[Susan]

Hi Mike are you 100% sure it’s not acid reflux?? that’s what Patch does, its like reverse swallowing, he was doing it after eating certain kibbles, doesn’t do it when he eats wet foods, only sometime with kibbles, not since he’s been eating Canidae or Taste Of The Wild kibbles .. He’d go outside eat some grass & the grass seem to wash the acid down, then he did big burp…
Can you feed a low carb kibble & look at feeding wet foods, just make sure the fat on tin is 3-4%max & under, when you convert a wet tin food to dry matter (Kibble) 5% min fat in a wet tin food when convert is around 20-25% max fat converted to dry matter (Kibble), so 3% min is about 11% fat, I feed wet tin it’s 3.5% fat that’s around 13.7% fat….
Don’t add water to kibble it makes the acid reflux worse I have found, unless all the water is completely drained out, when kibbles is soft then put soft kibbles thru a blender so kibble all fluffs up…Your better of cooking or feeding wet tin foods….
Find a lower carbohydrate kibble look at “Canidae Pure Meadow Senior” it’s grain free the fat is 10.8% max, I emailed Canidae for a neighbor, the carbs are around 37% & protein is 28%-29%, email the kibble companies they will give you accurate % of fat, carbs, protein & fiber %…

Why I always recommend “Canidae” & “Taste of The Wild” Sierra Mountain, Roasted Lamb is Patch has IBD & gets bad acid reflux & is doing really well since starting the Canidae Pure Wild Formula & when he eats the TOTW formula & I feed cooked & wet tin food, I try to feed less kibble & more fresh whole healthy foods….
http://www.canidae.com/dog-food/products

[Susan]

Hi Jessica, my boy has IBD Skin Allergies, Food Intolerances & Pancreatitis….he needs a diet high in Omega 3…When I have feed any vet diets for his IBD & Skin problems that had fish, oil, soybean oil, coconut oil he got bad acid reflux, same with premium kibbles, if they had fish or salmon oil, he’d get acid reflux, he grinds his teeth when he gets his acid reflux….. I’m the same I cant take any fish oil supplements, I get acid reflux…

The other day I won $100 to spend at the Chemist, I asked the lady pharmacist what can I take for my arthritis, I need Omega 3 but every time I’ve taken fish Oil capsules I keep burping up the fish taste & get acid reflux, same as my dog, she told me Krill Oil capsules are more milder & are easier on the stomach, good for people with digestive issues like yourself, so that’s something to remember..

I follow “Rodney Habib” on his facebook page & I’ve learnt a lot about healthy foods
to add to Patches diet, I’ve also be adding them to my diet as well lol
Almonds are very high in Omega 3 fatty acid, a dog can have 3 Almonds a day but I bite 1/2 of the almond & I give Patch the other 1/2 of the almond this way it’s the size as a small kibble & I tell him to chew it, I started with just giving him 1 almond a day then after 5 days, I gave him 2 x 1/2 almonds a day, till we got too 3 almonds a day….
K-9 Natural, freezed Dried Green Lipped Mussels are very healthy & not greezy….
Sardines, Salmon & Tuna in spring water or Olive Oil, not brine, I give Patch small tin salmon, all water drained, I add some boiled sweet potato & broccoli as a small meal…. Patch has a beautiful shinny coat but I do feed “Canidae” Pure Wild Boar kibble for a few of his meals, I rotate between a few different things & have made his gut healthier & stronger, when I rescued him he couldn’t eat anything without having sloppy, bloody poos or up 2am having diarrhea it was awful, now 4 yrs on & he can eat pretty much anything as long as it isn’t any food’s he’s sensitive too….
I’ve read a few dogs haven’t done well on the Honest Kitchen formula’s, I think it’s the freeze dried pieces of veggies & meat, they stay small, hard & don’t reconstitute back to bigger, softer veggies & can’t be digested properly causing intestinal problems……
Dogs can’t chew their foods like we do & don’t have salivary amylase (digestive enzymes in their salvia) so they can’t break down the Cellulase walls in the vegetable, fruit or grass,
Cellulase digests plant matter, that’s why when you feed a raw diet you have to blend & break down the veggies, fruit & make them into a pulp liquid…Same when a dog eats grass it either comes back up vomit or comes out in their poo undigested, the Chlorophyll in the grass settles their stomach…. I let Patch eat a little bit of grass no longer then 1 minute, it can cause diarrhea, it cleans him out…
*Foods High in Omega 3 fatty acids are
Spinach
Chia Seeds
Flax Seed Oil cold pressed
Canola Oil Patch does best when the kibble has Canola oil, Flax Seed Oil (No Acid Reflux)
Almonds
Walnuts
Green Lipped Mussels
Sardines, Mackerel, Salmon, Tuna
Soybeans
Tofu

[Charisma M]

Hey Susan! He’s on royal Canin gastrointestinal low fat canned food cause he also gets stones but hates water. He is on meds for epilepsy and hypothyroidism. When he got his biopsy done it did say he had h pylori as well. He also used to be on royal Canin rabbit and potato when he got diagnosed with pancreatitis. He just switched over to the low fat on march 31st. And yes girl baby is pacing all the time, he doesn’t sleep through the night anymore. He’s up every two hours asking for food crying and pacing not being able to get comfortable. If he goes more than 4hours without eating he gets a bad belly ache. They’ve never been able to tell me why, so we feed him when he asks which is every 2 hours on the dot. I stay home with him since he requires so much care. He also does wake up in the middle of the night for grass, he use to wake up vomiting yellow bile too around 3am when he was first diagnosed with ibd. I’m definitely at the point where I feel helpless cause we’ve been to so many vets, specialist, Emergency Vet and never any answers. I’m beyond stressed because I want him to get better and I don’t know what else to try. It’s so overwhelming sometimes. ☹️

[Susan]

Hi Charisma
What are you feeding him, what medications is he on?? has he been checked for Helicobacter & acid reflux? had Endoscope + Biopsies done?
He sounds like my boy 4yrs ago, when I rescued him he was put on a vet diet for his skin allergies, the vet diet gave him Pancreatitis fat was way too high 19% fat & that was the start of Patches misery, I found with my boy the vet diet dry kibbles made him worse….
My boy was diagnosed thru Endoscope & Biopsies, it said IBD {to look further with exploratory surgery} I wouldn’t do & Helicobacter-Pylori…… the Pancreatitis, food intolerances & skin allergies we already knew, he’s at his best now finally after 3yrs, he’s better in the cooler months, no environment allergies, his immune system isn’t in over drive…..
When Patch was having the rumbling, grumbling bowel, pacing back & forth wanting me to rub his stomach/pancreas area, wanting grass 2am 4am & thru the day, later I learnt it was Colitis from food intolerances/sensitivities… do you know what helps the best when this was happening, liquid Mylanta, not pink Pepto Bismol that has asprin in it, plain & simple liquid Mylanta, 5mls, 1 teaspoon would settle all the gases going thru his stomach & bowel…….
Are you seeing a new specialist, someone with new eyes, with all his results?? I keep diaries every single year & read back, this vet told me to keep a diary …. I saw 4 vets until I found Patches vet he see’s now & she also suffers with IBD, she understands & knows what I’m talking about when I tell her about Patches symptoms……

They break your heart watching them suffer, I didn’t know a poor dog could suffer so much with all these symptoms, now when I read a post, I know what that person & poor dog is going thru….
I have to feed 5 smaller meals a day, I can’t feed 1 whole cup of kibble for 1 meal, he gets bad pain, I can only feed 1/2 cup kibble at one time, that’s hand feed, I feed 2 kibbles at one time in a raised bowl so he chews the kibbles & doesn’t just swallow the whole hard kibble, I only feed kibble at 7am, 9am, 5pm, 1/2 a cup & wet tin vet diet Royal Canin Hypoallergenic at 12pm & 8pm, I have to rotate Patches kibbles, as soon as I see he’s not well & starts his whinging & lifts up his right paw for me to rub his stomach/pancreas area I know something is wrong & rotate kibble & foods, I stop feeding whatever he’s eating & feed something else…..
Hills vet diet kibbles & Royal Canin vet diet kibbles made poor Patch worse…only the kibbles…..

[Charisma M]

Hey Anne! Thank you so much for replying! I’m desperate! Since last July 2016 it’s been nuts! Stressed doesn’t even begin to explain how I’ve felt. We’re in and out of the vet every two weeks since then. We’ve seen 5 vets and 2 specialists. I’m not sure how to know if his diet is working or not because his only symptom since the beginning has only been tummy gurgles 24/7 (which have gotten a little better) and nausea/grass eating which that he does about once or twice a week. Other than that his stool is fine, the vomiting had gone away till late march when he got the pancreatitis. I honestly don’t know what to do anymore. We’ve spent over 10k in less than a year with no true improvement. 🙁 we haven’t tried prednisone because I’m afraid of the side effects but When he started vomiting in march we decided it was time. Then we found out it was actually pancreatitis and not his ibd. Then I got pretty hesitant about it cause I read that steroids can make the pancreatitis flare up. What has been your experience with the steroids?

[Charisma M]

Debbie, my dog was also recommended Ultamino, what was your experience with it?

Anne f, are you able to email me so we can talk more about the diet you have your fur baby on? My boy has chronic pancreatitis and ibd so trying to figure out a diet has been hard. I’m having issues finding him the perfect diet. We were thinking about working with balance it but they do turkey as the main protein in the recipe and his internist had said turkey is like chicken or in the same “poultry” family so she was hesitate to put him on it. Right now he’s on RC gastro low fat but it’s pork and he’s still having days when he rushes out desperate for the grass. Tummy is always gurgling and he’s hungry every 2 hours on the dot. Anyone struggle with their furbaby wanting to eat that often? He even wakes up in the middle of the night, literally every 2 hours.

