[haleycookie]

It’s unlikely your pup will be large breed. Try to stick with meat based foods, some of my favorites are, merrick back country, canidae ancestral, orijen, instinct raw boost, and essence dog food. All of these foods are going to be made up of mostly meat. They all (to my knowledge) employ vet nutritionalist to formulate their foods as well.
I’d also recommend adding canned foods, dehydrated raw, frozen raw, and other topper type foods.
Fresh pet is actually pretty good quality. It is much more fresh and meat based than kibbled foods. Kibble should ideally be a base and other types of less processed foods should make up the rest.
Nature’s variety makes quality canned foods, frozen raw, and freeze dried toppers in a multitude of flavors, I would check those out, merrick has a wide variety of canned options for picky dogs. Tiki dog food also have very popular canned foods for picky dogs. Also the brand weruva has great canned foods too. You can add bone broths as well. Solid gold has a variety of those as well as other brands, you can also just boiling chicken (or bones) and use the broth off that. Cooked egg, plain kefir, and raw goats milk are nutritionally dense as well.
Consider rotational feeding, this helps prevent allergies, pickiness in dogs, and it also helps in case the food u feed is recalled or discontinued. Rotational feeding just helps expand their diet and if u ever have to change for an emergency you will be prepared to do so. If u do decide to try rotational feeding try to start slow. Get the pup on one food for awhile then slowly switch over the course of a couple weeks. Eventually u will have no issues switching with no transitional period at all.

[anonymous]

@ Mary Lynn L

Just go with the prescription food that I assume your vet recommended. It’s hydrolyzed, therefore the ingredients don’t matter as your dog will not react to them.

Don’t know what you mean by “allergy shots” but that sounds like treatment for environmental allergies.
I would have a serious talk with your vet. Does your dog have food sensitivities? Food allergies? Environmental allergies?
A combination of two or all three or just one?

Also, have you considered consulting a veterinary dermatologist? They treat allergies and are the best regarding testing/diagnostics and what would be best for your specific dog.

[Patricia G]

My 11 year old small breed mix also has been itching and biting a lot recently. No change in his food or treats! Took him to the vet , no arthritis, said it was probably allergies. He has also gotten his eye stains back, which he hasn’t had for years. He is on “GO Food”. Not sure what to do, any suggestions? HELP

[KENNETH O]

Joanne, I’m reserving those techniques for the future if I still cannot get him to eat as I transition to the next food. I agree in that I believe the food is the root of most of his problems. Boston terriers have a history of excessive allergies, so I’m sticking with limited ingredient. My other boston is incredibly healthy on Acana, and I’m slowly moving into feeding him that. He seems to like it more at least. I chose Nulo due to it having a senior blend.

He is on bravecto now and flea free, and the vets all were quick to brush off all my concerns. Unfortunately, I am having a hard time trusting any available vets any longer. I’ve always had good ones before, but in my current location they dont seem to care.

[Gretchen B]

It does seem like you have given it some time for his skin to heal, but I know that once they get an allergic reaction and it affects their skin, depending on how bad it got, it can take time to heal. With that being said, if it doesn’t heal you may have to put him on apoquel, which you will have to get from the vet. That helps tremendously with skin conditions and allergies. Maybe try sprinkling something on his food. Like, some freeze-dried raw food (primal, Stella & Chewy) or Etta Says Liver Sprinkles, this will entice him to eat his food. The liver sprinkles are a miracle. I would still have his thyroid checked and his blood sugar level for the excessive drinking. I hope I was a little bit of help. Update when he gets back to his old self. Best of luck.

[KENNETH O]

I’m here as I’m having a lot of trouble finding solutions to many problems I’m having with a recently acquired dog. I have went to 3 different vets, spent countless hours researching online and tried several different strategies and continue having trouble.

Short backstory on the dog.. He is an 11 or 12 year old boston terrier who I gave to my father before I left for the Army. My father recently passed away and I was the only one willing or able to take him in. When I first saw him again in a long time, two months ago, he was in very bad shape. He was completely covered in hundreds of fleas, due to my father being unable to take care of him during his struggle with cancer in his final week or two. His skin was in bad shape and he was missing a lot of hair. He has, for at least several years, had an unusually bad time with allergies, inability to drink normal amounts of water without regurgitating it short after, and refuses to eat on a schedule. My 3 areas where I’m in need of help are those. I hope I’m not writing too much, but I want to be thorough, and it seems like most responses in here are very thought out and helpful in return.

I know he has always had trouble keeping water down, but I don’t know why. We have it counted out to literally 30 licks of water about every 1-3 hours without him throwing up. However, he is extremely driven to continue drinking. He will literally drink a gallon of water if its sitting in front if him, throw up, and still want more. I’ve tried using a rabbit bottle that he very slowly can drink from, but he will stand there for 30 minutes until he has drank too much. It’s usually just a clear or foamy liquid that comes up, which from what I gather online is “regurgitating” not “vomit.” It may be an esophagus problem, but the vets have offered me nothing other than “dont let him drink too much,” which feels like a copout answer. I’ve recently changed his diet to a limited ingredient, grain free diet (Nulo Senior) in Hope’s that his whole health would be better. Not sure if that could help at all.

His diet with my father was terrible. My dad would buy cheap dog food and mix it with some other cheap bag of treats and he would only pick the treats out and leave the rest, with the bowl left out all day. I’ve never seen him eat a whole bowl before. I’m trying to avoid doing wet food, due to his teeth not being great, however I spent the first month primarily putting water in his food to moisten it and motivate him to eat a whole serving since he really just wants the small amount if water. Since removing the water, he turns his nose up to the food usually once out of the two times hes fed daily. We tried picking up the bowl and just waiting until the next meal, which he will usually eat, but it isnt fixing the problem of not eating enough. Has clearly losing weight quickly as he went from 23-24 pounds a few months ago to about 20 pounds today. My only ideas now are to simply try a different food in Hope’s he likes it more, but I dont think he will.

His skin is continuing to be an issue, although it is significantly better than before. My father was having him get steroid shots roughly every month for years, which I think was just a bandaid for the awful food he ate. I’ve included coconut oil n most of his meals for about 2 months which may or may not be helping, but he doesn’t mind it usually. I’ve also put a lot (probably too much) coconut oil on his skin and recently reduced that to once a week. He constantly is gnawing at his paws and scratching. Again, hes visibly improved, which i think is do to the food change, but he clearly has serious allergy issues or something.

I’ve always been told to go the vet for these answers, but literally all of them seem to think my concerns are silly. I’m just looking for any help I can get to make his life better. Thanks!

