[Joyce B]

I agree with BCnut – that it’s a food issue. My dog had the same thing, and when tests came up normal my vet said maybe it’s seasonal allergies. They recommended Pepcid and it helped a little but I stopped it because of the harm it can cause. They never once suggested a food intolerance. I investigated that myself thanks to reading the posts here. My personal theory is that a food that the dog is sensitive to causes inflammation in the digestive tract, causing the irritation from stomach acid, etc., particularly on an empty stomach. When you eliminate the foods causing the inflammation, which I was finally able to do, stomach acid doesn’t bother them (whatever the season).

[anonymously]

I meant to say it is not unusual to see undigested carrots in the dogs feces.

My neighbor’s dog has been diagnosed with acid reflux (occasional) the vet thinks it may be related to seasonal allergies? She gets prn Pepcid from time to time and gentle baths.
The allergies are mild and have not required other treatment, so far.
I give my dog prn Pepcid once in a while if she regurgitates and I think it helps.
Anyway her dog does well on Fromm kibble

[anonymously]

My little poodle mix regurgitates her kibble whenever I try a new kibble or feed her veggies or fruit, so I stopped doing that. She never got diagnosed with acid reflux but I would call it that or a sensitive stomach. She also has environmental allergies but has responded well to treatment by a specialist.

Carrots are hard to digest, they work as a low calorie snack for some dogs, but it is not unusual to see them in the dogs undigested. So, I’m not surprised at what you described. Actually dogs don’t digest raw carrots but if they agree with the dog otherwise, and in small amounts, it doesn’t harm them. Obviously they don’t agree with your dog.

[Lori H]

Agreed with the above about seeing a vet ASAP and trying a gentle shampoo or dye-free, fragrance-free soap like you would use on a Baby. With it being near her vaginal area is it possible she is squatting so much to pee in the mornings she is getting dew there and picking up pesticides or other things from wet grass in your area? I would wash her, very carefully so as not to make her raw, after each potty break. But with the pinkness in the other areas, it sounds like more than just that.

In my experience, Pits are notorious for skin allergies. Allergies to foods especially. (I haven’t read all the posts above and they may address this too) And that generally shows up all over. The white Pits usually have the pinkness on their chest and in larger areas than you are describing but this could be the beginning. Watch it carefully and do get to the vet. She could get really uncomfortable if you let it go too long.

[Deanna L]

Now that we’ve discovered this forum, we have chosen a good food for our new Pyr puppy.

We’d also like to replace the prescription Royal Canine Veterinary Canine Selected dog food (duck and soy) we feed our small poodle due to allergies that cause him to scratch.

What is a good replacement?

[anonymously]

I am impressed with Orijen 6 Fish as a base, I am finding I can use less kibble because it is higher in calories and solid.
I mix Nutrisca with it because my dog with allergies has done well on this food. I use the fish and chicken flavors. I may use Orijen for the morning meal and Nutrisca for evenings…or I may just continue to mix them, the Nutrisca has smaller kibble.
My neighbor’s dog does well on Fromm.

[Mick M]

I thought about adding Colostrum to my 8 month old GSD. She has been having trouble with stools and allergies. Has anyone used it. I’m feeding brothers complete. I’ve tried orijen,acana singles,nutrisource and fromms. It’s been hard to find a good food that helps her with normal stools.

[Nancy H]

Mike,

Thank you.. I looked at the list. if you could give me your top 5 I would appreciate it.

Shar Pei’s need grain free for allergies. I had my last two on Orjens freeze dry and they had no problems until my male got kidney disease and I lost him a couple of months ago..
🙁 and my female has a sour stomach so I have to feed her Royal Canin Intestinal dog food from my vet. I also have to give her an anti acid 2 times a day and Benadryl for her allergies. I also give her 5 bites of plain yogurt that seems to help with her stomach too.

So any help would be appreciated.
Thank you,
Nancy Horkey

[anonymously]

Turns out pollen is the most likely culprit in the case of my dog (reverse sneezing) according to the veterinarian that examined him. Other medical issues were ruled out.
Dogs with these type of sensitivities/allergies should probably avoid any unnecessary inhalants.
If a food or environmental substance causes an adverse reaction in any living thing, yes, obviously it would be best to avoid it.

[Susan]

Hi, my Patch was weeing blood when I rescued him & he was put on the Royal Canine S/O Urinary, wet & dry, google Royal Canine S/O Urinary wet & dry & have a look at the ingredients, I’m pretty sure the S/O wet doesn’t have chicken, If your dog can’t eat chicken then the Hills will be no good.. Hills love using cheap byproduct chicken in all their products, Patch only had to be on the Royal Canine S/O for 6 weeks, no other foods & the R/C S/O dissolved all his crystals, he had an ultra scan & all crystals were gone…
When your boy is on the Royal Canine S/O start looking for another food that he can start eating after the 6 weeks…..your better off feeding wet foods & no kibble for urinary problems..
A lot vets don’t have a clue when it comes to food, one of Patches vet prescribe a vet diet & it had corn, wheat & chicken & he knew Patch can’t eat corn, wheat or chicken he has IBD & Skin allergies… Vets don’t even know what ingredients are in these crappy vet diets…You can take back the Hills its money back guaranteed…

[anonymously]

Who told you he was allergic to chicken? He probably has a food sensitivity, food allergies are rare. Did you discuss this with the veterinarian that is treating him? If the vet advises you to use the food I would do so.

Also, there is a lot of information at this site regarding bladder stones. Per the search engine here: /forums/search/struvite/
/forums/search/bladder+stones/
and allergies: /forums/search/allergies/

See my posts, come back if you have more questions…..

[Susan]

Hi what is he eating (diet) ??? you need to build his immune system up, after taken meds like Clavamox & Steroids they lower the immune, they’re no good, Change diet, feed fresh foods Raw if you can afforded, foods high in omega 3 fatty acids & add omega 3,6 & 9 omega oil double the recommended dose for the first 2 months Bath in Malaseb medicated shampoo weekly or when the scratching is bad, I use baby wipes when he’s been outside to wipe off any allergens & pollens… I use Huggies baby wipes Cucumber & Aloe..Creams, I use Hydrocortisone 1% cream every night at bed time when needed..
if all this doesn’t work then see a Dermatoogist.. a good Face Book group to join is called “Dog Issues,allergies andother Imformation support Group” You’ll get heaps of help
https://www.facebook.com/groups/240043826044760

[Kelly P]

I certainly cannot follow that post with any more info other than allergies was the first thing that popped into my limited cranium.

While vacationing at a small island resort, they had two dogs. The one dog, Brownie had just terrible skin afflictions. We got talking with one of the staff and he said Brownie used to be so beautiful then someone fed him shellfish and he was never right after that again.

The island was very remote, so it was about an hour flight just to get to a place that even had a vet. So, Brownie just had to deal with it.

