[anonymously]

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.

[anonymously]

Age 7 is considered a senior, the vets often recommend an exam and lab work at this stage, if you haven’t done so. Excessive licking and hot spots is an indication that something is wrong, I think a visit to the vet may be in order.
I would discuss diet changes with the vet before taking her off of a prescription food.

“Food Allergies are probably over-diagnosed in dogs (they account for, perhaps 5-10%). Hypoallergenic diets are occasionally, but not frequently, helpful in canine atopy cases but you should always give them a try. Food intolerances are more common – but considerably more likely to result in digestive disturbances and diarrhea that in itching problems”.
http://www.2ndchance.info/Apoquel.htm

Check the search engine here for allergies: /forums/search/allergies/

http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?s=allergies You may find some helpful information at this site.

Regarding bladder stones:
/forums/topic/crystalstone-in-bladder/

Often when the infection is treated (antibiotics) and water intake is increased the condition clears up, unless they have another type of stones, also. They can have more than one type. Often there is a genetic component.

The best thing you can do is to increase water intake and offer frequent bathroom breaks, opportunities to urinate. Sure, dogs can hold it, but that’s not good for this condition, You want to keep the bladder flushed. Stagnant conditions in the bladder are conducive to stone formation.
PS: Has your dog had an x-ray to rule out calcium oxalate stones?
I use a potassium citrate/cranberry supplement I get from Chewy.com. It depends on the type of stones.
It is best to get approval from the veterinarian that is treating the dog before adding anything, and I would go along with the prescription diet for now. PH levels fluctuate and it takes a while (sometimes weeks) to see changes, at least that is what my vet told me.

you may find this site helpful: http://skeptvet.com/Blog/ Recent blog about cranberry supplements.

http://skeptvet.com/Blog/category/nutrition/ Regarding raw diets.

• This reply was modified 9 years, 7 months ago by anonymously.

[anonymously]

“She was looking to learn raw since her dog was experiencing Cushings symptoms from taking steroids for 4 years as a treatment for allergies”.

That is why it is best to consult a specialist/dermatologist if the allergy symptoms have been going on for more than 1 year/4 seasons without any significant periods of relief despite treatments from the regular veterinarian.

Prednisone is usually ordered to stop the suffering caused by excessive scratching/pruritus. It is a temporary fix. Most likely the allergies are environmental and have nothing to do with the diet, that was my experience.

A lot of folks refuse to consider going to a specialist because of the cost……therefore the regular vet has no choice but to continue to treat the symptoms.

My dog enjoys seeing her dermatologist, since she is stable we only go once a year.
PS: She can eat a variety of foods, chicken included, cooked of course!

My senior dog gets constipated if he doesn’t have water soaked kibble (Nutrisca) everyday.

• This reply was modified 9 years, 8 months ago by anonymously.

[Rox B]

Pitlove: I had and intern from a vet’s office join my raw group. She was looking to learn raw since her dog was experiencing Cushings symptoms from taking steroids for 4 years as a treatment for allergies. I don’t know anyone feeding raw whose dog takes steroids for allergies. Thousands of people are getting great results from feeding raw. An article by 4 vets is not going to change that.

[Melanie B]

My Great Dane Herc has been having hair loss and dandruff issues for the last couple years. He is really not itchy and doesn’t lick or scratch. We initially thought is was a reaction to his neutering at a year, but it continued on. I was feeding him Acana Wild Prairie at the time and wondered if it was a food allergy. I switched him to the Pacifica for over 6 months and nothing really changed. After the feeding trial I switched him back to a chicken formula (Boka brand) and spoke to my vet who recommended an anti-dandruff shampoo. We diligently treated him with the shampoo and he improved a bit but was never really better. I recently had a full thyroid panel done on him to rule out hypothyroidism. The tests came back that he has euthyroid sick syndrome which can be caused by allergies. My vet believes he has some seasonal allergies but also probably a food allergy. We have currently switched him to Satori Lamb (which my severely chicken allergic JRT is on) and are treating him with an allergy specific shampoo and spray. Thinking back on this whole ordeal, I remember putting my JRT on the pacifica with Herc and I had to take her off of it because she was reacting so poorly to it. I even contacted the company to see if there was something that could cause her to react (they said no). So now I’m assuming he probably has a chicken allergy just like my other dog. Has anyone with a chicken sensitive dog every had issues with Acana Pacifica? My JRT has eaten many fish based diets before and after with no issues.

[M F]