[Susan B]

I would like to comment on your scare article, listing the FDA’s DCM dog food advisory list. We take issue with their conclusions for a variety of reasons, some of which were mentioned in your article, such as the role that breed and food brand popularity play in influencing the suggested food correlations in their study. A more obvious, underlying question would be, what does the govt have to gain by suggesting that grains be consumed? The implications on the economy of mass US production farming immediately come to mind. We, for one, owning a small farm and having raised dogs and owning multiple breeds for decades, have been feeding Taste of the Wild exclusively for years. Our bench lab, golden doodles, golden retriever, cockapoo, French bulldog, Welsh Corgi and Brussels Griffon have all exhibited perfect health for their entire lifetimes, fed only on various flavors of grain free Taste of the Wild. We have only ever had two health issues with any of our dogs: the Corgi developed onset of kidney disease in old age, likely genetic related, and our Golden Retriever suffered from horrid allergies of the skin up until switching him to grain free. Shame on anyone for down rating Taste of the Wild. Testimonies such as ours should hold much more credibility than any poorly executed, suspect FDA report.
Please pass this on to whomever is in charge of content and editing.
Sincerely,
The Baker family
Michigan

[BROCK B]

Be sure to ask the vet about metsesophagus. Dogs should not throw up for that long a period of time. Food allergies cause more of a diarrhea effect with significant weight loss. Ive been blessed with dogs with both conditions. Its a struggle but manageable.

[Shirley N]

I also wish I’d researched and found this site. Just ordered one bag of Dr.Marty’s pricey food, thinking I will just combine it with what I’m feeding my 55 lb rescue mixed breed. She is constantly scratching her skin and it’s not Flea/Tick because she’s on vet-prescribed monthly med for that. Have seen no indication of fleas or ticks. I’m concerned about Dr Marty’s because my vet advised against grain-free food because of new evidence of heart problems. ( I had started her on Purina One for large dogs (healthy joints version). It does contain some ingredients Dr Marty warned against. However, I know I will not be able to feed her Dr Marty’s by itself. Maybe the rich and famous can afford it. Not me. My last dog was draining me financially due to problems with diet. Took him to a great holistic vet and she was able to test him for allergies. No surprise, he was allergic to wheat. And much more. She came up with a meatloaf formula that I made for two years, for about $150 a month. Then he couldn’t eat the meatloaf eventually and I had to put him down as there was nothing he could eat that didn’t make him sick. So I’m overly cautious about finding the right food for my 2 year old rescue. Really wish I could cancel the order . Glad I only ordered one bag.

[GSDsForever]

Hi Karen.

You really do need to see a vet, sooner than over a month from now.

Pruritus (itching) can make a dog feel utterly miserable and can quickly spiral into bigger problems, whether from injuring the skin from scratching/biting/chewing to soothe itself which can then create secondary skin infection, or an ear hematoma (which I promise you, you do NOT want to have happen) from a hard shake or scratching.

Did you know that most itching is not from a food allergy? It is more common for a dog to have other things causing the symptoms, like flea bites, mites, fungal/bacterial infection, or environmental & inhalant allergies.

It’s great that your breeder is involved. Your breeder is right that chicken could be a food allergy for your puppy and food allergies do commonly show up before 1 yr of age. Chicken and beef are top food allergens for dogs with food allergies.

But did you know that food allergies are actually not very common in dogs? Or that, in a food allergy, symptoms typically can continue for some time after switching over to another food? This is why a novel food must be fed for up to 12 weeks to see results, relief from symptoms. And it must be fed exclusively, without any treats or flavored medicines.

In the vast majority of cases, a vet will be able to diagnose something OTHER THAN food allergy and be able to help your dog get relief very quickly from itching — whether diagnosing external parasite, fungal, or bacterial infection and treating for that, or providing relief from environmental allergies.

For the environmental allergies, there are hypoallergenic and skin soothing shampoos and rinses, a cortisone shot, oral antihistamines, even a Cytopoint/CADI injection (a drug that can relieve itching within 24 hours and last up to 1-2 months) which has safe use approved for puppies as well as adults. Some dogs with pollen allergies just need a little extra help seasonally.

Throwing up in young dogs can be nothing serious and pretty normal or it can be something that really means your vet should be involved and treating. Joanne is right that it matters also when your puppy does this and what it looks like/consists of, even though that may seem gross!

[GSDsForever]

joanne,

Thank you; you’re very kind to say that. This is rough, isn’t it? This trying to find a high quality, safe food that is grain inclusive . . . while needing to avoid a major common ingredient like chicken (or in Jessica’s case, gluten grains)?

I know of another line’s formulas that many, many top show people in GSDs have fed for a very long time . . . safely and happily, + dogs doing well and looking great. But it has CHICKEN (and barley, which wouldn’t work for Jessica’s needs either).

Bummer to hear yours didn’t like the EP/HS. Were you feeding it straight up, no additions?

Have you tried Annamaet?

I typically add to dry . . . wet foods (canned or fresh), good oil. I also add warm water most of the year. Do you think that would help yours to eat? I’m currently adding sardines in oil, as I want the protein & fat a bit higher anyway. We’re trying to see if she can handle fish, with her food allergy/allergies.

• This reply was modified 6 years, 4 months ago by GSDsForever.

[GSDsForever]

Jessica,

Hi. Cool to hear from another German Shepherd lover. I’m a lifelong owner and really passionate about the breed.

You might consider Annamaet & Holistic Blend (division of Eagle Pack).

A few Annamaet grain-inclusive formulas, without gluten grains, that might work for you are the Extra & Ultra. (Along with Small Breed, these don’t include barley.)

One HS grain inclusive formula that I know, without gluten grains, is Sardine, Anchovy, & Salmon. The carb base is rice (brown & white) & oats for grains, plus pumpkin & flaxseed. No legumes and no potatoes.

Like you, I’ve been trying to find good, safe foods that are grain inclusive and without peas/lentils/chickpeas/legumes in the top 10 ingredients, also not potato heavy. Lamb & rice formulas have also been linked to DCM, as have high fiber diets.

While not needing gluten-free in our case, on my exclusion list for now are the top dog food allergens — beef, chicken, dairy, egg, wheat, corn, and soy. I have a food allergy dog and we haven’t entirely worked out what all her allergies include. So you can probably imagine it’s been challenging as well!

Both Eagle Pack Holistic Blend and Annamaet have long, excellent reputations for high quality foods and safety.

Annamaet, in particular, has been outstanding in their communication with me verbally & in writing, as they’ve fielded Qs about their feeding trials and testing of their products, their research including published peer reviewed, and their nutritionists who’ve formulated and oversee their formulas. (I would stick to their grain-inclusive for now though.) Their website lists online places to purchase their foods.

If I think of or come across any other foods that might work for you, I will pass the info on. Good luck!