[anonymously]

Have you checked the search engine here for “allergies” This topic comes up at least once a week if not more. The initial testing is expensive (dermatologist) but the maintenance isn’t that bad, I found the treatment AST (allergen-specific immunotherapy) to be effective.
I gave up cable and eating out.

By Klaus Loft, DVM
Angell Dermatology Service

Anyone who suffers debilitating environmental allergies tied to changing seasons, pet dander or household dust mites knows first-hand the misery of a scratchy throat, itchy eyes or painful rashes.

Not everyone knows, however, that our pets can experience similar allergic reactions — and other very bothersome dermatological issues. But our pets need not suffer in silence. Modern veterinary science has evolved such that advanced, comprehensive treatments are now available to treat a range of skin conditions.

Top pet dermatological issues

Our four-legged friends suffer from some of the same skin issues as we do — and several that we do not. The most common conditions we see at Angell include:

•Parasites, such as mites, fleas and mange (scabies)
•Infectious diseases, such as Staphylococcal pyoderma (“Staph”) skin infections, yeast and fungal infections and skin fold infections
•Systemic diseases, such as autoimmune diseases
•Skin cancer, such as Squamous cell carcinoma, cutaneous lymphoma, Mast cell tumors
•Allergies, such as flea allergy dermatitis, adverse food reactions, environmental allergies, etc.

All of these conditions can become serious and, if untreated, dramatically reduce quality of life. But the tremendous strides made in veterinary innovation, however, is very good news for our pets. Specifically, the testing and treatments for allergies now rivals human healthcare in its sophistication, quality of care and long-term health outcomes.

Unlike humans, dogs and cats cannot tell us about their dermatological health issues. So we as pet owners must look for the signs. The most common indicators that a pet is suffering from some kind of allergy involve frequent episodes of ear infections, red raised or open sores on the skin, constant licking or biting of paws or groin — sometimes causing wounds that will not go away.

Allergies present a particular challenge because there can be hundreds (even thousands) of potential allergens that impact pet health, from foods to pollen from grasses, weeds, trees, dust mites and more. Today’s specialty veterinary hospitals have access to the very latest diagnostic tests to get to the bottom of what’s ailing our pet. Among these tests is the Intra Dermal Test (IDT).

IDT is generally considered the gold standard of testing for identifying allergens that cause pets to suffer from chronic skin and/or ear diseases. IDT involves injections of a series of concentrated allergens into the skin to determine which of them generate allergic reactions in a given animal. The use of fluorescein — a chemical that illuminates the inflammation caused by the injected allergens in order to visualize the strength of individual reactions — is key to accurately diagnosing pet allergies, and is just one of the many ways veterinarians use new technologies to improve care and diagnostics.

The results of IDT (as well as a review of the pet’s medical history) can then inform comprehensive immunotherapy treatments to relieve suffering. Veterinary dermatologists rely on IDT to build customized treatment plans for patients called Allergen Specific Immuno Therapy or “ASIT” for short.

ASIT involves a series of injections specifically created for the allergic animal’s skin. These injections, of diluted allergens, are designed to make a pet less sensitive to their allergens over time. In most cases these injections must be continued for life to reduce symptoms, but they are highly effective. Seventy to 90 percent of pets experience a reduction in symptoms as a result of ASIT treatment. These treatments can be delivered even more easily via droplets under the tongue, perfect for pet owners who are squeamish about giving injections to their pet.

This treatment is very new to the North American field of medicine (both human and veterinary) and underscores just how far innovation in veterinary medicine has come.

When it’s time to see the vet

Many pet owners are understandably concerned about taking their animals to the veterinarian because the cost (to say nothing of the fear some animals experience when going do the doctor) may outweigh any perceived reduction in suffering. To help pet owners know when it’s time to bring Fido to the doctor I’ve compiled my “Top Ten” list of dermatological symptoms that should never be ignored:

•Intense itching of the skin (head shaking, running the face into the carpet, furniture, etc.)
•Biting at the skin that creates red, raw crusting areas of the skin
•Multiple ear infections (head shaking, odor from ears, scratching at the ears with hind legs)
•Paw licking or chewing and frequent infections of the skin in the webbed skin of the paws
•Staining of the fur of the paws and nails on multiple feet
•Reoccurring skin infections in the groin, under the shoulders, perianal areas (on or under the tail)
•Greasy scaling skin and/or fur with odorous skin
•Hair loss, or thinning of the fur
•Dark pigmentation of the skin that is chronically infected
•Sudden depigmentation of skin

Allergies and other dermatological issues can be as frustrating for pet owners and their veterinarians as they can be for pets. I encourage any pet owner whose animal is experiencing any of these symptoms to consult with their veterinarian.

[suz h]

I have to say that after MANY years, MANY dog foods, many homemade recipes… We finally have found only ONE that actually has cleared up our precious boy. Part Pit, Part Beagle … Has been tested, but still new allergies showed up. So much $$$ wasted on this useless method, to also include the desensitization injections…

NOW: For months, he has cleared up that stinky, awful yeast, the horrific bleeding from scratching, and oily skin with dark patches. We tried medicated shampoos, natural remedies, to Prescription dog food (What a Waste), and finally Steroids, etc., etc.

It is: NATURAL BALANCE L.I.D. Sweet Potato and Chicken – I myself am completely shocked, as it has potatoes which i thought were part of the yeast problem. Nope…. A Miracle for us personally.
NOTE: Per the report, he IS Allergic to: PORK, WHEAT, LAMB, BARLEY, BREWERS YEAST, GREEN PEA, AND Borderline is RICE. They did not test him for Trout, Sweet potato, Salmon

NOT ALLERGIC:
FISH MIX= Catfish, Cod, Herring, Mackerel, White fish
POULTRY MIX= Chicken, Turkey
BEEF , RABBIT, VENISON, EGGS, MILK, SOYBEAN, CORN, PEANUT, FLAX, OAT, WHITE POTATO, KELP, ALFALFA, CARROTS, DUCK

BUT, he is highly allergic to DUCK, and Salmon makes him much worse as well. Go Figure…

[anonymously]

Also: http://www.2ndchance.info/struvitestones.htm

http://www.2ndchance.info/oxalatedog.htm

Ask the vet to clarify exactly what type of stones she has, they can have more than one type. The above two seem to be the most common.

Consider making an appointment with a Board-certified Veterinary Internal Medicine Specialist for management.
With my dog with allergies I found it very helpful to see a specialist, we now only go once a year, she responded to treatment and has been stable x 4 years.

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

[zcRiley]

A food can’t be too rich; however, your pup has an intolerance to one or several of its ingredients.

Glacierpeakholistics.com is a great allergy testing panel. Both my pups had to get off of Orijens due to chicken allergies and a slew of other ingredients. It changed their lives!