I find this an interesting topic. I had two dogs who lived to be 17 and 18 years old. One a Border Collie and the other an Icelandic Sheepdog. The started out there lives in Arizona and then spent time in both Florida and Michigan and then back to Arizona. Anyway, when we lived in florida my Border Collie became itchy and was diagnosed with allergies, in Florida their snap test does not test for Lymes disease as it is not prevelant there. Finally after three years with no good results, I am up in Michigan with the dogs and find out the Border Collie has Lymes and have him treated and all the allergy problems go away. Quite interesting. We always used frontline on the dogs and also checked daily for tics, It still didn’t prevent the Lymes disease. I now have two dogs again an Icelandic Sheepdog who is 4 now and an Australian Cattle Dog Mix who is now 5. I winter in Arizona and summer in Michigan. When I got the cattle dog I decided I would vaccinate him for Lymes because of spending time in Michigan, after the Lymes Vaccine he developed ITP and almost died, he never has gotten Lymes though, therefore I decided not to vaccinate the Icelandic Sheepddog, she ended up with lymes at age 1, was treated and has been doing well, I do worry about her though because my Border Collie who had undiagnosed Lymes for three years developed sever arthritis. Anyway I just wanted to share my story, because although all these dogs were on frontline and also checked for tics daily, two of the four ended up with lymes and the other two did not. I also want to mention that while the Michigan property is in the woods, they do have a grass fenced yard, which is mowed short and treated for pests at the beginning of the season with an organic product two months before the dogs arrive. I’m not a believer in using pesticides around my dogs, yet I do use the frontline. In conclusion I am not sure of the best thing to do, I do know I will never give another one of my dog’s a Lyme Vaccine after what happened to my boy. I haven’t had any adverse reactions with the frontline, however I only use while in Michigan for about four months per year, fortunately in the area of Arizona I live the rest of the year we don’t have a big problem with fleas and tics. I’m not even so sure about the frontline though because it didn’t prevent two of the four dogs from getting lymes. I would not feel comfortable giving my dogs an oral flea and tick preventative, seems like giving them poison but, I don’t know enough about that oral medication to give sound advise.

[James S]

Hi!

I have a new Labradoodle puppy who will grow to 50-60 LBS as an adult. He is gaining 2LBS a week average between 3-4 Months (8 LBS in 4 weeks) I have him eating Solid Gold Hundchen Flocken, for med – large breed Puppies, just requested the Calcium and other specs from them directly, they are below.

Hundchen Flocken is 1.8% calcium, 1.14% phosphorus, 1% potassium, and 375 kcal/cup
Wolf Cub is 1.3% calcium, 1% phosphorus, 0.8% potassium, and 345 kcal/cup

Should I switch to Wolf Cub or something else, he has allergies and was very itchy on the Breeders Food (Costco Chicken and Rice) Much better now on Solid Gold. Any experienced input would be appreciated, thank you!

[bkagel]

DO NOT BUY from this provider!!! Not only do they use 2d and 3d meats, which is bad enough!! I have been feeding it to my dogs for almost 2 years. I always wondered about the stamp NOT FIT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION. Red Flag!!! Red Flag!! Then I heard about the 2d and 3d meats, my one dog’s allergies seems to have increased. They love it on the first day but when I take a cut up piece from the freezer it’s a different story. It goes bad so quickly and it smells FOUL!!! I switched from Hare today for now. I am going to try an organic meat csa over the summer if I can find the meat I need for my dogs.

Nasty nasty stuff!!
Stay away from any any protein that states “protein denatured by alcohol” bad mojo!!

[anonymously]

No, sounds like it might be allergies. Check the search engine here for allergies: /forums/search/allergies/

Sounds like a visit to the vet may be in order.

[Michael C]

I use pumpkin with my dogs too, but was not aware it is a pro or prebiotic, but yogurt is and I use a dollop of plain, no fat yogurt with my dogs meals too. I did get a probiotic from our vet for one of our dogs, it’s called Probios Daily Digestive Dog Tabs. My vet also talked to me once about food allergies and how tough they can be to find. She said the protein in the food is the thing you need to change, and you need to change to a protein the dog has never had before, she mentioned Kangaroo was a good one to try (unless you live down under, maybe). Zignature makes a kangaroo food. She also said you have to feed the new food to the dog for eight weeks in order to tell if it is going to do any good as it takes a while to completely get rid of any trace of the prior protein your dog ate, so if you didn’t stick with any new food you tried for at least eight weeks, you may not have stuck with it long enough.

[Kirk R]

I am looking to find a good probiotic and digestive enzymes supplement for dogs. I have a 7 year old English Bulldog who is absolutely my best friend. I believe he has food allergies that are causing chronic ear infections so I have been switching his food to hopefully solve the food allergy mystery. I have been fed him Taste of the wild, Zignature, Fromm Gold Coast – all limited ingredient and no wheat or chicken and I now have him on Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Hydrolyzed Protein Moderate Calorie Dry Dog Food $100/24lbs – bit expensive . Switching foods sometimes cause diarrhea so I have been mixing pumpkin in his food as a probiotic/prebiotic (I forget which it is) in hopes of building up his immune system in his digestive track. That is what has led me to search for Probiotics and digestive enzymes. Any suggestions to help my buddy out sure would be appreciated. Thank you

[anonymously]

@Anne
Thank you for posting, I often feel like an outsider here because I recommend taking a dog that is suffering with allergies to a dermatologist.

It was the only thing that I found helpful, the regular vets mean well…but if you have a serious condition that doesn’t respond to treatment and diet changes, seek out a specialist.

I’m glad your dog is stable, I agree about occasional flare ups. It is what it is.