• This reply was modified 6 years, 4 months ago by GSDsForever.
• This reply was modified 6 years, 4 months ago by GSDsForever.

[Karen D]

Breeder fed Proplan puppy chicken & rice, got her home & she had soft poop & some itchiness, breeder rec. switch to ProPlan puppy Lamb & rice….perfect poops but still throwing up & itch…..breeder thinks vaccinations & or chicken are causing allergies. Just switched to ProPlan sensitive adult Lamb & Rice due to NO chicken by products….been a week, still itching & threw up last night. She is fine otherwise, eating, playing & poop is good cept there is more of it with the sensitive formula. Vet appt. isn’t till 9/10. She is 6 months old. Any ideas, change food?
Thanks, Karen

[D]

That does not mean you shouldn’t do your own educated research.
Go ahead and ask your vet a simple request to go over all of the ingredients they put into your dog kibble and have them explain to you each and every ingredient and its purpose and benefits. Since they are so much wiser than you it shouldn’t be a difficult request to ask. You must love the Yellow 6, Yellow 5, Red 40, Blue 2, genetically modified organisms, pesticides and all the other artificial flavorings and preservatives they add into it. It’s not like dog food has ever been recalled before…Nor have vets ever been wrong on anything before…

Up here in Alaska our sled dogs don’t seem to mind eating raw, something of which they have been down for hundred plus years. And our family and friends pets all seem to live a long healthy life.
It wasn’t until the early 1950’s that dogs started to eat kibble. I wonder what they were eating before that?? Back then you would hardly ever hear of a dog having cancer, seizures, allergies, or the multitude of skin problems you see today.

There is a plethora of great articles and books out there regarding the history of dogs and their diets, especially feeding raw.

• This reply was modified 6 years, 4 months ago by D.

[Emma L]

Hi everyone!

New to the forum here. After scouring the site for hours, I still am at a loss at where to start with picking a new dog food.

I have one VERY picky dog. Changes his tastes at the tip of a hat. He’s healthy, nothing wrong according to the vet (I did start there as he used to gobble his food and I had to use a slow feeder bowl)

When I first got him from the shelter, he was on raw nuggets because he was severely underweight and needed a lot of protein. Once he got to a healthy weight, I switched him over to Fromm. My two dogs were on that for a very long time (GF formula) and the only reason I stopped buying it was because it was incredibly hard to get in my area. I switched over to Acana for a few years, and then not only did he completely detest the stuff after a while, they had the lawsuit. I’m a worrier, and I didn’t want my dogs anywhere near the stuff if there’s was even a small chance of an issue.

We went to Stella and Chewys Raw Coated Kibble, which I thought he’d love because those were the raw nuggets he had, but no. Ate it once, wouldn’t eat it again. I decided to go back to Fromm since we never had an issues, and a store opened near me where I could get it. Ate it for a few days, and now both of my dogs turn their nose up at it, which is strange because my other dog could will eat legitimately anything. Which leads me here. Absolutely confused and in information overload with the amount of best dog food lists, articles, and google searches.

For reference, my dog is a chihuahua/corgi/mix of some sort. He’s around 13 pounds, and has no allergies. He’s been on grain free, but I’m not opposed to not grain free at this point because I just want him to eat without having to mix yucky wet food in there. Anyone have any top/tried and true brands they can suggest?

[GSDsForever]

Uhhhh . . . where does it purportedly claim to treat “allergies” and “inflammation”?

Ruth K’s original post (from several month ago) states this supplement is marketed for allergies, but I see nothing about that on the website. That’s actually a good thing (read below).

Without getting into discussion of efficacy & value of this supplement . . . this product contains multiple food proteins including 1 of the top 2 most common food allergens: beef. This product would not be appropriate for dogs with food allergies and could cause an allergic reaction. Just FYI.

• This reply was modified 6 years, 4 months ago by GSDsForever.

[GSDsForever]

I’m receiving an error message that does not correspond with what I see on my screen here. I don’t *think* this is a duplicate post, but a technical malfunction. (Please pardon me if it is.)

Nadia,

The only guidance I’ve ever received or read from trustworthy experts in diagnosing and treating dog food allergies is a food trial:

*Novel protein diet for up to 12 weeks (or other hypoallergenic test diet, like hydrolyzed) to evaluate for relief
*Followed by challenging testing the dog with one single food at a time, a former/suspected ingredient allergen

I’ve been there, with a very itchy dog with food and other allergies. And the above is the route I’ve followed, with a primary care vet and boarded specialist. We also did things to exclude other diagnoses. That’s what I would recommend.

I’ve heard (and read here) of others referencing blood tests, saliva tests, hair tests, etc. But to the best of my knowledge, there is not medical evidence to support their efficacy and they are not the standard of care in the medical community.

I worry that such tests not only scam well-meaning pet owners out of money (which they could use otherwise to help their pets), but also lead people to come up with long lists of ingredients that their dogs are supposedly allergic to such that diet choices become severely limited. (IMO, it is very unlikely that these dogs are allergic to numerous and very uncommon things, things that the dog has never been exposed to.)

Re fleas, allergy or standard reactions to them are more common than are food allergies. (Inhalant and environmental allergies also are common culprits for itching.)

Vacuum, vacuum, vacuum. It will eliminate a lot of flea problems. Flea dirt is more likely to be discovered than fleas and fleas spend more of their life cycle off the dog in its environment than on. Vacuuming will also help keep pollen, irritants lower inside (as will removing shoes, etc.)

[GSDsForever]

Nadia,

The only guidance I’ve ever received or read from trustworthy experts in diagnosing and treating dog food allergies is a food trial:

*Novel protein diet for up to 12 weeks (or other hypoallergenic test diet, like hydrolyzed) to evaluate for relief
*Followed by challenging testing the dog with one single food at a time, a former/suspected ingredient allergen

I’ve been there, with a very itchy dog with food and other allergies. And the above is the route I’ve followed, with a primary care vet and boarded specialist. We also did things to exclude other diagnoses. That’s what I would recommend.

I’ve heard (and read here) of others referencing blood tests, saliva tests, hair tests, etc. But to the best of my knowledge, there is not medical evidence to support their efficacy and they are not the standard of care in the medical community.

I worry that such tests not only scam well-meaning pet owners out of money (which they could use otherwise to help their pets), but also lead people to come up with long lists of ingredients that their dogs are supposedly allergic to such that diet choices become severely limited. (IMO, it is very unlikely that these dogs are allergic to numerous and very uncommon things, things that the dog has never been exposed to.)

Re fleas, allergy or standard reactions to them are more common than are food allergies. (Inhalant and environmental allergies also are common culprits for itching.)

