. In fact, whole grains contribute vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids and are highly digestible by dogs and cats. Allergies to grains are actually very rare, and only the Irish Setter breed has been demonstrated to have a gluten sensitivity. Many grain free diets substitute potatoes and tapioca, which have less protein, more sugar, and less fiber. And typically these come at a higher cost.

[Susan]

Hi Lynn,
you have it all wrong a dog will only react to starchy carbs if he has food sensititivies, Sweet Potatoes, Tapioca, Potatoes, Rice, Oats, etc do not cause yeast Dermatitis in dogs, I have a dog with IBD, Seasonal Evirvonment Allergies & Food Sensitivities I thought the same years ago until my vet explained he has food sensitivities & was put on a Hydrolyzed vet diet which was 60% carbs, we do a food elimination trial, & you keep a diary & as teh years pass you will see a Pattern as environment allergies can also cause Yeast Dermatitis as well Patch gets yeasty smelly paws from foods & environment & itchy smelly skin when he eats foods he’s sensitive too Chicken, Tapioca, Carrots he get itchy ears & shakes his head, he does real well on Sweet potatoes & Potatoes especially for his IBD, if you look at the vet diets for skin & food allergies they have Potato & a novel protein, it’s good to feed dogs a low carb diet but starch does not feed yeast, here’s Dr Karen Helton Rhodes a Dermatologist link “Facts & Myths about Yeast Dermatitis in Dogs”, Dr Karen Helton Rhodes is also on a F/B group called “Dog Issues, Allergies & Other Information Support Group” you’ll learn some really good stuff in that F/B group lots of help http://www.healthyskin4dogs.com/blog/2015/9/8/facts-myths-about-yeast-dermatitis-in-dogs,
Start your dog on an elimation food diet, 1 novel protein & 1 carb & bath weekly or twice a week if itchy & smelly bath in an antibacterial medicated shampoo like “Malaseb medicated Shampoo to kill the yeast & to wash away any allergens on the skin.. also make sure you increase the omega 3 fatty acid in your dogs diet, feed foods like Tin Sardines & Tin Salmon in Spring water add 2 spoons to 1 meal of his a day or give 1 Krill Oil capsule a day with a meal.

[Sheila H]

Thank you so much for posting this. I am just about to start our Suzy on a round of Apoquel which has given her diarrhea in the past. She has a long history of allergies, especially yeast in her ear canals. I make her food at home, using chicken and rice. I will now use vegetables ground fine instead of rice to fill it out. She also gets a hearty side dish of cut green beans. No more carbs may just be our answer.

[Adriana R]

Jr has never had salmon before and I know that my neighbor had bought a bag of salmon and his dog’s wouldn’t eat it. I recommended adding a bit of chicken broth and they ate it.
Jr can sometimes be very picky. I’m wondering if he even would touch the salmon. He has had Simply Nourish limited ingredient lamb and he did eat it.
I once bought Nutro and it made Jr sick. But I’m kinda wondering if he’d doing fine on their limited ingredient formula.
Next time I go to Frys I’ll see if they still sell Nutrisca.
Jr hasn’t had an test for his allergies. But I do really believe he has environmental allergies as well as allergic to grains.
I think I’ll look for a grain free kibble with only lamb as a protein

[anonymous]

I went through the allergy thing with my small breed, in the end it was determined that her allergies were environmental and had nothing to do with food.
She is stable now and sees a veterinary dermatologist once a year. She receives ASIT, treatment is lifelong, her allergy symptoms were severe.
These little ones can be high maintenance, as you know. 🙂

I never tried the lamb, but that might be a good idea. She seemed to do the best on the Nutrisca salmon (no grain/no potato) as a base, that’s why I mentioned it.

[Adriana R]

Jr has allergies as well as allergic to grains. Would you recommend fish or lamb? I want to see if chicken is making his ears worse…? Thoughts?
My aunt’s dog was put on lamb food because of her skin once. Is lamb “better” than fish she it comes to allergies.

Wellness adult is 30 pounds for $52 I’m trying to see if that’s reasonable.
What I usually buy is 24 pounds for $47 so I guess it’s not much of a big jump. My mom just wants to take them off grain free as she feels since they don’t need it (with the exception of Jr) they shouldn’t be eating grain free. At the same time I could just put them on Authority regular. Which is 34 pounds for $35.
I seriously need to see if I can afford Wellness long term as this only counts for 3 dogs and I have 4.
Maybe I can leave Buddy Bear on Wellness adult and the other 2 on Authority regular Which really isn’t “fair” but I really want Buddy Bear to keep his weight. But the whole point is to have 3 of them on the same food.