[Anne B]

One of my dogs, a pit bull mix, is allergic to dust mites and mold, which are nearly impossible to totally eliminate from the environment…..We found this out through allergy testing…..We know he is having an outbreak when he starts scratching and his skin becomes inflamed with little bumps all over………..My vet told me to bathe him twice a week with Malaseb, and she prescribed some Omega 3 capsules….Can’t remember the brand name of the capsules, but they were on the expensive side………Supposedly these prescription Omega 3 are formulated for better absorption…….We have been doing the bathing and the prescription Omegas and have seen a lot of improvement, but he still has a couple of outbreaks per year during the summer when the weather gets warm, and then we have to take him to vet for antibiotics to prevent skin getting infected…..We also have his sister, a littermate, who has none of these problems at all….And they both eat the same food–so we’re pretty sure it’s not the food causing his problems….

So to sum up, his allergies are controlled, but not totally cured, because it’s impossible to eliminate all the allergens from his environment…..Having a dog with environmental allergies is a lot of work, but I suggest getting your dog tested to find out if he’s allergic to anything, including ingredients in his food, and getting a skin scrape done.

• This reply was modified 9 years, 8 months ago by Anne B.
• This reply was modified 9 years, 8 months ago by Anne B.

[Megan Z]

This food is garbage. The first 5 ingredients of your dogs food should be free of grains and actual meats! Never should you feed a by-product and a meat meal like chicken or beef meal aren’t much better. We just adopted an American bulldog who is on this food and his previous owner couldn’t figure out his skin issues. After looking at the ingredients of his food I immediately identified the problem. Even though it’s grain free, this is absolutely not a suitable food for dogs prone to sensitives and allergies. Feed what you will, but dog owners need to do some research. It is possible to feed premium at a fair price if you can’t first feed raw.

[anonymously]

My dogs do well on Nutrisca Salmon and Chickpea and Chicken dry as a base, over 4 years. One is a small breed with environmental allergies and has about 3 small bms a day, it is what it is.
The other two go about 2X per day. The old guy was a feces eater in his youth, but he doesn’t bother any more…my other feces eater got cancer and passed away at 9+ years.

Check Chewy . com for prices, I am thinking of trying Orijen but I can’t get beyond the price tag.
All 3 of my dogs went to the vet for annuals recently, lab work etc, all tested within normal limits. So, I am hesitant to try anything new, for now.

[anonymously]

Just curious, what test indicated she had all these “food allergies”?
Oh, and food sensitivities fluctuate.

Has the dog had a senior workup? There very well could be other reasons for symptoms (although you never described any) have you ruled out medical, via lab work and a good physical exam by a veterinarian?

“Food Allergies are probably over-diagnosed in dogs (they account for, perhaps 5-10%). Hypoallergenic diets are occasionally, but not frequently, helpful in canine atopy cases but you should always give them a try. Food intolerances are more common – but considerably more likely to result in digestive disturbances and diarrhea that in itching problems”.
http://www.2ndchance.info/Apoquel.htm

Check the search engine here for allergies: /forums/search/allergies/

http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?s=allergies You may find some helpful information at this site.

[Kathy P]

I use Heartgard and Nexgard for my dogs and this combination was suggested by my vet, although I stopped buying them from him because of the cost. You could buy them online like from amazon or petbucket.com, and you won’t need any more medication unless your dog has some skin allergies or other bone-related diseases.

[anonymously]

Environmental allergies tend to wax and wane, often they return with a vengeance. If that happens, I would consider making an appointment with a board certified dermatologist.
Have you checked the search engine here for “allergies”?
See my posts: /forums/search/allergies/

Best of luck.

[Susan]

Hi I have a 7 nilly 8 yr old Staffy that has Seasonal Allergies & food Sensitivities IBD, last year I thought bugger this, MY Patch was ill with his stomach, he stunk like a yeasty old dog, had red paws, hive like lumps all over the white sections of fur, then I started to read about strengthen the Immune System 70% of our immune system is in our stomach & intestinal tract…. I started rotating kibbles & started cooking meals & feeding patch every thing, he was miserable & sick on vet diets, the Z/d Kibble made his yeast worse the vet diet kibbles have different ingredients to the wet tin vet diet, then this year he started to get better & I don’t know was it from rotating his foods & not leaving him on the same foods for more then 3-4 weeks, if giving him different fresh foods & fruit has strengthen his immune system but something worked…..
Go with your heart & just do what feels right & your old boy will be happier, Patch still has his hive like lumps but they’re not itchy they are not bothering him, if his paws go red I get out the Hydrocortisone cream & the next morning his paws are all clear again & I also do weekly baths to wash off any allergens & pollens that might be on his skin/fur….

[Angela S]

I have an elderly Dane who has allergies to several ingredients: chicken, lamb, salmon, pea, corn, wheat, rice… Yep, pretty much every ingredient in dog foods.

She’s been on the Natural Balance LID Kangaroo and Potato formula, which is the only one I’ve found without any of these ingredients. However, it looks like they are discontinuing this food.

Any thoughts on another food out there that will meet her needs? Or am I going to have to make it as I go?

[theBCnut]

Skin irritation in the armpits and groin are usually, but not always, associated with contact allergies, like grass, detergent, carpeting , etc. The tests for contact allergies are somewhat reliable, but do not cover everything.

Tests for food allergies are well known for giving both false positive and false negative results. The gold standard for testing for food related issues is an elimination diet.