Vacuum, vacuum, vacuum. It will eliminate a lot of flea problems. Flea dirt is more likely to be discovered than fleas and fleas spend more of their life cycle off the dog in its environment than on. Vacuuming will also help keep pollen, irritants lower inside (as will removing shoes, etc.)

• This reply was modified 6 years, 4 months ago by GSDsForever.

[anonymous]

I knew it (carpeting)! If the dog has a flea allergy, you may not see any signs of fleas. Again one flea bite can wreak havoc.
Work closely with your vet, however…
If the dog’s symptoms continue, please consider consulting a veterinary dermatologist, that was the only thing that helped my dog. Intradermal allergy testing
https://www.preventivevet.com/dogs/canine-atopic-dermatitis-environmental-allergies-in-dogs
Final words about atopic dermatitis in dogs
“It is also very important for any dog with atopic dermatitis to be on a year-round, comprehensive flea control program. Atopic dogs tend to be more sensitive to the bites of fleas, so even occasional fleabites should be prevented. Speak with your veterinarian about a safe and effective flea prevention program for all the pets in your home, and learn more about fleas here”.

“Managing this lifelong condition takes some patience. By using various combinations of therapy, and altering the treatment when needed, your veterinarian can help your atopic dog feel and look their best. And for cases that prove difficult to manage, there are board-certified veterinary dermatology specialists that are available to help. You can search for a specialist in your area on the website for the American College of Veterinary Dermatology”.

The only accurate way to do a food elimination trial is with prescription/therapeutic diet food.

Otherwise, it’s a waste of time.

[aimee]

Hi Nadia,

The only accurate test for food reactions including allergies is with a food trial. Blood tests, saliva tests, hair tests etc are not helpful as your dog can test positive for food they are not reacting to and negative for the food that is causing the problem.

[Carolynngraves G]

I have been fighting allergies with my bulldog for 3 years. He is allergic to chicken, peas,potatoes etc. I just found a food American natural premium Turkey and pumpkin has no legumes no chicken corn etc. It is 56 dollars for a 33lb bag. My dog has been on it two weeks and I am already seeing a difference.

[anonymous]

Yeah, tried all that.

The only thing that helped was having the anal glands expressed at least once a week by a vet tech.
You can ask your vet to have the vet tech show you how to do it yourself.

My dog with environmental allergies had anal gland issues, once she started treatment for atopic dermatitis by a veterinary dermatologist all anal gland issues went away.

She does well on a variety of foods. The dog food did not appear to have anything to do with it.

PS: GSDs have specific anal gland problems related to the breed.

[Sandy C]

I feed my 3 year lab Acana Duck and Pear as this seems to be the only product that does not affect his allergies, but listed on your sight it is listed as the highest in reports – what are some other food choices in the dry formula that do not have Chicken, chicken meal, or chicken fat in them – this has been my dilemma. And would be nice if this is something I could afford.
Thank you.

[Theresa O]

I just put my 15 year old Llasa down this year. He was very ill with congestive heart disease. I had been feeding him Rachael Rays grain free because of his allergies for years. I just discovered this may have been the cause or contributed to his disease. Stay away from this food. I know he was old but he was still a puppy to the day I had to put him down.
So sad food like this is allowed on the market.

[anonymous]

Allergic or food sensitivities? Food allergies are rare. Best to work with a veterinarian, he may need a prescription food till you get an accurate diagnosis as to what he can tolerate.
Then you should rule out environmental allergies if his symptoms continue. Talk to your vet.

[Owen J]

Proper nutrition of dogs should be as close as possible to the diet of wild animals. Dogs should not be fed boiled dishes such as cereals, or high-calorie baked goods. In order for the intestinal microflora to be maintained in a normal state, and the body was able to perform protective functions, it is necessary to have raw foods in the dog menu. First of all, it should be meat and offal, less often should be given fish and fish products. Sources of vitamins and fiber are vegetables and fruits. After all, a decrease in immunity is a direct path to diseases such as obesity, allergies, cardiovascular disorders, and others.
https://herepup.com/best-dog-food-for-toy-breeds/

[anonymous]

https://www.gofromm.com/fromm-four-star-nutritionals-salmon-a-la-veg-food-for-dogs

Both are doing well on this as a base. The terrier was fine on Classic Adult but my other one with allergies does best on a fish based food. It is easier to have them on the same food. I don’t “rotate”.

I do change up the toppers and add a splash of water to meals.

[anonymous]

/forums/topic/inflammatory-bowel-disease/#post-140295

Antibiotics and steroids are often prescribed for environmental allergies and other ailments. It’s a band aid fix. You are not getting to the root of the problem.

The first step would be to get an accurate diagnosis via an internal medicine specialist or a veterinary dermatologist, whatever your vet thinks might be the most helpful.

PS: Hope this helps http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?s=food+allergies

How long did you try the prescription food for? Did you contact the vet to let him know of your concerns?
Maybe more diagnostic testing is indicated? See what the treating vet advises, not the internet.

How old is the dog? Has she had annual checkups? How did her last lab values look? Blood work is a good diagnostic tool.

[anonymous]

“My dog is itchy but vets have said she is just an itchy dog. It could be allergies”.

Ask your vet for a referral to an internal medicine specialist or a veterinary dermatologist.

Her issues may have nothing to do with the food.

[Pinky L]

Sorry, I just saw your response. She was on Royal Cainin for years,I switched a couple of months ago to Ultra-chicken. I thought the royal was possibly the cause of her stomach issues. So I did get a week of antibiotics from the doctor, along with some Pro-pectalin. Her stools formed but remained soft,however to accidents in the house. Now 2 days post completing medication and diarrhea is back,non formed and accidents in the house. There is still mucus present in the stool. I feel hopeless at this point. She has never had duck (never) or lamb alone. Possible allergy to the following: chicken,eggs,beef,wheat,bran. Both goods had those ingredients.

I doubt the Purina EN is going to help. Her stools were not liquid on kibble. I am sure the vet wanted her system to rest,thus giving the wet food.

I am thinking about limited ingredients by Koha. It is very expensive. I have spent at least 400 on visits, food,medication since January.

My dog is itchy but vets have said she is just an itchy dog. It could be allergies. That is the reason I had started Royal Cainin (shih Tzu).

Some articles say high fiber is best and others say low fiber foods are best.

[joanne l]

I was wondering if someone gives their dog a vegetarian dry food, but puts their own meat of choice in it will it be better? Example you can one night put chicken in there and then another time you can put beef, and another time you can use salmon and so on. That way they get their vitamins and minerals from the dry food and you add meats. Maybe better?? That way the dog get human grade meats. Maybe less allergies??

• This reply was modified 6 years, 6 months ago by joanne l.