[Marcia]

I couldn’t even get to the end of this thread before I commdnted. I have 4 dogs, all born in 2011. For flea and tick control, I at first used Frontline, but one of my pups started having horrible reactions for up to 12 hours after – I think she was itching or burning, or both. I tried Advantix. Omg so much worse. My other 3 even reacted. My vet recommended Bravecto, so I put them all on it and have noticed no issues. My babies are my heart and I am very attentive to their moods, eating habits, etc. I do not give Bravecto all year round – 2 to 3 doses a year. I live in WI so even though the vet says I should give it year round, I won’t because I want them to have a break from it and the winter months are less risky for fleas/ticks. Same with heartworm meds, I stop in late fall. I have a woodsy backyard which they spend a lot of time in in good weather, and, I run them every other day for a mile and a half at nature reservoir with 3 large ponds – lots of grasses, weeds, reeds, waterfowl, and other wildlife, as well as scat from other dogs that run there. So I want them to be protected. I have never found a flea or a tick on any of them, nor has their groomer. My sister runs her dogs with me, and she has found dead ticks about 3x in 6 years. She uses topical flea and tick control, I believe.

As many of you have said, we all have to choose what we feel is right for our situation and our babies. Factors like geography, general health of our pups, their age, their breed, etc., our own financial and living situations that also factor into these decisions. No 2 people will have the same circumstances.

Being snarky and using thinly veiled insults only produces more of the same, and draws negative energy to yourself. Be kind to each other. We’re all here to help each other and learn from each other because we have infinite love for the creatures who depend upon us. Show some of that compassion and respect to each other.

[LovelyBear]

My 8 yr young 104 lb rottweiler has been raw for the past day and a half. She has been given 2 chicken quarters a day (1 twice a day), pumpkin puree, coconut oil (she loves it), and some chicken gizzards. All night she never woke me or acted like she would have “cannon butt”. This morning I watched her poo and it was solid and about 4 inches. I couldn’t find in the yard, but ill keep a better eye out them to make sure everything is digested. She is having stinky gas.

For her first meal the texture freaked her out and she got insecure, because she didn’t know what to do. I waited 15 minutes and tried encouraging her. I had to put the food up and try again for dinner. Dinner was the same, but I kept trying. I got meat scissors and cut about 90% of the meat off the quarter and hand fed her small pieces. At first she spit it out and then she realized it is edible. Then I popped out all of the joints in the quarters and hand fed her the bone part. The next day I did the same and she eagerly ate all the chicken pieces. She even chewed apart pieces she thought where to big. Plus she chewed all of the bones slowly and very gentle. I’m glad she isn’t a gulper!

There is something I am stuck on:

Where do you feed your pup? Or what do you feed them on?

The past meals I have been having her eat on a towel, but it gets tedious to wash a bunch of towels. One meal I fed on a trash bag and that seems wasteful to me and she was a little scared of it. I cleaned out her crate to possible feed her in that and since it has been 3 years since she has even seen the thing it terrified her and she wont get in it. Also I’d love to feed her outside in the grass, but my dad uses fertilizer, weed killer, and bug killers……. I do have a lanai though with a concrete floor. If I fed her in there how can I keep the floor sanitary? Although I have a crazy neighbor who spies on my family, so they will probably think crazy things if they see me feeding her raw body parts lol.

My parents are slightly grossed out and apprehensive about raw. I thought that I’d be the germophob, since I eat a plant-based diet lol! They haven’t researched it like I have and I never want to feed my pup kibble again.

Have a great day!

[jessica r]

Hi I know this post is old but I have been using 2 things for years one more than the other and they both are fantastic items. Comfortis and Nexguard. My 12 year old cocker spaniel used it her whole life, along with my 19 year old manx/snow foot cat, and my new dogo argintino. I have noticed it had helped even with chiggers due to high grass in some parts of our yard on our dogo. which is great. Neeva (Neevay) my dogo is on Nexguard and it has been amazing. not one issue at all. I pay around $25 a pill the last 35 days. On 1800petmeds theres a 3pk for around $60. hope this helps.

[pitlove]

Not Marie, but we don’t treat our yard. Our dogs occasionally graze on the grass so all we use is diatomaceous earth for fleas and ticks. As far as weeds go, we just mow the grass a lot as short as we can get it. I saw a new product advertised on TV that you drop on the weeds themselves and it kills them without touching your grass. Can’t remember the name though…

[Susan]

Hi,
I buy human 5 star grounded Beef mince & the 5 star grounded Pork mince, it says fat is 5% that’s all the fats together, the pork is a bit lower in fat-4.8%, I buy 1kg, (2lbs) I whisk 1 egg, chop up a few small broccoli heads, some chopped parsley about 1 heap teaspoon, I chopped up 1-2 kale leaves or spinach leaves, what ever is growing in the veggie patch, I stick with green veggies, I was grating 1 peeled carrot as well but Patch got itchy ears & starts scratching his ears/head when he eats carrots, I also add 1 teaspoon of Flax Almond Baking Meal, Flax meal is high in protein & Omega 3 ALA, Almond meal is another good source of protein, I mix everything together & make 1 cup size rissoles & make them long instead of a round rissole, I put the rissoles on a baking tray that’s lined with al-foil & bake in the oven after they have been cooking for 15mins I take them out of oven & drain any water, fat that comes off the rissoles, then I turn the rissoles over, I only get about 8-9 rissoles from 1kg, 2lbs of mince, it depends on what I’ve added to the mince meat, they only take about 25-30mins & they are cooked, I cool & wrap indavidally in cling wrap & put in a clip lock plastic bags & freeze, I also peel, cut & boil a few sweet potatoes, they also freeze really good, I feed 1 cut up rissole with about 1/3 a cup sweet potato mashed thru the cut up rissole….
My vet recommended I buy the meat whole & not buy grounded minces, she cuts off the fat around the meat then grinds up the lean pieces of meat, this way you know no fat is added, in the Pup Loaf video, the cook grinds the pork steak up cause they couldn’t find any lean, grass feed, organic pork mince..

Acroyali gave good advise using a crockpot if you google “Dr Judy Morgan” has some really good recipes on U-Tube, I think she has about 8-9 dogs, all have different health problems…Bone broth is excellent for their bones, joints, brain & soothes the stomach/bowel…
Here’s Judy Morgan’s Bone Broth recipe & Golden Paste recipe for Arthritis & other health problems- http://www.drjudymorgan.com/category/recipes/
Judy’s “Pup Loaf” recipe for her sick dog- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0tBgV7xU8k

[Susan]

Hi Jasmine, how’s your boy doing are his poo’s firming up?
I buy human 5 star grounded Beef mince & the 5 star grounded Pork mince, it says fat is 5% that’s all the fats together, the pork is a bit lower in fat-4.8%, I buy 1kg, (2lbs) I whisk 1 egg, chop up a few small broccoli heads, some chopped parsley about 1 heap teaspoon, I chopped up 1-2 kale leaves or spinach leaves, what ever is growing in the veggie patch, I stick with green veggies, I was grating 1 peeled carrot as well but Patch got itchy ears & starts scratching his ears/head when he eats carrots, I also add 1 teaspoon of Flax Almond Baking Meal, Flax meal is high in protein & Omega 3 ALA, Almond meal is another good source of protein, I mix everything together & make 1 cup size rissoles & make them long instead of a round rissole, I put the rissoles on a baking tray that’s lined with al-foil & bake in the oven after they have been cooking for 15mins I take them out of oven & drain any water, fat that comes off the rissoles, then I turn the rissoles over, I only get about 8-9 rissoles from 1kg, 2lbs of mince, it depends on what I’ve added to the mince meat, they only take about 25-30mins & they are cooked, I cool & wrap indavidally in cling wrap & put in a clip lock plastic bags & freeze, I also peel, cut & boil a few sweet potatoes, they also freeze really good, I feed 1 cut up rissole with about 1/3 a cup sweet potato mashed thru the cut up rissole….
My vet recommended I buy the meat whole & not buy grounded minces, she cuts off the fat around the meat then grinds up the lean pieces of meat, this way you know no fat is added, in the Pup Loaf video, the cook grinds the pork steak up cause they couldn’t find any lean, grass feed, organic pork mince..

Acroyali gave good advise using a crockpot if you google “Dr Judy Morgan” has some really good recipes on U-Tube, I think she has about 8-9 dogs, all have different health problems…Bone broth is excellent for their bones, joints, brain & soothes the stomach/bowel…
Here’s Judy Morgan’s Bone Broth recipe & Golden Paste recipe for Arthritis & other health problems- http://www.drjudymorgan.com/category/recipes/
Judy’s “Pup Loaf” recipe for her sick dog- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0tBgV7xU8k

[anonymous]

Just curious, how was your dog diagnosed with a chicken allergy? Or are you assuming…..

Nutrisca Salmon and Chickpea may meet your criteria, see chewy dot com for reviews and prices.
Check the search engine “allergies” I have posted a lot of information, maybe you will find something helpful.

Allergies can be broken down into inhalant, contact, or food allergy origins. Flea allergies, grass allergies, and environmental toxin induced allergies are the most common causes of skin conditions in Cairns. Allergies can be chronic or seasonal. They can be minor or severe in occurrence. They tend to become worse with age. Treatment is much better than in bygone days. Environmental controls, antihistamine treatment, and desensitization injections have made huge strides in the last few years”.
“Glucocorticoids should be used only as a last resort due to serious side effects. Diagnosis and treatment of chronic or severe cases by a Board Licensed Veterinary Dermatologist is recommended”.
(excerpt from:) http://cairnterrier.org/index.php/Static/health
This was copied from a site regarding Cairn Terriers, however, the information applies to all dogs (imo)

[Susan]

Hi Robert, what is she eating & is she gulping her meals?? I sit down in lounge room on lounge, I put patches heavy glass bowl on a little stool thing, so his stomach is level with his mouth/throat when he’s standing, then I only add about 2 kibbles at 1 time, if they’re small kibbles, don’t feed any big kibbles, they’re harder to digest, Patch has to chew the kibble, as soon as he chews the kibble I add another 2 kibbles, I put a paper towel folded & folded again cause Patch gets all spit coming out of sides of mouth & makes 1 big mess & the paper towel soaks up his spit, I also get another paper towel & wipe his mouth as he’s eating, I’ve had to teach him to chew his kibbles, treats, he just swallowed any kibbles, treats, then his vet said start sectioning the 1 cup of kibble & feed slowly & now he finally chews & doesn’t gulp & swallow….. it has made a really big difference, it takes about 20mins to feed him, then we go for a 15min walk after he eats & he does farts & poo lol…also start feeding her about 4-5 smaller meals a day, sounds like she had the pain or acid reflux before she ate her food to be running out & eating grass & after eating food it has made the problem worse, kibble isn’t good for dogs with acid reflux or any stomach problems….
“Holistic Select”, “Canidae” Pure Meadow, Life Stages Platinum & “Taste Of Wild” Sierra Mountain Roasted Lamb kibble are very easy to digest kibbles….You may need a acid reducer ask vet can you trial a 1-2 week on an ant acid med & see does it make any difference also change diet, I had to put Patch on Prilosec, 1 every morning, with the change of diet & the Prilosec made a real big difference..
Have you tried cooked meal?, feed 1 very lean protein & boiled sweet potato, feed the cooked meal when she is normally the worst?