[anonymously]

I would rule out medical causes for the change in appetite, at the age of 11 a senior workup (lab work etc) may be a good idea.
If you are not brushing their teeth daily, they may very well need professional cleanings and extractions.
After medical clearance, I would consider Nutrisca dry foods as a base, my senior dog and my dog with allergies do well on this product. I recently tried Orijen and I am impressed with it for my younger dog, it may be too rich for a senior. Check Chewy.com and compare prices.
Can you take them out for a leisurely 10 or 20 minute walk twice a day? It makes a difference (in my experience).
PS: Add a splash of water to the kibble, don’t free feed, and take out for frequent bathroom breaks, every 2 hours or at least every 4 hours.

[Susan]

Hi, when you tried the 5 limited ingredient kibbles did you try kibbles with different proteins? I found Patch did really well when he ate a kibble that was just Fish & Rice, some grain free kibbles made him itch, smell bad & did very sloppy poos….. Patch has Food Sensitivities, Environment Allergies & IBD…..
Purina has their HA Hydrolyze kibble & the ingredients are similar to the Hills Z/D Ultra…Are you feeding the Hills Z/D Ultra with Starch as the first ingredient?? Purina HA Hydrolyzed is cheaper then the Hills Z/d.. Chewys has free delivery on Purina HA 25lb bag for $81 Auto delivery…you’d need your vet to write a veterinary Prescription…
https://www.chewy.com/purina-pro-plan-veterinary-diets-ha/dp/117452….

Try a kibble with just Fish & Rice mix with the Hills Z/d add 1/4 cup per meal for 3-4 days & see if there’s any change…. also now he’s doing better on the Hills Z/d, now you start introducing 1 new food to the diet over 2-4 weeks & find out what foods he’s sensitive tooo…I was adding a new food at breakfast time & then I knew when Patch did his poos or if his ears started to itch & he was shaking his head, or had his red paws he couldn’t eat that ingredient… I found chicken gave him red paws & sloppy poo, barley, wheat & corn, makes him smell & have itchy ears & red paws, its taken me 3 years & I know what he can eat & cant eat…

Have you tried Canidae Pure Sea?? a lot of dogs with allergies do really well on the Pure Sea & you don’t need to feed as much kibble cause the Kcal per cup is 496, Canidae, Pure Sky has 520Kcals per cup & is money back guaranteed if your dog has any problems…
http://www.canidae.com/dog-food/products

[anonymously]

If you have found a food that works, consider yourself lucky.

What you describe sounds like environmental allergies which have nothing to do with the diet.
Have you checked the search engine here? /forums/search/allergies/

Consider making an appointment with a dermatologist:

By Klaus Loft, DVM
Angell Dermatology Service

Anyone who suffers debilitating environmental allergies tied to changing seasons, pet dander or household dust mites knows first-hand the misery of a scratchy throat, itchy eyes or painful rashes.

Not everyone knows, however, that our pets can experience similar allergic reactions — and other very bothersome dermatological issues. But our pets need not suffer in silence. Modern veterinary science has evolved such that advanced, comprehensive treatments are now available to treat a range of skin conditions.

Top pet dermatological issues

Our four-legged friends suffer from some of the same skin issues as we do — and several that we do not. The most common conditions we see at Angell include:

•Parasites, such as mites, fleas and mange (scabies)
•Infectious diseases, such as Staphylococcal pyoderma (“Staph”) skin infections, yeast and fungal infections and skin fold infections
•Systemic diseases, such as autoimmune diseases
•Skin cancer, such as Squamous cell carcinoma, cutaneous lymphoma, Mast cell tumors
•Allergies, such as flea allergy dermatitis, adverse food reactions, environmental allergies, etc.

All of these conditions can become serious and, if untreated, dramatically reduce quality of life. But the tremendous strides made in veterinary innovation, however, is very good news for our pets. Specifically, the testing and treatments for allergies now rivals human healthcare in its sophistication, quality of care and long-term health outcomes.

Unlike humans, dogs and cats cannot tell us about their dermatological health issues. So we as pet owners must look for the signs. The most common indicators that a pet is suffering from some kind of allergy involve frequent episodes of ear infections, red raised or open sores on the skin, constant licking or biting of paws or groin — sometimes causing wounds that will not go away.

Allergies present a particular challenge because there can be hundreds (even thousands) of potential allergens that impact pet health, from foods to pollen from grasses, weeds, trees, dust mites and more. Today’s specialty veterinary hospitals have access to the very latest diagnostic tests to get to the bottom of what’s ailing our pet. Among these tests is the Intra Dermal Test (IDT).

IDT is generally considered the gold standard of testing for identifying allergens that cause pets to suffer from chronic skin and/or ear diseases. IDT involves injections of a series of concentrated allergens into the skin to determine which of them generate allergic reactions in a given animal. The use of fluorescein — a chemical that illuminates the inflammation caused by the injected allergens in order to visualize the strength of individual reactions — is key to accurately diagnosing pet allergies, and is just one of the many ways veterinarians use new technologies to improve care and diagnostics.

The results of IDT (as well as a review of the pet’s medical history) can then inform comprehensive immunotherapy treatments to relieve suffering. Veterinary dermatologists rely on IDT to build customized treatment plans for patients called Allergen Specific Immuno Therapy or “ASIT” for short.

ASIT involves a series of injections specifically created for the allergic animal’s skin. These injections, of diluted allergens, are designed to make a pet less sensitive to their allergens over time. In most cases these injections must be continued for life to reduce symptoms, but they are highly effective. Seventy to 90 percent of pets experience a reduction in symptoms as a result of ASIT treatment. These treatments can be delivered even more easily via droplets under the tongue, perfect for pet owners who are squeamish about giving injections to their pet.

This treatment is very new to the North American field of medicine (both human and veterinary) and underscores just how far innovation in veterinary medicine has come.

When it’s time to see the vet

Many pet owners are understandably concerned about taking their animals to the veterinarian because the cost (to say nothing of the fear some animals experience when going do the doctor) may outweigh any perceived reduction in suffering. To help pet owners know when it’s time to bring Fido to the doctor I’ve compiled my “Top Ten” list of dermatological symptoms that should never be ignored:

•Intense itching of the skin (head shaking, running the face into the carpet, furniture, etc.)
•Biting at the skin that creates red, raw crusting areas of the skin
•Multiple ear infections (head shaking, odor from ears, scratching at the ears with hind legs)
•Paw licking or chewing and frequent infections of the skin in the webbed skin of the paws
•Staining of the fur of the paws and nails on multiple feet
•Reoccurring skin infections in the groin, under the shoulders, perianal areas (on or under the tail)
•Greasy scaling skin and/or fur with odorous skin
•Hair loss, or thinning of the fur
•Dark pigmentation of the skin that is chronically infected
•Sudden depigmentation of skin

Allergies and other dermatological issues can be as frustrating for pet owners and their veterinarians as they can be for pets. I encourage any pet owner whose animal is experiencing any of these symptoms to consult with their veterinarian.