[joanne l]

I read on the dog journal that probiotics and enzymes are really helpful with this. There is one called Forta Flora it is in individual packets and you put it on the dogs food. Also rule out allergies to food as well. I use that product as well. Always tell the vet what you are using or doing. So ask him or her about Forta Flora. In my opinion it may help a lot.
I forgot to mention you can read the reviews on Forta Flora on chewy.com and that is were you can order it if you want.

• This reply was modified 6 years, 6 months ago by joanne l.

[joanne l]

I don’t know if this will help you, but I will share it anyway. My friend had a dog with this condition. His vet did the same as your vet is doing. However, the owner found out it was a chicken allergy. He bought Natures Instinct limited ingredient diet of lamb and he never had a problem again. Now I don’t know if it will help your dog, but you can this food a try. It has an ingredient in there call Montrolle clay, sorry I can’t spell it but anyway they say it can help with IBD. Check chewy out and read the reviews. Other than that try cooking for the dog. Either boil ground meat and rice or chicken and rice. If the Rx diet is not working than do this. See if the cooked diet for a few days will work. If it does great, than you can add a very little of the dog food I mentioned and see what happens. I know some on here may say to go to a specialist. If you can afford it go but ask about food intolerance and allergies. What dog food was your dog on begore?? Look at the ingredients in it and let me know. I hope you can get this under control. Also by cooking you will know if she may have a allergy. If chicken and rice don’t work than try beef and rice. And please drain all the fat when boiling ground beef. Oh and only use white rice, do not use brown rice! White rice will be best for this condition. P.S. you said “RX diet may have made it worse”? There maybe something in the Purina that is not tolerated. I have a feeling your dog may do well on the cooking method I mentioned to get him back on track.

• This reply was modified 6 years, 6 months ago by joanne l.
• This reply was modified 6 years, 6 months ago by joanne l.

[Cannoli]

Had a great visit at the Vet Dermatologist and it is pointing more to Food Allergies. Dermatologist notice some things that neither my regular vet nor I saw before. Specifically his paws and skin as I just kept concentrating on his head shaking only.

Dermatology Physical Exam: Non-seasonal mild pedal licking lately shaking of the head and digging at the neck, tried
apoquel in the past did not help ear symptoms.

Skin Description: Mild erythema of a few areas under each ear and mild alopecia and oily seborrhea of the plantar
aspect of the paws, subtle changes on his chin from prior pedal licking

AS (left ear): Mild lichenification on concave pinna, no major excoriations noted AU (both ears)

AD (right ear): No odor or pain reaction from ears AU, negative pinna-pedal reflex

Otoscopic Exam – Left: Mild cobblestone hyperplasia on surfaces of all aspect of the ear canal, no stenosis and no
ulcerations, mild edema and slight erythema AU

Otoscopic Exam – Right: No excessive exudate note

Assessment: We talked about how the diet trial would have to be a little stricter for the full 60-90 days to yield a
conclusive answer… and if not seeing a significant effect over the next 5-7 weeks then we could potentially be going
more towards environmental allergies as the likely life long trigger of the mild skin, paw and ear issues

Also we looked within his ear canal and on the screen we saw his ear canals were red in irritation. Cool to see the inside of his ear cannals on a giant tv screen as he used his scope with a flashlight to go down deep into his ear.. The ear cannals were visibly red with mild irritation.

[M T]

Hello my bulldog cross puppy currently eats Purina pro plan savor with some generic wet food mixed in. I’ve been debating adding in a prescription diet for skin & digestion. Does anyone have awhich food could potentially help with allergies (ie how to compare Purina Dermatologic DRM vs Hills z/d or Hills Derm defense)? I’ve mixed in some cans of I/d with her food before and seems to agree with her system. I’m looking for ingredient and nutritional breakdowns and comparisons.

[Gretchen R]

We have a Chocolate English Labrador that has been plagued with allergies and seizures since he was a puppy. He was diagnosed with 5 different parasites when he came to us at 8 weeks old and it took almost 6 months to get him healthy and disease free. Because of this his system is very sensitive to food and it has been a battle every time we have had to switch food due to recalls (Your site has been an amazing help in tracking this).

We have always fed him a high quality dog food kibble, but I was tired of recalls and reading of problems with imported ingredients even in the best of dog foods. We have now switched to a fresh diet from NomNomNow and could not be happier. This is not an endorsement for that specific company, it was just one of the ones that we found that had a recipe with ingredients that he is not allergic too. He has never looked this good, or been so healthy.

I would really love it if you could expand to cover the companies who are delivering fresh food. It would be very helpful to see the ratings and track in case of a recall.

Thank you for your time.

[M T]

Hello my bulldog cross puppy currently eats Purina pro plan savor with some generic wet food mixed in. I’ve been debating adding in a prescription diet for skin & digestion. Does anyone have awhich food could potentially help with allergies (ie how to compare Purina Dermatologic vs Hills z/d or Hills Derm defense)?

[Jack M]

You may need to try several different limited-ingredient diet foods. Your dog could be allergic to the potato, the rabbit, or something else in that particular brand. Try a different brand with completely different protein and carb source.

It takes a lot of time to try a diet. You need about a week to switch. Then, you need to spend 2 or 3 weeks on a diet before you know it will work. It’s kind of frustrating when you don’t get immediate feedback. You have to wait for the reaction to the old food to subside before drawing a conclusion.

One of my dogs is very allergic to chicken and somewhat sensitive to rice. When she was on commercial food, she could eat food with fish, lamb, and potato.

Now that she’s on a raw diet, she gets lamb, goat, beef, mackerel, and canned salmon without any itching issues. I accidentally gave her a ground organ blend that included some chicken and the itching came back.

https://ecopetlife.com/best-food-german-shepherds-skin-allergies/

[anonymous]

For best results I would go to a veterinary dermatologist, especially if this is becoming a chronic condition and has not responded to treatment by the regular vet. The veterinary dermatologist can do skin testing to identify the environmental allergens responsible then they will discuss treatment options.
If you suspect food sensitivities then the only way to rule out is to have the vet prescribe hydrolyzed food, difficult to follow, commercial brands do not compare.
There is no cure for allergies but there is effective treatment and management.

https://www.acvs.org/small-animal/otitis-externa excerpts below, click on link for full article

Otitis externa is an inflammation of the ear canal. Because dogs’ ear canals are L-shaped (Figure 1), fluid does not drain easily from canal openings. Additionally, the lining of the ear can become inflamed and thickened, blocking air and fluid flow in and out of the canal. Animals with otitis externa can also develop otitis media (middle ear inflammation). Similar to the problem seen in children (especially after airplane flights), fluid can build up behind the ear drum, causing pressure and pain. Otitis externa and media are common conditions in dogs, particularly in specific breeds such as the Cocker spaniel and German shepherd.
In puppies and kittens, otitis externa is often caused by ear mites. These tiny parasites cause terrible itching and a thick brown discharge. In adult dogs, the most common underlying cause is allergies- sensitivity to something in the environment or to food. In older animals, tumors can cause blockage of the ear canal and secondary infection. Other predisposing causes may include foreign bodies (such as grass seeds), or small ear canals (often seen in Shar peis) or long floppy ear flaps (for example, Basset hounds) that prevent air flow. Hormonal problems, such as poor thyroid function, or other underlying skin disorders may also be present.

