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Hello all 😀
My silky Louie is just a mess.
Looking back at his history, I cannot honestly say that there has ever been any time when his stools were not loose, or were solid for more than one or two days. And his stools are always light-colored even when they’re relatively firm. Lately, it’s literally been borderline liquid all the time, and near the end of his walk (usually after two or three times of pooping), he’ll try to go and little specs of mush just come out 🙁
I’ll just go through his history, which I know much more about now. When we got him, we were told that he was currently eating Purina Puppy Chow, which we purchased so we could transition him off of it. We also now know that the owners simply buy whatever is on sale or whatever they happen to pick up at the store. So they’d just stop feeding the dogs the Purina then move onto Pedigree and so on and so forth. So this was his diet for about three years until we got him. We transitioned him from Purina Puppy Chow to Innova Prime Chicken and Turkey over a one-week period because we thought that was appropriate. We now know that it can take a month or more to transition to a grain-free kibble. So we understood the not-so-firm stool at that point. Then, the recall happened. I emailed CS and they never got back to me so, and their formula contains a little more carbohydrates than I would like so I decided to switch to Earthborn Holistic Primitive and the wet dinner tuns (we’re currently feeding him the lamb-based one). While switching him to the Earthborn, my jerk of a father-in-law decided I was incapable of feeding my dog and started feeding him Cesar wet food. I figured the switching over and the Cesar caused his loose stools (I know that it caused him to vomit, there was no other reason for that). Now that he isn’t eating the Cesar’s crap, his stools are awful. I give him 3/8’s of a cup of the dry kibble and then half of a tub of the wet food (because he needs restricted calories because he’s almost a pound overweight now).
So, I have no idea what’s going on with him 🙁 The only consistent thing about all of the dry food is that the main animal protein is chicken. Maybe he’s allergic to chicken? He’s had two ear infections since we’ve had him (since March), which may be a sign of allergies. He sometimes paws at his face but since he has an ear infection, that’s not surprising. It’s also very rare that he does that. I really don’t know! I don’t know what to do. I got the lamb wet tubs because I thought that lamb is better for sensitive tummies/a hypoallergenic protein source.
I’m thinking of switching to Dried N Alive (I was thinking of doing that before discovering that his stools are no better on Earthborn) but what if that’s no better? I don’t know what I’m doing wrong.In reply to: good kibble and cans on a budget?
Like HDM said, Tractor Supply’s 4Health is a fantastic bargain! The regular size cans are .99, and even the biggest cans are only 1.59! I’ve started to use it to top my dogs’ food and they like it and are having no repercussions. I buy Simply Nourish sometimes, but imho it’s not all that budget friendly. On sale it’s 2.00 a can, but it’s a smaller can (only 10 oz., compared to 13.2 oz.)….it is similar to Weruva and definitely cheaper than that lol. TOTW is a little cheaper than alot of the other canned foods, too. I can usually find it for 1.99 a can. Fromm, at least where I live, is not all that cheap…the Gold cans run around 2.99 a can and the 4Star are almost 4.00 a can! I’ve decided to try and stick with 4Health, for the most part. Fyi…it does come in pate and stew styles. I believe the stews are better because they don’t contain carageenan. Also, look at the ingredients and calorie content (and the style of food your dog prefers) when making your choice. I have also recently been looking for a replacement for Natural Balance LID Fish (merger with Del Monte) and looked at Wellness Simple (transition did not go well…Laverne can’t/won’t eat the kibble due to the shape/size). It also has tomato pomace and carrots which I believe makes her allergies flare up. Bought a small bag of Simply Nourish Salmon LID, but again…tomato pomace and/or carrots….stool still not very good. I do know how to transition and can tell pretty quickly if a food is gonna be bad for the long haul. Anyway, I’m supposed to be getting some coupons from Hol. Select, but I’m not confident it will work for Laverne. So…they’re still eating the NB I have, but I did buy a small bag of 4Health grain free Whitefish yesterday. It is not a small kibble, but Laverne seems to be able to eat it better than the Wellness shape. I’m starting to use it as treats and I’ll be mixing it into their NB soon. It is kinda limited in its ingredients and doesn’t contain tom. pomace or carrots (or Rosemary). It does have beet pulp, so we’ll see. Darn merger!
Can anyone suggest great supplements for a 4.5 year old, Otherwise Very Healthy ,Female Akita who just had TPLO surgery, and will go back in in 8 weeks for the other leg? She’s no dummy, naturally cutting back her own calories when free feeding kibble- due to the reduction in energies spent. I feed Wellness kibble along with a Multitude of Fresh proteins & whole foods. I rotate, advocating variety: chicken, buffalo, salmon, mackerel, fresh caught river trout , a bit of seaweed for iodine, raw farm fresh eggs, some cooked whole grains (everything from barley to quinoa to oatmeal, i rotate), some greens, some fruit & veggies (avocado yesterday). I give a Fish Sourced Omega Oil supplement w/dha (extra now, for inflammation), glucosamine/chondroitin MSM, I’m making fresh chicken broth to give her collagen, and mixing the broth with gelatin for chicken blox treats. Extra protein right now for healing skin, ligaments, muscle. Normal supplements include daily and rotated treats, too: brewer’s yeast, marrow bones, cultured dairy (she LOVES my homemade creme fraiche and yoghurt), probiotics (daily, especially since she’s on antibiotics right now…wellness kibble has prebiotics in it, too), seasonally: fresh raw local honey w/pollen for allergies. Perhaps i’m leaving some basic vit/min supplements off this list, but are there any supplements that will specifically aid in healing, recover, address inflammation, or help reduce pain that i’m missing? The vet has her on Rimadyl, antibiotics, tramadol. Thank you… And if you’ve personally gone through a TPLO with a Big, Young, Active dog, i’d LOVE to ask you some very specific questions, if anyone has the time… I appreciate your help.