[Susan]

Hi Adriana,
Have a look at “Canidae Pure” line & Canidae Pure Petite line only has 5 ingredients for petite dogs with food sensitivities/allergies, all of the Canidae Pure line is really good for dogs with stomach/bowel & allergies & for your 9yr old have a look at “Canidae Pure Meadow” Senior, it’s excellent for aging dogs, the Protein is 28%min email Canidae for max Protein % you usually add another 1-5% more when it says min but with Canidae it’s only about 1% more, the fat is not high at 10%min-fat, that’s what I like about the Pure Meadow Senior formula, as dogs age their stomach doesn’t work as well as when they were youger dog, the fat is only 10.80%max, I’ve already emailed Canidae & asked them what is the max fat %, the Pure Meadow Senior has all the supplements needed for aging dogs, it’s high in omega fatty acids for skin, coat, brain, heart etc & Glucosamine + Chondroitin for bone & joint health. Canidae grow their own vegetables, fruit & source ingredients from local farmers, their ingredient are fresh & their foods are made in smaller batches, the kibble size is nice & small so very easy to digest….
Here’s the Canidae link https://www.canidae.com.com/dog-food/products

also google “Toxins In Dogs Foods” then look for a company that has
completed a study of 1,084 pet food products from 80 brands. Products were screened for over 130 toxins including heavy metals, BPA, pesticides and other contaminants with links to cancer and other health conditions in both humans and animals….Canidae formula’s & Canidae’s other brand “Under The Sun” did really well when tested for 130 Contaminates & Toxins….You’ll see the 5 star dry dog foods, 3 stars then the 1 star dry dog foods.
I stay away from dry dog food brands once I see 1-2 of their formulas with 1 star rating that means they probably will have more foods that are full of toxins & contaminates..
A few of Wellness formula’s did poorly, Wellpet make Wellness, Holistic Select & Eagle Pack Holistic Select had a few bad formula’s get only 1 star…. Simply Nourish LTD Sweet potato & Lamb formula, Nutrisca Lamb & Chickpea they all got 1 star as well which means they were high in toxins…

[pitlove]

Hi Ally-

Lets back up here for a second before we start assuming an 18 week old puppy has food allergies or a food intolerance. I see a very clear reason for why he is likely having stool issues. You brought him home at 8 weeks old and changed his food instantly and then have subsequently changed his food several more times since then.

It is ALWAYS recommended when getting a puppy to keep them on the same food the breeder had them on for 3-4 weeks. This gives your puppy time to adjust to his new home and environment without the stress of also having his food changed. Find out what they were feeding him at the kennel (NO it does not matter what food it is or if you approve of it or not) and put him back on that. Then slowly after 3-4 weeks or normal stool switch him to an appropriate large breed puppy food. Regular Purina Pro Plan large breed puppy would be my suggestion.

[Adriana R]

So I’m wanting to change my dogs food. I have 4 Chihuahuas between 5 and 15 pounds, ages 3 to about 9.
Their currently on Authority grain free and Simply Nourish grain free. I want to keep them at a 4 star kibble or put them on a 5 star. But it has to be sold at PetSmart as I don’t buy online. It also has to be grain free because 1 of them needs to be on grain free because of his allergies.
I was considering Natures Variety Instinct Ultimate Protein small breed (raw inspired but not raw..? I think)
But I also can do Blue or Wellness. Maybe Crave.
The little one needs dog food with extra calories (just took him to the vet on Monday and they put him on puppy food) so maybe I’ll either put them all on higher calorie kibble. Or just have him be on a different kind.
Any ideas?
I want to switch them because mom thinks the food is not helping Jr as he needed to go to the vet on Monday for another ear infection. I would also like to get him off of chicken.
Simply Nourish and Authority aren’t too expensive and I’m hoping to get a kibble that won’t break the bank.
Within a month I’ve had to take all 4 to the vet. So money is a bit tight at the moment.