[Robert J]

Hi everyone. To molzy that originally posted this forum or about the dog gulping and swallowing did you ever find out what it was or what the vet said. For the past week or two my dog has been doing the same thing it’s usually right after she eats her meal she starts gulping and licking and acting like she’s having some kind of trouble breathing or she jerks her head and then she has to go outside to eat grass like crazy. I thought it was maybe acid reflux but it happened so fast right after she eats I thought maybe she’s getting error in our stomach hurt eating too fast but maybe she panics I don’t know and maybe the grass that she didn’t eating his turn into a vicious cycle and it irritates her stomach so she has to eat more grass to come but come at the last time. But that usually happens right after she eats like within 20 seconds even though the other day she you’ve got some yellow bile stuff and then her tummy was grumbling one morning but the vet gave her a nausea shot and she did better after that and so far she’s doing okay well she still acts like she has hiccups maybe she’s eaten too fast

[Katie r]

My poor boy Brody (border collie) has the gulps 😟
He use to have it every few weeks or couple months but today is the 6th day. 1at day was very bad. Gulping and licking and panicking.
He has 3-4 small meals a day on a disgestion support vet food. But that night he was bad. He got himself hot and anxious and tryied panting but the gulps stopped him and it was like wind sucking.
I was told by my get to not let him eat grass but he was in such a state I let him out. He ate grass like a horse. Gobbled it down… but only certain patches. Then made himself sick.
I took him back to bed but every 15min or so it would start again. I gave him pepto bismol from the moment this started and it didn’t help at all. He was sick 3 more times. I was up all night.
At some point I fell asleep and just awake but thank god he was nice and quiet and relaxed.
for several days after he was not himself and had a few gulp episodes but nothing like the other night.
Then last night he started again.
At about 11pm so I gave him some pepto and a hand ful of food and put him to bed. Every 2 hours I had to do this.
it’s not 12:30pm and he’s still having issues.
I have the vets at 3:20.
I go away in a week and so scared to leave him. This boy is my life.

[lavieenrawCO]

Hi Cindy,

Kaitlyn here from La Vie en Raw. We are a brand new company here in Colorado and we’re excited that you’re interested in our products! A little about the food. It is all 100% raised the way nature intended. Our farmer has been doing this for over 30 years. He runs a small family farm in upstate New York and is a former K9 police handler, breeder, and trainer. Every single animal is raised and slaughtered specifically for our raw dog food. He does not source out the “good cuts to humans” and leave the scraps for the dogs. He eats, sleeps and breathes this product. All of the products are small-batch and flash frozen after processing to lock in nutrients. They remain that way until you feed your pup.

Everything is organically raised, grass-fed, and free range. The animals are never diseased or rendered, and there are never any hormones, antibiotics, or steroids in any of our products. The only thing added outside of the meat is a mixture of supplements (which is also completely optional). The supplements are things like naturally pressed krill oil, chia seeds, four different probiotics, and more, which make the food complete and balanced. This too, our farmer has been perfecting with a holistic veterinarian for over the last three decades.

This is truly our passion and a labor of love for us. After having fur babies with various digestive issues, we searched extensively for the right raw food. Our desire is to provide dog owners in Colorado with the best food for their pup at fair and affordable prices, and one of our most important tenets as a business is complete transparency about where our food comes from.

I’d be happy to answer any questions you may have via email at [email protected], on Facebook messenger, or at 720-375-1544. We’d also be happy to provide you with a free sample of one of our products so your pup can test it out!

[Susan]

Hi, gee poor boy he must be in comfortable, sometimes the Pepcid doesn’t work cause their acid reflux is real bad & they need a stronger ant acid reducer, the Pepcid (Famotidine) worked the first week for Patch but then after 1 week it wasn’t working…..Zantac (Ranitidine) was developed mid 90’s a bit better then the Pepcid, Patch was on the Zantac for a while while I tried different kibbles, but I wasn’t trying grain free kibbles cause the fat was over 12 % he didn’t get better, he was still grinding his teeth at night, uncomfortable changing beds thru the night, waking me up wanting grass…
If the Pepcid works but doesn’t work good enough, I would ask vet can you try 20mg Losec (Omeprazole) just give for 4 days then stop, give once a day in the morning, then see how he does, then when you see he’s getting uncomfortable again give a losec tablet with water, I push the tablet down throat back of tongue & I have a 20ml big syringe & fill with water & slowly squirt the water in side of Patches mouth so the Losec tablet goes down his throat, I even rub throat downwards to make sure pill isn’t sitting in his throat & goes into his stomach….Omeprazole (Losec) is a Pump Proton Inhibitor (PPI) once you take a PPI for more then 20 days you can not just stop taking it, it needs to be reduced slowly, PPI are the best for bad acid reflux especially as they get older…Patch is on 20mg Losec permanently, I found he did so much better when taking the Losec when I’d stop the Losec his acid just came back with in 2-3 days..
Blood test wont show up any health problems to do with the stomach & small bowel, but yes the liver, gallbladder & pancreas will show up thru blood test, the only way is to have a couple of Biopsies done of the stomach & small bowel it’s the only way by doing an Endoscope & Biopsies, I wish I did it first in the beginning, the money I wasted doing blood test, Ultra Scans, trying vet diets that made things worst cause most vet diet are high in carbohydrates & high in soluble fiber grains that makes the acid reflux worse…..
A cooked lean diet is the best this way you can control ingredients, carbs, fiber & fat etc… Finally after 2 yrs of trying every single kibble, I found TOTW Sierra Mountain Roasted Lamb, limited ingredients, I had never tried it cause the fat is 15% max, now I feed 5 smaller meals a day, 7am-breakfast 1/2 cup TOTW kibble then walk, then I give Patch his 20mg Losec around 8.30am then 9-9.30am another 1/2 cup TOTW, 12pm 1/3 cup TOTW, 5pm cooked lean pork rissoles + boiled Sweet potatoes or 1 heaped 1/2 cup TOTW Lamb Kibble & at 8pm 1/3 cup TOTW kibble, the fat in the TOTW is 15%max but the Kcals per cup are 338 very low & the Carbs are low at 38% Carbs the TOTW kibble & the 20mg Losec has stopped his acid reflux FINALLY…..
I just looked at the ingredients in the Fromm Weight Management formula, gee there’s too many ingredients, too many proteins & has fish oil, & fiber is 7% too high, you need to look for a grain free, limited ingredient, low fiber around 4-5%, & fat around 12-15% the lower the fat the higher the carbs, so you need to increase the fat a bit to reduce the carbohydrates, grains are soluble fibers, you need foods like sweet potatoes that are insoluble fibers, so the food isn’t sitting in the stomach fermenting, insoluble fiber passes thru the stomach quicker, where soluble fibers sit in the stomach longer, no good, Patch use to vomit the kibble back up all undigested when he was eating kibbles with grains….. The Wellness Core Reduce fat kibble is very high in fiber 8.5% that would have made his acid reflux worse…I wanted to try the wet tin Wellness Core but the fiber was too high. So I cook instead.
It’s taken me 3yrs to work it all out finally, if the Fromm kibble doesn’t really work, take it back for refund, just say he stopped eating it, the fish oil is probably giving him acid reflux, now he won’t eat it…… I can only feed kibbles with Canola Oil…..NO fish or Salmon oils they give you acid reflux, the fish oil repeats on you, you burp it back up… the Australian TOTW has no Salmon or fish oil but I think the TOTW made for America has Salmon Oil, I live Australia….
Patches acid reflux was good when eating the Holistic Select Salmon, Anchovy & Sardines grain free kibble, the fat is 13%, Kcals 341per/cup, carbs are only 28% so if you do have to take back the Fromm look for the Holistic Select Adult/Puppy Salmon Grain Free formula, if you email the kibble companies they email you the max fat, max fiber & carbohydrate % its very hard to find kibbles that are low in carbs, low Fiber, low Kcals per/cup & medium fat%..
I stay away from weight management kibbles the fiber is to high to keep the dog feeling fuller longer & they use soluble fibers that stay in stomach longer to feel fuller longer then the food starts fermenting in stomach, but weight management kibbles may work for your boy.. you wont know untill you try a few different kibble, how I knew was I’d feed a cooked meal with sweet potatoes, no rice no grains & Patch wouldn’t get his acid reflux then feed him a grain low fat kibble for dinner & he’d be grinding his teeth, the acid must come up throat into his mouth leaving an awful taste in mouth, In the beginning he had a real sore mouth & throat when the acid was real bad from the Helicobacter-Pylori infection, I wonder if your boy has the Helicobacter? now there’s a blood test for humans, I had to have the Endoscope + Biopsies 3 yrs ago for Patch but for myself I just had a blood test last year, I suffer with GORD’s real bad acid reflux, then I was put on a PPI, Somac it’s like Losec all my symptoms went away within 2-3 days + a diet change & eating smaller meals thru the day, if your on Face Book join this F/B group called “Canine Pancreatitis Support” look in the files & there’s a heap of low fat foods, a lot of dogs with Pancreatitis suffer with acid reflux as well..
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1435920120029740/
I just had a look, on f/b Pancreatitis group you might have been better buying 4Health Turkey & Potato formula instead of the fromm, it has less ingredients, no tomato pomace, no fish or salmon oils, no garbanzo beans, no chick peas or Lentils has only 8 ingredients, the less ingredients the better, less foods to cause acid reflux, the Kcals are 337 per cup, protein-24, fat-14%, Carbs-39% or there’s 4Health Mature 7+ the fat-10%, Protein-20% fiber 3% Kcals-320% per/cup but carbs are 49% & it has more ingredients then the 4Health Turkey & Potatoes..
Good luck, keep a diary, so you can look back what & when he ate ?? & what meds were given, keep us up to date what’s happening…

[Carolyn B]

That’s not good, Julie. I use wellbars and don’t have issues.