[Donna G B]

have a fur senior that has so many allergies. Main: Egg, Beef, Potatoes (both white and sweet) shellfish and tomatoes. He’s 13 years old and I give him shots. I didn’t go into boarder line, like rice and a few others. Trees, weeds, bugs etc. He smelled like yeast most of the time and had spots of little red bumps that itched horrible. I started bathing him in a shampoo especially for killing yeast on the skin and you know, haven’t had one red spot or itching. He is also on a antihistamine but he was before and had the red spots anyway. Sometimes itching so bad that he got bigger sores and had to have medication. So, he was put on z/d dry and canned. I HATE SCIENCE DIET but I give it to him because I was to scared to try anything else. Well, I’m not anymore:
How about his z/d dry and for canned: Wellness 95% meat: Chicken, Lamb, Turkey, Salmon etc. Home cooked mixed vegetables and cooked oatmeal? I don’t know how to give him the right amounts but he is also on “Snip It’s” and I put him on Vetri Science Canine Plus Senior” do any of you think this would work? Not one thing he is allergic to. I hope you answer me. Thank You \: Donna from Iowa.

P.S. He has been tested and that is the shots I have been giving him. He’s been to Ames, IA at the ISU clinic and to our family dogtor. He has other issues as well, but if I can bring his food and other things up to good nutrition it can only help him in all aspects. I know it won’t make him live longer BUT it will be better for him while he is alive. Hugh?

[anonymously]

What do you mean by “shots”? Allergen Specific Immunotherapy? That’s the only thing that helped my dog, plus frequent baths with Malaseb, Nutrisca Salmon and Chickpea dry food as a base works best (imo)
Please use the search engine here and see my posts for “allergies”.
Example: /forums/topic/allergies-test/

/forums/search/allergies/

If your dog has not been seen and skin tested by a board certified dermatologist I would suggest doing so, asap. The food may have absolutely nothing to do with his symptoms.

[Donna G B]

I have a fur senior that has so many allergies. Main: Egg, Beef, Potatoes (both white and sweet) shellfish and tomatoes. He’s 13 years old and I give him shots. I didn’t go into boarder line, like rice and a few others. Trees, weeds, bugs etc. He smelled like yeast most of the time and had spots of little red bumps that itched horrible. I started bathing him in a shampoo especially for killing yeast on the skin and you know, haven’t had one red spot or itching. He is also on a antihistamine but he was before and had the red spots anyway. Sometimes itching so bad that he got bigger sores and had to have medication. So, he was put on z/d dry and canned. I HATE SCIENCE DIET but I give it to him because I was to scared to try anything else. Well, I’m not anymore:
How about his z/d dry and for canned: Wellness 95% meat: Chicken, Lamb, Turkey, Salmon etc. Home cooked mixed vegetables and cooked oatmeal? I don’t know how to give him the right amounts but he is also on “Snip It’s” and I put him on Vetri Science Canine Plus Senior” do any of you think this would work? Not one thing he is allergic to. I hope you answer me. Thank You \: Donna from Iowa.

• This topic was modified 9 years, 8 months ago by Donna G B. Reason: I put it on twice and was trying to deleat this one. So sorry!!!!

[Donna G B]

I have a fur senior that has so many allergies. Main: Egg, Beef, Potatoes (both white and sweet) shellfish and tomatoes. He’s 13 years old and I give him shots. I didn’t go into boarder line, like rice and a few others. Trees, weeds, bugs etc. He smelled like yeast most of the time and had spots of little red bumps that itched horrible. So, he was put on z/d dry and canned. I HATE SCIENCE DIET but I give it to him because I was to scared to try anything else. Well, I’m not anymore: How about his z/d dry and for canned: Wellness 95% meat: Chicken, Lamb, Turkey, Salmon etc. Home cooked mixed vegetables and cooked oatmeal? I don’t know how to give him the right amounts but he is also on “Snip It’s” and I put him on Vetri Science Canine Plus Senior” do any of you think this would work? Not one thing he is allergic to. I hope you answer me. Thank You \: Donna from Iowa.

[Talei H]

Like so many of you, we’ve been dealing with infrequent episodes of what can only be described as “the gulps” in our 4.5 y/o Pembroke Welsh Corgi. The first time our Lilo experienced this awful ordeal, it occurred early in the morning before breakfast, and the severity of her symptoms sent me into a downright panic. I could tell she was beyond confused as well as to what was going on with her body, as if pleading with me to please help her. Believe me, I would have liked nothing more! She appeared to be swallowing/gulping very rapidly, almost in bursts, so my (very frightened) initial thought was that she had something lodged in her throat. I took her to the vet clinic as soon as they opened, but she did not display any symptoms once we were there. She is a highly anxious dog, and absolutely loathes going to the vet under any circumstances. After looking her over, the vet didn’t seem the least bit concerned, and when I tried to describe the symptoms, she looked at me as if I were out of my mind. Nevertheless, she attributed the behavior to allergens, and prescribed an antihistamine. I had a feeling seasonal allergies were not to blame, but seeing as the vet did not believe it to be anything serious (most likely because Lilo was suddently symptom free), I decided to give the antihistamine a try, and we left. Not surprisingly, this did not work, and Lilo’s “gulps” were worse than ever throughout the remainder of the day. I’m sure the stress and anxiety she experienced from our visit to the vet only aggravated things. She would, as most others have described, constantly pace around the room “vacuuming” our carpet and eating any type of debris she could find (dirt, dried up leaves, hair, etc), which she normally doesn’t do. The same applied when she’d be outside on a walk, “mowing the grass” if you will, which again, is very uncommon behavior for her. She became so fixated on this, that she wouldn’t look up when called and had no interest in playing ball, her absolute favorite past time. The next day, after a long night of worry and relatively no sleep, we decided to get a second opinion, and took her to a different veterinary clinic. This time around, the vet seemed much more thorough and concerned, regardless of the fact that again, Lilo wasn’t displaying any symptoms. She diagnosed it as acid reflux, and prescribed a medication equivalent to Pepto Bismol, which we were to add to Lilo’s food through a syringe. The next day, her symptoms cleared, and we were ecstatic!