[karen S]

I have used Bravecto for the first time on my old girl (16 y/o rescue) and my young chihuahua. for the first time my 75 # old girl didn’t start scratching her stomach a few days after giving her a topical (Advantix II) and she still hasn’t over a month later. Neither of them have had any adverse effects and their food and elimination habits have remained the same. My old girl is prone to skin allergies, has many small and large skin tags, is in congestive heart failure and on prednisone and it is a relief to know that she isn’t in misery from fleas, particularly since we have not had a hard winter in a couple years to get rid of fleas. I advised a friend about it and he also has had no problems with his dog, a lab mix. I think there can be many reasons for an animal to reject a medicine that have to do with the animal’s physical make-up so a degree of caution is always advisable when trying out a new medication. I have my vet’s office on speed dial!

[Anita J]

My little Yorkie/shih tzu mix was a mess when I first got her from the animal shelter…sores everywhere and literally biting herself silly…finally I found the right shampoo and food and thankfully she is doing great now. She eats Canidae Life Stages Chicken & Rice Formula. She has a swallowing problem so has to eat the wet food with water added to it. She also has allergies to all kinds of stuff but does GREAT on this food.
I get it direct from petfooddirect.com on auto ship and no shipping with purchase of either 40 or 45 dollars..can’t remember exactly. Mine comes in at $1.88 per 14 oz can.

[zcRiley]

Zignature Zssentials is great for allergies. Do a full panel allergy testing on foods and environmental triggers. Put some booties on him when on grass. It’s the grass pollen he’s inhaling which is seasonal.

[Sherry A]

We learned from a researcher that Goats milk was good for dogs with diabetes, ibs, and other type of diseases. We started using it, and found remarkable difference. Our dog had allergies, and his hair was falling out. The goat’s milk helped with the yeast infection type in the colon and skin. it worked.

[crazy4cats]

Here is an article written by a vet that was included in my Petcurean newsletter:

CATS | DOGS | HEALTH & NUTRITION | APRIL 8, 2016
The Great Grain Debate: Should pet foods avoid grains?
Dr. Jennifer Adolphe
BY: DR. JENNIFER ADOLPHE
Dog in the woods
Grain-free diets are becoming much more commonplace in the pet food aisle. There are a number of reasons for this growing trend, such as the belief that grains are harmful for pets or that grain-free diets are more appropriate for dogs and cats from an evolutionary perspective.

Also, gluten — a protein found in wheat, barley and rye — has been touted as a substance to be feared in many popular human nutrition diets, and pet and human nutrition trends usually go hand-in-hand. With so many grain and grain-free options available, what do you need to know about the great grain debate?

Grains are an important source of complex carbohydrates, which have three or more sugar molecules joined together so they are more slowly digested than simple sugars that only have one or two molecules. Although carbohydrates are not considered essential nutrients in the diets of dogs and cats, and are often considered “fillers,” they do play a critical role in your pet’s body.

In particular, carbohydrates provide a highly digestible, readily available energy source. Foods rich in complex carbohydrates are also an important source of essential nutrients. The shape, texture and density of kibble depends on the carbohydrate (starch) content of the food. This is important, as mouth feel and the structure of the kibble help to determine palatability.

Recent genetic research suggests that one of the important steps in the domestication of dogs was their adaptation to a diet high in carbohydrates relative to the diet of carnivorous wolves. Carbohydrates are often considered to be detrimental to cats, but research suggests that moderate amounts may actually be beneficial in promoting insulin sensitivity.

Some of the grains commonly found in pet foods include barley, corn, rice, oats and wheat. Whole grains include all parts of the grain, while refined grains have the nutrient-rich germ and bran layers removed.

Whole grains promote digestive health since they are not only an excellent source of complex carbohydrates, but are also rich in fiber. Dietary fiber is a unique type of carbohydrate that cannot be digested by your pet’s digestive enzymes, but nonetheless provides many benefits.

For example, oats and barley contain a special type of fiber called beta-glucan, which has been shown in numerous human studies to fight heart disease and diabetes. Beta-glucan may also be beneficial in pet foods to control blood glucose and prevent obesity.

Grain-free does not mean carbohydrate-free, as complex carbohydrates can be sourced from nongrain ingredients such as peas, lentils, chickpeas, tapioca, potatoes and sweet potatoes. Some pets may have allergies to one or more specific grains, but it might not be necessary to eliminate all grains.

Gluten-free diets are necessary for humans diagnosed with celiac disease or nonceliac gluten sensitivity, but this is not a common problem in pets and most tolerate gluten without any difficulty. The exception is some Irish Setters with inherited gluten sensitivity.

Many grain-free pet foods are higher in protein than conventional diets and, while extra protein is typically not a problem for most healthy pets, it can be problematic in certain medical conditions such as kidney disease. Since all foods contain a balance of carbohydrates, fat and protein, decreasing the amount of carbohydrate in a food will increase the fat and/or protein content.

What are some of the benefits of grain-free carbohydrate sources? Peas are an excellent source of carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins and minerals, and provide most of the essential amino acids required by dogs and cats. Peas also provide an added environmental benefit in that they are used as a tool in sustainable agriculture to add nitrogen back into the soil.

Tapioca does not contain protein, so it is not considered a potential allergen or source of food sensitivity. This is especially important in limited ingredient diets that are designed for food hypersensitive pets.

Potatoes are a rich source of vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamin C and potassium. Sweet potatoes are a major source of vitamin C and beta-carotene, which act as antioxidants, as well as manganese and potassium.

One of the primary benefits of grain-free diets is the increased variety of new and unique pet food recipes available. This allows pet parents to choose a diet with or without grains that works best for their dog or cat.

This article originally appeared on Multibriefs.com

Hope this article helps!

[Shawna]

It’s generally stated that a short elimination diet will not cause any long term problems if the dog was well nourished before beginning the elimination diet. Salmon is high in omega 3 and deficient in omega 6 and other fatty acids but again I wouldn’t get too concerned over a two week period.

For what it’s worth, some feel that environmental allergies don’t occur unless their is first digestive issues that ignite the immune system to the point of reacting to things it shouldn’t react to — like pollen. Why would a healthy immune system / body all the sudden react to things in the environment it shouldn’t.

Additionally it is believed that having the wrong bacteria, or inappropriate bacteria, in the gut can aggravate and even cause allergies. There’s a blurb about it on Penn State website “Inner Weapons Against Allergies: Gut Bacteria Control Allergic Diseases, Perelman School of Medicine Study Finds” http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/news/News_Releases/2012/03/allergies/ If you can get control of the environmental trigger the yeast overgrowth may work itself out naturally.

[anonymously]

“I do bathe her but not with Malaseb shampoo bra use she likes to lick it off. I use a natural shampoo and then use an apple cider vinegar rinse afterward”.

The natural stuff won’t kill the dust mite
“A common environmental allergen is the household dust mite, also known as Cockroach, American and Tyropagus putrecentiae. And, no, you don’t have to have cockroaches in your home. These microscopic particles are everywhere, airborne and on the skin of all living things…including you! Constantly being shed all year round”.