Also, wellness DID discontinue their pure rewards jerkies. I switched to The Real Meat Company 95% Venison Jerky Bitz Dog Treats. They have the same ingredients as the wellness venison jerky and look/feel very similar. Not sure where they source their venison but they claim free-range and grass fed.

[anonymous]

From a previous post:

Allergies can be broken down into inhalant, contact, or food allergy origins. Flea allergies, grass allergies, and environmental toxin induced allergies are the most common causes of skin conditions in Cairns. Allergies can be chronic or seasonal. They can be minor or severe in occurrence. They tend to become worse with age. Treatment is much better than in bygone days. Environmental controls, antihistamine treatment, and desensitization injections have made huge strides in the last few years”.
“Glucocorticoids should be used only as a last resort due to serious side effects. Diagnosis and treatment of chronic or severe cases by a Board Licensed Veterinary Dermatologist is recommended”.
(excerpt from:) http://cairnterrier.org/index.php/Static/health
This was copied from a site regarding Cairn Terriers, however, the information applies to all dogs (imo)

Example: Have you consulted a veterinary dermatologist? If the allergies are environmental, changing the diet will have very little to do with alleviating the symptoms.
Environmental allergies tend to wax and wane, without getting Intra dermal skin testing done by a specialist (veterinary dermatologist) it’s pretty much impossible to tell what the allergens are, what is working, or not.
And:
What you describe sounds like environmental allergies, food would have little impact, if any, on this condition.
I would continue to work with your veterinarian, however, for best results, I would go to a specialist, a veterinary dermatologist.

Example: /forums/topic/irritated-skin-food-allergy/
/forums/topic/dog-chewing-nails-till-they-bleed/
“Food allergies are rare. Food sensitivities tend to result in GI disturbances such as vomiting and diarrhea. Environmental allergies tend to show up as pruritus, ear infections and such”.
“You could try a limited ingredient grain free food. My dog does well on Nutrisca Salmon and Chickpea. Wipe down her feet with water and gently dry when she comes in from outdoors”.
“Bathe her using a gentle shampoo, I use Malaseb (see chewy dot com).
I tried all kinds of things times 1 year (including going back and forth to the veterinarian), but, did not get results till I took her to a dermatologist for testing. Allergen specific immunotherapy worked in her case”.
Unfortunately, steroids and such are often necessary (for brief periods) to stop the suffering and prevent infection.
Allergen specific immunotherapy is the most natural treatment.
Also, I have heard that some dogs do well on apoquel, you may want to consider talking to to your vet about that.

[Ceri W]

Hi! I have a 2.5 year old male hovawart, Cato. He has been having these episodes of manic/frantic gulping, licking on and off for about a year now. The really bad episides have so far always started late evening, and when really bad they continue throughout the whole night. He will also lick at the floor or eat grass or leaves if we let him out. The gulping means he takes in loads of air and I can hear his tummy gurgling, I try to burp him, and do my best to try to calm him down. It’s so distressing for him and us.

He seems to have the bad episides about every three to four months, but in between he has smaller episides throughout the day, but they seem more like exaggerated swallowing motions as opposed to the air gulping. Sometimes he coughs and “huffs” a bit too. He’s been on famotidine 20mg twice a day since October 2016, and we thought it was helping but then smaller episodes happen and we had a big all night one again last week, so not convinced on the acid reflux.

He’s had x rays and a manual exam of the throat and soft palate, that showed very angry red tonsils, but don’t know if they flare up and cause it, or the constant gulping over night causes the tonsils to get sore. Speaking to his vet again on Wednesday as she is away at the moment, but don’t know what to do. He’s on a good, low fat, average protein chicken and rice kibble with wet chicken and rice added, and the whole meal is wetted with turmeric “gravy”. Any thoughts, advice welcomed. It’s so confusing and worrying, especially with so many cases seemingly unsolved.

I should add that I’m in the UK.

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

[anonymous]

“Allergies can be broken down into inhalant, contact, or food allergy origins. Flea allergies, grass allergies, and environmental toxin induced allergies are the most common causes of skin conditions in Cairns. Allergies can be chronic or seasonal. They can be minor or severe in occurrence. They tend to become worse with age. Treatment is much better than in bygone days. Environmental controls, antihistamine treatment, and desensitization injections have made huge strides in the last few years”.
“Glucocorticoids should be used only as a last resort due to serious side effects. Diagnosis and treatment of chronic or severe cases by a Board Licensed Veterinary Dermatologist is recommended”.
(excerpt from:) http://cairnterrier.org/index.php/Static/health
This was copied from a site regarding Cairn Terriers, however, the information applies to all dogs (imo)
Also, you may want to use the search engine here to search “allergies”
Example: Have you consulted a veterinary dermatologist? If the allergies are environmental, changing the diet will have very little to do with alleviating the symptoms.
Environmental allergies tend to wax and wane, without getting Intra dermal skin testing done by a specialist (veterinary dermatologist) it’s pretty much impossible to tell what the allergens are, what is working, or not.

And:
What you describe sounds like environmental allergies, food would have little impact, if any, on this condition.
I would continue to work with your veterinarian, however, for best results, I would go to a specialist, a veterinary dermatologist.
Have you tried the search engine here? This subject comes up frequently.
Example: /forums/topic/irritated-skin-food-allergy/
/forums/topic/dog-chewing-nails-till-they-bleed/
“Food allergies are rare. Food sensitivities tend to result in GI disturbances such as vomiting and diarrhea. Environmental allergies tend to show up as pruritus, ear infections and such”.
“You could try a limited ingredient grain free food. My dog does well on Nutrisca Salmon and Chickpea. Wipe down her feet with water and gently dry when she comes in from outdoors”.
“Bathe her using a gentle shampoo, I use Malaseb (see chewy dot com).
I tried all kinds of things times 1 year (including going back and forth to the veterinarian), but, did not get results till I took her to a dermatologist for testing. Allergen specific immunotherapy worked in her case”.
Unfortunately, steroids and such are often necessary (for brief periods) to stop the suffering and prevent infection.
Allergen specific immunotherapy is the most natural treatment.
Also, I have heard that some dogs do well on apoquel, you may want to consider staying with that, talk to your vet.

[Susan]

Hi Matthew,
I have a 8yr old English Staffy with diagnosed IBD, thru Endoscope & biopsies, the vet said Colitis, food sensitivities, before we got biopsies done….. it can take from 1 day up to 6 weeks to show signs of food sensitivities…
Are you 100% sure she isn’t eating anything she shouldn’t be eating having free run of the house?? the only kibble that has been the best & worked for Patch & heaps of other dogs with IBS, EPI & IBD is “Taste Of The Wild” kibbles, I feed TOTW Sierra Mountain, Roasted Lamb or TOTW Pacific Stream, Smoked Salmon kibble, but Patch likes the Roasted Lamb the best….
I’d stop feeding the brand of kibble your feeding & stop feeding chicken… Limited ingredient kibbles are the best to feed less ingredients are best & add some cooked foods to her diet, foods high in omega 3 fatty acids for her brain, stiffness & joints BUT always feed the same cooked foods, I make pork rissoles & sweet potatoes & freeze them in sections & cook a batch once a fortnight & freeze….
What I have found with my very sensitive boy was some of these kibble companies DO NOT have good quality control or don’t use regular suppliers & just but the cheapest truck loads of potatoes, sweet potatoes & veggies etc, not wanting to pay more money for better quality ingredients….When I have feed Patch different brands of kibbles some that are 4-5 star kibbles Patch does really good when eating the smaller 2.5kg bag, then when I’ve bought the bigger 12kg bags or 6kg bags that were from a different batch, Patch wakes me up crying at my bedroom door, then runs to front door, poor thing, he needs to get outside ASAP always around 12pm or 2am or 4am then runs outside & all you can hear is loud noisey diarrhea & then he wants grass & wont stop eating it… when I emailed one kibble company, I said the last bag of kibble was lighter in colour he was fine, no diarrhea but this new bag kibbles are darker & the lady said oh it’s probably a new batch of kibble that’s why the kibbles colour varies, we don’t buy the same make of potatoes, sometimes we get rustic or white or brown potatoes, then I thought they probably buy cheap rotten green potatoes, the cheapest they can get & cause Patch has a very sensitive stomach & bowel he reacts, so then I tried TOTW & touch wood, Patch has been eating TOTW for over 1 yr now & Patch hasn’t woken me up thru the night, oh only after my grandson visits sometimes or I’ve tried a new kibble that doesn’t agree with him, I have had a few problems cause my grandson has given Patch whatever he’s eating & Patch has had diarrhea about 5 hours after my grandson has left, so I’ve made a new rule, no food around Patch no more & “no feeding the dog” like your girl, Patch takes Metronidazole for 10 days after he has diarrhea that doesn’t stop within 2 days, the vet has written out repeat scripts to keep at home so if it happens I just get the scripted filled at chemist….What I like about TOTW kibble the kibbles are ALWAYS the same colour I never open a bag & the kibbles are lighter or real dark & they use purified reverse osmosis water & I’d say after what has happened with the Diamond company they have really good quality control now & have really cleaned up their act…… here’s a video showing their food safety.

Food Safety

[Acroyali]

There are risks associated with anything you feed; feed soft pliable bones (no weight bearing bones) and feed size appropriate (a turkey neck for an aggressive large breed chewer can be a serious hazard.)

As far as meat (quality), I do feel there’s a difference between organic and non-organic. I also feel there’s a difference between organic and grass fed. However, feeding organic pastured meats can become very expensive; source human-grade, clean meat from reliable sources and you should be just fine.

I have a lot of respect for any vegetarian or vegan who realizes that feeding their diet to a carnivore is not the best idea. Kudos to you, and best of luck!