Fast forward 8 months, and the “gulps” began again around this past December. They have been reoccurring off and on since then – sometimes once a week, or once every two weeks lasting 24-48 hours. The multiple vets we’ve seen have not seen a reason to conduct tests at this point, so we decided to take some other steps at home to see if we couldn’t pinpoint the underlying cause. Before today’s episode, Lilo was eating Blue Buffalo Life Protection, so we switched her to the grain-free, higher protein BB Wilderness version as an experiment to see if it’d help. We were overjoyed to have gone almost 2 months without an episode, and thought for sure that it must have just been a grain allergy that she’d suddenly developed for some reason. Unfortunately, I’ve jinxed our luck because today, we’re experiencing another horrible episode of the “gulps.” It seems that we still haven’t quite figured things out, and as I’m sure all you fellow dog lovers can attest to, it’s so so painful to watch her experience this. I try to comfort her as best I can, and not to let her pick up on how upset this makes me, but it’s always difficult because I care about her, and just want her to enjoy life and be comfortable, not panicked and miserable. Especially not so often…

Thank you all so much for the advice you’ve provided on this forum. We are considering taking a few of these ideas to our vet, and if absolutely possible, perhaps performing an endoscopy (with biopsies, as suggested above). We simply don’t want her to go through this anymore, and if it’s preventable/treatable, we want to do everything we can. I have not tried Gas-X or Pepcid complete, as I’m always a little hesitant to administer drugs that are not intended for dogs. But I’ve now heard from several sources (vets included) that it’s fine, and it seems many of you have had some success with them, so I will consider trying one of those OTC remedies before resorting to costly and invasive tests. If anything changes, I will certainly keep everyone posted!

[anonymously]

Please use the search engine here, type in “allergies” and see my posts.
/forums/search/allergies/

Mail-in hair and saliva tests are inaccurate, they do not test for allergies. Food sensitivities fluctuate and they do not cause the symptoms you describe. Food allergies are rare.

I would make an appointment with a dermatologist as soon as possible.
Any more questions?

You may find this site helpful http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?s=allergies

[anonymously]

Helpful article below:
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.

[Michelle S]

My dog has been to the vet countless times for red rash (like hives) in his groin area, as well as under his arms. He has always been scratching at himself since I got him. He scratches so hard, that he will scalp himself. He has been given in the past: antibiotics and prednisone. I have changed his food and he still gets the rash. I ended up getting him an allergy test through immuneiq. At first, they said they never received his samples in the mail and about 2 weeks later, I received an email with a list of what he can and cannot have. I was astounded! When he first had allergy issues, the vet suggested to do away with the chicken products and go with fish and grain free. The list from immuneiq said that he is allergic to fish – go figure. Can anyone tell me how accurate & reliable this company is? Does anyone have experience with them? The list is quite detailed and shocked that he is highly allergic to one of the main ingredients in most dog foods – PEAS!!! Thank you. – Michelle

[Cristi C]

I have a cat with this problem, not a dog–but cats and dogs are more alike than different. Here is her story. She began vomiting rather frequently, then began gulping so hard that we had to keep from touching her, because any purring would make her gulp even worse. Then the focal seizures began: her face, then her whole head, then her upper legs. Then she started losing her fur. The poor thing was half-naked before I figured out that I had changed her litter to a litter made of corn. I changed it to clay litter, then removed all corn from her diet–a difficult proposition, because corn or corn products seem to be in nearly everything. She began growing her fur back, but the rest didn’t improve. We got rid of all grains, and she improved a little more but not much. We discovered that some of the expensive, high-end “healthy” canned food we had been driven to find for her made her worse and some didn’t. That was when we finally figured out, by process of elimination, that not only had she become allergic to corn and then all grains, she was reacting to carageenan, which is in nearly all wet products as well as many dairy products. Carageenan is extracted from seaweed and used in nearly everything these days to impart “creaminess” and a smooth, gelled texture. It’s also a known intestinal irritant for some people. Fortunately, pet food manufacturers show it in their list on ingredients. After we had removed all carageenan from her diet, she finally began to heal. It has been a long, slow process of healing: it didn’t happen overnight. Every now and then she vomits, gulps, and has little seizures, but they are not nearly as violent as they once were, and she has longer periods of wellness in-between. She is almost normal now. There is one last chemical that we can remove from her diet if necessary: potassium chloride. It, too, shows up in most pet foods (because it’s cheap) and is an intestinal irritant. We’ll see if that becomes necessary. Right now there is only one dry food in existence that she can eat and one brand of wet food (but only 4 of the varieties offered by that brand). And she is allowed no dairy.
The intestines are incredibly important to health–for all species. The intestines are there to absorb nutrients and water. They also have a role in making nutrients, as well as a role in the immune system. Without healthy intestines, people–and animals–can become very sick indeed, including signs of malnutrition and allergies. Seizures, of course, can be the result of missing nutrients, as can eating bizarre things. Gulping, swallowing, and vomiting are all signs of a distressed gastrointestinal system.
Carageenan may well have been the irritant that started all this, gradually sensitizing her to more products as the years went by. We feel terrible about this–but even our phenomenally good vet had no idea: she had never heard of carageenan being a problem.
I’m sorry I haven’t said anything until now. I tried numerous times and had no idea that answering the emails I was getting from this site would just take my posts into an Internet black-hole.
I hope it helps.