In reply to: Doggie summer treats
Thanks, Patty & pugmom! Patty, now that you mention honey for allergies…I do remember reading something about – it has to be local honey from up to 50 miles from where you live. Did I read that correct? Honeybee is highly allergic to pollen. He broke out in hives like crazy! Would I give this yr. round or a few days or weeks before allergy season?
In reply to: Our dogs won't eat the better dog foods
Hay All, Yes that stuff in food and in cat and dog food makes me gag. I have fibromyalgia and a very long list of food allergies, but my dr said its really not a allergy as much as intolerance. So I go around drinking a lot of distilled water. Dixie was so funny if she wanted a drink of water, if I didn’t bring her bottled water with me we had to stop and get some. My fault, I wanted her to have the best, I thought, then she would sniff the regular water and refuse to drink it. Between her and I we were going through 3-4 cases of deerpark water every month. Even with a filter on my refrigerator water she said, “mom are you trying to poison me “? Ha-ha miss my baby. I would try the tough love as well like Marie said and add a little regular food and slowly back down away from using it. It may just take time. I still have to go return all the canned Natural Balance I have and send back a case of the diabetic food I bought her.
In reply to: Help with starting my dog on a raw diet.
Hi Cyndi –
I’m sorry you’re having such difficulties. 🙁
I wish I could be of more help but I’m really out of suggestions. I’ve never experienced such a thing with any of my dogs – all three of mine had no issues transitioning cold turkey to a raw diet. I guess I’ve just been lucky because every dog I’ve ever owned has been able to eat whatever I feed them – whether it’s a bowl of Beneful or a balanced homemade raw meal – with no issues. I’m always amazed every time I visit DFA at the numbers of dogs that can eat this, can’t eat that, get diarrhea from this, have allergies to that, etc. etc. I’ve just never experienced such things with my dogs..
Am making my beagle ground turkey, beans, sweet potatoes, eggs, carrots and apples. Thinking about baking it. Thought about feeding this to him and adding his grain free kibble to it at mealtime. He cannot have any grains. Thought this would give him a more nutritious meal since the Nature Variety chicken is a 5 star food. Wondering if this is OK and what proportions to feed him for a 40 lb. dog. Any ideas. He is 14 and inactive. He can’t have grains because allergies and fatty tumors.
In reply to: Multiple allergies, what to do?
Hi angels. Good luck — I’m so sorry you’re having a tough time of it!
The Timberwolf Organics you may only be able to order online directly from Timberwolf, depending on where you live. But the good news is that it’s also cheaper that way and no tax either.
In stores, from pugsmom’s helpful list, you’ll probably be able to find the Natural Balance Limited Ingredient (the lamb very similar to your old formula), Honest Kitchen, Wellness or EVO or Merrick cans . . . maybe the Canine Caviar or Nature’s Logic (I see those in fewer places). Stella&Chewy’s will probably be easy to find and is an excellent (albeit pricey) brand, if you can find a formula without chicken or turkey or peas, the other ingredients aren’t ever in the foods.
Those Great Life grain-free formulas, which I’ve never seen in stores & would probably also have to be ordered online, also look good — just way less meat (I think) compared to Timberwolf. Some very unusual ingredients! (I don’t think my dog has ever eaten “green lipped mussel,” lol, and he’s eaten a lot of stuff!)
In reply to: Multiple allergies, what to do?
Thank you GSD, I will check out your suggestions tomorrow at a holistic pet store. I looked at everything on the shelves of two different stores and found nothing that he could eat. Some of the employees are telling me that chicken fat is okay because it isn’t the meat, I don’t know if that is true. I don’t want to give him something that is going to give him problems.
In reply to: Multiple allergies, what to do?
It looks like the Classic version of the Elk would be okay for you also, none of known allergens listed for it:
1st 5 Ingredients: Elk, Salmon Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Pumpkin, Salmon Oil
Elk, Salmon Meal, Oats, Sweet Potatoes, Pumpkin, Salmon Oil, Dried Kelp, Alfalfa, Pears, Blueberries, Strawberries, Figs, Sage, Rosemary, Summer Savory, Cinnamon, Flax Seed, Carrots, Celery, Beets, Watercress, Potassium Chloride, Lecithin, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Casei Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Lactis Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus Subtilis Fermentation Product, Taurine, DL-Methionine, Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Choline Chloride, Iron Amino Acid Complex, Vitamin E Supplement, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin A Acetate, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Riboflavin, Folic Acid, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Hydrochloride, Biotin, Cobalt Proteinate, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenite, Mixed Tocopherols, Citric Acid, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Rosemary Extract
In reply to: Multiple allergies, what to do?