[susan m]

I am on my 5th GSD. Congrats! you now have a new best friend. I have had a couple with allergies. The best thing to do is get a allergy test to find out what food your baby is allergic too. Otherwise you will be trying so many. Once you get the test back you can eliminate the ones that has the ingredients your baby is allergic too. Enjoy the breed!!

[MK S]

Can also check out “My Perfect Pet” and Honest Kitchen Limited ingredient diets. It sure would be helpful to search based on exclusion. Many dogs have allergies and I would love to search foods that don’t contain certain ingredients.

[Laura D]

Has anyone tried Forza10 for sensitive skin. She is allergic to flaxseed, kelp, barley,corn & beef… along with 10 other allergies. She does recv monthly shots. I have to read everything she eats. I have tried several foods..taste of the Wild..she poops 6-7xs per day
Nulo,Instint, Merrick,…cannot find anything without flaxseed..I found Forza 10 but have not tried it yet.

[sue h]

I need recommendations please. I have a 6 year old, 10 pound mix that has many allergies. She is on 2 RX’s twice a day (one is very expensive), been with a holistic vet for four years. Not much has improved. The two big allergies are chicken and gluten. I have tried a few different dry foods and give her fresh food along with her meals and still no improvement. Sometimes I feel that maybe we are at a point where this is as good as it gets. I hope not……..she is so miserable at times with all the itching. Help please!!
Just a note: a list of foods that have no chicken and gluten would be really nice.

[Cheryl G]

My dog (chihuahua 6 years) has been diagnosed with stress induced colitis. My vet has her on Hills Prescription Diet I/D with stress. It’s very expensive for long term. She has also had complete blood work up done as well as ultrasounds and has no allergies or tumors, but does have an aversion to high fat diets.
Any suggestions for dry dog food would be helpful.
Thank you.

• This topic was modified 7 years, 11 months ago by Cheryl G.

[Blkdoodle]

Try Sport Elite Venison. No potato, peas, etc. Switched my Golden Doodle to this because of allergies and she loves it. Top it with Freeze Dried Venison. Poops only 2-3 times day.

[Susan]

Hi Misti,
when you see vet tomorrow ask him/her is she up to date & know alot about skin problems?? it’s just some vets are better with certain health problems, I’m lucky I’ve finally found a vet after seeing about 4-5 vets & she has a rescue dog with food Sensitivities & Skin allergies, now my vet writes me out prescription & I take to the pharmacy & get heaps cheaper as you probably know vet medication is triple the price why I do not know?? I was paying $4 a tablet for Patches acid reflux now I get 30 tablets for $7.99 a month thru my pharmacist a big difference…or there’s online pet pharmacys if your girl is put on any medication for skin they’re expensive see if vet will write you a script so you can buy online or go pharmacist if your vet wants to put your dog on Apoquel or Cytopoint is heaps better, Cytopoint is a newer drug made by the same company & its given every 4-8 weeks Cytopoint has less side effect then Apoquel so ask your vet about applying Hydrocortisone 1% cream to start with & using teh Malaseb medicated shampoo & change her diet, the Hydrocortisone cream is also called Cortic-DS 1% Patches over the counter cream from pharmacist I’m using at the moment says “Hydrozole” for Sensitive inflamed fungal skin conditions contains Hydrocortisone (1%w/w) and Clotrimazole (1%w/w) cost $11 its a cheaper cortisone cream without a script thats sold over the counter at Pharmacist or Walmart but ask can you try Hydrocortisone 1% then ask how much it cost thru him/her the vet then if its over $15 just say oh I can get from at chemist/pharmacist for around $8-12$ it can come under differerent name at Walmart but read smaller print & you’ll see Hydrocortisone 1% as soon as I apply the Hydrocortisone cream Patch gets relief with the itchiness & the redness inbetween toes & up his paw starts to goes away & how I use to stop him licking his paws is I’d apply the Hydrocortisone cream then I’d get the white elastic bandages cut about 20cm off & put around his paws not to tight & not to lose so it can fall off then I get the white bandage tape & tape the bandage his 2 front paws were always worse then his 2 back paws & then I’d get those baby sock & put a soak on front paws only at night so the bandages wouldnt fall off the socks came off but he’d still have his bandages on his 2 front paws & his vet said if he did like off te Hydrocortisone cream it wouldnt hurt him instead of giving a steriod tablets your using teh cream instead & the cream is going straight to the problem area, when she is going outside try & keep her paws covered so the snow cant wet her paws or as soon as she comes back inside wipe down & dry her paws then when paws are dry apply the Hydrocortisone cream & her paws will start to get better as long as she isnt licking them she has to stop licking the paws as they make them worse then order some “Sudocrem” or look at the Ingredient in teh Sudocrem look in the baby section at your supermarket for a baby rash cream that has similair ingredients as the “Sudocrem” has Zinc, Anti fungal & antibiotic in it & during the day when she is going in & out side apply the zinc/antibiotic cream & it will protect & repell the water off her paws from & help heal them as well……later on you will get the hang of all this there’s no magic tablet or diet when they get red itchy paws you just have to use creams protect & wipe & keep her paws dry, I bet the wet snow isnt helping her???? you can try the water proof booties but if the dog wasnt brought up with booties from a pup they normally dont except shoe, Patch walked like he was walking on the moon & wouldnt walk in them so I took the booties back to pet shop & used the bandages until I got his paws better again & like I said every night while he’s sleeping on my bed I check his paws, around his mouth chin, above his left eye anywhere his fur is white & his skin is pink goes red & itchy worse in Spring/Summer months & when it rains or if he eats Chicken, Barley, Oats, Tapioca, Corn, theres probably more ingredients he cant eat aswell…
Buy a cheap 2018 diary a diary where it has a whole page for each day cause some days you might have to write down a lot, write down what she is eating & what cream your using what medicated shampoos your using, the “Malaseb” is really good its an antibacterial anti fungal shampoo & kills any yeast, bacteria on paws & skin it can be used daily if needed & you dont need to apply much a small bottle last a while..