[anonymously]

Also, via the search engine here: /forums/search/allergies/

BTW: Allergen Specific Immunotherapy does not address food allergies (rare) or food sensitivities.

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.

Frequent bathing (Malaseb) might help but it won’t completely solve the problem. Also, allergies tend to get worse as the dog gets older.

Folks will recommend an elimination diet, but how will you know if the dog is responding to environmental allergies, which is causing what? I didn’t find elimination diets helpful.

excerpt below from: http://www.2ndchance.info/Apoquel.htm
Food Allergies are probably over-diagnosed in dogs (they account for, perhaps 5-10%). Hypoallergenic diets are occasionally, but not frequently, helpful in canine atopy cases but you should always give them a try. Food intolerances are more common – but considerably more likely to result in digestive disturbances and diarrhea than in itching problems.

• This reply was modified 9 years, 8 months ago by anonymously.

[anonymously]

Helpful article below:
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.

[anonymously]

Food sensitivities usually result in GI distubances such as vomiting and diarrhea.
Pruritus (itching) usually indicates environmental allergies. If the condition is severe or continues for 4 seasons/1 year without significant periods of relief, consider asking your vet for a referral to a dermatologist.
Don’t be fooled by mail-in saliva and hair tests, food sensitivities fluctuate and food allergies are rare.

Dermatology – Common Issues

[Katrina T]

Hello!

I am the proud Mom of two dachshunds (Easley and Carson) and a random furry dog (Jasper) 🙂 (plus a smattering of cats)

Jasper and Easley are senior dogs and used to have another senior dachshund friend who had some really specific food allergies so they were all fed her diet… after she passed last summer we sought to switch them to something more their taste. The rescue we got puppy Carson from was feeding taste of the wild so we just kept him on that – and the big dogs started stealing his food. (so did the cats)

We have been considering switching EVERYONE to the brand as it seems to have gone over well – but wanted to get everyone’s opinion. It has 4.5 stars but isnt an editors choice? Is there a specific reason for this? Something I am missing?

I just want to make sure I am feeding them the best I can afford!
(unfortunately i am a vegetarian and making them food from animals on my own is out of the question – meat makes me sick)

Thanks in advance for any advice! 🙂

[Josie F]

I have to disagree with “anonymous”. And here’s why- We’ve been using Nuvet Plus with our dog for almost 3 years. When we got him, he was a rescue who had been sitting in a box on the side of the road for who knows how long. Someone found him and his sister, and brought them to a vet. They were covered with fleas, had demoxdex, severe allergies and a bunch of other health issues. We fell in love with him- hair loss, red spots and all and decided we would do everything we could to get him better. We tried EVERYTHING to get the demodex to clear up, and it was awful for him (And us!) I was devastated.

I searched around constantly for a cure, and then ran into an old friend of mine who worked for a holistic vet, and she said to try NuVet. I did my own research, and read some of the nuvet reviews and saw a lot of other people who’s dogs had issues with hair loss and allergies- and it HELPED, and so I figured it was worth a shot. If it didn’t work, I’d get my money back.

Well- it didn’t hurt, it actually cleared his issues up. We made no other changes, stopped the (like Acid!) baths for the demodex, stopped the antibiotics (we felt he was on them too long anyways) and made sure to watch closely what was in his food. And within 2 months, his fur was regrowing. It took about 6 months to clear up fully. I’ve kept him on it ever since, and he’s 3 now, and hasn’t had a single issue with his coat or skin. He’s shiny, happy and healthy.

I don’t see how people say it’s snake oil- it’s easy to see what each ingredient does, and doing your own research will show you that some people have seen those things help with certain ailments in their pets. I take vitamins for myself, my husband and children take them as well, and have seen them work consistently, along with the right nutrition, so why wouldn’t I do that for my dog too? I know that not every supplement or even every medicine (as we proved in the past) is going to work with every animal but this one worked for my dog and I’m grateful. I’d recommend at least trying nuvet to any pet owner who is seeing similar issues.

[Susan]

Hi, it looks good to me, I would feed to my 7 yr old boy who has IBD & skin allergies, its very good how they put the % after all the ingredients, you don’t see that often & the Lamb is a meal, so that is also good, also the ash is good at 7% normally companies don’t put the ash % when its too high & they hide it… can you get the “Taste Of The Wild” in your country? when I get my bags of TOTW kibbles it has so many countries all over the bag, I’m pretty saw I have seen Norway on the bag, I live Australia & our ingredients are a bit different the Pacific Stream Smoked Salmon has no peas or garbanzo bean like in America & the UK… I like to rotate my proteins, I feed a kibble that has lamb then I get another kibble that has fish/Salmon this way Patch is getting different meats, I give 1 kibble for breakfast & the other protein for dinner…. I also give a wet tin food for a meal as well… I was cooking chicken & sweet potatoes & adding what I was eating for dinner this way he’s getting a bit of everything…

[anonymously]

Helpful article below:
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.