[Taylor R]

SEE LINK TO VIDEO

My 5 year old boxer has the same gulping condition, initially investigated as a gastric/acid reflux issue but after seeing a Neurologist in Sacramento at the VCA, and doing a lot of research, changing her food to no avail, we have diagnosed the issue as complex partial seizures.

By process of elimination we realized that POTASSIUM BROMIDE, a low-dose, low side effect anticonvulsant medication, entirely stopped these episodes. I caution that over time she steadily develops a tolerance to the med and we have to up the dose every four-six months or so. The neurologist said we may eventually move to stronger meds like phenobarbitol but it has been over 1 year and she is still on the potassium bromide. When she starts having minor episodes, as opposed to the hours long, all-night epidsodes she was having, we make another appointment and up the does by a couple ml. She is currently on 5 ml/daily of potassium bromide.

Video of Scarlet’s gulping episode:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2hsoApFbGwXbnh1cXUwZE5jRUE/view?usp=sharing

Website that originally helped me diagnose her, read all the updates: http://www.jasonbk.com/2014/02/hiness-gulping-a-cautionary-tale/

Hines is doing well preventing these episodes with a med call Zonisamide, which my neurologist said may be an option later but wanted to start with the mildest type of drug which is the potassium bromide.

Hope this helps, we were so heartbroken watching her have these episodes, she would lick the carpet incessantly then hack up hairballs, feverishly eat grass, and eat strings out of our shoe laces; this is a dog that is not destructive at any other time.

Go to a Neurologist or specialist to try the medication, it is inexpensive ($60 for a 2-3 month supply). We saw several general practice vets who were entirely unequipped to diagnose the condition, to be fair, the neurologist was a bit skeptical when I showed him my research as well because it is such a rare and uncommon type of seizure manifestation.

[Susan]

Hi Dee, its a really good thing your doing taking on an 2 elderly dogs & they are getting a 2nd chance in life…. You can cut up the chucks of meat in the chucky foods & put thru a blender maybe try & see if he’s OK on a thicker wet food, I found the thicker wet tins were better then the pate wet tin foods, stayed down better….
Just be careful with the fat %, 5%min fat in wet tin food or raw food when converted to dry matter(kibble) is around 20-25% fat, if it were a kibble…..
When I rescued my boy he was regurgitating raw, cooked & wet tin foods back up into his mouth, onto the floor or ground while walking or playing I had to keep him still for 20-30mins, this seem to happen more when the wet tin or raw was too grounded like a wet mince consistency, very sloppy & not chunky…. over the years Patch has gotten better & now can hold any wet tin or cooked food down, nothing comes back up no more & he was put on a acid reducer (Losec) to stop the acid reflux that comes with it, the vet seem to think he had Hernia the diaphragm where the food pipe joins the stomach flap wasn’t closing when it was suppose to close…lower fat diets with no grains, no rice, no oats, no barley etc, are best, add some boiled sweet potato or potato & pumkin added to the wet tin or cooked meals also helped the food stay down with Patch…..
I was soaking a kibble that was easy to digest “Taste Of The Wild” Sierra Mountain, Roasted Lamb in warm water, (Not boiling hot water), as soon as the kibble was soft all the way thru swollen (a good easy to digest kibble should only take about 20-40mins to become soft all the way thru) then you drain all water out of the kibble bowl, I was putting about 1/4 to 1/2 a cup of the soft wet kibble on the side of a bowl & cuffing my hand & squeezing out all the water from the kibble, then adding the squeezed kibble to the blender then I’d just squeezing another 1/4 to 1/2 cup wet kibble after squeezed adding to a blender & you just pulse blend for a few seconds & the kibble becomes real light & fluffy when kibble isn’t squeezed properly, it is like slop but that might work for your boy you’ll work it out, I was feeding about 1/2 a cup per meal, for a 40lb dog, your dog is bigger so he’d probably eat under 1 cup of the blended wet kibble per meal, I divided meals into 5 small meals a day, 7am, 9am, 12pm, 5pm & 8pm…..blending the wet drain kibble works out cheaper then buying the wet tin foods & his dad can eat the dry kibble or have some of the wet soaked drain kibble as well…
Taste Of The Wild has wet tin grain free food & the fat % starts at 3% fat which is 11% -13% fat when converted to dry matter, http://www.tasteofthewildpetfood.com/#our-brand
You can email the company & ask any questions you may have…..
Just don’t feed any wet tin food that is higher then 5%max in fat, it may be tooo much fat & may cause bad acid reflux…you’ll know when he starts eating grass or my boy grinds his teeth & swollows & swollows & licks his mouth when he has acid reflux…. I’d stick around 2-4%max fat in wet tin foods, if he’s on a vet diet like Hills wet tin food the Hills wet formulas have already been converted to dry matter, I think that’s what confuses people coming from a Hills vet diet…

[Kathy D]

I started my golden on Redford by mixing with her natural balance which she has been on since a pup. She is 7. She initially had diarrhea which cleared up. After a week I put her on just Redford. She now becomes nauseated every evening, smacking, drooling and eating grass. She has horrible gas and her poops are mushy. I’m thinking it is has to be the food. It has more protein compared to natural balance. Should I give her more time to adjust or go back to mixing and get her back on natural balance. This is very disappointing

[anonymous]

Please do not apply anything to the skin or give over the counter meds intended for humans or give supplements unless instructed to do so by a veterinarian that has examined the dog.
You could make things much worse and increase the risk of infection.

Hope this helps:
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.

Dermatology – Common Issues

[Susan W]

I had a seriously bad experience with 4Health – a BIG bad that was completely moldy. It was so disgusting that it stunk up my car for a week when I took it back to the store.
I went from feeding 4Health (couldn’t trust them anymore) to making my own food to feeding VeRUS. I found VeRUS on a BarkPost list of companies who’ve never had a recall. I contacted 6 companies on the list, 4 sent me coupons, 1 didn’t respond, 1 wrote back and asked if my dogs had any health issues that concerned me. THAT one was VeRUS. They answered questions for me and sent some really nice samples. I’ve been feeding VeRUs for more than 2 years now. No more homemade food. My dogs are healthy & energetic. My little picky eater doesn’t give me pained looks (Do I have to eat this?) and doesn’t eat grass after eating her VeRUS dinner.
They make puppy food. Do a search for them, and make contact. Free samples – no cost to you!

[bonnie d]

I tried it and it worked great – going to try the Acana Grasslands Regional. I tried the Orijen Regional Red and my lab’s ears turned bright red and he started chewing his feet again. I figured it was the beek since I read that beef can cause an allergic reaction in labs (Morgan, 2005). She advises beef, wheat, and corn which I deselected from your great list (I was already aware of the wheat and corn).

[Christine S]

but the VCA did not give me an order for prescription food, the tech just said to feed either of those two brands, and that homemade diets were bad. i thought this was a raw dog food forum? i don’t want to feed junk with questionable meat sources, or anything i wouldn’t eat myself. i am able to source local grass fed organic meats without additives or fillers and have worked with a raw food nutritionist in the past so feel confident the meals i make are nutritionally complete, but i was curious if someone could recommend something similar to a highly digestible prescription diet that doesn’t use crap meat in it.

[Cassie P]

Acroyali you are correct also, see the point I was trying to make above is we as pet owners need to find what works best for our own dogs. My experience was my dog started gulping and swallowing, she looked freaked out Wanted outside to swallow any leaves and grass she could find. I knew that meant her belly was upset and her instinct was to eat grass so she could vomit. I stayed up with her for hours all night with this happening. We were stationed in Virginia with no vet clinic for miles. I just had to pat her belly to help her pass gas and try to sooth her best I could. She went to the vet after the episode because it NEVER happens at the vet office anyways. She was perfectly healthy. I changed her food to dye free 4health and it lessened those episodes tremendously. But she still has her moments when it starts again I’d say maybe once every 3-4 months. Out of nowhere that swallowing gulping so I gave her half a tums 1/4th gas x (she’s 90lb lab) and within ten minutes she wasn’t freaked out anymore and started tooting. I never give her any Gasx/tums unless has these episodes so I know she has plenty of the good acids and gut bacteria. It’s what works best for my dog just like you both above have found what works best for your dogs. That’s what makes this thread so helpful to frantic pups and owners alike. We can share our experiences and be here for moral support. 🙂 and just maybe help a pup in the future. There’s no guidelines to follow at 2am when your dog wakes you up basically having a panic attack gulping air. It freaks us all out and we just want to help our babies. I’m not a RN or a doctor but I do love animals with all my heart, have rescued rehabbed and raised many dif species so I have a general understanding of what I need to do. So yall with that said, don’t give your dog a Tylenol(it’s toxic) but if your human best friend starts her period or has a headache give that girl a Tylenol without worrying about getting permission first lol!

• This reply was modified 8 years, 10 months ago by Cassie P.

[Acroyali]

Too much of a good thing (omega 3’s) can be bad. I would stick with fish oil, or small oily fish as you’re doing without worrying about getting too much into her system.

If you’re using capsules of oil, keep in mind oil can go rancid pretty quickly!

Is there a reason you’re feeding all, or mostly fish? If she can handle other types of meats, some grass fed beef would be great as the Omega 3 content blows the feedlot beef out of the water. Eggs, IME, are much loved and are a great skin and coat supporting addition. (A few of mine get them raw, others prefer them warmed in a skillet. They’re spoiled..!)