[anonymous]

Well, there is a thin line between itchy areas and irritated skin vs red, raw open areas, infected sores.

Often pet owners can’t tell the difference..

Without a diagnosis you don’t know what you are treating and can make a condition worse by applying a home remedy.

I say this because I have done it, applied a home remedy and ended up at the emergency veterinary clinic.

Maybe these home remedies work for a minor cut/abrasion. But allergies can be a very serious condition and often require the expertise of a veterinary health care professional and/or specialist.

PS. I apologize if I offended you. I may have misunderstood your comment.

Peace

[Laura D]

I have a English Setter with severe allergies flaxseed, beef,corn,barleykelp
I am struggling to find a good food for her taste of the wild she pooped 6-7 x’s per day
Almost every food has flaxseed..help!

[anonymous]

Some allergens are airborne, like I said, impossible to avoid.
In the summer these allergy dogs do best in air conditioning.
At one point I had an air purifier and a dehumidifier going (all went to the Goodwill), even tried raw food (disgusting and caused an emergency vet visit) absolutely nothing worked till she saw the dermatologist.
I also had countless shampoos and creams going on, all a waste of money.
The Malaseb did nothing until it was used in conjunction with other treatments prescribed by the specialist.
Allergies are very complicated and every dog is different.

Here is a good article about what you might be looking at, keep in mind there are even newer treatment options than when this article was written
http://www.nevetdermatology.com/canine-atopic-dermatitis-treatment/

[Susan]