[anonymously]

http://www.homeovet.net/dynamic/php/downloads/dog-c8470f2c75dbe4b683205c3919ee2310/dog_diet_complete.pd

excerpt below from: http://www.2ndchance.info/Apoquel.htm
Food Allergies are probably over-diagnosed in dogs (they account for, perhaps 5-10%). Hypoallergenic diets are occasionally, but not frequently, helpful in canine atopy cases but you should always give them a try. Food intolerances are more common – but considerably more likely to result in digestive disturbances and diarrhea than in itching problems.

http://skeptvet.com/Blog/category/nutrition/

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

Hope this helps, try the search engine here for more threads “allergies”

[tarcy m]

Hi.. I am a new owner to a rescue pup as of 3 weeks ago. He has severe allergies and is being treated with TemerilP to stop the licking, and scratching. I am not ruling out the food he’s on at the moment as the culprit. At the vets office yesterday he gave me the green light to make his food at home. This is where my confusion begins (sigh): 5 part diet, 1 part only proteins not to exceed 20%, low sodium, low protein. He also told me to buy a petcap multivitamin and add to his food. Warner (2-4 years) has not been diagnosed with anything yet but were in the process of possible heart/lung conditions he believes due to allergies/bronchial, but not certain as the diagnostics are expensive..

I was excited to begin this culinary experience until I googled home made dog food. Do this, don’t do that, egg shells, bones..?? How do I know his nutritional needs and which recipe to achieve this? I am almost ready to throw in the towel, but haven’t given up yet.

What I am asking is anyone who is familiar with the above issues to direct me or give me a break down in figuring out his dietary needs along with what to cook for his max benefits. I’d much rather feed him foods that are of nature and not the preserved bag stuff on the shelf. I appreciate all that took the time to read this post and I hope to hear back soon. Thank you ~ Warner’s Mom

[theBCnut]

Did your vet rule out environmental allergies? Testing for food sensitivities is not accurate, producing both false negatives and false positives. The only real way to tell if this is a food sensitivity is to do an elimination diet, but I would want to rule out environmental allergies first.

[anonymously]

Please consider going to a dermatologist/specialist for testing….see my previous posts, it will cost you less in the long run. Use the search engine here: “allergies”

Helpful article below:
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.

[Kim L]

My 2 year old black lab started itching year round at a year old. We had him tested for allergies and the results came back that he’s allergic to chicken, turkey, pork and beets.
The test also showed borderline allergies to beef, corn, fish and shellfish mixes, lamb, rabbit, salmon, soy beans and wheat. Venison was ok so he’s been on Californial Natural Limited Ingredients Venison with green lentils for almost 2 months and the itching is the same. He’s biting his paws patches of hair are gone on his ears constant licking it’s awful. I’m thinking of switching to Natural Balance LID Sweet potato and venison. I’m really at my wits end trying to find something to help him. Thanks for any info. He doesn’t get any other food or treats..we use his dry food as a reward/treat. No other food (he’s a young so he does get into stuff usually napkins is a favorite for him to grab and shred..we police him pretty good)

• This reply was modified 9 years, 8 months ago by Kim L.

[InkedMarie]

Allergies: all but impossible since each dog with allergies/sensitivities is individual

large breed: see the Diet & Health Issues forum below

Breed specific: In my opinion, thats a bunch of bunk except for Dalmatians who need low
purine.

Digestive Issues: depends on the issue but NutriSource is known to work well

[Patricia T]

I am grateful for the information found on this website. It would be more helpful, however, if the users could sort or search based on a food’s best use, allergies, large breed puppy, breed specific, digestive issues, etc.

Also, it would be great to have some sort of comparison tool, such as a grid, similar to what you find on the BB site when searching for laptops.

Thanks!

[Donna G B]

I am new to Food Advisor, I have 3 fur kids: Seniors, Willie Bill 13 years old, full of Allergies, takes shots for the Allergies, has a leaky valve in heart, heart murmur #4-6, little growths on kidneys etc. Poor baby is such a good little boy. He has been on Science Diet for years z/d, I HATE IT. He is allergic to so many things, Food: Sweet Potatoes, white potatoes, eggs, beef, tomatoes, shellfish and borderline on so many others: Rice etc. I need to get him off this z/d but it is scary to try.
My other two are: Walley: Rescue, 8 yrs. All teeth pulled except 4. Had pancreatitis and was put on I/d Science Diet for such a long time. I HATE THAT and put him on Royal Canine for Intestinal problems (with a new dogtor) well THAT is full of grains, etc. So, I decided to put him on “Wellness” Senior Formula just getting ready to switch him and my other Yorkie (Willow) little over 5 lbs. 10 year old Yorkie that has had pancreatitis also, and I find the word CARRAGEENNE in the ingredients. Look on computer and that is NOT GOOD, so called them. They told me it was “Food Grade” and not the harmful one. I BELIEVED THEM and then looked up “Food Grade Carrageene” and it is just as bad, I guess. I don’t know what to do. I don’t see much advice on this site for Senior, low fat Canned Dog Food. Not much about seniors at all. Maybe not looking in the right place. HELP!!!