Ocean Blue Classic version *might* be okay too. I’d ask — because I know in the past, the “potatoes” the owner has used he stated are sweet potatoes, not white potatoes. It’s easiest to reach them via online chat (pops up on their website).
Classic is their lower priced, more moderate protein line, which may or may not by formula include grains. Here are the Classic version ingredients:
1st 5 ingredients: White Fish Meal, Herring, Salmon Meal, Salmon Oil, Blueberries
*Fish is wild caught Alaskan, no Ethoxyquin. Salmon oil is from wild caught Alaskan also.
White Fish Meal, Herring, Potatoes, Salmon Meal, Salmon Oil, Blueberries, Figs, Basil, Dill, Anise Seed, Caraway Seed, Watercress, Spinach, Celery, Parsley, Marigold Flowers, Sesame Seeds, Almonds, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus Subtilis Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium Thermophilum Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium Longum Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Choline Chloride, Iron Amino Acid Complex, Vitamin E Supplement, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin A Acetate, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Riboflavin, Folic Acid, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Hydrochloride, Biotin, Cobalt Proteinate, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenite, Mixed Tocopherols, Citric Acid, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Rosemary Extract
As you can see, there are no grains in this lower priced formula either. I’d inquire whether the potatoes are white or sweet potatoes.
In reply to: Multiple allergies, what to do?
Here are the ingredients for the Timberwolf Ocean Blue Platinum I recommended:
1st 5 Ingredients: Herring, Salmon, Dried Salmon, Chickpeas, Ocean Fish
*Fish are wild caught Alaskan, no Ethoxyquin.
**Food is low temperature steam/pressure cooked at 200-225 Degrees, max 10-15 minutes.Herring, Salmon, Spray Dried Salmon, Chick Peas, Ocean Fish, Spray Dried Whitefish, Sweet Potatoes, Olive Oil, Salmon Oil, Dried Organic Kelp, Dried Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Herring Oil, Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Thyme, Anise Seed, Fenugreek, Garlic, Ginger, Mango, Blueberries, Cranberries, Whole Carrots, Dried Celery, Dried Parsley, Dried Lettuce, Dried Watercress, Dried Spinach, Lecithin, Choline Chloride, Minerals: [Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Iron Amino Acid Complex, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Calcium Pantothenate, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenite], Vitamins: [Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin A Acetate, Niacin (A Source Of Vitamin B3), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Riboflavin (A Source Of Vitamin B2), Folic Acid, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (A Source Of Vitamin B6), Thiamine Hydrochloride (A Source Of Vitamin B1), Biotin (A Source Of Vitamin B7), Citric Acid (A Source Of Vitamin C), Mixed Tocopherols (A Source Of Vitamin E and A Natural Preservative)], Prebiotics: [Chicory Root (Inulin)], Probiotics: [Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Casei Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Lactis Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus Subtillus Fermentation Product], Papain, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Beta-Carotene, Fructooligosaccharides, Taurine, L-Carnitine, DL-Methionine, Lemon Juice, Rosemary Extract (A Natural Preservative).
In reply to: Multiple allergies, what to do?
Sorry to hear about the turkey and dairy. Well, at least you know lamb and rice are for sure okay, as these are pretty commonly available in commercial dog foods. Ditto the sweet potatoes.
What about fish? It can be an excellent protein source with the added benefit of Omega 3 brain food and great for skin/coat. Beef? Elk/venison? Bison? Duck? Pork?
What are you feeding right now (since stopping the Cal Natural Lamb & Rice)?
In reply to: Multiple allergies, what to do?
Thanks all. I had my guy tested and he definately is allergic to milk. I forgot to mention that along with the chicken, he is also allergic to turkey.
In reply to: Multiple allergies, what to do?
Edit: I mixed up one thing from cms60 vs angels.
Sorry, angels! Make that white rice, not oats as above.
In reply to: Multiple allergies, what to do?
Angels6121,
Look up these foods or brands and look through their different varieties:
Canine Caviar GF
EVO cans
Fresh is Best dehydrated
Grandma Lucy’s Pureformance freeze dried
Great Life GF
Honest Kitchen Zeal dehydrated
Hound and Gatos canned
Merrick 96% canned
Natural Balance LID dry
Nature’s Logic canned and dry
Only Natural Pet Easy Raw and MaxxMeat dehydrated
Pioneer Naturals GF
Sojo’s Complete dehydrated
Smack dehydrated
Tuscan Natural Simply Pure dry
Weruva Marbella Paella
Wellness Simple canned
Wellness cans – duck, turkey, venison, whitefishIn reply to: Multiple allergies, what to do?
angels,
What about Stella & Chewy’s? Excellent food. They make raw dehydrated medallions that are meat & bone based, with organic fruits, veggies, seeds and do not contain any of those ingredients you listed. In fact they don’t include any starches or grains period. This is great brand and dogs seem to really love the stuff. With a maltese it would be pretty affordable to feed, vs a medium or large breed dog. They’re easy to feed too, can be fed either with water or dry, shredded/broken into quarters/whole. Try the DuckDuckGoose — has duck, turkey, goose. No chicken.