[Christie B]

On the topic of “the big 4”, I think it’s important to go beyond the parent company and look at the ingredients on the bag to determine what food you should buy. Some product lines within a company are better than others. I don’t think you can rank Dog Chow the same as Pro Plan or Pedigree the same as Nutro.

Ingredients are important. 3 Chicken Formula Dry Food Ingredients Lists:

GROUND WHOLE GRAIN CORN, POULTRY BY-PRODUCT MEAL (SOURCE OF GLUCOSAMINE AND CHONDROITIN SULFATE), CORN GLUTEN MEAL, ANIMAL FAT (SOURCE OF OMEGA 6 FATTY ACIDS [PRESERVED WITH BHA & CITRIC ACID]), MEAT AND BONE MEAL (SOURCE OF CALCIUM), SOYBEAN MEAL, GROUND WHOLE GRAIN WHEAT, BREWERS RICE, NATURAL FLAVOR, CHICKEN BY-PRODUCT MEAL, DRIED PLAIN BEET PULP, SALT, CALCIUM CARBONATE, POTASSIUM CHLORIDE, CHOLINE CHLORIDE, DRIED PEAS, ZINC SULFATE, DL-METHIONINE, MONOCALCIUM PHOSPHATE, VITAMIN E SUPPLEMENT, NIACIN [VITAMIN B3], BIOTIN, DRIED CARROTS, L-TRYPTOPHAN, BHA & CITRIC ACID (A PRESERVATIVE), BLUE 2, YELLOW 5, YELLOW 6, d-CALCIUM PANTOTHENATE [SOURCE OF VITAMIN B5], RIBOFLAVIN SUPPLEMENT [VITAMIN B2], RED 40, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE [VITAMIN B6], COPPER SULFATE, SODIUM SELENITE, POTASSIUM IODIDE, VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENT, THIAMINE MONONITRATE [VITAMIN B1], VITAMIN B12 SUPPLEMENT, VITAMIN D3 SUPPLEMENT, FOLIC ACID

Chicken, brewers rice, poultry by-product meal (source of glucosamine), corn gluten meal, whole grain wheat, whole grain corn, oat meal, medium-chain triglyceride vegetable oil, pea fiber, dried egg product, natural flavor, fish oil, barley, fish meal (source of glucosamine), L-Arginine, mono and dicalcium phosphate, potassium chloride, salt, Vitamin E supplement, potassium citrate, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, niacin, Vitamin A supplement, manganese sulfate, thiamine mononitrate, calcium pantothenate, Vitamin B-12 supplement, copper sulfate, riboflavin supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, garlic oil, folic acid, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), Vitamin D-3 supplement, calcium iodate, biotin, choline chloride, and sodium selenite

Chicken, Chicken Meal, Pearled Barley, Brown Rice, White Rice, Oatmeal, Beet Pulp, Chicken Fat, Menhaden Fish Meal, Flaxseed, Dried Whole Egg, Cheese, Brewers Dried Yeast, Salt, Calcium Sulfate, Potassium Chloride, Monocalcium Phosphate, DL-Methionine, L-Tryptophan, Taurine, Chicory Root Extract, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Sodium Selenite, Sorbic Acid (Preservative), Vitamins, Minerals, Probiotics.

So the first one is a mess of “poor quality” ingredients and artificial colors. I would give that food a hard pass every day. In fact, I know someone with a Lab who has fed this food for the dog’s entire life. This 10 year old has a lot of joint and mobility issues.

The second one has the dreaded by-product label (at least it’s poultry and not ‘meat’ ) and lots of grains. Fish meal can be found a ways down the list for a boost of glucosamine.

The third has chicken and chicken meal as the first two ingredients, a plus for sure… and then Barley, rice, more rice and oatmeal follow…not ideal.

Are any of these GREAT food choices?

Every single time I go to the pet store, I wander the aisles reading ingredients lists. All I see are legumes and potatoes. Are they causing DCM? There’s no concrete evidence one way or the other yet. Was the my dog doing fine on Chicken and Rice for the first few years of his life before I found this website and gasped at the low rating his food received? Absolutely. Did I switch the grain free after reading through these forums? Sure did. Has he done ok with switch, all these years later? Nope. He’s developed allergies and sensitivities. But is it because of grain free formulas? I haven’t found concrete evidence proving that x and y caused the issues.

It’s a learning process to find what works best for your dog. Some can’t have grains, some can. My vet suggests feeding him boiled chicken and white rice when he’s not feeling well. Is my vet stupid or just telling me what he knows from his 30+ years of experience might help my dog. Has he called grain free food evil? No, but he cautions against it only because the inclusion of legumes and potatoes are ‘relatively’ new to animal nutrition and there isn’t enough research and studies done to prove that they are safe in the long term.

He told me that he’s always given his dogs Pro Plan but have never pushed me to purchase any of the big 4 brands. In fact, he said the best thing I can do is read the ingredients list myself. And to transition food properly. And if my dog has issues after eating 1-2 bags of a food, to look at the current ingredients and find a food that’s different.

[anonymous]

Integrating Myths and Nonsense with Standard Advice for Allergic Pets

excerpt below, click on link for full article and comments

“Of course, I’ve written about the raw diet nonsense before, and there is, once again, no evidence that raw diets have any benefit in terms of preventing or treating allergies. As for supplements, apart from limited evidence that fish oils can reduce the dosage of other drugs needed to control allergy symptoms, there is no solid data to support supplement recommendations. Overall, this section makes erroneous and misleading implications about the causes of food allergies, recommends a dubious diagnostic test, and then suggests treatments that have not been demonstrated to help”.

Hair and Saliva Test for Allergies are Worthless Pseudoscience

excerpt below, click on link for full article and comments

Hair and Saliva Test for Allergies are Worthless Pseudoscience
Posted on November 6, 2018 by skeptvet
There is a lot of mythology out there about food allergies. The recent concern about the potential risks of grain-free diets is only an issue at all because such diets became wildly popular with no evidence that grains were a problem in the first place. A lot of folks blame grains for allergies and other health problems, but there’s no real evidence this is true, and these ingredients probably play a fairly minor role in food allergies in dogs and cats.
Other myths about food allergies include the idea that changing diets can cause them (actually, prolonged exposure is usually needed to develop a sensitivity), that raw foods are less allergenic (nope, only more likely to give you a food-borne illness), and that you can use blood, hair, or saliva tests to diagnose food allergies (sorry, a limited ingredient diet trial is the only way to do this). This last misconception is perpetuated despite evidence from human medicine that it is not true because, quite frankly, it makes people money.