[Donna G B]

I am new to Food Advisor, I have 3 fur kids: Seniors, Willie Bill 13 years old, full of Allergies, takes shots for the Allergies, has a leaky valve in heart, heart murmur #4-6, little growths on kidneys etc. Poor baby is such a good little boy. He has been on Science Diet for years z/d, I HATE IT. He is allergic to so many things, Food: Sweet Potatoes, white potatoes, eggs, beef, tomatoes, shellfish and borderline on so many others: Rice etc. I need to get him off this z/d but it is scary to try.
My other two are: Walley: Rescue, 8 yrs. All teeth pulled except 4. Had pancreatitis and was put on I/d Science Diet for such a long time. I HATE THAT and put him on Royal Canine for Intestinal problems (with a new dogtor) well THAT is full of grains, etc. So, I decided to put him on “Wellness” Senior Formula just getting ready to switch him and my other Yorkie (Willow) little over 5 lbs. 10 year old Yorkie that has had pancreatitis also, and I find the word CARRAGEENNE in the ingredients. Look on computer and that is NOT GOOD, so called them. They told me it was “Food Grade” and not the harmful one. I BELIEVED THEM and then looked up “Food Grade Carrageene” and it is just as bad, I guess. I don’t know what to do. I don’t see much advice on this site for Senior, low fat Canned Dog Food. Not much about seniors at all. Maybe not looking in the right place. HELP!!!

[Marvins mom]

Hi. I’m “Marvins mom”….I have been getting these updates also. Just wanted to say that I’ve used Dinovites on our 11 yr old golden mix for the last 4 years and it has done amazing things for him – along with grain free food. His coat is shiney, his ears don’t smell any more and the odor he used to have all year long is minimal compared to what it used to be. His whole life suffered with seasonal allergies for 6 months out of the year…now it’s for only about 2-3 months and is not nearly as bad. He used to lose so much fur he would look like – excuse my example – a chemo patient. He is sooooo much happier! I DO NOT WORK for the company. I just know it works for my dog! look up the company and it’s testimony’s.
Just a suggestion.

[anonymously]

No need to apologize. Sometimes anal gland issues go away. Sometimes they are related to allergies (environmental) I hope you find a solution. Keeping the weight down, exercise, diet changes, all seem to help too. Routine expression does keep the condition under control.
After you find what helps, it may not be needed.

• This reply was modified 9 years, 8 months ago by anonymously.

[Eric H]

First of all, if your pet is sick, the way to know what is causing it is to take her to the vet, and not just assume it’s the food. Many things can cause diarrhea, vomiting, and lethargy, that have nothing to do with food. If your pet is sick and you do NOT take her to the vet, then you can’t speak with any authority or certainty that the cause was food, and that’s on top of being a lousy pet parent.

That all having been said, I’ve been feeding numerous dogs Natures Domain for YEARS without any food-related health issues. They get both wet and dry. When my dogs have gotten sick, I have taken them to the vet, and not once was the food I fed them the cause. Usually it’s because they got into something, or dug up something and ate it, or caught a bug from a dog at the dog park, or allergies, or injuries, or whatever else happens to normal, active dogs.

PS. The Turkey and Pea stew smells do darn good I am sometimes tempted to dig in. You can see whole pieces of carrot, pea, and meat in there. And that gravy…

[theBCnut]

There are quite a number of people here with dogs that have food sensitivities that results in itching, rashes, staph infections, hotspots, anal gland fluid overproduction, sebum overproduction, etc., including my dog. I put him on an elimination diet and as soon as I got him off of the foods he reacts to all symptoms ceased. His symptoms only ever return when he is given a food that he reacts to, so yes, food sensitivities do result in the symptoms you are seeing, so it is definitely something to look into.

If it is a food issue, with a properly run elimination diet, you can easily tell if the dog is reacting to certain foods. The only time there is difficulty is if there are also skin allergies that are causing the exact same responses. Those allergies tend to be seasonal. That’s how you know whether or not you are dealing with skin allergies. Also, certain types of allergies are recognizable due to where on the body the dog is reacting. That’s one area where a good vet comes in. They get to recognize those signs very quickly.

You will notice that I use the term food sensitivity rather than allergy. If you read some of the many threads here about food allergies and food sensitivities, you will see that vets often use the terms interchangeably, but we are talking about different things due to the differences in the dog’s immune system. The different types of food sensitivities that dogs experience are because they may have several different types of immune responses, IgA, IgE, IgM, and others. The “true” allergy causes hives, localized swelling, breathing difficulty, anaphylactic shock and is rare. Food sensitivities may result from damage to the gut lining and cause itching, redness, heat, sebum(skin oil glands) overproduction, staph infections and hotspots, etc. Food intolerances cause symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, colitis, gas, abdominal pain, etc. They are all different, but they are all immune problems and get lumped into the term allergies. And many vets try to treat them all the same with drugs that are not good for the dog, instead of trying to get to the cause of the problem.