Hi Misti,
yes start with a Limited Ingredient food that has 1 novel protein & 1 carb she hasnt really eaten before there’s “California Natural” Lamb & Rice it has just 3 ingredients or there’s “Natural Balance” Sweet Potato & Fish or Sweet Potato & Bison, Sweet Potato & Duck the NB is very similar to the Vet diet Hills D/D Potato & Duck or the D/D Potato & Venison also Royal Canin has their Select Protein formula’s Potato & Rabbit, Potato & Salmon but the Natural Balance is cheaper then the vet diets, or look at “Canidae Pure” formula’s the Pure Sea is really good for skin problems, it’s high in Omega 3 fatty acid what’s needed for the skin problems..
The vet will probably put her on a steriod (Predisone) this is just a bandaid as soon as you stop the steriod it will all come back & he’ll probably put her on a vet diet & a medicated shampoo so maybe first try the LID Premium dog food, do weekly baths in Malaseb shampoo & wash her paws twice a week in the Malaseb & use the Sudocrem morning before she goes outside & at night before bed I also use “Hydrocortisone 1%” cream on Patches paws just before he goes to bed I check out his whole body & see where is red & lightly apply the Hydrocortisone cream & use a cotten tip to apply inbetween his toes where’s red by morning he has no redness paws are nice & pink then I apply teh Sudocrem before he goes out teh door, chicken, barley, oats, tapioca all make Patches paws red 20mins after eating these ingredient….. Keep a diary & start writing everything down & over the years you will start to see a pattern, I have a rescue who has IBD, Seasonal Environment allergies & food sensitivities & he gets the red paws, itchy smelly skin from certain foods, I bath him in Malaseb medicated shampoo weekly, the Malaseb is excellent, relieves the redness stops their itchy paws & skin & puts moisture back into their skin, when you bath them you wash away any allergens on their skin & paws etc also the snow?? when Patch walks on wet grass the morning dew or its been raining more then 2 days he also gets his red sore paws I have a small towel near the front & back door & I wipe down his paws if its raining I also buy teh Baby wipes & use them as well try & get some “Sudocrem” sold on Amazon this is what we use in Australia & the UK, the Sudocrem a healing cream for Dermatitis, Excema, Nappy Rash etc & it repells water & protects the paws & skin from allergens, I cant up load photos I have of a Staffy that had a really bad red stomach & then her owner got the Sudocrem & the dog stomach was all clear the next day, can you afford the Pre made raw? maybe try a premade raw instead of a dry kibble…
also are you on Face Book? join this group, “Dog Allergies, Issues & Other Information Support Group” its a really good group & good info & a Dermatologist frequents the group.
Misti will get better but you need have a strict routine when doing the food trial, with time it gets easier but allergies dont go away they get worse as they age, she probably is like Patch & has both Seasonal Environment allergies (worse in the Spring/Summer months) & Food Sensititivies so best to start now & you’ll work out what she can & cant eat, it the snow/water makes her paws worse she might ned some type of shoe Patch wouldnt wear shoes so I use the Sudocrem it repells, allergens, the water & wet grass, Good Luck

[anonymous]

You’re welcome. The other thing I wanted to mention is that as she responded to the treatment prescribed by the dermatologist for the environmental allergies, her food sensitivities decreased immensely.
She now tolerates a variety of toppers, I just use the kibble as a base.
She’s sees the specialist once a year, has occasional flare ups, but nothing extreme.

[Misti W]

I will definitely talk to her regular vet this Saturday to see if we can rule out anything at all such. She has had a terrible life up until May and little to no veterinary care until she came to us so I think finding out all her issues is going to take some time.

We have a wonderful Vet Hospital and specialist complex that we have taken her to for full blood screening and testing for every disease under the sun. The only thing that showed up in her blood work was high inflammation which they said was “nothing or could be a muscle injury, etc. etc.”

I’m sure that a separate set of testing will have to be done in order to test for allergies but luckily the specialist complex has a vet dermatologist that I can consult with and look into testing.

Thank you for all of the suggestions. I really appreciate it.

[anonymous]

The first step is to get an accurate diagnosis.
She could have both food sensitivities and environmental allergies, or some other medical condition causing the symptoms you describe.
The only accurate test for environmental allergies is intradermal skin testing done by a veterinary dermatologist.
The only accurate way to rule out food sensitivities/allergies is prescription/therapeutic/elimination food diet. Very difficult to stick to.
Your vet will confirm what I have said (based on my experience)
Be aware that the blood test that your vet may recommend may not be accurate, that’s why my preference is to go directly to the dermatologist after medical clearance and other causes for the symptoms have been ruled out.

[anonymous]

“Every single time someone has voiced a concern about dog food allergies, your immediate response is that it’s likely not the food and you need to go to a vet. There’s no agenda. Just summarizing the same spiel you give to most posters here”

That’s because I am sharing my experience, I have a dog with allergies.
Food allergies are rare and usually manifest as gastrointestinal disturbances such as vomiting and diarrhea.
Environmental allergies show up as pruritus, ear infections…..
My dog sees a specialist. The regular vets were not helpful, changing foods willy-nilly was not helpful. Folks on internet forums were not helpful. That was my experience.
There are no magical cures. Treatment for environmental allergies is lifelong.
There are new treatment options available now, if the allergies are mild/seasonal it may not be too bad $

[Misti W]

Before we got her she was eating the absolute cheapest dog food the owners could get. They also had the same issues with her at that time with itching, licking, gunky ears, etc.