[Susan]

Hi Allie,
The stomach/bowel is the hardest to diagnose, bloods normally all come back good nothing wrong, X rays are a waste of money, I’ve done Ultra Scan same every thing looked great, I recommend having an Endoscope & Biopsies done, you will get some answers, make sure vet does about 2 small biopsies, cause when they looked down Patches esophagus into stomach everything looked great, I’m so glad we had the biopsies as well, 3 days later results said he has Helicobacter-Pylori & IBD, the Helicobacter makes you feel very sick & vomiting… I’ve had it 3 times when I was younger…
Is your boy on any ant-acid medications?? My boy was put on Losec-(Prolosec) & this has helped heaps & rotating between 2-3 kibbles this way he doesn’t start getting use to the same ingredients in his kibble, I rotate between a Fish kibble & a Lamb kibble both grain free then I feed a lower fat-8% grain kibble “Canidae” Platinum is also very easy to digest Patch eats the Canidae when I start to see he’s becoming unwell with his stomach pain, Kcals are 342Kcals Per cup.. fat-8% protein-20% carbs-49% carbs are a bit high but fat & protein is nice & low, so stomach, pancreas & liver doesn’t have to work hard…. you may find a low Kcal kibble with less carbs. the Platinum is like a vet diet but has better ingredients, Canidae use human grade ingredients.. http://www.canidae.com/dog-food/products
Have look at “Taste Of The Wild”, Sierra Mountain, Roasted Lamb the Kcals are 338 Kcals per cup, Protein-25%, fat-15%max, Carbs-38%, this was the only food Patch got better on & didn’t start vomiting, eating grass & do sloppy poos after eating it for 3-4 weeks, we tried a few of the Wellness formulas, he did well for the first 3-4 weeks then he was vomiting & doing yellow sloppy poos, the “Wellness Simple” Salmon & Potato the Kcals are too high at 446Kcals per cup, I have to stay under 370 Kcals per cup for Patch….Higher Kcal kibble are more dense, so more work on the stomach & pancreas..
To find the Kcals per cup look on the kibbles web page find the kibble you want & look under “Feeding Guidelines” it should be there, sometimes they don’t put the Kcals per CUP they put Kcals per kilo…
also are you feeding 3-4 smaller meals a day? this helps…

Wellpet make Wellness, Holistic Select & Eagle Pack, brands.
have a look the “Holistic Select” Adult/puppy Salmon, Anchovy & Sardines Grain Free, Kcals are 341 Kcals per cup.. Carbs 32%. or they have single novel protein formulas, Duck Meal & rice or Lamb Meal & rice….but I found the Salmon & Potato grain free to be the better one http://www.holisticselect.com/
After 4 years of trying most kibbles I now feed the “Taste Of The Wild” Sierra Mountain Roasted Lamb the “Holistic Select” Salmon, Anchovy & Sardines & the “Canidae Platinum” all in my cupboard in air tight containers, then the kibble bags are properly sealed & put in another plastic bag & big air tight container so they all stay fresh in a cool room… I also ask Patch some mornings which one (kibble) do you want to eat & let him smell the 2 different brand kibbles, he always picks his TOTW Roasted Lamb kibble, so that kibble mustn’t make his feel sick or give him his pain….
Maybe take back the bag of Wellness Simple bag, its a money back kibble, I always just say to the lady he won’t eat it, its easier that way then going into it’s making him vomit & do sloppy poos, when I did email Wellness the lady said it can take anywhere from 1 day to 6 week for food sensitivities to show symptoms but I think its something more with the Wellness cause Patch did the same on the Wellness Whitefish & Sweet Potato & the Wellness Senior….Yet he can eat the Holistic Select Salmon & Potatoes & is doing real well See if they have the TOTW Roasted Lamb or Holistic Select, Adult/Puppy, Salmon grain free there & swap over, the TOTW Sierra Mountain Roasted Lamb has limited ingredients & once you introduce 2 different kibbles you can feed 1 kibble for a few days then just go straight onto the other kibble once they have been introduced, rotating also makes his stomach stronger….4 years ago I could never just give a new kibble, it took me 3 weeks to introduce it, now I introduce the new kibble when I’m 1/2 way introducing & poos are firm then I just feed the new kibble but that has taken 3-4 yrs also a good dog probiotic Purina Fortiifloria is suppose to be very good, they tested 10 dog probiotics only 3 probiotics were good & had live cultures, the Purina’s Fortifloria was one of the good ones..

[Susan]

Hi Paul,
as we get older we don’t make as much hydrochloric acid to digest our food & its harder to digest food so the food sits in our stomach, Google “Hypochlorhydria” is low stomach acid
it may just be a coincidence the glucosamine has cause this, I prefer to give my 8yrs old Omega 3 supplements or feed foods high in omega 3 fatty acid for his joints, skin etc, I’ve been very lucky with Patch he doesn’t have any joint problems yet, he is walked 3 times a day cause I live in a unit & he’s kept lean…but my boy does have IBD mainly stomach problems & skin allergies & was vomiting undigested food a year ago, I had to make his gut strong & healthy. Dog probiotic like Purina Fortiflora is good, they tested 10 dog probiotics & found only 3 of them had live cultures & Purina Fortiflora was voted number 1, I give Yukalt it’s a probiotic drink in the fridge section at supermarket, I drink 1/2 & Patch gets the other 1/2 there’s 5 small pink drinks, he has stoped his vomiting & eating grass every morning, so the Yakult drinks have probably fixed his bacteria in his gut & bowel & made it healthy again..
https://www.chewy.com/purina-pro-plan-veterinary-diets/dp/50000
I feed lean white meats, I buy lean pork grounded mince 1kg (2lb), add 1 whisk egg, a few chopped up small broccoli heads broken off the broccoli, 1 teaspoon chopped up parsley, some kale chopped up just 1 leaf, or you can use 1 spinach leaf or another veggie, I was grating 1 small carrot, I suppose start with less is best then the next batch of rissoles add another finally chopped up veggie….. mix all together & make 1 cup size rissole, (it makes about 8-9 x 1 cup size rissoles) & bake in oven on a foiled covered baking tray, when they’re 1/2 cooked take out tray of rissole & drain any excess water & fat there’s normally hardly any fat, then turn over the rissoles & bake, don’t over cook the rissoles as soon as there’s no blood they’re ready, I also peel & cut up sweet potato & boil, I do not boil rice, rice ferments in the stomach, it’s no good, the new thing is to cook either potato or sweet potato…. Hamburger mince is very high in fat it’s not recommended anymore…. I also boil some pumkin & freeze you can also freeze the rissoles, I only add about 1/3 to 1/2 a cup of sweet potatoes or potatoes & a small piece of pumkin to 1 rissole, mix altogether & cut up rissole finally so it’s easier to digest…
Do not give a raw feed dog any dry kibble, kibble is harder to digest even when water is added, vet hasn’t prescribe any kibble, fed a wet tin food if vet advises a vet prescription diet…but a cooked diet is heaps better then any vet diets….cook foods that are easy to digest & white lean meats for now, beef is a stronger more rich meat like Kangaroo, I didn’t know this lol poor Patch he loved his beef & kangaroo rissole but his stomach didn’t it came back up undigested…
also cook some home made healthy doggy treat biscuits there’s a few recipes online… I have a few if needed.. he may need a 10 day course of Metronidazole it’s an antibiotic for stomach & bowel.. also feed 3-4 smaller meals a day.

[Susan]

Hi, stop feeding the Pedigree, it sounds like its up setting his stomach & he’s reacting badly to ingredients, having bad skin & his stomach problems, he cant eat it.. He probably has food sensitivities they have stomach/bowel problems & their skin itches, smells yeasty, red paws, itchy ears, some will rub bum on carpet, floor & grass… My boy has IBD (stomach) & food sensitivities & skin Allergies, look at foods that have limited ingredients & NO LENTILS OR CHICKPEAS these are harder to digest… Can you cook a lean meal boiled potatoes & a lean white meat or afford wet tin food or a raw diet?? When I rescued my boy I think he wasn’t feed kibble & was feed either a cooked diet, wet tin food or a raw diet, cause he would just look at the bowl of kibble & wouldn’t eat it, he preferred the wet & cooked food, then my nightmare began with his IBD (food sensitivities), vomiting, acid reflux, sloppy poos, up early hours of the morning with his bowel making loud noises, itchy skin, rubbing bum on my carpet, red paws that he licked & licked…all this just cause he was sensitive to something he was eating, I couldn’t believe it, I have never owned a dog like this all my pets could eat anything & were feed Pedigree & Purina until I learnt they’re are awful foods with bad ingredients….The Vet put him on Royal Canine Hypoallergenic HP till I worked out what I was going to do, the Royal Canine helped his skin stop itching but not his sloppy poo & vet gave me “Malaseb” medicated shampoo said to bath daily if needed or do the weekly baths…..you might need something stronger then the oatmeal shampoo your using & do weekly baths. Look for shampoos that are Anti Fungal shampoos like the Malaseb medicated shampoo, I’m pretty sure I read that Walmart sells a Anti-Fungal shampoo that’s like Malaseb…. Can you afford to feed a lean raw balanced diet or feed raw for breakfast & a kibble with limited ingredients for dinner? A Balanced Raw Diet is the best to feed a dog with food & skin sensitivities..
Finally I found *”Taste Of The Wild” Sierra Mountain Roasted Lamb, 30lb bag for $49 thru Chewy, it worked the best for my boy, it’s Lamb, sweet potatoes & peas & it has limited ingredients..
* “Sportmix Wholesome” Grain free or grain a 40lb bag $$29-$34
*”California Natural” Lamb Meal & Rice it has just 3 ingredients.
*”Pro Pac Ultimates” there’s their grain free or grain a 28lb bag is around $29-$35
*”Holistic Select” Adult/Puppy Salmon, Anchovy & Sardines Grain Free it’s Fish & Potato $54 & its for Digestive health & their skin as well, Holistic Select is high in Omega 3 fatty acids what’s needed for the skin..
Look for kibbles with Lamb & Rice or Fish & rice, or Lamb & Sweet Potatoes or Fish & Sweet Potato NO chicken for now till you work out what he can eat, theres also
*”Canidae” Pure Formulas that’s are limited ingredient the Pure Sea or Pure Wild or look at the Canidae Life Stages formulas the All Life Stages has their 44lb bag for $54….
make sure you read ingredient list, most kibbles are money back guaranteed that’s why I like going to Pet Shops so I can take back the kibble & I say he wont eat it, when I say he scratches or vomits it becomes too complicated. Holistic Select covers every health problem & refunds money but it depends on the Pet Shop, so I always send the kibble company an email telling them what’s happening with my boy & is your kibble refundable then when I go to the Pet Shop or online Pet Shop & I show them the email or say they said it’s money back, I’ve tried nilly every kibble in Australia & taken back so many kibbles…
Look at the Fat% look for around 10-15% max in fat & 24% to 29% Protein he probably wont do well on a high fat over 15% & a high protein diets over 30%….. then later after he’s doing good look for another kibble & rotate between them..