Malaseb will kill the dust mite, especially if you follow directions and leave it on for 10-15 minutes. It is very gentle, not drying.

I found Malaseb helpful in conjunction with other treatments recommended by my dog’s dermatologist, alone it would only help a little bit.
It is best to consult a specialist, use the search engine here “allergies”.

[anonymously]

I have a dog with environmental allergies and she has been doing very well since starting allergen specific immunotherapy four years ago. Her diet is varied, a quality kibble with a bit of cooked meat, chicken, egg or turkey as a topper.
We just started Orijen 6 fish, but she also does well on Nutrisca Salmon and Chickpea as a base.

The dermatologist told me her diet has nothing to do with her allergies, she does have a sensitive stomach however. I add a little water to her meals also.

I would be careful about making dramatic changes to a senior dog’s diet, maybe check with your vet as there are prescription dog foods specially formulated for specific conditions.
I might be concerned about the possibility of diarrhea with all those veggies mentioned in your diet, I’ve never heard of DH Hash.

How about Malaseb shampoo? Weekly bathing might help. My dog gets bathed twice a week with Malaseb.

[Jen T]

Hi all, I have a Westie who is 9 years old and has issues with yeast infections due to environmental allergies. I’ve removed her kibble (turkey and potatoes) and all treats and I am trying out a Westie Diet recipe called Dan’s Highlander Hash which calls for: ½ pound ground turkey or salmon or tilapia, 1 raw carrot (substitute with celery stalk), 1 raw zucchini, 1 raw yellow squash, 1 medium apple – granny smith, and 2 Tbsps chopped fresh parsley. I usually double the serving size to last for 2.5 days (she gets 4 small meals each day about 5 ounces).

Instead of turkey, I’m using salmon and baking it until it’s at least 150 degrees Fahrenheit. Is it safe to keep giving her this meal every day for two weeks? In addition to this meal, I add 1 capusle of Gentle Digest (prebiotic and probiotic) as well as 1/8 teaspoon of turmeric per day. I read salmon should be given periodically but since I’m leaving on vacation in a few days, I don’t want to dramatically change her diet with the pet sitter. Any advice?

[Marie P]

Hi There, I have worked with many pets and there owners for the past 9 years. I consider food and environmental allergies to often be the problem for most pets. Please check out my web site and ask for the Free 30 minute consultation http://www.dogfoodconsultant.com

Hope to chat with you soon via e-mail or telephone

Marie Peppers LPN Ma Ask the Pet Nurse

[anonymously]

Consider making an appointment with a dermatologist:

By Klaus Loft, DVM
Angell Dermatology Service

Anyone who suffers debilitating environmental allergies tied to changing seasons, pet dander or household dust mites knows first-hand the misery of a scratchy throat, itchy eyes or painful rashes.

Not everyone knows, however, that our pets can experience similar allergic reactions — and other very bothersome dermatological issues. But our pets need not suffer in silence. Modern veterinary science has evolved such that advanced, comprehensive treatments are now available to treat a range of skin conditions.

Top pet dermatological issues

Our four-legged friends suffer from some of the same skin issues as we do — and several that we do not. The most common conditions we see at Angell include:

•Parasites, such as mites, fleas and mange (scabies)
•Infectious diseases, such as Staphylococcal pyoderma (“Staph”) skin infections, yeast and fungal infections and skin fold infections
•Systemic diseases, such as autoimmune diseases
•Skin cancer, such as Squamous cell carcinoma, cutaneous lymphoma, Mast cell tumors
•Allergies, such as flea allergy dermatitis, adverse food reactions, environmental allergies, etc.

All of these conditions can become serious and, if untreated, dramatically reduce quality of life. But the tremendous strides made in veterinary innovation, however, is very good news for our pets. Specifically, the testing and treatments for allergies now rivals human healthcare in its sophistication, quality of care and long-term health outcomes.

Unlike humans, dogs and cats cannot tell us about their dermatological health issues. So we as pet owners must look for the signs. The most common indicators that a pet is suffering from some kind of allergy involve frequent episodes of ear infections, red raised or open sores on the skin, constant licking or biting of paws or groin — sometimes causing wounds that will not go away.

Allergies present a particular challenge because there can be hundreds (even thousands) of potential allergens that impact pet health, from foods to pollen from grasses, weeds, trees, dust mites and more. Today’s specialty veterinary hospitals have access to the very latest diagnostic tests to get to the bottom of what’s ailing our pet. Among these tests is the Intra Dermal Test (IDT).

IDT is generally considered the gold standard of testing for identifying allergens that cause pets to suffer from chronic skin and/or ear diseases. IDT involves injections of a series of concentrated allergens into the skin to determine which of them generate allergic reactions in a given animal. The use of fluorescein — a chemical that illuminates the inflammation caused by the injected allergens in order to visualize the strength of individual reactions — is key to accurately diagnosing pet allergies, and is just one of the many ways veterinarians use new technologies to improve care and diagnostics.

The results of IDT (as well as a review of the pet’s medical history) can then inform comprehensive immunotherapy treatments to relieve suffering. Veterinary dermatologists rely on IDT to build customized treatment plans for patients called Allergen Specific Immuno Therapy or “ASIT” for short.

ASIT involves a series of injections specifically created for the allergic animal’s skin. These injections, of diluted allergens, are designed to make a pet less sensitive to their allergens over time. In most cases these injections must be continued for life to reduce symptoms, but they are highly effective. Seventy to 90 percent of pets experience a reduction in symptoms as a result of ASIT treatment. These treatments can be delivered even more easily via droplets under the tongue, perfect for pet owners who are squeamish about giving injections to their pet.

This treatment is very new to the North American field of medicine (both human and veterinary) and underscores just how far innovation in veterinary medicine has come.

When it’s time to see the vet

Many pet owners are understandably concerned about taking their animals to the veterinarian because the cost (to say nothing of the fear some animals experience when going do the doctor) may outweigh any perceived reduction in suffering. To help pet owners know when it’s time to bring Fido to the doctor I’ve compiled my “Top Ten” list of dermatological symptoms that should never be ignored:

•Intense itching of the skin (head shaking, running the face into the carpet, furniture, etc.)
•Biting at the skin that creates red, raw crusting areas of the skin
•Multiple ear infections (head shaking, odor from ears, scratching at the ears with hind legs)
•Paw licking or chewing and frequent infections of the skin in the webbed skin of the paws
•Staining of the fur of the paws and nails on multiple feet
•Reoccurring skin infections in the groin, under the shoulders, perianal areas (on or under the tail)
•Greasy scaling skin and/or fur with odorous skin
•Hair loss, or thinning of the fur
•Dark pigmentation of the skin that is chronically infected
•Sudden depigmentation of skin

Allergies and other dermatological issues can be as frustrating for pet owners and their veterinarians as they can be for pets. I encourage any pet owner whose animal is experiencing any of these symptoms to consult with their veterinarian.