Also, I highly recommend Timberwolf, have fed it for years. The Platinum Ocean Blue (fish based) has sweet potatoes (which you said are fine), but no peas, white potatoes, or grains. It has sweet potatoes and garbanzo beans (chickpeas). It’s nutrient dense, very high calorie; so you would be feeding very little especially to a tiny dog. I’d recommend introducing this food slowly over 1-2 weeks to ensure tolerance, as it is very rich and contains ingredients not commonly found in other foods and all at once.
Aside from these, rather than trying a whole bunch of commercial foods, I’d try first pinpointing what your dog CAN handle by feeding ONE protein and ONE carb. And I’d try to make sure that something is an actual allergy vs an intolerance or upset, since they are different. I’d try boiled turkey or cottage cheese and sweet potato OR oats (since you know your dog is okay with either). (By the way, many dogs are intolerant of lactose & milk, but fine with yogurt or cottage cheese.)
In reply to: Multiple allergies, what to do?
In reply to: Multiple allergies, what to do?
I am having a hard time finding a food that my Maltese can eat. He is allergic to chicken, potatoes, peas, barley, and milk. I was feeding him California Natural Lamb and Rice until the recall. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Topic: Lipomas
My 14 year old beagle has lipomas. One quite large. He is 14 and we can’t risk surgery. Have switched to feeding Nature Valley Instinct Chicken which is grain free. Interested in homemade since he needs to lose 7 or 8 pounds. He now weighs 48 lbs. We did make a batch of homemade with low fat hamburg, sweet potatoes, apples, green beans, carrots, 2 eggs. Feeding him 2/3 cup twice a day. Thought about adding 1/3 kibble a day as well. Figure it will be 786 cal per day which may be too high. He is 14 and pretty inactive. He is Hungary all the time and wants snacks constantly. Since weather has turned nice so will start short walks. There is so much info out there it is confusing. He loves his treats and since he has become deaf he barks constantly. Have a recipe for jerky using chicken breasts and thought that would keep him busy in the evenings. He does drink lots of water, sleeps during the day and during late night. He is healthy otherwise. Had him to vet and other than weight and lipomas he is good. Eyesight good and coat really nice. Grain free food eliminated ear and anal problems and allergies.
Hi LeahT –
You vet obviously knows very little about nutrition, this is expected – vets receive minimal education concerning nutrition and what they do receive is funded by the big name corporations like Nestle (Purina), Mars (Royal Canin and Pedigree), Colgate-Palmolive (Science Diet) and Proctor and Gamble (Iams and Eukanuba). Purina and Pedigree are two of the lowest quality dog foods available. Personally, if I were in the situation you are in I would find a new veterinarian.
I would recommend checking out the following articles/videos from Dr. Karen Becker. Dr. Becker is a holistic veterinarian who is very knowledgeable about species-appropriate nutrition and alternative therapies:
“Treating Seizure Disorders in Pets”
healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2011/11/03/treating-pets-seizure-disorders.aspx
“Pet Seizures and Diet”
healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2011/02/22/pet-seizures-and-pet-dog-cat-food-diet.aspx
“Holistic Medicine Cures Estie of her Seizures and Allergies”
healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2013/03/11/holistic-medicine-saves-estie.aspx
In reply to: Quality Hypoallergenic Foods
Have you considered putting her on a natural diet? I hate going to the vets. I’d rather spend $2 on a nutritious diet than spend $1 on a vet.
I switched my dog to Primal Raw Frozen. It’s mostly meat with very few carbs. Grains are used in feed lots to make animals fat, and they have other side effects that make animals sick.
Dogs weren’t designed to eat grains and carbs. Sounds to me like you have a typical vet. So interested in selling you expensive drugs and crap, that he doesn’t have time to address the problem. Allegra for a dog??? Please.
Even if your dog didn’t used to have allergies to the food doesn’t mean that he tolerates it well. Sometimes it takes a while for dietary choices to catch up. Just like kids that get 90% of their calories from sugar and starch and carbs, they may not exhibit severe symptoms as teenagers. Watch them when they’re older, though, and you’ll notice much more in the way of illness, obesity and diabetes than humans who eat the natural diet of humans.
I’d bet that your dogs problems will go away if you feed your dog a natural diet.
In reply to: Quality Hypoallergenic Foods
Hi ramroxy –
If the allergy issues didn’t start until you moved and she was eating the same food prior, I’d be more inclined to assume the allergies are environmental and not food related.
Have you done or considered doing a food elimination trial? It’d kind of a tedious thing to do but it would be the only accurate way to determine what ingredients (if any) are causing the symptoms. It involves feeding a novel protein and starch to your dog for a period of time and gradually adding in new ingredients, monitoring the reaction to each, to determine what ingredients (if any) cause a reaction.