[Christi B]

Recently my pack of two Corgis, mixed breed and JRT all became sick at the same time. I noticed my JRT had stopped wanting to eat and observed some other behaviors which I now know were signs of upset stomach (grass eating, gas) we had been feeding Acana but when production was being moved from Canada to U.S. I decided to change. Because my JRT has been allergy tested I went with Petcurean Go! Sensitivity & Shine Duck formula, at first everything went fine with the transition but I noticed a foul odor from the food for the past several weeks (my husband thought maybe that was duck because we are unfamiliar with it) but then a couple of weeks ago my mixed breed vomited blood and then the others started to vomit too. All of our dogs immediately saw our vets and we did blood, X-rays and other tests which all came back normal. I’m convinced it was the food and either something was off with the ingrients or it had gone bad by way of retailer storage. We order from Chewy.com and they refunded our purchase and once again I did some research and have switched to Open Farm Turkey/Chicken because of wanting more certainty of content but I’m not sure I have found the best thing for my dogs and it’s very important to me that I do. Can anyone suggest a top quality limited ingredient food with known sources of content? I feel desperate to keep my dogs well.

[Susan W]

While you’re looking around, look at the VeRUS Pet Food website. There is a lot of information there and if you have specific questions, you can contact them & they’ll actually answer you. Actually, the VP will likely be the one who answers & she’s really smart.
I got started feeding VeRUS because I needed a good dog food that had never had a recall. VeRUS has been making/selling food for almost 30 years & they’ve never had a recall. NO RECALLS! They have several formulas/flavors for both puppy and adult dogs.
I have 2 dogs – one is a healthy, happy, sensitive tummy mutt. I started feeding VeRUS a little over a year ago & neither of my dogs eat grass anymore (unless they eat something gross that isn’t dog food). Little miss sensitive tummy has no trouble with this food. It has also helped her to stop being so itchy.
I could (and have, on other posts) go on & on about all the things I love about this dog food but I won’t. I WILL tell you that VeRUS will send you free samples of their food – whichever they think will work best for your dog – instead of sending coupons. I really appreciated that they went to that effort.

[Kathy]

My german shepherd has thrived on Acana Regionals (Grasslands and Wild Prairie) and Orijen dry foods until they changed to their Kentucky plant. She got really sick on the Meadowlands, which has replaced Wild Prairie. Compared to the Wild Prairie it smelled rancid. I am so mad that they moved their plant and changed what food they source. So now I’m trying to find a new grain free food that is similar to Acana/Orijen. I tried Fromms game bird dry formula but she seems to get itchy on it. If you recently and successfully changed from Acana or Orijen to something else, what food are you feeding? My local pet store gave me samples of First Mate’s specialty dry foods (chicken meal with blueberries and australian lamb meal), Zignature lamb, Zignature duck, Kasiks free run chicken meal formula as well as their lamb formula, and Carna4 green free duck and also their chicken. I’ve also considered trying the Kirkland brand (Costco-Diamond) as I’ve had some friends have good luck with it. I am aware they had a recall back in 2012. Most importantly I’m trying to find a high quality food for a sensitive eater with sufficient protein for a working dog (she’s my guide dog). Thanks for the feedback!

[anonymous]

Take her to the vet. If the symptoms go on for 4seasons/1year without significant response to treatment from the veterinarian, see a veterinary dermatologist.
In fact, if it was my dog I would go directly to the dermatologist for testing and diagnosis.
Did you check the search engine here? This subject comes up at least once or twice a week.
BTW: I would not bother with hair and saliva tests, they are not diagnostic tools.
For science based veterinary medicine go here: http://skeptvet.com/Blog/

Hope this helps:
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.

Dermatology – Common Issues

[Susan]

Hi I don’t know why your vet only put your poor dog on the Metronidazole antibiotic for 7 days?? they need to be on the Metronidazole for a good 21-28 days especially for S.I.B.O Small Intestine Bacteria Overgrowth.
My boy Patch is also a rescue he just turned 8yrs old, he has IBD, Helicobacter pylori, nausea, vomiting sometimes, acid reflux, seasonal environment skin allergies, red itchy paws, itchy ears, food sensitivities, eating grass, yellow sloppy poos that smell bad, pain in stomach/pancreas area….. the best thing I did was have an Endoscope + biopsies done (camera down throat to stomach) sometimes they can go into the small bowel as well & do a biopsies but only if their pyloric sphincter is open, Patches wasn’t open but the 2 Biopsies told us what was wrong finally Helicobacter Pylori & IBD, when the vet looked into Patches stomach everything looked excellent, so you need to do the biopsies…
Patch starts reacting after eating the same kibble for 2-3 months, sloppy yellow poos, gets his pain, it can take from 1 day to 6 weeks to show food sensitivities, after trying so many kibbles, the only kibble that he hasn’t reacted too after being on it for 8 months is “Taste Of The Wild” Sierra Mountain Roasted Lamb. I don’t know if is cause TOTW uses Purified Water, or all the ingredients he isn’t sensitive to any of them & TOTW don’t change their suppliers?? some kibble companies buy their potatoes from whoever, that’s been a problem in the past for Patch, he was eating Earthborn Holistic, Ocean Fusion he was doing really well while on the small 2.5kg bags, so I bought the 13kg bag it’s cheaper, it was a new batch number & different use by date then Patch was farting doing sloppy smelly poos again, so I emailed earthborn told them what has happened & the lady said we use, rustic, white, red, brown potatoes whatever we can get & I think when the potatoes are green & rotten batches Patch gets his sloppy poos & bad gas problems …
Taste of the Wild has been the only kibble a few dogs with IBD, EPI, S.B.I.O & IBS don’t react too after eating it for a while…
Your best to feed a cooked balanced diet, instead of any processed kibbles, you know what they’re eating, join groups on Face Book like “Rodney Habib” “Canine Nutrition & Natural Health” run by Cat Lane, “K-9 Kitchen” run by Monica Segal, you can also book an appointment with Monica or Cat Lane or another dog nutritionist, they may be cheaper there’s also Judy Morgan DV, she also has the supplements to balance the meals & Judy has cooking videos on You Tube that are so easy to follow & she adds the Honest Kitchen Base meals & you just cooked & add the meat & veggies but I think the Honest Kitchen is dehydrated & Patch can’t seem to handle dehydrated kibbles foods…
I live Australia & I contacted Jacqueline Rudan to put Patch on a raw diet about 2 yrs ago, Jacqueline said I need to heal his stomach & bowel & balance his gut flora his pH is probably tooo high…so I give him some of my Yakult, it’s a pink probiotic drink sold in supermarkets, there’s also Kefir but start real slow when introducing any probiotics, some probiotics made Patch very nausea, Jacqueline wanted me to keep giving Patch the probiotic capsules but they made Patch ill so I stopped & now I give the Yakult drink & he does good I don’t give him much maybe 3 spoons in a bowl..
Cause they are rescue dogs we don’t know what has happen when they were pups & growing up, did they drink dirty contaminated water? were they starved & not feed proper diets, what 1 vet thinks has happened with Patch & when he came to me & I started to feed him a healthy cooked diet he couldn’t handle eating good healthy foods, I’ve had him 4 yrs now & finally in small amounts, I can give him anything to eat as long as I’ve introduced that food to him & it’s not high in fat, where before he’d wake up 2am 3am or 4am with his bowel making loud rumbling noises, it was gas/wind going thru his bowel, 1 vet said Colitis, Food Sensitivities, so I started an elimination cooked diet & worked out what he cant eat, also feed foods that are high in Omega 3 fatty acids, the omega 3 helps their skin, coat, stomach, bowel, heart, joints & brain, Patch doesn’t do well eating a kibble with fish or salmon oils, he gets acid reflux, so I feed other foods high in Omega 3 like raw almonds, 3 raw almonds a day given as a treat & I have a few almonds myself, you should see his coat it’s so shinny, just feeding foods high in omega 3, tin sardines in spring water are excellent but you must start real slow, feed 1 spoon mashed sardines for 1-2 weeks watch poos if still firm then then increase to 2 spoons of sardines a day, I feed salmon or tuna instead it’s not as greasy…
My recipe I make for Patch, Rissoles + Sweet Potato, it’s so easy & you do not have to cook every day, I cook every 8 days but if I made more it would be every 16 days..
I buy Lean Pork mince or the Lean beef mince, it say 5% fat on the packet, I think in America you call it grounded meat, make sure the mince is lean, some minces have a lot of fat, Patch can’t eat turkey, he gets diarrhea also boiled rice irritates his bowel, something that took me 2 months to realise it’s the boiled rice…
I get 2 x 500gram packets lean pork that’s 1 kilo, I think just over 2 pounds, I whisk 1 egg in the bowl, I buy a small broccoli head, Patches Nutritionist said feed green veggies when it’s their skin, stomach & bowel, food sensitivities, I cut up say 1/3 cup chopped broccoli, then I grow parsley & kale & spinach, it grows forever in the veggies Patch, I finally cut up about 1 teaspoon parsley add too bowl, then I add some cut up spinach & cut up kale but only 1 small leaf, then I add the pork mince & mix all thru, I was adding 1 small grated carrot but Patch has food sensitivities & gets red paws, itchy skin & ears, then he starts to smell real yeasty, “Malaseb Medicated Shampoo” bathed weekly is the best when they have itchy paws & skin, so I’ve stopped adding the carrot to his rissoles…
I had too slowly add all these ingredients, at first it was just 1 kg pork mince with a little bit of cut up broccoli, then when I made a new batch of rissoles, I added 1 whisked egg saw how he went, if all was good I added 1 new green cut up veggie & the veggies seem to heal his stomach & bowel, you have to be careful, certain veggies ferment in the stomach so stay away from foods that ferment cause they sit in the stomach & cause gasses…. just Google “what veggies ferment in the stomach” & what veggies, grains don’t digest easy” lentils, chick peas don’t digest easy… you mix all the finally cut up greens with mince & make 1 cup size rissoles, I have scales & weight at 130-136 grams & I make the rissoles the length of my middle finger & flatten them a bit they look like a small sausage then I put on baking tray that has foil on the baking tray, I get around 8 rissoles from 1 kg mince, I bake in oven then about 15-20mins I take out baking tray drain any water/fat & turn over the rissoles & bake till cooked they don’t take long maybe 30mins don’t over cook or you’ll have a leathery rissole, I also boil sweet potatoes & I cool & freeze, same with the rissoles cool & wrap in cling wrap individually, I take out a cut piece of sweet potato & 1 rissole put on a small plate cover with cling wrap & thaw then put in fridge then for dinner I cut up the rissole & mash the sweet potato, for breakfast & lunch Patch has his “Taste Of The Wild” Sierra Mountain Roasted Lamb Kibble, I’m slowly introducing the “Holistic Select” Adult/Puppy Salmon, Anchovy & Sardines grain free kibble so I have another kibble just in case + I rotate his kibble now we just finished trying “Canidae” Life Stages Platinum kibble, too many ingredients & the carbs are too high at 50% in the Canidae Platinum & his poos started to go sloppy & smell again, so now introducing the “Holistic Select so far all is good poos are still firm they don’t smell but its mixed with his TOTW kibble but he’s not farting like he does when I’ve introduced a new kibble that doesn’t agree with him, so hopefully the Holistic Select will be fed in the Summer months, I like to fed a fish kibble in the Summer months for his skin allergies & in the Winter months I feed a lamb kibble “Taste Of The Wild” + his rissoles & raw almonds & I forgot I also feed peeled apple pieces as treat, K-9 Natural Green Lipped Mussels, tuna or salmon with boiled potato rissoles….
You need to make his gut strong again, if he has a set back give the Metronidazole, I have scripts the vet gives me & I just go & get from the chemist, Patch goes back on the Metronidazole for 10days 1 x tablet 200mg at night with a meal, but your dog may need a 21 day course Metro to start with to rest & heal his bowel & a diet that’s very easy to digest & the omega 3…
Good luck, I hope something in this small book, helps