[lauri g]

first of all a raw diet is far better as it goes thru a dogs system clean and the transition isnt hard to do. I constantly do research and have mine only on raw which i give whole prey as well as prey model that i get from hare today gone tomorrow and from local vets . I do not buy from grocery stores as they do have meat with hormones etc. If i had to buy from grocery it would be labeled organic only. I will be willing to help anyone that wants to convert to raw. because of a raw diet and all natural raising on my boys mine never have bad breath nor ever smell like a dog {like a wet dog does when it comes in from the rain} never have decay or tarter buildup on teeth and no medical problems . I am happy I have learned that kibble isnt the way to go as dogs are carnivores not omnivores . Just look at your dogs teeth they are not flat .. you’ll be surprised how much of your dogs allergies will go away.
you can check our page also on fb natures way carnivore pets

[Susan]

Hi Sydney. your best sticking with limited ingredient kibbles, that way you have less ingredients that he can be sensitive or intolerant too & start reacting with skin problems…. Have a look “Taste Of The Wild” Grain Free formulas like the Pacific Stream Smoked Salmon, my boy does well on the Taste Of The Wild Sierra Mountain Roasted Lamb, I try & stay around 40% & under for carbs, you add the Protein % + the Fat % + the Fiber % + the Moisture % & + the Ash % if there’s no ash % on bag or their internet site then just add 8% for the ash, now take the results away from 100 & you’ll have a the carb %….also rotate when you find a few kibbles brands he does well on, rotate them, you can do it monthly every time you have to buy a new bag of kibble….
My boy starts to smell real yeasty when the carb % is over 45% in carbs & when he eats barley, corn, maize, gluten meal, beet pulp & sometimes oats, depends where on the ingredient list the oats are, he starts to smell scratch & itch, it will depend on your dog, what he’s sensitive too, even the grain free kibbles can be very high in starchy carbs as well, have a look at Canidae Pure kibbles, they’re grain free, there’s Pure Wild, Pure Land, Pure Sea, Pure Sky, the Canidae Pure formulas were a bit too rich for my Staffy, he has IBD & got acid reflux when he ate the Pure Land, probably the Bison was too rich for him or the chickpeas…a lot of dogs do really well on fish kibbles that have skin problems, the Canidae has their Pure Sea… Canidae Pure Formulas are very dense, high in Kcals, you don’t need to feed as much kibble…. Canidae also have their Life Stages Formulas, have a look at the Duck Meal Brown Rice & Lentils Formula for large Breeds….. Patch just tried the Life Stages, All Life Stages Formula, it has Chicken meal, Turkey Meal, Lamb Meal as the first 3 ingredients then Ocean fish meal is further down the ingredient list & its around 39% in Carbs, or try another kibble that has a few different ingredients to the kibble he’s eating now, try & make sure there’s about 2 to 4 proteins as the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th ingredients maybe try a grainfree kibble you’ve tried a kibble with grains also fresh foods are excellent give a few small sardines, the tin sardines in spring water as a treat or add to his kibble, at dinner time if you’ve cooked too much & have some left over veggies & meat make him a meal as well, I prefer fresh foods then feeding kibble, kibble is quick & easy for us…I try & feed 1 meal kibble breakfast & dinner a cooked meal, I cook then freeze meals…. here’s the Canidae page http://www.canidae.com/dog-food/products/ the new Pure Wild looks good, I’m waiting to try it, I live Australia & we haven’t got the new Canidae formulas yet 🙁 I love Pit Bulls being pure white, I hope he doesn’t get skin allergies as he gets older, my vet said he see’s more white, pink skin dogs with skin problems then dogs that are black or brown with dark skin, also are you washing him weekly in the Malaseb medicated shampoo?? bath in a antibacterial shampoo to kill the bacteria & yeast…I have a English Staffy he has skin problems only where he’s has white fur the brindle areas are fine & stomach problems…. I hope you have better luck with your boy, so make sure he’s eating a good diet & use sun screen on face head etc & give him a nice raw meaty turkey leg once a week for breakfast also in Australia we give Staffys whole coconuts to play with, you peel the husk off the coconut a bit can cause sloppy poos, then the coconut keeps them busy trying to open the coconut & drink the milk, keep 1/2 the coconut for another day, may cause soft poos depends on your dog..

[Monique G]

I Have an 11 year old English Springier Spaniel and 2 dachshunds, one of the dachshunds has skin allergies and the Springer, I need advice on what to feed them it is definitely yeast been to the vets numerous trips. DONE with the steroids and Prednisone so frustrated don’t know what else to do ? What do you think about Dinovite and raw food meal ?

[Susan]

Hi, Elite looks pretty good, it might be a new food, wish we had it in Australia, it would be excellent for dogs with allergies & food sensitivities… I will post Elite on a Face Book group page for dogs that cant eat potatoes, peas, egg, chicken & grains….. when we get a new food in Australia I find it before our Australian Dog Food Advisor & I tell him & he quickly does a review on it if he has the time…….I like how they put the protein % from plant & vegetables sources & Carb % as well…they have nothing to hide they put up everything…

[anonymously]

My dogs do well on Nutrisca Salmon and Chickpea or Nutrisca Chicken, for 1 dog I soak it in the fridg overnight in water or/and add a splash of water plus a tablespoon of topper like scrambled egg. Check Chewy.com

If his food sensitivities continue I would take him to the vet for a good checkup, who told you he couldn’t have egg? Was it a veterinarian? Food allergies are rare. Does he have GI symptoms? What do you mean by “food making him sick”?

I am going to try Orijen soon, it’s supposed to be the best. I only use the kibble as a base anyway, I will let people know what I think.

[Susan]