As far as limited ingredient foods go, try to find a food that features a single novel protein and is free of common allergens such as corn, wheat, soy and dairy. Acana singles are good and I wouldn’t be concerned about the avocado in Avoderm – the fruit and oil (which is what is used in dog food) is not toxic, it’s the bark, skin, pit and leaves that are toxic. Some other good hypoallergenic foods are: Nature’s Variety Limited Ingredient Diet, The Honest Kitchen, Grandma Lucy’s, Addiction, California Natural Grain-Free, Artemis SOS and Artemis Osupure.
Topic: Quality Hypoallergenic Foods
I have a Shar Pei / German Shepherd mix and she has allergy problems, itchy eyes with severe eye booger issues. My vet has her on Allegra and some medicated eye drops and has suggested that I put her on hypoallergenic food. Through just reading on the internet I found some that I thought would be good choices. She eats Wellness now and the eye issues did not start until we moved, she had been eating Wellness for at least a year before that. The hypoallergenic foods I had been looking at were Avoderm and Acana, mainly. My concern with Avoderm is the avocado with seems to be a controversial ingredient. Acana is a little more expensive than the food she eats now, but if it would be better for her then I will switch. I have also had a local rescue suggest Taste of the Wild but I haven’t read anything that says this is a true hypoallergenic food, but it does score well for nutrition and her dog with severe allergies eats Taste of the Wild and it seems to help him. So, with all that said, I’m just wondering what others would suggest as the best food for a dog with these issues?
In reply to: Recommendation for Probiotic
I’m not sure the Purina would really help anything (It’s an awful food in my opinion)… I would put him back on the Fromms. The Fromms is at least a much better kibble and then add in a probiotic. I use the Mercola one’s but if price is an issue for you the Swanson one’s would definitely be cheaper per dose.
I heard you say he doesn’t like to eat sometimes, Hound Dog Mom suggested Trippet for my puppy when he was a picky eater. A couple spoonfuls and he was chowing down!
Vets really aren’t all that great when it comes to the nutritional requirements of a dog. If all else fails and you can’t get the yeast under control think about raw. I’ve heard many stories where feeding raw helped allergies, smelly dogs, yeasty dogs, ear infections, ect. Not that it fixes all problems but I believe what I read was that kibble is full of carbs that contribute to feeding the yeast.
Okay I just posted a long response and – naturally – it went right to the spam folder.
I would recommend visiting healthypets.mercola.com – this is the website for holistic veterinarian Dr. Karen Becker. Read the following articles:
1. Vestibular Disease in Dogs: Symptoms and Proper Treatment
2. Ear Infection: Number 1 Reason Dogs Visit the Vet
3. Help Your Dog Overcome These Three Common Dog Allergies
4. Does Your Pet Have Allergies? What You Need to Know and Do
5. How to Manage Your Pet’s Allergies
6. Eating These Foods Can Cause Dog Yeast Infection
(I’d post the direct links, but I think the links are what sent my previous post to the spam folder).Have you tried any alternative treatments? Often drugs will clear up the symptoms for a time, but they don’t treat the underlying cause so the issues will be recurring. It’s important to make diet and lifestyle changes to permanently eliminate the issue – especially in the case of allergies, yeast infections and chronic ear infections. What is your dog eating? Is he on a high quality probiotic supplement? Antibiotics wipe out gut flora and balance of strong gut flora is necessary to help overcome allergies and keep the immune system strong. BTW – if his allergies are food related an allergy test likely won’t give you accurate results. The only way to properly diagnose a food allergy is through an elimination diet, allergy tests are very inaccurate.
Hi Bernie831 –
Here are some articles on chronic ear infections, vestibular disease and allergies from Dr. Karen Becker that I strongly recommend you read:
<i>Canine Vestibular Disease</i>
http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2012/06/04/canine-vestibular-disease.aspx<i>Does Your Pet Have Allergies? What You Need to Know and Do</i>
http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2009/07/02/does-your-pet-have-allergies-what-you-need-to-know-and-do.aspx<i>Ear Infection: Number 1 Reason Dogs Visited the Vet in 2011</i>
http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2012/07/02/top-10-dog-medical-conditions.aspx<i>Tips For Keeping Your Pet’s Ears Healthy</i>
http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2009/06/25/how-to-care-for-your-pet-s-ears.aspxYou’ve got your dog on a lot of medications. Have you tried any alternative treatments (change in diet, supplementation, etc)? You’ve had your dog on several antibiotics, antihistamines, etc. – often drugs only treat the symptoms and not the underlying cause, so you may find that his problems will be recurring without a change in diet/lifestyle. Also, is he on a quality probiotic supplement? After being on so many various antibiotics this is important – antibiotics will wipe out his gut flora and a healthy gut is key to avoiding allergies and keeping the immune system strong. BTW – what does he eat? Sorry for all the questions.
That’s all I’ve got – I haven’t had any personal experience with these issues (that god). Maybe someone will pop in with some more input.
Hello everyone, we are having such a tough time with Bernie our 4.5 welsh terrier. Let me just say since a puppy we have had constance ear problems and stomach problems. He at one point had a yeast infection in his paw from constant licking and chewing- he was probably between 2/3 but it resolved with medication. I will now start with the most recent issues.