[anonymous]

If you click on the link you will see hundreds of comments I have posted on the subject.
It would take several hours to repeat the information you will find there.
There is a search engine here for that reason.

Better yet, make an appointment with a veterinary dermatologist asap to get your dog properly diagnosed and treated. There is no veterinary healthcare professional at this site. Even if there were they have not examined your dog nor can they provide specific advice regarding your pet. Best of luck!

Example “The diet helps but it can only do so much.
A multifaceted approach is often needed for environmental allergies. There is no cure.
But there are effective treatments/management.
PS: Bacterial skin infections that require antibiotics are common with atopic dermatitis. It is painful. Itchiness and burning….
Next, ear infections.”

example: “Please visit a board certified veterinarian asap for testing/diagnosis/treatment.
It’s been a year/4 seasons without significant results by the regular vet.
Do not give over the counter meds/supplements or apply ointments, creams that are not intended for veterinary use unless advised to do so by a veterinarian that has examined your dog”.

Example: /forums/topic/hes-got-good-and-environmental-allergies/#post-113364
“Make an appointment with a board certified veterinary dermatologist. It’s not the food. Just my opinion, based on my experience and knowledge”.

Very good information here: http://skeptvet.com/Blog/?s=environmental+allergies

[Bud J]

Hi, I’m just getting started in researching dog food. I’ve been fostering my current pup, Grayson, for about a year. He has seizures about once a week and is on keppra, phenobarbital and hemp. I’m currently doing research and looking for support because he is dealing with substantial allergies and I’m highly suspecting it’s food allergies. He has a lot of itching, chews at his feet and has bald spots and scabbing around his hips, hind legs and groin area. He has been an itchy dog pretty much entire time I’ve had him but the scabbing is by far the worst it’s ever been.

He was put on a steroid for a couple weeks which really helped, but had it’s own side effects. The last 2 dog foods we’ve had are American Journey Grain Free Salmon and Sweet Potato and True Acre Foods Chicken and Vegetable Grain Free. He was mostly eating True Acre when the symptoms got bad, but then switched to American Journey and symptoms continued to progress. Both foods have chicken as a main ingredient and therefore I’m thinking he’s reacting to chicken. As of 2 days ago, I switched him to a Heritage Ranch Salmon and Sweet Potato Food only because it was the only dog food at my store which didn’t have chicken as a main ingredient.

So, I’m currently l’m looking into switching him to a different simple ingredient dog food. Canidae salmon and sweet potato is the one I’m leaning towards, but I’m also researching doing a raw diet.
I’m sure there’s several posts on this site which have helpful info, but wanted to introduce myself and I’ll start searching around to see what others have already posted.

Thank you,
Grandpa J

[Christopher L]

This article is quite a slog and takes some grit to tackle. That said, it seems well-supported, fact-based, and objective. Bottom line: with the possible exception of fish oil (for prophylactic treatment of allergies like skin and coat issues), there is precious little to support the Madison Avenue-concocted nonsense built into claims about pet foods and supplements. (Illustration: There’s little solid science to support the claims of arthritis and joint ailments’ relief from taking glucosamine in humans, and virtually none as relates to pets.) So, read labels, feed your four-legged babies well-balanced diets and treats, get them to exercise (except for cats … unless they can be trained to use a treadmill), and give them a good belly-rub at least twice-a-day.

The Top Ten Pet Supplements: Do They Work?

[Susan]

Hi Denis,

Sound like your GSD had a Furunculosis on his bum, my boy has IBD, Seasonal Skin Allergies (Summer/Autumn) & he has food sensitivities, food allergies are rare & the dog normally will suffer with IBD when he/she suffers with food allergies..
Anal furunculosis is a chronic, progressive inflammatory disease of dogs that results in ulceration and inflammation in the area surrounding the anus.

Here’s link – “What is Idiopathic Furunculosis (German Shepherds)?”
https://wagwalking.com/condition/idiopathic-furunculosis-german-shepherds

If your dog is eating the Hills Z/d vet diet, after 1 month if he is doing firm poos, no farts, no skin problems & he is doing really well this is when you start a food elimination diet & try too work out what ingredients your dog is sensitive too?? that’s if it is food related?? its Spring in America it could be environment allergies or his immune system is crashing from Allergies or vaccinations?? it takes a while doing food elimination diets, 1 month to trial 1 new ingredient at a time to his Hypoallergenic vet diet, it can take 20mins up to 6 weeks for the dog to react, with itchy skin, ears, red around mouth, paws, gas/wind/farts, vomiting, itchy yeasty ears, skin, anal gland problems take a bit longer 4-7days when dog is reacting to an ingredient..
I found Patch reacted within 20mins of eating raw or cooked chicken, when he eats grains & carrots he took up to 5 days to react with sloppy yellow poo, farts & yeasty smelly skin & ears…
Results are 100% correct with food elimination trial. Blood, Fur& Salvia testing can give false positives results, they’re a waste of money also it’s best to do food elimination diet in the cooler months when allergen are lower, its hard in Spring & Summer as your dog might be itchy cause of a plant, tree, grass, flowers, pollens in yard or next door & you think its what he’s eating & its not, keep a diary you will start to see a pattern with Seasonal Environment Allergies, also baths weekly, baths are best to wash off any allergens on skin, paws head etc ….
I wipe Patch down with baby wipes days I don’t bath him, read the ingredients in the baby wipes & get the baby wipes that have Aloe leaf abstract in them, also Patch was getting furunculosis on bum & paws, when his immune system was down, when I first rescued him, so now after he poos I always wipe his bum with baby wipes & I wipe down his paws when he walks on wet grass or freshly cut grass he gets red paws..

Get some “Sudocrem” its an anti-fungal, anti bacterial healing cream, for Dermatitis, Eczema, Nappy Rash, Pressure Sores, if you live US look on Amazon & I’ve read Walmart has started to sell Sudocrem, its an excellent cream… it heals sores, cuts, red paws, thinning of fur on head, excellent for itchy bum, when they scoot (bum surf)
Make sure his immune system is healthy & its best to see a Dermatologist as they specialize in skin..

Look at “Adored Breast” Healthy Gut & Love Bugs (Pre & Pro Biotics) made by Julie Anne Lee

Please watch these videos below when you have the time, Julie explains what might be happening with your dog.