Hi, my boy has IBD & Wellness made his poos worse Wellness is very pea heavy & barley heavy…. Stay on the Purina vet diet for now if its helping & making the diarrhea stop, was she put on Metronidazole (Flagyl) ?? My Patch also a rescue dog that I ended up keeping,
had to stay on a vet diet for 1yr to let the bowel heal & get better, but at 9months I started trying new foods, I could always fall back on the vet diet when the new kibble didn’t work, have you tried cooked meals?? like Chicken & sweet potatoes or potatoes?? lean cooked meals normally firms up poos, I feed cooked chicken breast, sweet potato, broccoli, zucchini for dinner & a kibble for breakfast now but it has taken Patch 2 yrs for me to work out what foods he’s sensitive too….I got him at the age of 4 yrs old & who ever owned him just feed cheap super market kibble vet thinks he was sensitive too the kibble & they didn’t care about his diarrhea & kept feeding whatever was causing his diarrhea which has now cause his IBD so try not to let the diarrhea go on & on, when you start introducing a new food start using new food as a treat watch poo if poos seem the same after 2-3 days then start adding new kibble to vet diet….
these are the kibbles that didn’t give Patch diarrhea, Taste Of The Wild Pacific Stream Smoked Salmon, Taste Of The Wild Sierra Mountain Roasted Lamb,
Canidae has their Pure limited ingredient grain free formulas & their Life Stages Formulas stay around the same fat % protein % & fiber % as the vet diet if you can, you can go up a few % but don’t jump from 20% protein to 30% protein same with fat % if fat says 12% don’t get a kibble with 18-20% fat etc & look for limited ingredient kibbles less ingredients are better so there’s less ingredients for her to be sensitive to, I wonder as she gets older will she get itchy & have the skin allergies aswell :
I hate vet diets BUT they seem to work & help them get better when nothing else worked,
even though she on a vet diet you can replace 1 meal with a bland cooked meal then what I did was I seen Patch can eat chicken, salmon & sweet potato & Potato then I looked for a kibble that had fish & sweet potato or chicken & potato…
Patch cant eat boiled rice it irritates his bowel & gives him diarrhea… have a look at California Natural Lamb & Rice it has just 4 ingredients & a few dogs with IBD do really well on the California Natural kibbles…also Honest Kitchen Zeal you just add water you can buy samples but still feed 1 meal the RX Purina Vet diet…
add things to diet slowly & only do 1 thing at a time so if you give a piece of chicken as a treat don’t give any other foods kibbles etc that day so you will know what caused the sloppy poo if it happens…
http://www.californianaturalpet.com/products

[Pitlove]

Hi Martha-

No there is no one recommended food for a dog that scratches. Mainly because the reasons for the scratching are different with each dog and some have nothing to do with food at all. You may want to discuss the scratching with your vet and talk about determining what the cause is. I would personally be weary of mail in hair and saliva tests for food allergies. They are notoriously inaccurate.

Also wanted to note that it seems that the Glacier Peak test is still unavailable for resale. Been like this for a few months now I believe.

[kim b]

My little poodle had developed allergies at about 3 yo. It has taken me quite some time to find out what he is allergic to and I’ve found the culprits are wheat, corn, soy, oats, peas and now I can add garbanzo beans. I hope I can finally get this issue under control. I now bake his treats from scratch and have found some yummy recipes on Pinterest which are comprised of coconut flour. He loves them. It’s difficult being a fur mommy.

[DieselJunki]

It depends. Does your dog have food allergies or is it environmental or both? Notice any fleas?

Not all dogs have the same allergies, so we can’t recommend without knowing more information.

What is your dog currently eating? Has the itching always been an issue or is this something that has cropped up lately?

I will tell you that I have an Ambull which I thought originally had food allergies so we went raw for two years. He was still so very very itchy due to environmental alleriges. He does best kept inside with the A/C to keep the pollens and dusts out. Thankfully I’ve kept it under control by weekly baths and if we’ve had a day of hard play I rinse him with the hose in between baths.

[DieselJunki]

I wouldn’t feed them either. Matter of fact when others ask if they can give my dog a treat I always ask ‘What is it?’ and if it even looks like a milk-bone I nicely decline and just say he’s got allergies, which isn’t totally a lie.

What InkedMarie said, take as much time in choosing treats for your dog as you do choosing the food.

[DieselJunki]

My dog has been skin scrapped so many times and nothing ever comes of it but some bacteria, which we all know if they test a raw spot of course there would be bacteria, bacteria is all over our skin. I always decline anti-biotics and just treat the area at home myself. I believe my dog has more environmental allergies as apposed to food allergies because we did raw for nearly 2 years, just recently switched back to kibble and he has always been itchy. Spring is his worst enemy, and go figure, I just moved to Cali! He usually smells as well but it’s because he is constantly peeing on his darn legs, boy dogs are the worst sometimes. I bathe once a week with Zymox Shampoo and do the Creme Rinse (which I leave on). Throughout the week I will wet a cloth, put some of the Zymox Creme Rinse on and rub him down with it. It has a pleasant smell. I’m lucky though as I have a dog with a short coat, you’d have to really work to get the Zymox shampoo and Creme rinse in there. Zymox shampoo is enzymatic and I have had good success with it so far in helping to keep the irritants at bay for my dog. If you read the reviews online others with yeasty dogs it has helped greatly as well. There is another brand called Derma-Soothe Shampoo and Derma-Soothe Cream Rinse. I just bought them and have yet to use it so can’t say whether they are good but the reviews online are decent, I plan to use the Derma-Soothe when he’s really having a melt down, last week was pretty bad here for him but we made it. What I can’t stress enough is to follow the directions on the bottle, if it says leave the shampoo on for 10 minutes after you’re done lathering the dog up, leave it for 10, or even 20, then rinse, there is a reason for said directions.

+1 to going to the vet and having a skin scrap done to see if it’s really yeast but if you can’t afford it try to google how others treat yeast infections in their home. I hear a white distilled vinegar rinse after a bath and leaving it in (lightly drying but not fully) is a good way to help control yeast. But this may have to be a weekly or multiple day a week occurrence where you bathe and do the vinegar rinse to get the yeast under control.

In the mean time can we help you find a comparable priced dog food that is a bit better in the ingredient list? Maybe you can persuade her if the cost is about the same.

[Pitlove]

Hi Jillian-

My pitbull had Malassezia yeast overgrowth as well, due to his food allergies. It was so bad they thought he had demodex mange. Yeast is naturally occuring on the body, however when the immune system is suppressed (as it is with food allergies), the yeast overpopulate because the body is too out of wack to keep it under control. Since doing a food trial through the vet and getting him on a fish and grain based diet, his yeast is gone. I would definitely have a skin scrape done at the vet to determine if it is infact yeast that is causing the smell. Then you need to figure out the primary cause. Each case is individual to the dog and what works for one may not work for another.

[Shelley S]

I use Acana Grasslands for my dog. I have done a LOT of research into dog foods and their ingredients and this is the one I use for my dog. I feel it is important to have a product whose ingredients are sourced in the US and Canada rather than elsewhere. Chicken allergies appear to be rather common and Danes do tend towards sensitive skin. Here are the ingredients of Grasslands… Deboned lamb, lamb meal, duck meal, whitefish meal*, whole peas, red lentils, field beans, deboned duck, whole eggs, deboned walleye, duck fat, herring oil, lamb liver, herring meal, sun-cured alfalfa, pea fibre, whole apples, whole pears, pumpkin, butternut squash, parsnips, carrots, spinach, cranberries, blueberries, …
When you want to talk about healthy treats let me know lol 🙂

[zcRiley]

FROMM PRAIRIE GOLD (large breed dry kibble with NO CHICKEN)
Fromm Prairie Gold is a line of grain-free, red meat recipes that are naturally formulated with beef, pork and lamb and are also enhanced with probiotics to aid digestion.
(Side Note: Puppies need extra nutrients but yours is just 2 months shy of switching to adult food so it’s fine).

ALLERGY PANEL TESTING: http://www.glacierpeakholistics.com
You’ll be amazed to find out to which proteins your dog is intolerant, plus 100 other foods found in dog food.