Sept 2012 he had a vestibular episode. I thought he was having a stroke. He could barely stand, very wobbly, couldn’t really walk, his eyes were rapidly moving back and forth so we rushed him to the emergency vet. they kept him over night and they explained it was doggie veritgo and he was safe in a padded cage (if you can imagine how scary this night was for him and myself) and they gave him medication to keep him calm till morning. we then had a nuero consult and he said it was probably a middle ear issue and decided to go in there with the digital boroscope and check things out. He cleaned his ears out really good, saying the left one was worse but no further testing was needed- ear drum was intact and an MRI could be helpful (very expensive) but he didn’t feel it was necessary.
About 2 months in late december he started acting up again. constantly circling(alway to the left) rubbing his head on walls, in the shower, on the carpet. His seemed to not hear as well (which was hard with welshies b/c they are so stubborn but I knew he wasn’t hearing me the same) He just wasn’t reacting the same to sounds basically. So we took him to our personal vet, and she immediately said to consult with a nuero vet again. Her biggest concern was his eye pupils were not reacting to light, they didn’t dialate or constrict when light was shined into them. So we went to a nuerologist and he recommended an MRI, spinal tap, and Myringothomy. That was all to rule out any tumor, lesion, as well as rule out any bacterial infections in the ear itself. All MRI /spinal tap CSF fuild tests came back clear thank god but it did show inflammation to his brain showing some concern. But he put us on antiobiotics (Zenaquin 50mg) and we waited for the culture of the middle ear to come back. It came back clear -no active sign of bacterial infection. We stayed on meds and about a month later inflammation in his left ear still present and starting to act up again. Bernie didn’t have alot of “stuff” in his ear mainly inflammation seen by the nuero in his check ups causing discomfort. So our nuerologist switched antibiotics thinking the one he was on (zeniquin) he was resistant too. So we switched to another one and tried that for about a month (calvamox). Slight improvement, not much and his left ear was right back to where it was when we started after a few week check up follow the med change. So the nuerologist gave us two options, try another antibiotic randomly or do another myringothomy and try to get a culture that would show us the correct meds to use. I am a very inpatient person and trying another random medicine wasn’t good for me so we go back in to the middle ear and try to get another sample. AGAIN, culture taken and no sign of bacteria or infection in the middle ear. So then my doctor calls saying it could simple be an allergy and prescribed an antihistime and see him a week.So I was very frustrated and decided to make an appointment with a skin specialist to get allergy testing. He overlooked Bernie’s records and prescribed Atopica- an immunosuppressent drug. and we will do skin testing in 2 weeks.
Bernie is doing okay, seems to be doing better but I’m just afraid I’m not doing all that I can to take care of all this. ANYONE had any experience with chronic ear infections, vestibular disease, allergies, etc……I just need any advice or support in all our efforts to make sure we are doing the right thing!!!
I am new to this site and find it so thankful that I found it. Hopefully I won’t sound crazy but here it goes. I have had a really hard time finding food that work for my dogs. Everytime I think I have found a food it or they seem to have problems. They were all on California Natual or Innova and doing great until I changed them in October due to news that P&G bought them.
I have four dogs. Here is the breakdown:
13 year old golden female. Years ago the vet reccomended their Iams fish and potato diet which worked fine but due to budget reasons we switched her to California Natural Herring and Sweet Potato. She did wonderful for many years on that. We tried Taste of the Wild’s fish formula and immeditetly she started itching. Now she is on Tuscan Natural Lamb Formula. She is doing fine with her allergies on it (aka no itching) but after reading reviews I feel like I am feeding her an imcomplete food.
5 year old golden (no problem). Also eating Tuscan Natual Lamb Formula.
2 year old great dane mix (crazy sensitive GI tract). Eating Tuscan Natural Turkey and Chicken.
1 year old 13 lb mix (has major skin issues). She’s eating Orijen Adult – so far the only food that hasn’t triggered her demodex.Here is the real question. Supplementing their diets with a freeze-dried raw food make since or should I switch their kibble? I am on a budget – but I can get Tuscan Natual at wholesale price which is about $35 a bag. I feed about 11 cups of food daily between all the dogs.
In reply to: Multiple allergies, what to do?
You can try a small amount like a teaspoon of local raw honey daily, and/or stinging nettles with quercetin, and a supplement for the immune system, an allergy herbal, coconut oil, and even omega 3 oil (fish oil, krill, sardine, other fish) to help with environmental allergies.
In reply to: Multiple allergies, what to do?
I’m so impressed! I had searched and couldn’t figure out what to do! There are stores carrying that brand close to me and I will try it! My poor baby has multiple allergies besides the foods, but the vet said the foods are usually the easiest to start eliminating. I might have to get an extract made for pine and grass allergy, but I want to try this first. This year suddenly became a consistent problem to the point she licked a raw spon on one of her paws. (She is 8 years old and has only had seasonal problems before). I tried medications and multiple imaginative ideas to protect the spot, but finally had to resort to the silly collar that doesn’t allow her to chew her feet at least until the one paw gets well.
Thanks so much for this great site, and the advice!