[Susan]

Hi Jodie, my boy has IBD & he gets the Helicobacter Pylori, your dog should of been on Metronidazole (Antibiotic for the stomach & bowel) for at least 21 days, I ended up having Patches vet do an Endoscope & biopsies of Patches stomach, sometimes if the Pyloric sphincter is open, they can get the camera thru & do biopsies of the small bowel as well…by having biopsies you get some answers, instead of the vets guessing & just prescribing drugs & seeing if the drug works, the vet needs to find out what is causing the problems in stead of giving steroids, steroids are just a band aid as soon as you wean them off the steroid the dogs problems come back 🙁
For 2 yrs we were going around in circle, ate something off, colitis, food sensitivities, allergies, bacteria over growth, finally it’s taken 4yrs & we worked out what foods he cant eat, what oils he cant have in a kibble, fiber % must be low 3-4%, food/kibble can’t be too high in fat & protein & crappy vet diets make Patch worse, give him bad acid reflux & eating grass, Hills use Soybean oil, gluten corn meal & chicken & beet pulp, Royal Canin use Fish Oil & beet pulp… Finally I joined a EPI F/B group & everyones dogs are doing really well eating “Taste Of The Wild” Pacific Stream smoked Salmon or the Sierra Mountain Roasted Lamb, first I tried the Pacific Stream Smoked Salmon but Patch started eating grass again I think it’s something to do with too much fish with him, then I tried TOTW Sierra Mountain Roasted Lamb & he does his firmest poos, no acid reflux, no gas/wind, no vomiting & he cant stay on the TOTW Sierra Mountain for months where other kibbles he starts reacting to the kibble after 2-3 months, I also feed 1 meal that’s cooked Lean Pork mince made into rissoles with cut up broccoli, parsley, Kale, 1 whisked egg, sometimes a small crated carrot then make into 1 cup size rissoles & baked in the oven, cool then put in freezer in sections, I also boil sweet potatoes & freeze pieces size of 1/4 cup & mix 1 rissole with 1/4 sweet potato for dinner….Patches vet gives me script for Metronidazole X 200mg tablets I can just get from the chemist, so if Patch starts doing sloppy yellow poos, or gets diarrhea & it doesn’t stop, I put him back on the Metronidazole for 10 days but to kill the stomach bacteria (Helicobacter) I have to put Patch on the Metronidazole for 21 days 2x 200mg every 12 hours with a meal + 20mg-Losec to stop the acid reflux……
If you have the money get a Vet specialist that does the Endoscope & make sure you have the biopsies done, you only need about 2 biopsies, when vet looked down into Patches stomach every thing looked excellent but the biopsies told a different story, also don’t feed kibbles that are high in fiber that’s why a lot of dogs do well on the TOTW when they have EPI, IBS & IBD cause the fiber is low in the TOTW kibbles..
Elimination diet is the best way to find out what foods are irritating the stomach & bowel & causing her colitis…. another good kibble vets use & a lot of people with dogs with IBD “California Natural” Lamb & Rice, it has just 3 ingredients, Lamb, Rice & Sunflower oil, give the California Natural a go, there’s also their Chicken & Rice but a some dogs don’t do well on chicken.. http://www.californianaturalpet.com/products

[Jodie S]

I have a 4.5 year old Lab Leonberger mix, about 80 lbs. She has recently had issues that the vet feels is related to food allergies. It started back in October with issues “pooping” vet ran test said high levels of bacteria in stool. Put her on antibiotic for 7 days. Seemed to improve but then started back up. She was eating grass due to upset stomach, got plugged up and had to have enema. Back on antibiotics for 7 more days, vet felt she had colitis, x-ray showed inflamed colon. On anti-biotics and steroids and a special prescription diet (Royal Canin/Duck & Potato) canned for a few days and vet recommended using that full-time and try a food elimination diet. I love my dog, she was a gift from my kids for mothers day but a 20 lbs bag of that brand of dog food is $90.00+, which I cannot afford. She goes though about 20 lbs every 3 weeks, 5.5 cups a day. I’m looking for other suggestions. I’ve tried Natural Balance Duck & Potato which she loves but it seems she is starting with “pooping” issues again.
Any suggestions? I’ve been told to see a different vet and get 2nd opinion.

[anonymous]

What do you mean by allergy shots?
My dog receives allergen-specific immunotherapy with good results. She never had any blood test for food sensitivities/allergies as her dermatologist did not think it was indicated.

Hope this helps:
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.

Dermatology – Common Issues

• This reply was modified 9 years ago by anonymous.

[anonymous]

My dog has environmental allergies and receives allergen specific immunotherapy with good results. She sees a veterinary dermatologist once a year.
Also, you can use the search engine here to look up “allergies”

Hope this helps:
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.

Dermatology – Common Issues

[anonymous]

I would make an appointment with a veterinary dermatologist asap. My dog has environmental allergies and receives allergen specific immunotherapy with good results.

Hope this helps:
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.

Dermatology – Common Issues

[T S]

I have a 7 month old Irish Soft coat Wheaten. Brought him home July 22 – stunk to high heaven, but oh well – he’s cute. I’ve always thought he has a worse than normal dog odor. I don’t normally mind dog smell, I get that they’re not humans. But Oscar Stinks! I noticed his first yeast infection in Sept (ear). It dawned on me then, that his front paws are all pink/rusty from yeast as well. Vet doesn’t seem too concerned, but I am. He said try to change food – so I did.
IAMS puppy was what we were sent home with. Slowly changed him to Simply Nourish – chicken. Then, I changed him to Acana Grasslands mixed with Simply Nourish LID lamb because so many people told me to stay away from chicken. He has been on this only a short while (Nov 2nd). In the meantime – once a week baths with TeaTree oil shampoo and vinegar rinses. I dry his feet when he comes in the house. Seems to help.
Still has yeasty paws and another yeast infection in his ear. (noticed yesterday) Also, the groomer said his coat isn’t as full as it should be. She does think that he is going through “greasy teen” change right now, but that his coat should be more thick and healthy.
He licks his paws and groin area often. Doesn’t really bite much, just licking.
I feel comfortable with the food he is on now. What is my next step? My husband thinks I have an over-reactive nose and that he smells fine…..
At what point is seeking a diagnosis necessary – I don’t want to wait until it’s “too late”. I am not sure what to consider as far as why he gets these yeasty flare ups, so I am not sure what to ask the vet.
Thanks from a first-time-dog-owner.

Oh…also – can the yeast live long on his brushes? I groom him often – how do I clean his brush/comb?

[anonymous]

Hope this helps:
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.

Dermatology – Common Issues

[K C]

The 5 day your vet gave you does not work as well for dogs. Either ask for panacur c for dogs , or go to walmart and buy your own probably much cheaper. Give the first round for 3 days and the 2nd round 10 days later ( the day count begins after the last most recent dose) so buy 2 packages. There are different dosage packages based on weight.The weight scale for dosage is on the back, and so are the directions.
I was in you shoes for nearly 10 months until I called the manufacturer and got the real info. Panacur c is made for a canines stomach, the regular panacur doesn’t work as well in their system..i tossed so many rugs, replace floors, bleached I side outside ,killed my grass. I wanted to choke my Vet.
I took the manufacturer so advice and after 3 rounds she was able to get rid of it.
Best of luck!
Tip , cover the pups bedding in white towels so they can be bleached. Put all toys in the dishwasher and wash cloth toys in Hot water and dry anything cloth on high heat for at least 40 minutes. Don’t forget the sun is a natural bleach but takes longer.yes you have to do this everyday.

[anonymous]

Food allergies are rare. Food sensitivities usually result in GI disturbances such as vomiting and diarrhea. Environmental allergies usually result in pruritus (itching).

I would go by the recommendations of the veterinarian that examined the dog. Prednisone and such are necessary for short periods to stop the suffering and prevent skin infections. Make an appointment with a board certified veterinary dermatologist asap.
Avoidance doesn’t work, many allergens are air-borne and present all year round indoors and outdoors.
Don’t be fooled by mail-in saliva and hair tests to identify food sensitivities. They tend to be scams and are not diagnostic tools.
You can try frequent bathing with a shampoo such as Malaseb it may help a little but it works best in conjunction with other treatments prescribed by the dermatologist.
Air purifiers and dehumidifiers didn’t do anything to help my dog, gave that stuff to the Goodwill. Homeopathic remedies were a waste of money in my experience.
Have you tried the search engine here for “allergies”, this subject comes up at least once a week.

Hope this helps:

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.

Dermatology – Common Issues