After analyzing my own pups’ allergies (they became allergic to chicken during year 1), they now thrive on Zignature Zssentials. You can read the ingredient list on Chewy.com.

[theBCnut]

I use it fairly often and am using it now. Two of my 3 dogs do really great on it. The third dog has food allergies, so can’t use their brand.

[Shawna]

I personally would definitely consider something in the diet as a potential cause of your pup’s issues (but not “meat” in general). They are now finding that food sensitivities and allergies can trigger a WIDE range of symptoms. As an example of how diverse symptoms can be, they have discovered that gluten (which is a protein) causes “cramping” in Border Terriers “Canine epileptoid cramping syndrome in BTs is a gluten-sensitive movement disorder triggered and perpetuated by gluten and thus responsive to a gluten-free diet.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26500168

It might be worth trying an elimination diet however it is often beneficial to have a vets assistance with this as even though the pup seems to be feeling better in general, symptoms can actually get worse short term. Even after the offending food, if that is the problem, is eliminated, the body has to get rid of the histamine etc that was elevated by the problem food — which manifests as symptoms.

Regarding the fish oil / tochopherol comment – tochopherol is simply vitamin E. I have read however that the source of the tochopherols can be problematic as much is sourced from soybeans. For those that react to fish oils with added tochopherols it might be worth investigating if the vitamin was sourced from soybeans.

[Susan]

Hi sounds like food sensitivities/intolerances & environment allergies, have you looked at doing the Jean Dobbs salvia testing to get an idea what foods she may be sensitive too, I know people say these test are not 100% but it will give you an idea what foods she may be sensitive too there’s also salvia & hair testing that test for food, mites & tree/plants….. she may be sensitive to dust mites??? also my boy can not have a kibble that’s high fat, high fiber/carb diet, no fish or salmon oils they all cause acid reflux stomach problems…
Can you start to cook for her or even if you feed a cooked meal that’s been pre cooked sectioned then frozen & you take out the night before & put in fridge for next day & feed a kibble for breakfast & cooked for dinner, also change the kibble, stop feeding kibbles with potatoes & specially when potatoes are first ingredient like the Natural Balance is, its too much starchy carbs…..a good kibble should have 2-4 proteins as 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th ingredients then a carb…..
Some grain free kibbles can be very high in starchy carbs…. I have found Patch does best on a kibble that’s lamb chicken fish & Brown rice or a Fish Kibble with sweet potatoes but the fat has to be 10-14% fat or he gets his acid reflux & it must not have fish oil or Salmon oil or he starts grinding his teeth with real bad acid reflux.
He eats Earthborn Ocean Fusion, Taste Of The Wild Sierra Mountain Roasted Lamb, Canidae Life Stages, all life stages formula, Canidae Grain free look at the Pure land, Pure Sky & Pure Wild they all have no potatoes & Carbs are 40% & under
http://www.canidae.com/dog-food/products
Have a look at the Honest Kitchen aswell
Shop All Dog
look at “Brave” & “Zeal” carbs are 35% or the base mixes you just add the protein….

Baths are you doing weekly baths? I use the “Malaseb” medicated shampoo in Spring Summer, bath every 4-7 days, whenever Patchy is real itchy & has his red paws/toes, itchy bum, etc …… I also use Hydrocortisone 1% cream, every night when Patch is sleeping, I do the skin body check for any red toes, red paws, white fur thinning out above right eye etc & lightly apply some Hydrocortisone cream next morning itch & redness has all cleared up also I use the “Huggie Baby Wipes” Cucumber & Aloe, when we come home from a walk or he goes outside, I wipe Patch down, a new baby wipe per section of the body, these Cucumber & Aloe wipes are really good, sold in Supermarket baby section, I think you can get special wipes for environment allergies & hot spots as well, there’s a Face Book group called “Dog issues, allergies and other information support” group, one of the admins uses the special wipes & has started cooking & using “Balance It” to balance the diet……

Normally when they have Food Sensitivities/Intolerances they will have stomach & bowel problems & itchy skin…….My Patch gets he has Seasonal Environment Allergies & Food Intolerances & Sensitivities to certain foods, I did an elimination diet, then started adding foods… there’s no point trying a vegan diet, the carbs would be thru the roof 50-70% carbs like the vet diets have & you want a low carb diet……dogs are made to eat meat, have you thought of trying a Raw diet?? Patch did real well on Raw diet his skin cleared up within 1 week BUT cause he has IBD he kept regurgitating water up into his mouth, I think it was the Digestive enzymes the Naturopath made me use cause of his IBD I was so worried he’ll get diarrhea from the raw diet, so we used digestive enzymes & I think they digested the raw to quick & Patch was burping up & water was coming up into mouth… I’m going to try the raw again next Summer…..
I would honestly start again with the diet building up the immune system probiotice foods high in probiotics Kefir/yogurt etc & see if you see a change, if your on face Book Monica Segal has a group called “K9Kitchen” she has put up a easy recipe to make called “Omega 3 Boost” cookies, I’m going to make some for Patch, I really believe you need to boost their omega 3 & some kibbles are very high in omega 6 & very low in omega 3 then the dog starts having skin problems, stop the fish oils & try other things that are high in omega 3, olive oil, sardines in Spring water are good 1-2 a day this way its given thru foods… also what tin foods are you feeding? I was feeding tin foods at night as well & they were making Patch itch they had gelling agents in them something in the wet food made his paws go real red & he’d start licking his paws & get itchy, try replacing the wet tin foods with cooked meals… I’m feeding boil chicken breast, sweet potato not much only 1/4 to 1/3 cup & broccoli & 1 cup chicken, cook & add greens zucchini celery spinach etc… I feed more protein then carbs in the cooked meals…1 cup meat 1/2 cup veggies…

[anonymously]

Because, it is controversial as to whether or not probiotics and such do that much, if anything.
And sometimes supplements can cause harm. Example:
http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?s=probiotics

In response to: “I’ve starting give her a probiotic and am going to switch shampoos to something to treat subhorreic dermatitis. (Both through my own research, which to vet said would be good. Just wondering why they didn’t suggest it themselves in the first place.) Maybe it’s time to switch vets again”.

PS: Some of those shampoos can be very drying and irritating to the skin. My dog with allergies gets bathed once or twice a week with Malaseb in conjunction with other treatments.

[anonymously]

Sounds like an Internal Medicine Specialist might be your best bet.
I understand your frustration, my dog with environmental allergies is stable now x 4 years. But, I went to 3-4 vets in a 1 year period before I found a specialist that did the allergy skin testing, diagnosed, and prescribed a treatment that works.

The first step is to get a diagnosis, then evaluate your treatment options (imo)

PS: The initial testing is the worst of it ($)
But, we now only see the specialist once a year.
Other than routine care (annual heartworm test) we have not had to go to the regular vet.
Also, I would hesitate to give this dog any vaccines if she is not medically stable.