In reply to: Sensitive stomach & skin (Duplicate Topic)
Thanks for the info, but since I am in a small town, my choices are limited. I know I can order on internet, but I would like to purchase a can first to see if Zeus would eat the food. I didn’t know how good Purina Pro Plan for Sensitive Stomach & Allergies was. We do have a Tractor Supply which carries Blue Buffalo and would appreciate any feedback on the product.
In reply to: Multiple allergies, what to do?
Can’t think of many foods except Pioneer Naturals Grain Free and Great Life RX LID/Dr.E’s both made by Great Life.
http://www.doctorsfinest.com/Healthy_Chicken_dog_food_p/dr.%20es-gfd.htm
Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream, Pinnacle Peak.
Have a 10 yr old Boxer who has a sensitive stomach and also “chews” his paws. He has been eating Iams ProActive Health mini chunks, but recently has started vomiting “little piles”. I need advice on which is the best canned food to feed him. He doesn’t chew the dry food, so therefore, canned food will be the best option. Several years ago he was diagnosed with pancreatitis and recovered and no problems until now. I have read information on several canned foods that will help with sensitive tummy and allergies, such as chewing paws. Any advice will be appreciated and I value advice from dog lovers and hands on experience.
Short of feeding the all fresh meat diet (with 5 animals that could be pricey), what food do you suggest for a dog who has tested allergic to rice, barley, peas, carrots, flaxseed, alfalfa, soybean, sunflower, and peanuts? All the meats are OK, and oats, wheat, corn, canola, and cotton seed are OK.
For sake of getting a consistent feeding schedule with all my family members helping, I use dry food with table scrap flavorings/moisteners. The crunch seems to keep my dogs’ teeth in pretty good shape. I could go with canned I suppose, but then I need to figure out a way to keep the tartar off of her teeth regularly. Plus also figure out a way to not make the other animals think they are deprived if I give this one something really select.
The allergy symptoms are licking and chewing the fur off of her front paws. No GI symptoms.
Thanks for the help!
In reply to: What do dogs need?
Thanks patty and hdm… We have a few good local natural food stores so I will look for the ingredients for your home made mix. I think I can find local bee pollen, also…which they say is best to use for allergies in your local area as it is made using local flora.
I think I can grow the wheat grass, too.You guys are the best!
In reply to: What do dogs need?
And they are human grade so you can take them yourself. Bee pollen, I recently discovered, tastes good and it’s supposed to help with seasonal allergies.
In reply to: Darwin's raw pet food (and an introduction)
Hi there!!
Sorry it has taken me so long to get back here. It has been crazy busy around here these days.
Hank is doing great on the Darwin’s. We are now into our 3 full shipment, and I am very happy with the food. Both dogs really like it. We also bought duck necks from them, and we are incorporating them into their homemade raw diet. (we get grass fed beef hear, tongue, kidney and liver from a local rancher) It is fun to hear them crunching. My black lab loves sardines as it turns out.
Unfortunately, Hank had his first foot blow up in a year and a half, but we are convinced that it is ingrown hair between the toes that cause it, and not environmental allergies. We are doing laser treatments at our vet, and we did one acupuncture treatment as well. Poor guy, he is on low activity until it heals. His itching and licking is pretty much resolved for now.
All in all, I wish I would have learned about Darwins, raw feeding, etc years ago.
ps. I just ordered my first 5# sample of Brothers complete allergy last night for the days when kibble is whats for dinner!
In reply to: Food allergies
Thank you for your reply. That is what I was hoping to hear. I do purchase probiotics and enzymes fairly regularly. My family has been supportive of my new dog food obsession. Lol! It’s funny with our previous dog, we pretty much fed the same kibble forever. We had a big gulp cup from 7-11 in it. And just filled his bowl twice a day. Now I have two bags of kibble, kept in original bags, inside tubs with lids. I have directions above tubs hanging on walls, with details on exactly how much to feed each dog at each feeding with the measuring cups I have in the bags. Just in case I’m not home and my husband or one of my kids is here to feed them. Again, thank you and I won’t worry about using the Kirkland cuts and gravy for too long as long as we are rotating kibble and using digestive supplements occasionally.
In reply to: Food allergies
The information I have been able to find about over exposure to ingredients seems to be talking about intolerances due to an unhealthy gut, so rotating foods enough to keep a healthy gut seems more important than any one ingredient. Making sure of a good source of pre/probiotics is important too.
Topic: Food allergies
Hi-
I’ve learned from this site some very valuable things. Most importantly feeding variety by rotating foods and that canned food on average is more healthy than kibble. It seems so obvious now. Why did we believe for so many years that you should keep feeding the same food forever and that canned food is bad for their teeth? Seems silly, now. Anyway, my next question is about dogs developing allergies from over exposure to a certain ingredient. I’m planning on rotating between different flavored kibble and brands. But, I will probably almost always use the Kirkland cuts and gravy canned food as a topper. It is such an awesome deal. However, both varieties contain chicken, so they will never have a big break from chicken. Will that be a bad thing over time? I do use other brands of canned now and then. But, mostly the Kirkland. Thanks for any opinions you may have.In reply to: Eating Raw Meaty Bones
My one Chihuahua with intestinal allergies has mild Pancreatitis from the marrow bones. At least that is what the vet said it could very well be and Darwin’s also said it was more than likely the marrow bones since they told me the Raw turkey meals are 12% Protein and 6% Fat in a wet matter which Raw is and plus we have now been on the Raw for a solid month and no issues until the marrow bones so those who have dogs with intestinal issues just beware marrow bones are really high in fat.