Here’s Julie Anne Lee – Allergies, Skin Disease, or Autoimmune – PT 1

Here’s Julie Anne Lee – Allergies, Skin Disease, or Autoimmune – PT 2

[Denis S]

Hello, my GSD has a new food allergy, I think. I noticed he had a wound next to his anus, approximately 2 inches in diameter. I rushed him to my vet. At first, it was mentioned that it could be a ruptured anal gland, then it would have been something the burrowed itself in, but, then was concluded that it was a food allergy. I went with it at first, as I brainstormed questions to ask. What made me stray away from it being, necessarily a food allergy, was that test’s were not conducted to rule out other possibilities; her explanation of how his immune system was forcing protein out through the path of least resistance (which would have made sense to me if something ruptured, forgive me I am not a vet.) It was a quick glance, and my (former) vet’s aggressive attempt’s to have me buy a $110.00 bag of 24lb Science Hill Hydrolyzed Z/D dog food. It really, gave me a terrible taste in my mouth.

I went home and emailed Diamond dog food, a food I have used for year’s on my GSD’s and Rottweiler and never had any issues. Afterwards, I began my research on hydrolyzed dog food. Forgive me to all whom read my post, if I may seem like a novice here, which when it come’s to hydrolyzed dog food, I am. I concluded that the process of making the food itself is more difficult and requires more of a process than any other version. I didn’t feed him the Diamond dog food that night, instead I made him wild caught salmon with a few extra’s for omega-3’s and other nutrients for him. All on recommendations from a breeder friend and other GSD dad’s.

The next day I received a response from Diamond (surprisingly quick) and they recommended their Diamond Care line. I read and read reviews and and found that it is indeed hydrolyzed dog food. I still continued my research on other brands, you never know what you’ll come across. I went to my local pet store and was disappointed that they had not received the Care line yet. Luckily for me as I was talking to the manager, a vet from another clinic over heard and jumped right in. I explained to him the situation, he nodded his head, looked down and right back up to me. He was apologetic and agreed more could have been done. He then went to explain to me, in detail exactly how hydrolyzed dog food work, what it is intended to do, the pro’s and con’s, who it is for and the potential outcome. He asked about symptom’s, behavior, stool frequency and consistency, his typical diet, what he does on a daily, where does he roam or like to hang out and do, etc. Then continued to explain Science Hill’s influence inside of veterinary medicine. I’ll leave all that for another topic. He then went on explaining how the allergies work with dog’s etc. He did recommend a few brands, the make up, and well the typical “less legs the better,” same rules I follow. Believe, me I felt stupid that I knew exactly what my body needs to stay optimal and didn’t apply it for my boy.

I did schedule with his office for a visit.

If you have any experience’s or recommendations please share. I do ask that we all have tact and be polite to one another.

[anonymous]

“This explanation is, in fact, the exact opposite of the true nature of dietary allergies. Whole proteins are the primary trigger for allergies in animals predisposed to have them. And when there is a malfunction in the GI tract such that it fails to break proteins down into small enough pieces, this can make allergies more likely. Finally, one of the most effective treatments for food allergies is to feed hydrolyzed protein diets, diets in which the proteins are chemically processed (gasp!) into small enough pieces that they cannot trigger an allergy reaction.”
“I certainly don’t expect lay people to be experts in the mechanics of digestion and food allergies, but this level of ignorance is frightening and inexcusable in a manufacturer of a pet food. It also indicates the blatant disregard for scientific fact so often seen in the marketing and promotion of raw and other unconventional pet diets”.

Above is an excerpt from http://skeptvet.com/Blog/2012/01/misleading-advertising-for-raw-pet-food-again/
click on link for full article and comments

Hope this helps!

[Patricia A]

crazy4cats the alternative feeding kibble
” Dry pet food, for all its convenience, is difficult to store in a way that preserves its nutritional value and freshness.”
“Many unhealthy things can occur in a bag of kibble — especially an open bag — including fat rancidity, bacterial and fungal growth, nutrient depletion and storage mite infestation.”
“Most dry pet food also has a number of other problems, including poor-quality, rendered and high-glycemic ingredients and extreme processing that creates cancerous byproducts.”
“If you’re still buying kibble, there are several handling and storage guidelines you should follow to help prevent feeding unsafe food to your pet.”
“A much better alternative to kibble is a nutritionally balanced, species-appropriate diet containing high-quality animal protein, moisture, healthy fats and fiber, and low to no starch content.”

Primal and Stella’s goes through a HPP process as written above.

“Without going into too much detail on the history of dry commercial kibble diets, the short end of the story is that it was introduced in response to the high cost of meat during the Great Depression and was heavily promoted at the end of WWII when it gained popularity for its convenience, ease of distribution and low cost.”

“If our pets have managed to survive off this cheap, convenient, low quality protein source for the last 80 some years, why should we be concerned about it?”

Even though our pets may be surviving off commercial kibble, can we really say that they are thriving on it?

“The answer is pretty clear …

“Chronic degenerative diseases, auto-immune diseases, allergies, kidney, pancreatic and liver disease are all rampant within our pet populations and cancer rates continue to rise. “

• This reply was modified 6 years, 8 months ago by Patricia A.
• This reply was modified 6 years, 8 months ago by Patricia A.

[anonymous]

Well, it certainly sounds like atopic dermatitis (environmental allergies) or some other skin condition. It sounds like the dog is in extreme discomfort and at risk for bacterial skin infection.

Anything anyone tells you on these forums is just speculation and opinion (myself included)

If your veterinarian has not been helpful I would ask for a referral to a veterinary dermatologist for testing to come up with an accurate diagnosis and treatment options.

There is no miracle cure or magical supplement or food that will fix this.

In fact the dog may have to go on steroids and antibiotics again to temporarily stop the suffering.
Consult your vet, asap.

[anonymous]

Quote: “What are your symptoms for your boy? On a side note my other dog is currently on a elimination diet to see if these scabs that are forming on his back are from food allergies. Originally they had him take an antibiotic and they went away, but came back. I really hope it isn’t something similar to what you’re going through… That’s the last thing I need right now”

You’re not kidding! Once your guy is stable I’ll tell you more about it.

Bottom line, we had to go to a veterinary dermatologist for effective treatment, although some regular vets are good at treating these things now too. It depends on how severe the allergies are. Symptoms usually start with pruritus, rashes, skin infections, ear infections. They resolve with antibiotics and steroids but often return.

Whatever you do don’t bother with a hair/saliva test for food sensitivities, they are all scams.

Keep us updated, we are all pulling for him.

PS: Don’t stress about getting a urine sample. Some vets prefer to strait cath, it only takes a second, doesn’t hurt and the sample will be sterile.