We took her to the vet when we got her for her check up and she was put on an antibiotic regimen for her ears. It helped for a month or so but that’s it. (Did not help her feet or body odor).

When we brought her home she was put on Purina One Pure Instinct (the Venison one) in combination with regular Purina One (Chicken or Lamb), which I know is not an incredible food but my other dogs absolutely love it.

I have thought about switching her to Nature’s Recipe Grain Free (Salmon) as she has had a variety of other proteins in her food with no changes in her symptoms. I know grain allergies are fairly rare in dogs but so far in her life she has had these issues on a wide range of dog foods containing grains. I’m no expert, just trying to pin point something and change it. We have an appointment with the vet on Saturday morning.

[Tyrionthebiscuit]

Every single time someone has voiced a concern about dog food allergies, your immediate response is that it’s likely not the food and you need to go to a vet. There’s no agenda. Just summarizing the same spiel you give to most posters here.

[anonymous]

“The poster above does not believe food allergies exist, so you’re likely to get the same answer from them each time.”

A little rude, no? How do you know what I believe? I don’t want to see the poster waste her money trying all kinds of crap that doesn’t work while the dog continues to suffer, that’s my motive.
What’s your agenda?
PS: If the dog does have food allergies/food sensitivities the only recommended course would be to talk to your vet about a prescription/therapeutic/elimination diet.
All commercial dog foods are subject to cross contamination of ingredients, so that plan (single protein) won’t work unless in conjunction with other vet recommended treatment..
Good luck

[Tyrionthebiscuit]

There is lots of GOOD information on these forums. What are you currently feeding her? Start by finding something that is a single source protein, or at the very least remove corn and chicken first. I usually like something with duck to start with.

The poster above does not believe food allergies exist, so you’re likely to get the same answer from them each time. At least 75% of the people who described your issue has seen results with a change in food. I would however talk to your vet and see if there’s anything you can do for immediate relief especially if the dog is itching itself raw.

[anonymous]

Please, please, please. Just make an appointment with a board certified veterinary dermatologist asap.
For the best results.

See MY posts. /forums/topic/allergies-and-yeast/

/forums/search/environmental+allergies/

Lots of misinformation on forums and such, and don’t fall down the homeopathic rabbit hole.

For science based veterinary medicine go here http://www.skeptvet.com

PS: Most likely, it’s not the food.

[JOHN B]

Linda, It sounds like we are very much on the same page. After the weeks of research I “ALMOST” am not even concerned with price anymore. I really can’t see serving something like honest kitchen though $$. I feel there has to be a great kibble to feed my kids. I have to add a very important fact…. My dogs do not have huge allergies even though I have been told one of them has colitis.

I use to feed Orijen but it is too rich for her tummy. I have tried a few other limited ingredient foods that seemed to work for them but there always seems to be a reason to keep looking.Company gets bought out or company relocates and quality of food is in question.

After all my research I am leaning towards Zignature.I am now getting ready to break down ingredients so I can determine if any type of supplementation is needed. Such as splitting a pouch of salmon for breakfast. I feel I am trying to do the right thing for my girls without going overboard. I just want them to get the correct amounts of what they need in the purest and cleanest forum.Then I don’t want it to CHANGE. Is that asking to much…=)

Thanks everyone for the help it is very much appreciated. GREAT SITE FOR SURE…

[Pat N]

Thanks for all the feedback. A lot to consider. Yes she’s drinking a lot of water so no problem there. My vet had indicated (with my other dog) that chicken can be a real problem with dogs and on the list for top allergies. My groomer also said the same. So I was switching to salmon for her coat and omega 3’s. But I’ll look into Fromm’s. I’ll go back to 3 times a day for feeding. While very smart, she’s got the puppy short attention span unless into trouble which is very frequently. Then very single minded. I favor grain free if possible. Switched my cats to grain free and better quality a year or so ago and my other dog as well. I know it’s better for them.

[anonymous]

Some dogs do better on grain free, I have one with allergies (environmental) that does best on Zignature whitefish as a base.
I have one that doesn’t do well with kibble that contains potato, Zignature has no potato. They are all different.
I have also noticed that dogs with anal gland issues tend to do better on grain free/no potato.

I use kibble as a base (about 1/2 to 2/3 of the diet), my friend just adds a teeny tiny bit of boiled chicken meat and a spoonful of broth or water to her dog’s kibble with good results.