In reply to: Eating Raw Meaty Bones
It was a beautiful day outside today and so I decided to lay out some dog pads and give the girls a Darwin’s Raw Marrow bone and 10 min after they were really into it Sally my tricolored chihuahua went across the yard and started throwing up so I took hers away and put it back up. The other three chewed on the marrow bone all excited and now 3hrs later runny poop everywhere and my one with intestinal allergies is bloated very bad 🙁 It looks to me we found the intestinal allergy protein to avoid with her. Just a few minutes a go (4hrs after the marrow bones) one of my other chihuahuas was in our bed and started heaving to throw up so I grabbed her and put her in the floor in time for her to throw up. It is looking like beef is not our best friend. Has anyone else had this issue? 3 out of the four of our dogs ate at least 1/2 the marrow out of the bone, did they maybe eat too much in one sitting? I know it seems I keep having issues with things introduced to my dogs but I am so frustrated with trying things that in some way keep back firing and causing my dogs more painful issues. They have no problem with the raw Darwin’s turkey meals so the only thing I can figure is that its because it is beef?
In reply to: Dog puking always
My shih tzu Leo goes through this every late summer into fall, and I have yet figure out why. My vet suspects seasonal allergies affecting his internal systems. Hes been thyroid tested had all kinds of bloodwork done etc. When this happens I have to give him a acid reducer half a pill in AM and half at night before bed. She also prescribes Metroclopramide it helps slow down the emptying of the stomach. Has he had and allergy testing done skin scratch testing done ? When my guy starts vomiting he can only keep down Wellness chicken or turkey and sweet potato canned food other brands make him throw up. He can only eat kibble that is super small. Is the food whole when he vomits ? Is it immedietly after eating maybe Mega Esophogus ? I’m sure they would of found that out by now, poor guy he sounds miserable. I know what its like to clean up vomit everyday its awful. I know the allergy thing is way out there but you never know. Good luck hope you find answers soon
In reply to: Need Food Advice for Allergies
Thanks so much for your suggestions! I will certainly look into these foods to see if the proteins and ingredients are those that my dogs can tolerate.
In reply to: Need Food Advice for Allergies
I’m sorry your dog is going through this. There are a few foods that might help. Wellness has a Simple line that is hypoallegenic. I don’t know if your dog has had all the proteins they include in their line, or not, but you could look into those. There is a mail order food called Brothers that has a good allergy food, but it comes in only one flavor (turkey, I believe). You might look into that, as well. And, even though I don’t agree that Natural Balance uses Diamond as one of their manufacturers in this case I’m going to recommend them for your dog. They are limited ingredient, grain free, and have some novel proteins like duck, venison, rabbit. Nature’s Variety is another company with limited ingredient diets. They come in Turkey, Duck and Lamb. California Natural, by Natura, can be a good allergy food, however, they are going through a recall for salmonella (I think) at the moment so I wouldn’t consider them at this time. Most of the foods I’ve mentioned also have “matching” treats and canned food to facilitate use. I’m sure there are other good foods and I’m also sure other posters will let you know soon. But, these are some that came to my mind. I hope this helps some.
In reply to: Need Food Advice for Allergies
I need help also. I have a seven year old female lab/pointer mix. She was found abandoned as a puppy, full of ticks, mouth sores and mange. About two years ago she started scratching under her mouth and licking her belly so much it became raw and infected. I visited several vets who would put her on antibiotics to clear up the belly, but it always comes back. It is now mostly cleared up and itching controlled somewhat with Benadryl. I have talked with the canine dermatologist at the local university and she wants me to do the 8 week food trial before she does a blood test for allergies. She said use a food that has only ingredients that the dog has never had before. Therein lies my challenge. She has previously been on many different foods. I did an 8 week trial using Canidae Pure Sea, but she is still scratching, has terrible flatulence and gurgling stomach. Can anyone recommend a food to try since it now appears she has a sensitive stomach also. The vet also said to avoid grain and chicken. Thanks in advance for your help.
In reply to: Boston Terrier with Terrible Diarrhea and Allergies
Beside probiotic, take a look at grain and potto free food. In the dog food ingredients forum here, there is a stickie with a list
In reply to: Need Food Advice for Allergies
If you are trying to determine what your dog is allergic to then it is absolutely essential that treats are of the same protein and carb source as the food you are trying and that everything is limited to as few different ingredients as possible or you will never be able to figure out what your dog is reacting to.
In reply to: What do dogs need?
I give my dogs Nature’s Variety Organic Chicken. I started giving them Kefir about a month ago. I did a detox for them for two weeks using PetAlive pills. Two weeks ago I had to get a lump removed from my boy’s front foot – tuned out to be a Benign tumor – Trichoblastomas.
Will giving him probiotics and enzymes help reduce the risk of recurring lumps? What type would work best?
Both my Schnauzer’s have indoor and outdoor allergies as well…
